Waston denied by Costa Rica again
WHITECAPS NOTEBOOK: But Teibert will play for Canada and Mattocks for Jamaica at Gold Cup
Kendall Waston won’t get to “smash” Darren Mattocks on Wednesday, as the Whitecaps’ behemoth of a defender vowed he’d do when asked about the CONCACAF Gold Cup a month ago.
Waston was beaming when he said it, thinking ahead to Costa Rica facing Jamaica in Carson, Calif.
“That’s if he can catch me,” Mattocks had said with a smile.
But Mattocks and Canadian Russell Teibert are the two Whitecaps at this month’s Gold Cup, while Waston, one of the last cuts from Costa Rica’s World Cup squad before Brazil, was again left on the outside.
He’s taken it well, which is great news for the Caps.
They’ve relied on him heavily this season, one in which they’ve allowed one goal per game and sit tied for first in the MLS Western Conference with Seattle at 10-7-2.
“To be very sincere, I’m not so disappointed,” Waston said Tuesday from Stanley Park, where he received treatment as his teammates played soccer tennis on the grass by Second Beach.
“You more or less know what’s going to happen (with selections). I’m just thinking forward and knowing I have to do my best here in the club. And the national team, hopefully one day I can be there.”
Waston, 27, has played every minute this season, except the New England game two weeks ago, which he missed through suspension.
Coach Carl Robinson’s biggest fear would have been losing the imposing Waston for a month and then Murphy’s law kicking in.
As it turned out, Pa-Modou Kah went down with a calf strain in the 2-1 loss at Colorado on Saturday, so the Caps could have been staring down a critical stretch of games without their two starting centre-backs had Waston joined Costa Rica.
Instead, Waston will partner either Diego Rodriguez, Tim Parker or Christian Dean until Kah’s recovered. Kah went for an MRI on Tuesday.
“He’ll be touch and go for this weekend,” said Robinson. “It’s not as bad as originally thought, I believe.
“It’s a big loss for us. He’s been fantastic, but I’ve got confidence in the other guys.”
More confidence, one imagines, in Parker, the rookie who filled in well for Waston in New England and has proven to be an excellent pick at No. 13 in January’s draft.
Rodriguez’s struggles to find form after an injury continued in Colorado, where he didn’t look good on the second goal.
Asked about Parker’s play, Waston said: “I love Tim. What a player.”
The Colorado loss snapped a threegame winning streak for the Caps, who are finally back home after five straight away from B.C. Place because of the Women’s World Cup.
They host Kansas City (7-3-6) on Sunday( 6 p.m., TSN 1, TSN 1410) with the knowledge that their home record has to improve to make all these road wins mean something.
Vancouver’s averaging 1.73 points per game away from B.C. Place this season, and 1.63 points per game at the Dome.
“We all know that we didn’t play like the other (recent) games in Colorado,” said Waston. “We want to turn the page and we know this is going to be a very hard game against Kansas City. But we’re on our turf and we want to make this a strong stadium.
“We want to keep in first, second place, and the only way is winning.”
U-16 squad at SFU
The Caps’ youth step into the spotlight on Wednesday as the U-16 residency team hosts Georgia United in the USSDA quarter-finals at SFU Field 4 (6 p.m., free admission).
It marks the first time the Caps have hosted a USSDA playoff game in Canada. On the line is a spot in the USSDA Final Four in Carson, Calif., July 16-18.
Transfer window opens
Wednesday marks the opening of the mid-season international transfer window in North America, which closes Aug. 6.
Robinson said he’s “content” with his group, but he didn’t rule out a move.
“We’re always looking,” he said. “Will we sign an Andrea Pirlo? No. Probably not. But we’re always looking to try and add. I’m in no rush.”
Fine form on farm
Victor Blasco, WFC2’s Spanish winger, was named USL player of the week on Wednesday. The 21-year-old former Barcelona academy player scored twice in the dying moments as the Caps’ farm team (5-8-4) beat the Sounders’ farm team 3-1 at UBC.