BC Soccer News, Thursday, September 10, 2015

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

WHITECAPS FC  2  COLORADO RAPIDS  0

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2015

BC PLACE, VANCOUVER, B.C.

WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS

Whitecaps FC return to the top of MLS standings with 2-0 win over Colorado RapidsWhitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (14W-10L-3D) returned to the top of the league with a 2-0 home win over Colorado Rapids (8W-9L-9D) at BC Place on Wednesday.

Whitecaps 2 Rapids 0: Caps rise to the top of the MLS standingsThe Province
It was one of those games that cried out for something — anything — to happen. A mid-week dog of a game mercifully brought to life by the smallest player on the pitch, who has quickly become one of the biggest contributors for this Whitecaps team.

Vancouver Whitecaps’ Carl Robinson pleased his team dug deep to grab crucial win over ColoradoMLS
It wasn’t pretty at times but it’s the result that matters at the end of the day, not how you got there. That was Vancouver Whitecaps’ coach Carl Robinson’s philosophical take after watching his side make hard work of a 2-0 win over the Colorado Rapids at BC Place on Wednesday evening.

If You Managed To Stay Awake, You Eventually Saw A Good GameEighty-Six Forever
Colorado came into Vancouver with a classic away team gameplan: play as little of the game as possible and grind down the opposition. It was ugly, boring, sloppy and disinteresting – or, as Pablo Mastroeni calls it, “a good game”. Luckily for us Whitecaps fans, it became a much better game at the end.

Vancouver Whitecaps defeat Rapids to regain top spot in MLSMetro
For a time, the Vancouver Whitecaps appeared destined to once again have difficulty with the Colorado Rapids despite the fact there is a large gap between the two clubs in the Western Conference standings.

Whitecaps surge into Supporters’ Shield lead after win over Rapids SBI
The Supporters’ Shield race has a new leader, thanks to Cristian Techera. Despite a slow start for both teams, the Vancouver Whitecaps defeated the Colorado Rapids, 2-0, at BC Place Wednesday evening.

Techera, Rivera score in Whitecaps’ 2-0 win over RapidsVancouver Sun
The little man came up big Wednesday night. And this time the key insurance goal was undoubtedly his.

Vancouver Whitecaps 2, Colorado Rapids 0 | MLS Match Recap MLS
The Vancouver Whitecaps moved back to the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings but were made to work hard for their 2-0 win over the Colorado Rapids at BC Place on Wednesday night.

Whitecaps get job done in win over ColoradoGoal
It was not the prettiest or most exciting of games, but in many ways, there was no need for it to be. Three points was the desired return from a tricky midweek clash with the Colorado Rapids, and that was what the Vancouver Whitecaps earned at BC Place.

Vancouver prevail over Colorado to top the tableRed Nation Online
The Whitecaps and Rapids both resumed MLS play after a 10-day break between action. The Rapids have tripped up the Whitecaps with a pair of surprising victories at home earlier in the season. Vancouver were out to avenge those losses while trying to catch the LA Galaxy for top spot in Major League Soccer. On this occasion Carl Robinson’s lads played an attack-oriented match and prevailed with a 2-0 win in front of 17,583 fans at BC Place.

Colorado Rapids blame inability to “make better decisions” in streak-snapping loss to VancouverMLS
Having strung together three straight wins entering Wednesday night’s game against the Vancouver Whitecaps, the Colorado Rapids appeared to be on the fast track towards gaining ground in the Western Conference table. But by night’s end, Colorado’s momentum was derailed with a 2-0 loss at BC Place.

Hidden gem: Compact Cristian Techera finding his ‘groove’Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s raids on the South American transfer market these past two seasons has proven both bountiful and, on the whole, successful. With seven South Americans on the current ‘Caps roster, it won’t be a surprise to see coach Carl Robinson continue with his Latin American acquisitions in the off-season. After all, he unearthed the hidden gem in winger Cristian Techera.

Carl Robinson hopes global travels can spur Canadian success in MLS  – The Guardian
Carl Robinson has traveled to some remote outposts in his quest to transform Vancouver Whitecaps into championship contenders. As the affable Welshman describes it, he has been forced out of his comfort zone, the necessity of pragmatism superseding what might otherwise have led to a more accessible approach.

Willes: Distractions mar Whitecaps’ stretch driveThe Province
Yes, we’re aware the game is trying to build new traditions in North America and competitions like Champions League and the Voyageurs Cup are part of that effort. But when they diminish the larger MLS product, when they tax their fans, are they serving a purpose?

Portland Timbers 0, Sporting Kansas City 0 | MLS Match Recap MLS
Separation between the Portland Timbers and Sporting Kansas City proved an insurmountable task Wednesday night at Providence Park as the two teams jockeying for playoff position in the Western Conference played to a scoreless draw.

Didier Drogba to make $3.5 million over course of 18-month MLS deal SI.com
The Ivorian icon celebrated his first MLS start over the weekend with a stunning hat trick, leading the Impact, who had just fired coach Frank Klopas, to a wild 4-3 win over the visiting Chicago Fire. The two sellouts since he made his debut late last month have been the only full houses at Stade Saputo in the past two seasons.

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BC SOCCER NEWS

Vancouver’s Empire Fields to be renamedVancouver Sun
What’s in a name? Well, according to the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, a lot. Commissioner Sarah Kirby-Yung will put forward a motion to see the newly reopened Empire Fields and Plateau Sports Park at 2901 East Hastings Street given a new name during the committee’s Sept. 14th meeting.

What’s in a name? Vancouver mulls renaming new park at Empire FieldsMetro
Vancouver’s park board might rename the new Empire Fields and Plateau Sports Park because its current name is a bit “cumbersome.”

East Vancouver’s Empire Fields and Plateau Sports Park may get a new nameGeorgia Straight
Empire Fields and Plateau Sports Park has endured for a while for the former B.C. Lions stadium location at 2901 East Hastings Street. But that could soon change.

Clan Celebrates 50th With Home VictorySFU
Simon Fraser University celebrated its 50th anniversary with a 3-0 victory over Cal State San Bernardino in the Clan men’s soccer team’s home opener Wednesday evening on Terry Fox Field.

VIDEO: Introducing Clan men’s SoccerSFU
Meet the 2015 Simon Fraser Clan, Canada’s NCAA men’s soccer team.

Vikes men looking for winning ways in weekend series with UNBCUVic
The University of Victoria Vikes men’s soccer team will look to find the win column this weekend, Sept. 11-12, at Centennial Stadium against a young UNBC Timberwolves side. After a season-opening 1-1 draw in Vancouver against rivals the UBC Thunderbirds, the Vikes will look to bounce back with a home-opening double header.

‘Birds to battle Washington Huskies in Seattle  – UBC
The UBC Thunderbirds will look to cap off their 2015 exhibition schedule on a high note, as they head south of the border to take on the Washington Huskies this Friday, September 11. Kick off is set for 7 p.m. (PT) at Husky Soccer Stadium in Seattle.

SEASON PREVIEW: SPARTANS LOOK TO RETURN TO POST-SEASON PARADETWU
After spending the last two years on the outside of the playoffs looking in, the Trinity Western men’s soccer team has its sights set on making a return to the post-season this year, as a young Spartans roster looks to reestablish a winning tradition in Langley.

Season preview: Women’s soccer team aiming for return trip to nationals UFV
Coming off a memorable 2014 campaign which saw them earn the Canada West silver medal and finish fourth at CIS nationals, the University of the Fraser Valley women’s soccer team has every reason for optimism heading into the 2015 regular season.

Season preview: Men’s soccer team enters Lowndes era with plenty of talent, experience on rosterUFV
The University of the Fraser Valley men’s soccer team has a new head coach on the sideline, but plenty of familiar faces back on the pitch as they prepare to launch into the 2015-16 Canada West regular season this weekend.

WolfPack Men Ready To Kick Off 2015-16 Canada West Regular SeasonTRU
After a first week bye, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s soccer team is ready to kick off its 2015-16 Canada West regular season. The WolfPack will launch their second Canada West campaign at home this weekend (Sept 11-12) with matches at Hillside Stadium against the Trinity Western University Spartans and the University of Fraser Valley Cascades. Kick off both days will be 2 pm.

It’s “On The Road” Again For WolfPack Women’s Soccer TRU
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack pack their bags again for another weekend of play in the Canada West women’s soccer league. The ‘Pack split their matches last weekend (Sept 4-5), being shut out in Manitoba and then taking Winnipeg.

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CANADA SOCCER NEWS

Straith knows Canada faces huge hurdles in next round of World Cup qualifying Times Colonist
Adam Straith of Victoria, so solid on the backline in the earlier rounds of CONCACAF qualifying for Russia World Cup 2018, must now overcome Canada’s hex of the Hex. Canada has not been to the six-team final round of CONCACAF qualifying, known as the Hexagonal, since 1998. In order to get there, Canada, ranked No. 102 in FIFA, must finish in the top-two of a fourth-round Group A that includes traditional regional power Mexico, No. 81 Honduras and No. 107 El Salvador.

Canada, Canada, Your Number One Team (Ya Gat Dat Right!) Maple Leaf Forever
The web stream itself was hilarious, boasting equipment remarkably out-of-date by Canadian standards. There were blue screens and vertical tracking problems, like an old VCR with a loose coaxial cable. Colour went in and out like a dying Colecovision. Many of us are used to Central American and Caribbean broadcasts, but not even the old Puerto Rico Islanders brought us mid-’90s high school video club quality on this level. Then there was the advertising; some online TV service that used an ancient Eric Hassli clip, entertaining Carnival ads, but above all a hardware store, Benny’s, which immediately equaled Phillip’s Bakery in Voyageurs lore. This ad changed my life.

Why (Professional) Soccer Does Not, and WILL NOT, Matter in CanadaEighty-Six Forever
Tuesday’s match in Belize was just another example, of many, that Canadian broadcasters AND the Canadian Soccer Association do not care about progressing soccer in Canada.

Do you know how OPDL players are scouted? OSA
Have you ever wondered how players in the Ontario Player Development League (OPDL) are scouted and identified? Since the league was implemented in 2014, the OPDL has considerably improved the scouting and tracking of players within the league.

Canada’s Jessie Fleming shows absolute focus Sportsnet
Fleming’s name should be familiar by now. She became the second youngest ever—after Kara Lang—to debut for the women’s senior national team, at 15 years and 278 days. She has a Women’s World Cup under her belt, and she’s being touted as the future of soccer in this country. She’s even being compared to Christine Sinclair.

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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS

U.S. women’s soccer game in Detroit on, but may change Detroit Free Press
The problem stems from a labor dispute with the Australian national team, which was to face the Americans in a two-game series in Detroit (Sept. 17) and Birmingham, Ala. (Sept. 20). Australian players reportedly refused to show up for practice Tuesday in Sydney, amid the collective bargaining.

As playoffs near, can NWSL take steps forward with World Cup momentum? SI.com
Summer 2015 was a historic one for women’s soccer in the United States. For a generation raised on the memories of 1999, it was a kind of homecoming. As the team paraded through New York with the World Cup trophy, heralded as American heroes, there was a sense that perhaps, at last, the long struggles for attention and support that have defined women’s soccer in this country were bearing fruit.

Union: Australia women’s two match series in United States is off Fox Sports
Australia’s two-match series in the United States to face the Women’s World Cup champions has been called off as negotiations continue over a new collective bargaining agreement, the players’ union said Wednesday.

FFA accuses PFA of using Matildas as a bargaining chip as US tour is cancelled The Guardian
Gallop met with PFA chief executive Adam Vivien on Thursday in an attempt to salvage the Matildas’ two-game tour of the US, however talks once again broke down due to what he described as “preposterous” demands in the new collective bargaining agreement.

2015 NWSL AWARDS FINALISTS REVEALEDNWSL
The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced today the list of 2015 NWSL Awards finalist for the Most Valuable Player, Defender of the Year presented by Coppertone® from Bayer HealthCare, Goalkeeper of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year and Best XI.

PLAYOFF PREVIEW: CHICAGO RED STARS VS. FC KANSAS CITYNWSL
Christen Press and the Chicago Red Stars make their playoff debut Sunday when they host Lauren Holiday and defending champions FC Kansas City in an NWSL semifinal.

Manchester City striker Toni Duggan out for season with ankle injury – The Guardian
Manchester City’s hopes of leap-frogging Chelsea to win this season’s Women’s Super League title have been dented by the news that their highly influential England striker, Toni Duggan, will miss the remainder of the season with an ankle problem.

VIDEO: Portland Thorns goalkeeper Michelle Betos scores a dramatic equalizer… in LEGOMLS
Betos scored a famous equalizer for the Thorns in their 1-1 draw vs. FC Kansas City on June 19, running up the field from her goalkeeper position to head home a corner kick in stoppage time at Providence Park. The astonishing strike was commemorated by Brick and Mordor artist and Thorns FC fan Leila Chieko in a LEGO animation released on Timbers.com on Thursday.

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UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE

WHITECAPS FC 2 vs. ORANGE COUNTY BLUES SC

3:00 PM, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

UBC THUNDERBIRD STADIUM, VANCOUVER, BC

WFC2 & USL NEWS

Vercollone, Switchbacks Regain Top Spot In WestUSL
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC regained first place in the USL’s Western Conference on Wednesday night as it took a 3-0 victory against the Austin Aztex at Sand Creek Stadium. Luke Vercollone scored twice for the Switchbacks, who now head for top-of-the-table clash with OKC Energy FC on Saturday night.

Reno Awarded Expansion USL FranchiseKOLO TV
The United Soccer League (USL) has awarded Reno an expansion franchise for 2017. An official announcement will be made next Wednesday by the league.

Sacramento Republic FC Regular Season Finale Sold OutSacramento Republic
With the sellout Republic FC will have a regular season attendance of 158,516, breaking the USL single-season attendance record which they set last season with a regular season attendance of 158,107.

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NASL NEWS

International quality litters Eddies rosterFC Edmonton
FC Edmonton once again saw a pair of key members suiting up for national team duty this past week. Midfielder Lance Laing was returned to Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz for World Cup Qualification matches, while teammate Sainey Nyassi was called into the Gambia side to compete in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. This is the first time this season Nyassi has received a call-up to his home country’s side, and the third stint with Jamaica for Laing this Fall Season.

RECAP | Scorpions 3, RailHawks 3NASL
The Carolina RailHawks earned a 3-3 draw against the San Antonio Scorpions in a hard-fought match on Wednesday night at Toyota Field. The draw gives the RailHawks another valuable point towards their postseason push.

Follow the Yellow Card Road: RailHawks draw at San Antonio, 3-3WRAL Sports Fan
In June, Clint Dempsey made news when he tore up the notebook of referee Daniel Radford during a U.S. Open Cup match between Dempsey’s Seattle Sounders and the Portland Timbers. Radford sought to outdo his ignominy Wednesday night when the RailHawks visited the San Antonio Scorpions. Wednesday’s match featured a glut of goals and a bonanza of bookings. The result: a 3-3 draw that saw 12 yellows cards and one straight red, and served as Exhibit A that even ugly soccer games can be quite entertaining.

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WORLD SOCCER NEWS

Gulati Needs to Hold Klinsmann AccountableOnce a Metro
Did you see it? As Jermaine Jones left the field in the 72nd minute last night during what was then a 4-0 demolition at the hands of Brazil, Jones refused to shake Jurgen Klinsmann’s hand. The man who took years to finally win over U.S. fans, refused to grant the man who’s steadfastly been in his corner in the most trying times of his national team career, a basic courtesy. That’s telling. Isn’t it?

Villas-Boas to leave Zenit at end of season UEFA
Villas-Boas revealed his decision on Thursday at a press conference looking ahead to this weekend’s key fixture against Russian Premier League leaders CSKA Moskva, currently six points ahead of third-placed Zenit.

‘Cristiano Ronaldo won’t be sold for less than €1 billion’, says Real Madrid presidentThe Telegraph
Paris Saint Germain have been told that they will have to pay €1 billion to prise Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid.

Unrepentant Barcelona may face new FIFA sanctions over child-trafficking Inside World Football
The failure of Barcelona to comprehend that they are in any way at fault for flouting the FIFA regulations designed to stop the exploitation and trafficking of children in football is once again apparent, even as the club, faced with the real possibility of a new transfer ban, decide to treat the issue as of “extremely high priority,” according to reports in the Spanish press.

FIFA suspends 11 more La Masia playersGrup 14
The people in charge of the Barcelona academy and the legal department of the club claim that the players were all signed legally, either their parents moved to Spain for reasons that are not related to football, or they were transferred from other Spanish clubs, or they were signed before the age of 12 which is something that the Spanish Federation allows, or they have more than five years of residency in Spain.

The time for video replay is now  – TSN
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes it is coming. His player, midfielder Aaron Ramsey, believes football can learn from other sports. They are both talking about video replay and it is difficult to disagree. All four major North American sports now give officials the ability to go back and check video replay for major incidents within the game.

Overseas football fans visiting Britain now at 800,000BBC Sport
The number of overseas fans visiting Britain to watch top-flight football rose to 800,000 in 2014 and brought in £684m, according to research.

Premier League mid-table teams gaining powerSportsnet
A change has been instigated within Premier League clubs, one that has defined the summer. They’ve been empowered. The oversized foot soldiers of “the greatest league in the world” were never exactly underpowered, or under-confident, but I’m talking about something quite specific. They’ve started to be able to say “no” when their players ask to leave, even to clubs far bigger than themselves.

Premier League: Is the loan system being abused by clubs? BBC Sport
Chelsea’s net outlay amounted to £38m – the fourth-highest in the Premier League – but Nathaniel Chalobah’s move to Napoli took the number of Blues players out on loan to 33. The club are not breaking any rules, and it is a pattern repeated across Europe, with Juventus reportedly owning an additional 58 players  not in their first-team squad.

Premier League wage bills mean top-four finishes, but not alwaysESPN FC
In 2014-15, England’s top four teams were Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United. This is true in the table, as Manchester United clinched fourth place when Liverpool lost to Crystal Palace. It is also true on the balance sheet, where, according to recently released figures for the 2013-14 season, those same four clubs took in the most revenue in the Premier League and paid out the largest wage bills.

Premier League clubs are making progress over prayer rooms for fans The Guardian
The buzz word across football now is inclusivity. The Premier League and Football Association are keen to reassure fans that whoever you are and whatever background you come from, football welcomes you. The number of Muslim supporters attending Premier League matches has steadily risen, a fact recognised by some Premier League clubs who have provided dedicated fans’ multifaith prayer rooms.

Mario Lemina: France U20 World Cup winner chooses Gabon BBC Sport
France Under-20 World Cup winner Mario Lemina has pledged his international allegiance to Gabon. In January Lemina rejected a call-up to Gabon’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations squad in the hope he would be selected to play for France instead.

Forza Clapton! The non-league club taking a stance against racism and homophobiaThe Guardian
An east London team who once had crowds of fewer than 50 are now getting 10 times that number with a new following from all over the world, and there is a political message to go with the football.

Football Manager, the World’s Most Influential Video Game Vice Sports
In June 2014, England’s League Managers Association and the University of Liverpool began offering a course designed for former professional players who wanted to become managers, but whose playing careers hadn’t afforded them time to seek a traditional management degree. They called it The Diploma in Football Management. Think of it as a kind of finishing school; a bridge between the field and the dugout. Last April, the course began using Football Manager, the wildly popular and beloved video game, as a classroom tool.

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