Just as the snow returned to Vancouver, Whitecaps FC returned to sunny Arizona for the second phase of their preseason training camp.
Teitur Thordarson’s squad arrived on Wednesday and trained at the Reach 11 Sports Complex in Phoenix. After a full team practice in the morning, the non-starters returned to the field for a second session in the afternoon while the starters rested for Friday's match against Chivas USA.
Thordarson looks forward to continuing preparations for the season opener. The Icelandic coach said that though the results of the matches are not paramount, it’s important that his players maintain a competitive focus throughout the preseason.
“We continue to work on tactical things especially, and we want to see that we are progressing with these things in the games,” Thordarson said. “We understand that things do not always go as well as you want, but we always want to have the instinct of winning.”
[inline_node:328517]Vancouver netted some impressive results on their last trip to Arizona. The ‘Caps defeated 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinalists Real Salt Lake and the Columbus Crew, and narrowly to rivals Seattle Sounders FC, 1-0.
Joining camp is 22-year-old Brazilian trialist Camilo da Silva Sanvezzo. The 5-foot-7 striker last played with Gyeongnam of the Korean Professional Football League.
Also with the team is Cameroonian midfielder Alexandre Morfaw, who missed the last trip due to injury. Rookie midfielder Michael Nanchoff, meanwhile, remains in Vancouver to rehab. Also absent is residency product Kyle Porter, who has left the team to go on trial with the Montreal Impact.
The ‘Caps will play three matches this weekend, starting with the Chivas USA match at the Casa Grande complex. On Saturday they’ll meet the US U-18 men’s national team at the Westside Complex in Avondale.
The final match will be closed to the public, as Thordarson’s team lines up against the LA Galaxy on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe on Sunday. All three matches will begin at 1 p.m. ET.
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