FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
ROUND OF 16
Sunday, June 21
CANADA 1 SWITZERLAND 0
BC PLACE, VANCOUVER
Canada dream continues with tight Swiss win – FIFA
A lone Josee Belanger goal soon after half-time was enough for host nation Canada to continue their 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup™ odyssey at the expense of Switzerland.
Back in her usual spot, Bélanger the hero against Switzerland – Canada Soccer
Five years between international goals but well worth the wait for Josée Bélanger. Bélanger has been a bit of a “Jill of all trades” for Canada’s Women’s National Team so far in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™. But after filling in admirably in defense to start the tournament, she was back in her usual position up front and scored the winner in Canada’s 1:0 win over Switzerland.
Belanger, McLeod lift Canada over Switzerland, into quarters – TSN
The win was Canada’s first ever over a European side at the soccer showcase, ending an 0-9-1 run. And the Canadian women rose to the occasion after an uneven group stage, taking it to the 19th-ranked Swiss in the second half.
Canada advances to World Cup quarterfinals – Sportsnet
Who says coaching doesn’t matter? A key tactical change from Canada coach John Herdman proved the difference Sunday evening, as the home side defeated Switzerland 1-0 at BC Place in front of 53,855 thanks to a goal from Josee Belanger, sending the Reds through to the quarterfinals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Canada holds on to defeat Switzerland, advances to quarter-finals – Metro
Take a deep breath, Canada. The Canadian women’s soccer team is off to the quarter-final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup after a 1-0 victory over Switzerland on Sunday, and will now await the winner between Norway and England in their Round of 16 match on Monday.
Canada’s goal — ‘Inspiring a country’ – The Province
Over the first two weeks of the Women’s World Cup, Team Canada’s attack has coughed and sputtered like a ’77 Tercel, their backline has appeared vulnerable and their overall team play could best be described as uneven. Or disjointed.
Belanger forgives the past to strike for the future – Vancouver Sun
Josee Belanger thought she was finished with Team Canada. The women’s national team made it Sunday to the quarter-finals of the World Cup because she wasn’t.
FIFA Women’s World Cup: downtown Vancouver a sea of red and white – CBC
A 12-year-old girl from Nanaimo who spent two years saving all her babysitting money and birthday gifts, was one of thousands of die hard soccer fans in downtown Vancouver Sunday.
Fans proudly wave the flag as Canada advances to Women’s World Cup quarter-finals – The Province
Canada Day came 10 days early to Vancouver. A patriotic sea of red-and-white spilled out of B.C. Place into downtown Vancouver after Canada’s 1-0 victory in a do-or-die FIFA World Cup match.
FIFA Women’s World Cup leaves impact on girls’ soccer in B.C. – CBC
Lynne Schweitzer, coach of the Burnaby Girls Soccer Club’s U-10 team, says the attention and coverage of the tournament means the girls on her team can dream of reaching similar heights in the sport themselves.
Women’s World Cup: Revel in CanWNT’s success, but keep an eye on the future – MLS
There is a concern that Canada forging a deep run in this tournament could actually be counter-productive in the long run. It would, the thinking goes, gloss over the deep-rooted problems in the program and set up expectations that couldn’t possibly be sustained over the next decade. This is not an unreasonable point of view.
Former Canadian soccer star, fans bask in Team Canada fever in Vancouver – Metro
Nearly 30 years ago, George Pakos scored two goals to clinch Canada a spot in its only FIFA World Cup finals. On Sunday, the former soccer star from Victoria, B.C. got the chance to watch Team Canada with his two “soccer crazy” granddaughters at B.C. Place after his family surprised him with a trip to Vancouver for the big game on Father’s Day.
The Official Book of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015. On Sale Now at Amazon.ca
DAY 17 – FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
ROUND OF 16
Monday, June 22
NORWAY vs. ENGLAND – 2:00 pm
LANSDOWNE STADIUM, OTTAWA
UNITED STATES vs. COLOMBIA – 5:00 pm
COMMONWEALTH STADIUM, EDMONTON
Mixed fortunes on Father’s Day – FIFA
As numerous countries around the globe today marked Father’s Day today, the hosts gave their dads every reason to celebrate by reaching the quarter-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ together with Australia and France. The success was a historic one for the Matildas, while France must now face Germany after being closely scrutinised by their coach Silvia Neid, who was among the crowd at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium.
Australia upsets Brazil in Round of 16 – TSN
Forward Kyah Simon scored in the 80th minute as Australia beat Brazil 1-0 Sunday to advance to the quarter-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Delie, France advance to Women’s WC quarters – Sportsnet
The third-ranked French team scored two early goals and never looked back en route to a 3-0 victory over South Korea in the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Montreal on Sunday.
On Cusp of World Cup Record, Wambach only Thinking of the Next Game – US Soccer
Abby Wambach scored the game-winning goal in the U.S. WNT’s 1-0 victory against Nigeria Tuesday, helping the USA finish atop Group D in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. With 14 goals in her World Cup career, Wambach is now one goal away from tying Brazil’s Marta for most goals scored by any individual.
U.S. women’s soccer team not at its best before round-of-16 match against Colombia – Washington Post
They have enjoyed fine moments — a good half here, a scoring spell there, dense defense throughout — but not the complete performance that punctuated much of their 25 years of excellence.
Johnston leaves her idol in the shade – FIFA
“I model myself on Christie Rampone and look up to her. Obviously achieving what she’s achieved would be magnificent. I’d really like to meet her just once.” These were Julie Johnston’s words in an interview with FIFA.com back in 2012, as the defender was preparing to captain US U-20 team to the World Cup title in Japan. Then a college student, she was ultimately awarded the adidas Bronze Ball as the third-best player of the tournament.
Words continue to fly ahead of USA-Colombia – The Equalizer
There is trash-talking and then there is…well, mysterious trash-talking. Nobody seems to know what Colombian players are referencing ahead of Monday’s round-of-16 match against the United States at the 2015 Women’s World Cup.
Why Germany’s demolition of Sweden has changed the landscape of the 2015 Women’s World Cup – Soccer Gods
The Women’s World Cup opened its knockout round Saturday with the tournament’s most telling result to date. Germany, the favorite going into the final 16, dominated Sweden, scoring two times in each half and missing a handful of chances that could have produced another famous 7-1.
Sjogran’s emotional farewell – FIFA
When the final whistle sounded on Sweden’s match against Germany at the Lansdowne Stadium in Ottawa, Therese Sjogran sank to the ground. It was not only a reaction to her side’s 4-1 defeat and ensuing elimination from the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ in the Round of 16, but also to the fact that it was the last game of a career that had spanned almost two decades.
England Ready for Norway – BBC Sport
England are mentally prepared to win their first Women’s World Cup knockout game, reckons head coach Mark Sampson. England have never made it past the quarter-finals but with the tournament now expanded to 24 teams, they face Norway in the last 16.
Women’s World Cup: time for Australia’s television networks to reward the Matildas’ brilliance – The Guardian
It has been heralded as one of the greatest results in Matildas history, if not the greatest – Australia 1, Brazil 0. Long may it be etched in our collective memories. And yet, as a backdrop to this remarkable achievement from the Matildas is the news that the W-League, the top tier domestic competition, is still without a broadcaster, with FFA scrambling to cobble together a free-to-air deal that will bring women’s football into Australian living rooms.
Highlanders’ Dave Dew recalls early days of Women’s World Cup – Times Colonist
Dave Dew of Victoria, the former assistant Canadian coach, can recite from memory the attendance numbers for Canada’s games in the 1995 Women’s World Cup in Sweden. “Against England, there were 112 fans, against Nigeria 332 and against Norway 1,001 because it was played in a town close to the Norwegian border,” Dew said. What a difference to the scene in Vancouver today, where a capacity crowd will fill B.C. Place to watch Canada play Switzerland in a round-of-16 playoff game of the 2015 tournament.
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WHITECAPS FC & MLS
Ousted stops two PKs as Whitecaps FC claim thrilling 2-1 win over 10-men New York Red Bulls – Whitecaps FC
If there isn’t already a David Ousted statue erected somewhere in Vancouver, it’s probably coming soon. The Danish goalkeeper stopped two Bradley Wright-Phillips penalty kicks as Vancouver Whitecaps FC (9W-6L-2D) defeated the 10-men New York Red Bulls (4W-5L-5D) 2-1 on Saturday at Red Bull Arena.
New York Red Bulls 1, Vancouver Whitecaps 2 | MLS Match Recap – MLS
Winless in over a month, the Red Bulls’ losing streak was extended to four in the most acrimonious of fashions. Striker Bradley Wright-Phillips became the first player in MLS history to miss two penalty kicks in the same match, while the Whitecaps’ David Ousted became the third goalkeeper in league history to save two penalties in a match.
Red Bulls fail to overcome missed penalties, early red card in loss to Whitecaps – SBI
After losing Sacha Kljestan to a red card in the 11th minute and falling behind 2-0, the Red Bulls hopes for any positive result seemed far gone. But a goal from Anatole Bertrand Abang in the 81st minute cut the deficit in half and a flurry of late chances nearly led to an equalizer.
Report and Reaction: Outstanding Ousted sparks Whitecaps to action packed win at Red Bulls – AFTN
New York Red Bulls have never beaten Vancouver Whitecaps in five previous attempts. You can make that six now. The ‘Caps headed into Red Bull Arena full of optimism on the back of their win at LA in their last game and nicely rested after a bye week. They left New York with three points after a dramatic 2-1 win that saw the Red Bulls miss two penalties and play 80 minutes a man down.
No Bull – Whitecaps Survive Early Drama for 3 Points – Eighty-Six Forever
Whenever I think of a match between the Vancouver Whitecaps and the New York Red Bulls, my mind invariably leaps to the 4-1 drubbing at BC Place that marked Carl Robinson’s inaugural game as head coach. That game had it all: goals, a win, a raucous home crowd… what could possibly offer more excitement and memories than that? Well, tonight’s game certainly made a case for itself.
Two PKs, two saves: How David Ousted denied the 2014 MLS Golden Boot winner – twice – Whitecaps FC
It was the first time in his entire footballing career that Ousted had saved two penalties in a game, but the ‘Caps captain on the night felt that the real credit for his heroics lay not with him, but with the club’s video team back home.
After drawing questionable red card, Sacha Kljestan questions chippy play in MLS – SBI
“My biggest criticism of the MLS is the amount of grabbing and hugging and holding and fouling that goes on in the box and the referees do not protect the attacking players,” Kljestan said after the Red Bulls’ 2-1 loss to Vancouver. “It annoys me so much and in this moment, I got so annoyed and I threw my elbow up to get free of Waston bear-hugging me. It was a stupid play.”
TFC fall to physical New York City at BMO Field – Red Nation Online
After a bye week last weekend, Toronto FC were back in action on Saturday facing off against expansion side New York City FC. Heading into the fixture on a three game win streak, TFC were looking to extend their winning run to four games for the first time in club history.
Reports: Pirlo will sign with NYC FC – Big Apple Soccer
Pirlo was at Yankee Stadium for Old-Timers Day on Saturday, talking to NYC FC chief executive Ferran Soriano, according to the New York Post. Several sources told The Post that the Major League Soccer expansion team was close to finalizing a deal with the Italian, perhaps sometime this week.
Report: Whitecaps partner with Ontario youth club to start affiliate – 24th minute
CSN has confirmed that the Vancouver Whitecaps have partnered with the North London Soccer Club to set-up a satellite academy in that Ontario city. The announcement of the partnership is expected in July.
MLS suspends Seattle Sounders’ Clint Dempsey for three games following US Open Cup incident – MLS
As of Friday afternoon, the US Open Cup Adjudication and Disciplinary Panel had gathered evidence, including the report of the referee and the match commissioner, video of the incident, and was conducting interviews with the relevant parties, according to U.S. Soccer. A hearing will be conducted next week, and any decision made by the Panel on further sanctioning will pertain only to future Open Cup tournament competition.
Dempsey Ban Proves MLS Coddles USMNT Regulars – Eighty-Six Forever
So, let me get this straight: according to the recent edict handed down by Major League Soccer (who, as per U.S. Soccer Federation policy 531-9, Section 4, Subsection A, Article 1 are the arbiters of punishment for MLS teams in the U.S. Open Cup), Clint Dempsey of the Seattle Sounders will be suspended three matches for not only disrespecting a referee with his general behaviour but tearing up referee Daniel Radford’s notebook in the process.
Clint Dempsey drama shows MLS is still operating in the murky shadows of sport – Soccer Gods
It’s the same length of suspension meted out to Alan Gordon for a homophobic slur in 2013, and half as long as the six games received by Fabian Espindola last year for shoving a match official. Are these relevant comparisons? Who knows. We have no clue who’s making these decisions or why. Hard to find context when you’re entering a void.
Seattle’s football fever could see the mighty NFL heading for a fall – Daily Mail
Alan Hinton turned to look at the boisterous South End in full cry. ‘Sometimes I go and sing to them,’ he said. ‘I sing: “We’ve got the best team in the land”.’ And Seattle Sounders have. Saturday’s out-of-character defeat by San Jose Earthquakes aside, they are the best of Major League Soccer right now.
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WFC2 & USL
PHOTO GALLERY: WFC2 3 PORTLAND TIMBERS 2 2, JUNE 21, 2015 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Monique Lamoureux
McKendry, Bustos, Sampson score as Whitecaps FC 2 win 3-2 versus Timbers 2 – Whitecaps FC
It was fitting that Ethan Sampson’s score was the game-winner against T2, as he also played a major role in the Cascadia rivalry earlier in the MLS season. The Homegrown player played 88 minutes to help Whitecaps FC earn a scoreless draw at Portland last month.
USL MATCH RECAP | Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2: 3, Portland Timbers 2: 2 – Timbers 2
Midfielder Blair Gavin and forward Kharlton Belmar each scored second-half goals, but T2 were unable to rally from a second-half deficit in a 3-2 defeat against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 on Sunday afternoon in front of 1,373 fans at UBC Thunderbird Stadium.
WFC2’s inaugural USL season reaches midway mark with mixed results but “the experience that they’re getting is invaluable” – AFTN
“It’s been probably exactly what I expected,” Robinson told AFTN this week. “Everyone compares us to Portland and Seattle because they’re USL teams as well. If you look at the average age of Seattle’s USL team, correct me if I’m wrong, but it’s older than my first team squad.
CANADA
Roberts: The thrill of playing for Canada took a couple of minutes to kick in – the11.ca
Mallan Roberts came to Canada as a nine-year-old, fleeing Sierra Leone with his father. It took nearly 14 years for him to get his citizenship. And, shortly after, his first Canada call-up. This past week, late in the second half of Canada’s 4-0 win over Dominica in World Cup qualifying, national-team coach Benito Floro sent Roberts onto the pitch at Toronto’s BMO Field.
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WORLD OF SOCCER
Copa America: Two-faced Brazil do just enough – ESPN FC
Neymar may be out of the Copa America, but Brazil are still in it. There may have been a frantic final few minutes after Miku cut the five-time World Cup winners’ lead to 2-1, but the majority of this game brought Brazil’s best play of the tournament — and without their best player.
Serbia crowned world Under-20 champions after beating Brazil in final – The Guardian
Nemanja Maksimovic scored an 118th-minute goal on the counterattack to give Serbia a 2-1 victory over Brazil in extra time in the Under-20 World Cup final at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday.
Serbia bests Brazil in extra time, claim U-20 World Cup – Prost Amerika
One of the biggest questions in international football has always been when Serbia would put it all together. Lauded heavily for their technical prowess, any praise given towards Serbia was always built in with the caveat that they never perform well in international tournaments. The thought has always been that if they can put everything together then at some point they could take that next step and be a power in world football.
Millennium Stadium set to host 2017 Champions League final – BBC Sport
The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff is expected to be named as the venue for the 2017 Champions League final.
Transfer news and rumours: United close in on £7.5 million deal for Bastian Schweinsteiger – Telegraph
Manchester United are closing in on a £7.5 million deal for Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger. The Sunday People reports that Louis van Gaal is confident he can lure his former player away from the Allianz Arena, and transfer negotiator Ed Woodward has been told to make it happen.
Truth will not be the only casualty if Newcastle United embrace a ‘media partner’ – The Independent
From Washington DC comes a picture of what the future looks like when a big sports team buys off a critical newspaper by offering all the benefits it craves the most – exclusive access, exclusive quotes and plenty of seats in the press box. The Washington Times used to report the Washington Redskins NFL team critically and objectively, ridiculing relentless attempts by Dan Snyder – the franchise’s owner, who steadfastly sticks to the name which many Native Americans consider an insult – to control the flow of information.