Costa Rica calls on Caps for key match

Canada won’t cost the Caps, but Costa Rica will.

Canada coach Octavio Zambrano steered clear of any Whitecaps for his team’s Oct. 8 friendly with El Salvador, but centre back Kendall Waston and midfielder Christian Bolanos have been called up for the Costa Rican national team’s final two matches of World Cup qualifying.

Costa Rica is a single point away from qualifying, with two crucial matches ahead: hosting Honduras on Oct. 6 before visiting Panama on Oct. 10.

Waston and Bolanos will play this weekend in Kansas City, but they’ll miss next week’s game in New York against the Red Bulls.

Meanwhile, Canada will field a young team for its exhibition game, with four first-time call-ups to the senior team: Louis BelandGoyette (Montreal Impact), Caniggia Elva ( VfB Stuttgart II), Milovan Kapor (Hapoel Hadera FC) and Kris Twardek (Millwall).

Also included are two former Whitecaps in Fraser Aird and Victoria native Adam Straith.

Vancouver Whitecaps teen sensation Alphonso Davies is unavailable for the game after being redcarded last time out against Jamaica.

Canada is ranked 96th in the world while El Salvador is No. 99.

The game is to be played at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, with a portion of the proceeds going to hurricane Harvey relief efforts.