VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Whitecaps have reached into South America in an effort to bring some flair and creativity to their midfield.

Uruguayans Sebastian Fernandez, 24, and Nicolas Mezquida, 22, joined the Major League Soccer club at pre-season training on Wednesday in Casa Grande, Ariz. Both were acquired from Uruguayan side Boston River — Fernandez on a one-year loan with a transfer option and Mezquida on a straight transfer for an undisclosed fee.

The 5-foot-7, 165-pound Fernandez scored five goals in 26 games last season with Peruvian Primera Division champion Universitario de Portes.

Mezquida, who is listed at 5-foot-6 and 150 pounds, scored seven goals in 24 games over the last two years with second tier side Rampla Juniors. He also spent some time in Norway in 2011 on loan with two different clubs and was on trial with the Celtic last September.

New Caps head coach Carl Robinson, who acquired the Uruguayans on the recommendation of a trusted friend who had seen them play several times, liked what he saw Wednesday.

“Very sharp,” he shared on the team’s website. “You can see the technical, tactical ability they’ve got. Raised the level and the tempo in training.

“They’re bright players. They see pictures, they see phases of play well ahead before they even get the ball, so very impressed.”

While the two players understand some English, they will benefit from the fact recently hired assistant coach Martyn Pert is fluent in Spanish.

“Language is just a barrier that doesn’t need to be a problem,” said Robinson. “Football language speaks for itself and they’ve got the football language and understanding that I need.”

Robinson, who wants to play an attacking, entertaining brand of soccer, was keen to bring in some players to generate offence out of the central midfield. The Caps got little out of that area of the field last season, with only Gershon Koffie (three goals, three assists) and Daigo Kobayashi (two goals, four assists, but a 21-game pointless streak) registering more than a goal.

The club declined in late November to pick up the option on Kobayashi’s contract, but the 30-year-old Japanese League import has joined the team in Arizona on a trial basis.

“I had a conversation with Daigo at the end of the year and there was interest from Japan, so I let him explore that,” said Robinson. “I’m looking at freshening up the squad this year, so I couldn’t give him an answer.

“As the time went on, he got back in contact with me. I haven’t offered him a contract. I said he could come in and train and be on trial.”

CORNER KICKS: Canada Soccer announced Wednesday that the national women’s team will play a pair of friendlies this year at BC Place Stadium — June 18 against Germany and Oct. 28 against Japan ... Earlier in the week, it was announced that Canada will play the United States in Winnipeg on May 8 and Japan at Edmonton on Oct. 25.