The Vancouver Whitecaps (3W-2L-3D) return home after three-game road trip to host FC Tampa Bay (5W-1L-3D) who make their first-ever visit to Swangard Stadium this afternoon.
The Whitecaps come into the game off back-to-back draws in Montreal and Toronto in Nutrilite Canadian Championship matches and a loss in Rochester in USSF D-2 play.
The Vancouver squad will look to regain some confidence and get back on stride Sunday against the Rowdies. A tough test lays ahead for the Whitecaps as Tampa has only lost once in USSF D-2 League play this season.
Vancouver wants to push the disappointment of the Nutrilite Championship behind them and focus on conquering the NASL Conference standings.
The team took some positives from their draw with TFC Wednesday. Vancouver played most of the game with 10 men and were still able to hold off the MLS club.
Tampa Bay rolls into June on a hot streak. The Rowdies ended May undefeated (4W-0L-3D) and are led by head coach Paul Dalglish.
Dalglish is the son of former Liverpool and Scotland soccer legend Kenny Dalglish.
A slew of other international soccer stars power Tampa's lineup. Adam Nowland played for several soccer clubs in England, while midfielder Takuya Yamada played in the Japanese J-League.
Some familiar faces also return to Swangard Stadium as part of the Rowdies. Defender Scott Buete, striker Aaron King, and Aaron Wheeler have all worn the blue and white.
Today's game marks the first time the two squads meet as USSD D-2 League clubs, but the pair have gone head-to-head before. Between 1977 and 1984 the two teams met 14 times with Vancouver leading the all-time series with 10 wins and four losses in NASL play.
The most famous meeting involving the Whitecaps and Rowdies came in the 1979 Soccer Bowl in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Whitecaps stole a 2-1 victory for a NASL championship title.
After Sunday's nostalgia matchup, the ‘Caps will meet with Tampa Bay once more this season when they visit the Rowdies in Tampa Bay on August 21.
Notes: The Whitecaps are missing Nizar Khalfan who was called up by Tanzania for an international friendly against Brazil…Greg Janicki is still on the mend with ankle problems…Blake Wagner is out with a foot strain and goalkeeper Dan Plec is out with a gluteus maximus injury…Mouloud Akloul continues to recover from an ankle fracture.
