Whitecaps kick off their quarterfinal play in CONCACAF Champions League action

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NEW JERSEY (NEWS 1130) – The Whitecaps first game of 2017 is this evening in New Jersey against the New York Red Bulls. The two MLS teams will clash in leg one of their quarterfinal Champions League showdown. It is the first time either club has made it to the quarterfinals of CONCACAF.

Head Coach Carl Robinson says the Caps will need a good start.

“We have to be organized, disciplined and have a clear plan for what we need to do in relation to the key attacking players on the Red Bulls. They have a lot of exciting players, but we have exciting players as well. We have lots of pace on the team.”

It will be the first game of meaning for either team in months, so defender Tim Parker is anticipating a sloppier game.

“I think having a team coming in from preseason just like we are. There might be some rough patches just because it is the beginning of the year, but I think overall it will be a good match.”

Parker expects Vancouver will play a conservative game this evening and really go for the victory next week at home.

“You don’t want to go gung-ho or balls to the wall in the first match because you have the opportunity to make up for it at home. For the first match we want to be controlled and want to try and win the game but we don’t want to stray too far and give too much away. It is important that we stay within ourselves.”

You can watch the match on CONCACAF’s Facebook page and the opening kick off is at 5 p.m.

Leg two will take place next Thursday at BC Place at 7 p.m. and the team that scores more goals over the two legs will advances to the semifinals to face a team from Mexico.

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