AMWAY CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP – THE VOYAGEURS CUP
‘Caps book ticket to Amway Canadian Championship final with thrilling 2-1 win over FC Edmonton – Whitecaps FC
Second-half sub Matias Laba played the role of hero, scoring a stoppage-time winner to seal a 3-2 aggregate win for Vancouver – and as a result, a berth in the championship final with longtime rival and defending Canadian champion Montreal Impact.
Eddies fall short 2-1 in dramatic ACC semifinal thriller – FC Edmonton
FC Edmonton lost in heartbreaking fashion, 2-1 in front of 3,803 fans at Clarke Field against Major League Soccer’s Vancouver Whitecaps in the semifinals of the 2015 Amway Canadian Championships. Edmonton’s Tomi Ameobi equalized the match in stoppage time before Matias Laba sent the Whitecaps to the competition’s finals with a last-minute goal.
Vancouver Whitecaps stress importance of Canadian Championship by fielding strong lineup – MLS
Vancouver Whitecaps were made to work hard by NASL side FC Edmonton in their Amway Canadian Championship semifinal second leg on Wednesday.
Heartbreak kids: Eddies lose Canadian Championship semifinal in 96th minute… again – the11.ca
FC Edmonton is developing a tragic history of giving up late goals to lose Amway Canadian Championship ties.
FC Edmonton vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Eighty-Six Forever
It was a sunny, warm afternoon in Edmonton (yeah, really) and the Vancouver Whitecaps visited Clarke Stadium searching for a win (or a tie of two goals or more) that would allow them to advance to the final of the Amway Canadian Championship and face this year’s runners-up, the Montreal Impact in hopes to lift the elusive Voyageurs Cup.
Laba leaves it late, ‘Caps still in hunt for Voyageurs Cup – Prost Amerika
Vancouver came into Clarke Field on Wednesday night in need of a goal to have any chance of advancing to the Voyageurs Cup final. Even though Tomi Ameobi cancelled out Pedro Morales’ early penalty with one of his own in stoppage time, Matias Laba stabbed the winner to send Vancouver through.
WHITECAPS FC – MLS – NASL
Whitecaps to Learn CONCACAF Champions League Foes on June 1 – BC Soccer Web
The Vancouver Whitecaps will learn which teams they’ll face in this season’s edition of the CONCACAF Champions League on June 1. The Caps qualified for the Champions League last year by having the best regular season record amongst the three Canadian MLS clubs.
Why Whitecaps FC are setting up shop in Manitoba – Whitecaps FC
Starting this fall, Manitoba will be home to Whitecaps FC Boys Residency Prospects and Girls Elite REX Prospects programs in partnership with the Manitoba Soccer Association (MSA).
Tim Leiweke open letter to TFC fans about Argos squatting at BMO Field – 24th Minute
This afternoon, it was announced that Larry Tanenbaum and Bell Canada will assume ownership of the Argos beginning in 2016 and that the Phase 2 renovation plans for BMO Field, beginning in September, will also include a conversion to accommodate a CFL playing field, making BMO Field a true outdoor multi-purpose facility with numerous benefits to the City of Toronto.
MLSE doesn’t deserve benefit of doubt over BMO – Sportsnet
TFC hasn’t managed to qualify for the playoffs in nearly a decade of MLSE ownership. So what makes them so sure they can deliver on Leiweke’s promise of TFC and the Argos living in peaceful harmony at BMO Field?
Miami FC Becomes 12th NASL Club – NASL
International entrepreneur Riccardo Silva and world-renowned soccer superstar Paolo Maldini have teamed up to bring Miami professional soccer to the world stage with the launch of Miami Football Club (Miami FC), co-owned by Maldini and Silva.
David Beckham Major League Soccer dream in Miami threatened by Paolo Maldini – The Telegraph
David Beckham suffered another blow to his plans to own a Major League Soccer franchise in Miami on Wednesday when it was announced that his former AC Milan team-mate Paolo Maldini will launch a rival team in the city.
Miami gets NASL soccer for now – Sun Sentinel
“If an MLS team comes to town I’m not to concerned. We went through the process of putting great ownership groups in great cities. MLS has no bearing on our decisions.”
NASL’s Miami move puts the pressure on MLS to bolster expansion plans – SBI
After watching MLS snatch up its markets for years, including most recently Minnesota, NASL struck back with a move that has now put MLS on the defensive in a market it has struggled to make progress in.
CANADA
Canada prepares to throw the summer’s biggest soccer party – Philly.com
Yes, the organizing committees in the six Canadian cities that will be hosting Women’s World Cup games are well aware that they are about to be besieged by swarms of invading Americans. And yes, they’re happy to have you.
League1 Ontario Women’s Division launches Saturday – OSA
The debut matches for the League1 Ontario Women’s division will be played this Saturday, May 23 at Hamilton’s Tim Hortons Field and it marks the first time a soccer event will be held at the beautiful, new stadium.
Scott Arfield: Scotland call-up would be ‘pinnacle’ of career – BBC Sport
“I’m quite open-minded about it and I’ve not made my mind up whether it be Scotland or Canada. Once you’ve played club football for so long. you want to take the next step to see what it’s all about.”
BC SOCCER
Bleacher sculpture eyed for Vancouver park – 24 hours
At its May 25 meeting, the Vancouver Park Board is set to approve the installation of a $450,000 piece of artwork called Home and Away at Empire Fields, which will provide at least 150 people with a panoramic view over the whole park and “a playful slide exit back into the park.”
Wildcats deserve a good break – Richmond Review
Having already endured the school of hard knocks this season, the R.A. McMath Wildcats won’t face many surprises when the 2015 provincial AAA girls’ soccer championship kicks off May 28 in Victoria.
Surrey’s Thunder ready to storm senior girls provincials – Surrey Now
It was a tough loss at the Fraser Valley Senior Girls soccer tournament, but the Panorama Ridge Thunder have already found the silver lining as they prepare for provincials.
Kelowna United U17/18 boys bring home gold from Slurpee Cup – Kelowna Capital News
KU teams continue to hone their skills at the Kamloops Slurpee Cup on the weekend.
WORLD OF SOCCER
Fifa should strip Russia of hosting 2018 World Cup, says Polish FA Chairman– The Guardian
Zbigniew Boniek, the chairman of the Polish football association, has said Russia should be stripped of hosting the 2018 World Cup because of the conflict with Ukraine.
In defense of artificial turf: why it’s time to destigmatize plastic pitches – The Guardian
The prevailing prejudice against artificial turf fields – a sentiment nowhere more pronounced than in the US – is unwarranted. Here’s why
Xavi has tarnished his name forever by selling his soul to Qatar – Goal
The Spaniard has made the baffling decision to become an ambassador for the much-maligned Qatar World Cup bid, besmirching his previously glorious image.
Sterling contract talks cancelled: Liverpool make decision following ‘£900,000-a-week’ outburst from agent – The Independent
Liverpool have cancelled talks with Raheem Sterling and his agent, scheduled for tomorrow, after the representative launched an extraordinary attack on the club.
Emmanuel Adebayor released on compassionate leave by Spurs – The Telegraph
Emmanuel Adebayor has been granted compassionate leave by Tottenham Hotspur for a second time this season to return to Togo to sort out his personal issues.
‘Ted of Manchester’ – the character and soul of FC United’s new home – BBC Sport
The biggest problem new-build football stadiums can have is a lack of character and soul, but at Broadhurst Park – the new home of FC United of Manchester – it’s everywhere. This whole place is built on character and soul.