2015 CONCACAF GOLD CUP
CANADA 0 EL SALVADOR 0
STUBHUB CENTER, CARSON, CALIF.
Canada MNT solid defensively in 2015 Gold Cup opening draw – CSA
Canada’s Men’s National Team opened the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup with a scrappy 0:0 draw against El Salvador on Wednesday night at the Stub Hub Centre in Carson, California. Canada’s Cyle Larin had the best opportunity late in the first half of the tightly contested match as he rounded the El Salvador goalkeeper only to see his shot fly wide of the open goal.
Gold Cup: Fans may be wary after Canada post draw vs El Salvador, but there’s cause for optimism – MLS
It wasn’t the start to the Gold Cup that Canada wanted or needed, but it will have to do. Canadians—Cyle Larin foremost among them—will be shaking their heads and wondering about what might have been after Les Rouges had to settle for a 0-0 draw against El Salvador in their Gold Cup opener on Wednesday night.
Canada sees pros and cons from Gold Cup stalemate – Goal
Canada coach Benito Floro said he would’ve preferred to see his team score but wasn’t upset about its scoreless draw with El Salvador. The Canucks had chances in their Gold Cup opener. Forward Cyle Larin was left to rue an open-net miss in the first half that was the best opportunity of the game, but the manager was ultimately satisfied with the point.
Gold Cup: Canada is happy with draw against El Salvador, but hopes to sharpen its defense – MLS
Canada was more or less happy with the scoreless draw against El Salvador in its CONCACAF Gold Cup opener Wednesday night, exiting with the understanding that there’s plenty of room for improvement, especially in the attack, when the team gets to Houston.
Canada falls short with 0-0 draw vs. El Salvador – Red Nation Online
Coming off its positive result against Dominica to begin the road down Russia 2018 World Cup Qualifying, the Canadian Men’s National Team entered into 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup eager to continue the positive momentum. It’s first test beginning with a tournament opener against El Salvador at StubHub Center in Carson, California.
Cyle Larin rues costly miss for Canada in tournament debut, but team stands behind him – MLS
Cyle Larin certainly would have liked a do-over after he shanked a shot well off target while staring at an empty net late in the first half of Canada’s CONCACAF Gold Cup opener.
Cyle Larin filling the gaps for club and country – Goal
In his rookie season, Larin is taking advantage of the lack of attacking options at both Orlando and the Canadian national team by making a name for himself.
Costa Rica 2, Jamaica 2 | CONCACAF Gold Cup match recap – MLS
Costa Rica rallied from an early deficit but couldn’t hold on as Jamaica claimed a point in a rousing Group B opener at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Mexico vs. Cuba | Gold Cup Match Preview – MLS
The Mexican national team enters their opening Gold Cup match vs. Cuba in some amount of disarray. They have suffered injuries to two of their star players and haven’t exactly been tearing it up over the last six months.
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WHITECAPS FC & MLS
Whitecaps ready for a home run – Goal
Vancouver Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson believes emulating his side’s road form at home is key to how the remainder of their season will unfold. Having been turned into an MLS traveling road show by the Women’s World Cup the past few weeks, the Blue and White are excited to prepare for a game at BC Place when Western Conference foe Sporting Kansas City pays a visit Sunday night.
Whitecaps finally back in the ‘fortress’ – 24 Hours
After a six-week spell away, the Vancouver Whitecaps are finally returning home to BC Place. With three wins and two losses during their FIFA Women’s World Cup-induced hiatus, the road remained a comfortable place for the Whitecaps (10-7-2), whose six away victories are twice as many as any other team in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference.
What are Carl Robinson’s plans for the summer transfer window? – Whitecaps FC
Major League Soccer is open for business. Today marks the opening of the league’s secondary transfer window, which allows teams to both acquire players currently under contract in another country and make trades within MLS.
Targeted Allocation Money: MLS explains newest acquisition method – SI.com
Major League Soccer announced Wednesday the creation of a new mechanism to acquire talent, one that can help teams add star power without going over the allotted three Designated Player roster spots.
Can the Caps compete within the salary cap? – The Province
On the MLS website Wednesday, it took 500 words to explain what targeted allocation money is.
WFC2 & USL
Whitecaps FC 2 looking for third straight Cascadia derby win versus Timbers 2 on Friday night – Whitecaps FC
Can it get any better than a Cascadia rivalry match under the bright lights? Whitecaps FC 2 (5W-8L-4D) look to make it three derby wins in four weeks when they host Timbers 2 (6W-8L-2D) at Thunderbird Stadium on Friday evening
USL Player of the Week Victor Blasco catching the eye with WFC2 – “We see special things from him in training” – AFTN
It was quite the impressive 13 minute spell for WFC2 substitute Victor Blasco on Sunday against Seattle Sounders. His two goals at the death, 78 seconds apart, secured Blasco USL Player of the Week honours and the Whitecaps three crucial points.
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BC SOCCER
Whitecaps FC U-16 fall 3-2 after penalty kicks in USSDA quarter-final – Whitecaps FC
It was a coming of age for Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-16 Wednesday evening, but they fell just short on penalty kicks to Georgia United U-16 in the USSDA quarter-final in front of a fantastic crowd at Simon Fraser University.
Pinnacles coach unhappy about officiating in loss – Penticton Western News
The Tim Hortons Pinnacles lost 4-1 at home to the Victoria Highlanders FC on Saturday. The only thing that bothered Pinnacles coach Paulo Araujo was the officiating in the Pacific Coast Soccer League Premier Men’s Division league match.
Slim hope for paralympic soccer slips away – Powell River Peak
Freshly returned from the 2015 Cerebral Palsy Football World Championships in England, the Canadian Para Soccer team will have a challenge ahead if it wants to have a shot at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil.
Port Coquitlam United brave heat & strike gold – Tri-City News
Port Coquitlam United FC steamrolled its way to a gold medal at the under-15 Kelowna Canada Day soccer championships last week.
Penalty kick proves costly as Cowichan Classics fall to Costa Ricans – Cowichan Valley Citizen
A last-minute penalty kick gave Costa Rica’s Real Cartago a narrow 2-1 victory over the Cowichan Classics in an international friendly game at Duncan’s McAdam Park on June 30.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
After USWNT victory, what now for NWSL? – The Equalizer
The NWSL was born following the 2012 Olympics. This league is backed by the U.S. Soccer Federation and its purpose is to both give players a sustainable league and, most importantly to the federation, give national team players a weekly place to play at the highest level.
About a women’s league – 24th Minute
The biggest reason for the women falling behind is the same as it is for the men – they have very limited professional opportunities and the ones they have are almost always tied into the whims of the American system. The difference is the women have far less opportunity to pursue clubs outside of the US.
Back to reality: What now for USA’s World Cup winners? – The Guardian
Every USA player will receive a $300,000 bonus for winning the Women’s World Cup, according to US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati. That’s more than the spending cap for an entire roster in the NWSL.
Vancouver sees stars (and stripes) in World Cup final – North Shore News
The city acted as good hosts and good neighbours yesterday, welcoming a stadium full of supporters of the United States national women’s soccer team for a championship clash against Japan at BC Place.
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WORLD OF SOCCER
FIFA bans ex-CONCACAF chief Chuck Blazer from football for life – ESPN FC
Chuck Blazer, the former FIFA executive committee member who turned whistleblower for the FBI, has been banned from football for life by the sport’s world governing body.
Argentina takes FIFA rankings top spot – TSN
Canada climbed six spots to #103 in the latest FIFA Rankings.
Croatia fears Euro 2016 expulsion and begs UEFA for mercy – Inside World Football
Croatia’s prime minister has issued a strongly worded personal plea to UEFA president Michel Platini urging Europe’s governing body not to expel the national team after a swastika was scrawled on the pitch during last month’s European Championship qualifier against Italy.
Real Madrid has finally kicked out Iker Casillas, the greatest goalkeeper in the history of the club – Soccer Gods
Iker Casillas, who has been at Real Madrid since he joined in 1990 at the tender age of nine, will leave the club to join FC Porto. It hasn’t been made official, but at this point, it is only a matter of time.
Why the importance of a goalkeeper cannot be overestimated – The Guardian
Top keepers such as David de Gea, Hugo Lloris, Petr Cech and Iker Casillas are in demand this summer and rightly so as a save can be worth as much as a goal.
An Intimate Portrait of a Professional Footballer’s Last Match – 8 by 8
When Milad Ahmadvand, the team photographer of Swiss club FC Winterthur, learned that former fan favorite Sawwas Exouzidis would play his final game as a professional footballer against his one-time club, it was an opportunity he couldn’t resist. The result is an heart-wrenching, intimate portrait of a man coming to terms with the end of his career.
Greek club Olympiakos slash season ticket prices in ‘crisis offer’ – Reuters
Greek champions Olympiakos Piraeus are cutting season ticket prices for the new Super League season by up to 50 percent in response to the country’s deepening debt crisis, the club announced on Wednesday.
Dan Petrescu: Ex-Chelsea player quits Targu Mures after one game & one cup win. – BBC Sport
Football managers often moan they are not given enough time in the job so ex-Chelsea player Dan Petrescu perhaps thought he would turn the tables. After signing a three-year contract with Targu Mures in June, the 47-year-old won the Romanian Super Cup in his only competitive game in charge and then decided to quit.