VANCOUVER, B.C. – After both earning upset victories in the Conference Quarterfinals, the No. 6-seed Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 and No. 7-seed OKC Energy FC will look to continue their runs in the 2016 USL Cup Playoffs on Saturday afternoon at UBC Thunderbird Stadium. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. PT.

Matchcenter: http://www.uslsoccer.com/game/show/15143258

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 news and notes

2016 USL Cup Playoffs So Far

Western Conference Quarterfinals: W 2-1 at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

WFC2 claimed victory in its first USL Cup Playoffs contest as it rallied from an early deficit behind goals from Kyle Greig and Kianz Froese to take victory against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Friday night.

The goals were Greig and Froese’s first career tallies in the USL Cup Playoffs, as Greig notched his team-leading 12th goal of the season overall.

Vancouver fell in each of its final three games at Thunderbird Stadium during the regular season, with the club’s last home win coming at its alternate venue of McLeod Athletic Park.

WFC2 is set to be without attacking midfielder Marco Bustos on Saturday after the USL 20 Under 20 selection was named to the Canada squad that will face Mauritania and Morocco this week.

OKC Energy FC FC news and notes

2016 USL Cup Playoffs So Far

Western Conference Quarterfinals: W 3-2 at Rio Grande Valley FC

Energy FC grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat as Colin Bonner scored twice in stoppage time to earn a 3-2 victory against the Toros on Saturday night and a place in the Conference Semifinals.

The victory marked the first time since July 23 against Tulsa Roughnecks FC that Energy FC had scored three goals in a game, and only the fourth time overall this season.

On loan from FC Dallas, Bonner’s two goals against the Toros matched his regular-season total for Energy FC in 15 appearances for the club.

Energy FC will have goalkeeper Cody Laurendi available for Saturday’s game after he declined a call-up to Puerto Rico’s squad for Caribbean Cup Qualifying against Antigua & Barbuda and Curacao this weekend.

Key Players

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 – F Kyle Greig: The former Energy FC forward will get the chance to oust his former club from the postseason, and continue a season that has seen the 26-year-old reclaim his early-season form of late. Greig now has two goals and one assist in his past five games after enduring an 11-game goal drought in the second half of the season. A powerful body in the front line, Greig will be crucial as WFC2 aims to defend its home turf.

OKC Energy FC – D Cyprian Hedrick: Hedrick and fellow center back Coady Andrews will have to put in a positive performance against the WFC2 attack, which notched a pair of goals in the last meeting between the teams. The presence of goalkeeper Cody Laurendi will act as a security blanket, but Hedrick will be key to limiting WFC2’s clear looks on goal in the contest.

2016 Team leaders

Goals: Vancouver – Kyle Greig, 12; OKC – Four players tied with 4

Assists: Vancouver – Daniel Haber, 4; OKC – Michael Thomas, 5

Series Notes

Vancouver claimed the regular-season series between the teams this summer with a 1-0-1 record, and claimed its first victory against Energy FC in its regular-season finale on Sept. 21 as Marco Bustos scored a pair of goals. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw at Taft Stadium earlier in the season, as Energy FC’s Coy Craft cancelled out Fatawu Safiu’s opening goal for WFC2.

Officials

REF: Pierre-Luc Lauziere

AR1: Stephen Lebrechthausen

AR2: Stefan Tanaka-Freundt

4TH: TBA

Game hashtag:

#VANvOKC

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