BC Soccer News, Thursday, April 6, 2017

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

 VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC  1  TIGRES UANL  2

SEMI-FINAL, 2nd LEG (1-4 agg.)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2017

BC PLACE, VANCOUVER, BC

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PHOTOS: Whitecaps FC 1 Tigres UANL 2, April 5, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

‘Caps knocked out of Champions League with 2-1 loss to Mexican champs Tigres UANL – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s historic run in the CONCACAF Champions League came to a heartbreaking end on Wednesday night at BC Place.

Whitecaps’ historic Champions League run comes to an end – Sportsnet
Before the Vancouver Whitecaps faced off against Tigres UANL in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals on Wednesday evening, a group of home-team supporters stood at the south end of BC Place, lifting a sign that read: “Never tell us the odds.”

Vancouver Whitecaps lose 2-1 to UANL Tigres – Eighty-Six Forever
The Whitecaps’ CONCACAF Champions League run comes to an end in the semi-finals in a compelling second leg match.

Caps’ roared early, but Tigres’ top talent too much to handle – Vancouver Sun
In the end, there would be no miracle on Beatty. In the end, Tigres’ quality and pedigree was enough to withstand the Whitecaps’ hope and heart. Andre-Pierre Gignac — the French international who earns a reported $4.5 million US, well over half the Whitecaps’ payroll — struck the killing blow with a brilliant strike from just outside the box midway through the second half.

Whitecaps reflect on “historical” CCL run with experience, pride gained – MLS
It lasted nearly two full calendar years and spanned three MLS seasons, but the Vancouver Whitecaps’ second CONCACAF Champions League adventure came to an end at BC Place on Wednesday with a 2-1 loss on the night, and a 4-1 semifinal defeat on aggregate, to Mexican giants Tigres UANL.

‘Nothing to be ashamed of:’ Whitecaps FC take pride in historic Champions League run – Whitecaps FC
It lasted nearly two full calendar years and spanned three MLS seasons, but Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s second CONCACAF Champions League adventure came to an end at BC Place on Wednesday with a 2-1 loss on the night, and a 4-1 semifinal defeat on aggregate, to Mexican giants Tigres UANL.

Tigers toy with Whitecaps – Whitecaps Fan Blog
Oh well, we knew it was a long shot. We only lost 1-2 at home to a far superior team in Tigres UNAL and once again, the free enterprise football teams of Mexico beat the salary capped Major League Soccer (MLS) teams of Canada and the USA.  The CONCACAF final will feature Tigres and Pachuca, and it is Mexico which will yet again send a team to the World Club Championship.

Whitecaps muff chance to draw CCL semifinal level, pay for it in the end – the11.ca
At the end of the night, the “attempts at goal” stat might be 20-2 in your opponent’s favour, so you know that those two chances you’ll get both have to end up in the back of the net.

Major League Soccer may be improving, but so is Liga MX – ESPN FC
It’s a repetitive story: MLS teams can’t seem to translate overall improvement on the field into CONCACAF Champions League victories over Liga MX sides.

Tigres, Pachuca set up all-Mexican final – FIFA
Tigres and Pachuca will meet in yet another all-Mexican CONCACAF Champions League final after they won their respective semi-finals this week.

MLS teams to blame for CONCACAF Champions League predictability – SN
Same song, ninth verse! Like a campfire song, there’s little variation in the final of the CONCACAF Champions League. After Andre-Pierre Gignac’s golazo put the Vancouver Whitecaps’ mini-comeback to bed, it was confirmed. For the seventh time in nine tournaments since the governing body adopted the current format, the final will pit two Mexican teams against each other.

Real Salt Lake vs. Vancouver Whitecaps | 2017 MLS Match Preview – MLS
Nothing’s gone right for Real Salt Lake early in 2017, which led to the dismissal of head coach Jeff Cassar and the promotion of Mike Petke from head coach of USL affiliate Real Monarchs to the full MLS side. In the past two weeks Daryl Shore had been guiding the ship, a span which produced a credible draw on the road at New York before the team fell apart in a 4-2 loss at Minnesota United.

Real Salt Lake vs. Vancouver Whitecaps preview: Enter the era of Petke – RSL Soapbox
New RSL head coach Mike Petke will see his first game in charge when the Whitecaps visit Rio Tinto Stadium this weekend.

Real Salt Lake: RSL diving deeper into ongoing rash of injuries – Salt Lake Tribune
Real Salt Lake general manager Craig Waibel said the front office and training staff have gone back and revisited the days, weeks and months since the start of preseason in late January to determine if there is a common theme in the team’s mounting injuries. “I wouldn’t say we’re in full panic mode,” Waibel said, “but we’re certainly analyzing what the heck’s going on.”

Impact unfazed by slow start ahead of showdown vs. Galaxy – Sportsnet
The Montreal Impact see no reason to panic, even if they have yet to post a win in their first four games of the Major League Soccer season.

Toronto FC vs. Atlanta United FC | 2017 MLS Match Preview – MLS
The drama of this Eastern Conference match-up needs very little explaining: each team comes in with plenty of hype, and maybe even more to prove. Toronto FC, the reigning Eastern Conference champs, are all about battling back to MLS Cup after letting it slip away last year on their own territory.

Sapong taking new role in stride four games into Union season – SBI
One year ago, C.J. Sapong was the unquestioned top forward on the Philadelphia Union depth chart, and he responded by ripping the back of the net on five occasions in his first nine matches.

Josh Smith emphasizes tactics in Revolution debut  – Prost Amerika
It was a strange night in Kaiserslautern on June 17, 2006, when the nine-man United States survived an onslaught from 10-man Italy to escape the Fritz-Walter Stadion with a 1-1 draw in their second World Cup group match. Three players had been sent off, there was an own goal, and two goals were called offside, one of which occurred deep in the second half and came off the foot of U.S. national team midfielder DaMarcus Beasley.

Notebook: RBNY’s Verón Is in Argentina – Empire of Soccer
Gonzalo Verón has not healed from his injuries as quickly as the team has hoped and now the forward has gone back to Argentina to be evaluated. The news came during training this week after Verón missed an anticipated start with New York Red Bull II last Saturday. Now there is speculation about when he might return.

MLS Injury Update: Week 6 – Who’s Fit and Who’s Out? – MLS Multiplex
We have compiled the latest MLS injury news and updates for all 22 teams ahead of week six of action, which takes place from April 8-10.

MLS Disciplinary Committee suspends DC United’s Marcelo Sarvas – MLS
The MLS Disciplinary Committee has levied one suspension after Week 5 of the 2017 season.

Making a List: MLS players on loan – Soccer America
The New York Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union loaned out young Cameroonians Anatole Abang and Eric Ayuk, respectively, to clubs in Europe. They bring to nine the number of players sent on season-long loans — six to foreign clubs and three to USL clubs.

Orlando nears loan deal with Queretaro for Luis Gil – sources – ESPN FC
The loan deal to bring Queretaro midfielder Luis Gil to MLS side Orlando City is nearing completion, multiple sources have told ESPN FC.

Real Salt Lake Acquires $100,000 in TAM for the Right of First Refusal to Luis Gil – RSL
Real Salt Lake announced on Thursday that the club has acquired $100,000 in Targeted Allocation Money in 2018 from Orlando City SC in exchange for the Right of First Refusal to MF Luis Gil.

For Beckham, it’s Miami or bust; Las Vegas not an alternative option under his deal –SI.com
Despite three years of frustration and failure at three potential stadium sites (plus lengthy delays at a proposed fourth), MLS still hasn’t given up on David Beckham and Miami. Representatives from both sides continue to talk.

The one big lesson to MLS’s expansion hopefuls from St. Louis’ stadium failure – Fox Sports
All of the talk about St. Louis’ MLS expansion bid was positive. The league loved the market, the ownership was settled, they had history in the city and the stadium proposal looked great. When MLS announced that they would award two expansion teams in 2017, St. Louis looked like a shoo-in for one of them. Then it all fell apart when the city voted not to spend $60 million of public money on their proposed stadium.

NYCFC sign first eSports player to MLS club brand – Inside World Football
New York City FC has become the second of the City Football Group clubs and the first in the MLS to sign an eSports player top play competitively under the club brand and in club colours.

MLS PHOTOS: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 4 LA Galaxy 2, April 1 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

3v3 Live Soccer Tour Comes to Canada

BC SOCCER NEWS

FVSL PHOTOS: Pakenham Cup Final, PMO Rangers 1 PMO Lordco Gunners 0, April 1, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Richard Howes.

Richmond FC first to tackle new standard – Richmond News
BC Soccer announced that Richmond FC was the first of its members to achieve the organization’s new Club Charter Standard 1 designation.

Velte, McKay, Jones Athletes of Year; Volleyball Team of Year – SFU
The Lorne Davies Athletes of the Year awards were bestowed upon volleyball star Alison McKay, champion wrestler Mallory Velte, and midfield scoring sensation Adam Jones from men’s soccer.

Peterson garners President’s Cup as Folk, Hedlin named UVic’s Athletes of the Year – UVic
The University of Victoria Vikes reflected back on a memorable and successful 2016-17 varsity season tonight, Apr. 5, at the Celebration of Champions event. This evening highlights the annual athletics award winners and the UVic Sports Hall of Fame class of 2017.

SFU unveils plans for hillside stadium on Terry Fox Field – SFU
Simon Fraser University announces the first phase of the student-led stadium project, which will see covered stadium seating built into the hillside at Terry Fox field on the Burnaby campus by April 2020 through a $10-million contribution from SFU students.

Whitecaps Academy offers preview in Prince Rupert – Northern View
Prince Rupert’s aspiring soccer players will have the opportunity to hone their skills under the watchful eye of professional coaches at the Whitecaps Academy free training day on April 9.

KYSA round-up, April 5 – Kamloops This Week
The Kamloops Blaze opened their girls’ under-14 season with a 2-1 victory over Kelowna United on the weekend at UBC-Okanagan’s Nonis Field.

REVIEW: The Miracle Mile. Stories of the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games – BC BookLook
Author Jason Beck is curator of the BC Sports Hall of Fame in BC Place Stadium, Vancouver, and convenor two years ago of an excellent exhibition about the 1954 Games. In his first book, he proves to be a meticulous researcher, a compelling story-teller, and a crafty realist who knows how to hook his readers. Watch how, two pages into the book, he uses filmic technique to evoke the arriving athletes’ youthful buzz and give period colouring and costuming, but then smartly moves his camera in to introduce his stars.

TSS Rovers launch website & 2017 Season Ticket Campaign – TSS Rovers
TSS FC Rovers play their inaugural season in the PDL at iconic Swangard Stadium. Season Tickets are $70 for Adults, $49 for U12 Youth.

Becoming a BC Soccer Referee – BCSA
Whether you are an experienced referee new to British Columbia or if you are new to the discipline of refereeing BC Soccer Assoc. has a clinic and a pathway for you.  The minimum age to become a referee is 12 years old (small sided) and 14 years old (11-a-side). Please enjoy the short video showcasing some Referee programs that BC Soccer offers and continue below for more on how to become a referee in BC!

To our Readers: A Choice – BC Soccer Web
Soccer has brought us to the United States many times. It’s a great place with decent people. We especially look forward to our Cascadia trips to Seattle and Portland. They’re incredible cities with wonderful supporters. That’s why it was so disheartening to see chaos and fear take hold in the airports and borders of our neighbours to the south.

Victoria Highlanders 2017 Season Passes now on sale – Highlanders FC
Support local soccer on Vancouver Island. Join the excitement of Highlanders FC PDL Soccer!

PHOTOS: CANADA WEST WOMENS FINAL, UBC 3, TWU 0, NOVEMBER 6, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

2016 BC Soccer Provincial Cup Photo Galleries – BC Soccer Web
Westhills Stadium & Goudy Park in Langford hosted the 2016 BC Soccer Adult Provincial Cup Finals. It was a thrilling weekend of soccer on Vancouver Island that saw seven champions crowned. Richmond FC & Surrey Pegasus qualified for the National Championships this Fall in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Both Coquitlam Metro-Ford Masters & Classics sides qualified for the Western Canadian Masters Championships in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In all, it was a clean sweep for teams from the VMSL & MWSL. Monique Lamoureux & Bill Currie from BC Soccer Web were on location that weekend, capturing the all the action.

Free Physiotherapy Clinical Trial for Achilles Pain at UBC – UBC Centre for Hip Health & Mobility
Do you have Achilles pain? Interested in free Physiotherapy? If yes, join our clinical trial to look at the effectiveness of intramuscular stimulation (IMS), a form of acupuncture therapy, in treating Achilles tendon pain.

The BC Soccer Web Guide to Empire Field – BC Soccer Web
Empire Fields and Plateau Sports Park is the lofty and formal name given to Vancouver’s newest addition to the soccer scene. Yet, anyone who’s ever kicked or carried both kinds of footballs around these parts knows the place by heart.

Introducing BC Soccer Web Syndication – BC Soccer Web
You can now add BC Soccer Web news to your website simply by adding our new RSS Feed! Find out more.

Send your Soccer News to BC Soccer Web! – BC Soccer Web
BC Soccer Web is the hub for soccer in British Columbia. We want to share your soccer news with the entire province, and you can help by letting us know! We want your match reports, club news, league standings, and info on upcoming tournaments and clinics. Whether you submit links to existing news on the web, or your own original writing, we want to share it with the soccer community in B.C.

 Premium Classified Advertising on BC Soccer Web Starting at 50 cents per day!

CANADA SOCCER NEWS

Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team set to face Sweden – CSA
Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team are gearing up for its first of two international friendlies in Europe, starting with Sweden on 6 April 2017 in Trelleborg, Sweden. Canada will play its second match against Germany on 9 April in Erfurt, Germany.

Canadian soccer player Jessie Fleming set to help national team after NCAA success – CBC
Jessie Fleming wasted little time introducing herself to NCAA soccer. In her UCLA debut on Aug. 28, the 19-year-old from London, Ont., scored a pair of goals in a 4-3 overtime loss to Florida. But it was a moment of sublime ball-handling skill that stood out.

University soccer coaches set to converge on Pierrefonds – The Suburban
I had the chance to sit down with former Montreal Impact soccer players Antonio Ribeiro and Freddy Moojen last week to learn more about their sixth annual College Soccer Combine. It will take place over the course of two weekends next month at Grier Park in Pierrefonds, offering elite male and female players the opportunity to walk away with lucrative scholarship opportunities.

York Region trio competes at national U-15 soccer camp – York Region
Three residents of York Region are among a group of 22 players participating in this week’s Canada Soccer Under-15 National EXCEL Camp in Burnaby, British Columbia.

2 Whitehorse teens ‘over the moon’ to make varsity soccer teams – CBC
Two high school students in Whitehorse are thrilled about joining soccer teams at prestigious eastern universities this fall. Jamie Joe-Hudson is going to Bishop’s in Lennoxville, Quebec. Skyler Bryant is going to Dalhousie in Halifax.

Ottawa-trained TFC trio tackling new terrain together – Sports Ottawa
Three Ottawa players and friends have set off to chase their soccer dreams together. Antonio Carlini, Danny Assaf and Mehdi Essoussi are a couple months into their tenure with Toronto FC’s academy, having joined the Major League Soccer Club in January.

Group wants to build soccer dome in city this summer – Sudbury.com
The years-long effort to build an indoor sports facility in Greater Sudbury is moving forward, as city councillors approved funding this week to evaluate proposals. Meeting on Monday, members of the community services heard that there are three groups expressing interest in building a sports dome or other indoor facility.

 Premium Classified Advertising on BC Soccer Web Starting at 50 cents per day!

UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE

WFC2  vs.  SOUNDERS FC 2

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2017, 3:00 PM

BUY TICKETS

McLEOD ATHLETIC PARK, LANGLEY, BC

LIVESTREAM: WHITECAPSFC2.COM

Match Preview: FC Edmonton opens home campaign with Jacksonville rematch – FC Edmonton
The Eddies’ Home Opener at Clarke Stadium this Saturday night comes in an early rematch with Armada FC following an opening week 1-0 loss in Florida.

Lance Rozeboom’s journey to Ottawa – Ottawa Fury FC
Lance Rozeboom, 27, was undeniably a solid player coming out of the University of New Mexico where he helped lead the team to an undefeated season in 2011, going 18-0-4. After being selected as the 26th overall pick in the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft by D.C. United, and a promising preseason to make the squad, a haunting ACL injury at practice put the rookie’s career on hold.

VIDEO: USL Goals of the Week – Week 2 – YouTube
Top goals from week 2 of USL action.

Reggae Boyz Holness among scorers in USL – Jamaica Observer
Five Caribbean-born players found the target over the weekend in the United Soccer League (USL), the second tier of the game in the United States.

How pro soccer could work in Boise — from removable mounds to when it would start – Idaho Statesman
The latest proposal to bring a long-awaited baseball stadium to Downtown Boise has created plenty of buzz. But tucked into the proposal is an overlooked first for the Treasure Valley — the chance to bring professional soccer to the area.

Real Monarchs SLC vs. Reno 1868 FC: Going for three straight – RSL Soapbox
Although newcomers to USL, Reno 1868 FC will bring an experienced squad into Rio Tinto in search of their first ever point(s) on the road. After a scoreless 2-0 opening weekend loss at home to Orange County FC, coach Ian Russell’s squad rebounded to get a quick set-piece goal off a corner kick and tie 1-1 with Vancouver Whitecaps II last weekend.

U.S. women, U.S. Soccer agree to new CBA, end labor dispute – SI.com
The labor impasse between the U.S. women’s national team players association and U.S. Soccer is over. The two sides announced on Wednesday that they have ratified a new collective bargaining agreement in a five-year deal that will run through 2021.

Lynn Williams, Rose Lavelle added to list of U.S. Federation Players – The Equalizer
A day after the USWNT Players Association and US Soccer announced a new collective bargaining agreement, US Soccer and NWSL announced a list of 22 players who will play this season as Federation Players.

Row between FAI and Women’s National Team resolved – Irish Times
The Irish women’s senior football team has reached an agreement with the Football Association of Ireland over a dispute that saw the team members decide not to attend training on Wednesday.

Irish women’s football captain explains why we she had to threaten strike action – Inews UK
Republic of Ireland captain Emma Byrne has said that her squad’s threat of strike action this week was necessary to secure the future of women’s international football.

Women’s World Cup preliminary round guide – UEFA
The road to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup has begun with the preliminary round as 16 teams vie for five qualifying group berths: our full guide.

US, Canada and Mexico set to submit joint bid to host 2026 World Cup – The Guardian
A joint bid from the US, Canada and Mexico to host the enlarged 2026 World Cup is expected to be finalised this year for submission to Fifa, according to Victor Montagliani, the president of the region’s Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Football Associations (Concacaf).

Wednesday European Rewind: Chelsea tops Man City, Juventus beats Napoli and more – SBI
Several of Europe’s heavy-hitters took the field on Wednesday, providing plenty of action across the top leagues.

Chelsea beats Manchester City to tighten grip on top spot – Toronto Star
Defeat deals serious blow to Man City’s hopes of narrowing gap in Premier League standings.

Ligue 1 title focus for PSG with Guingamp in town – Ligue 1
After domestic cup success in the last week, Paris Saint-Germain sharpen their focus on the defence of their Ligue 1 crown when En Avant Guingamp come to the Parc des Princes on Sunday.

Liverpool fined £100,000 and handed two-year ban on signing academy players – BBC Sport
It relates to the club’s approach to a 12-year-old academy player at Stoke City in September last year.

Brazil replace Argentina at top of FIFA rankings, Belgium out of top five –  ESPN FC
Brazil have taken over at the top of the FIFA rankings for the first time since 2010. The first team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, Brazil have won nine consecutive games since Tite took over as coach.

Referee Keith Stroud out of weekend fixture after Newcastle penalty blunder – The Guardian
The referee Keith Stroud will not take charge of the League One match between Gillingham and Millwall on Saturday after his mistake in not awarding a penalty to be retaken in the Newcastle United v Burton Albion match on Wednesday.

Mafia Threats and the To Do List for European Football – Declan Hill
Fixing occurs regularly in Spanish football and the league there has, like most European leagues, taken very little effective action to stop the corruption. (Note: some profanity).

Three footballers arrested for match-fixing in Malaysia – SN
According to the national news agency, the trio is composed of two local players aged 26 and 27 each, and a foreign player aged 29 years old.

Confederations Cup tickets unsold as Russian broadcasters reluctant to join the party – Inside World Football
With 72 days left until the kick-off of the 2017 Confederations Cup, less than a third of the event’s tickets have been sold. The domestic TV rights for the tournament and the World Cup finals also remain problematic.

EFL teams must name ‘club-developed’ player on matchdays from 2018-19 – BBC Sport
A club-developed player is defined as one who has been registered to the club for at least a year before the end of his under-19 season.

Brexit: Premier League and FA at odds over immigration exemptions for foreign football stars  – The Telegraph
The Football Association and Premier League were on a collision course over Brexit on Thursday after Greg Clarke revealed he would lobby the Government to block “journeyman” European Union players moving to England.

Reffing corner kicks: Don’t ignore the grabbing and holding – Soccer America
When I started officiating soccer, refereeing the corner kick was not a big issue. But it has become much more challenging during the past decade or so as officials in pro games have allowed way too much contact to occur before and during corner kicks in front of the goal that they would not allow to occur at midfield. And all the grappling and holding on corner kicks has filtered to the other levels of play.