WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
Porter looks ahead to second leg of MLS Western Conference final – Prost Amerika
“To win by a two-goal margin puts us in a good spot. We know how explosive and dangerous Dallas are and what they’re capable of, so we’ll stay very humble and grounded and get back to work,” Timbers coach Caleb Porter said in the post match press conference following Portland’s dicisive 3-1 win over FC Dallas in the first leg of the home-and-home Western Conference Final series.
Red Bulls “know there’s still a lot to play for” in home leg vs. Crew SC – NY Red Bulls
If the first goal, which came a record-setting nine seconds into the match, didn’t make things hard enough for the Red Bulls, the one five minutes from the end surely did. So here the Red Bulls sit, certainly not in the position they thought they would be in following a stunning 2-0 defeat to the Columbus Crew before a record crowd of 21,617 Sunday night in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Finals at MAPFRE Stadium.
Red Bull Arena increases Security Measures – NY Red Bull
Fans attending Sunday’s sold-out Eastern Conference Championship are asked to arrive early with increased security measures in place in and around Red Bull Arena.
Chicago Fire Soccer Club Hires Veljko Paunovic as Head Coach – Chicago Fire
The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced today that Veljko Paunovic, who led Serbia to the FIFA U-20 World Cup championship, will be the Men in Red’s new head coach. Paunovic, 38, has coached Serbia’s U-20’s since August of 2012, one year after he ended a 16-year playing career that spanned several top leagues, including one season in Major League Soccer.
2015 MLS Newcomer of the Year | Sebastian Giovinco – MLS
Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco has been voted MLS Newcomer of the Year, Major League Soccer announced on Monday. The award honors a player in his first MLS season who had prior professional experience, making him ineligible for Rookie of the Year honors.
Sporting KC ponders an uncertain future, on the field and the sidelines – Kansas City Star
Two English Premier League teams used agents last week to gauge Peter Vermes’ willingness to depart Kansas City. A European country’s men’s national team has expressed interest in Vermes taking over its coaching duties and replicating his player development model on an international level.
Crew midfielder Ethan Finlay’s long road to becoming an MLS star – SI.com
Ethan Finlay’s soccer story is a quintessentially American one. It’s about potential shortcomings in the player development system, blooming a bit late and the myriad twists of fate that shape the gradual rise of so many pros. It’s about being a big man on campus and an unheralded contributor to a small-market MLS club. It’s about the open road, ambition and family. But most of all, Finlay’s story is about movement.
Corkman Alan Kelly ‘honoured’ to be named top soccer referee in America – Irish Examiner
Last week Kelly collected the MLS Referee of the Year award in only his second season stateside. Kelly was one of the three nominees for the 2014 award last season after only arriving in January but after a full season under his belt, he was voted top match official for 2015 by MLS clubs, players and media — accumulating more the twice the amount of votes the other two nominees (Baldomero Toledo and Jair Marrufo) received.
Commissioner Garber and the MLS version of transparency – U.S. National Soccer Players
Garber does a good job downplaying single-entity in theory and in practice. That’s what so many years in his role provides. He can talk about how he initially found the rules silly because most of those rules no longer suit his league. They moved on, substituting in new rules. That enough American soccer fans find the way MLS implements those rules concerning is only a problem if you focus on it. Once again, any MLS version of transparency exists only on their terms.
How do MLS financial bonuses work? A look at one player’s contract – SI.com
How do financial bonuses in MLS work? It’s a good question this time of year as we get closer to the MLS Cup final on December 6. SI.com obtained the contract information of one player whose team is still alive in the conference finals.
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BC SOCCER NEWS
Victoria’s Simon Thomas quickly climbing soccer ladder – Times Colonist
Simon Thomas of Victoria has probably earned some down time after a whirlwind week in which he established himself as one of the top three soccer goalkeepers in Canada and moved up to a European Premiership club
Help graduating youth players transition to adult leagues – BCSA
BC Soccer Assoc. and its members are here to assist you and your players with a positive transition from Youth to Adult soccer. BC Soccer Assoc. in collaboration with the Adult Leagues will be hosting Info Sessions for you to meet with Adult League representatives and learn from them about their League and the potential opportunities to stay involved with soccer for life.
Exciting League Cup Finals wrap up 2015 BCSPL play – BCSPL
With five of the nine games needing extra time or penalty kicks to decide a winner, a very competitive weekend was on display at the 2015 EA SPORTS BCSPL League Cup Championship Finals. BC Soccer Assoc. and Whitecaps FC staff were on hand to present awards and scout the games, along with numerous sightings of university coaches watching the players.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency teams in first place in Northwest Division – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC Residency teams are both in first place in their division after home wins over Juventus Sport Club and San Jose Earthquakes this weekend.
‘Caps on Campus: Prasad records match-winning assist as Seattle University reach Sweet 16 – Whitecaps FC
College men’s soccer championships were in full swing over the weekend south of the border, seeing a number of former Whitecaps FC youth players in key roles for their respective sides.
Men’s soccer disappointed with third place finish at CIS nationals – Ubyssey
After defeating the University of Victoria in the Canada West Final, the UBC men’s soccer team headed to York University in Ontario for the CIS nationals. The tournament consisted of the top two teams from each division, which meant both UBC and UVic qualified for the tournament. Despite going undefeated throughout the entirety of their season, the squad fell short of winning the national championship and ended up settling for a third place finish.
UK trip offers Langley United girls crash course in soccer – Langley Advance
Langley United’s annual Bolton Wanderers exchange, set for March 2016, has a new wrinkle.
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CANADA SOCCER NEWS
Canada learns group for February’s CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship – CSA
Canada have been drawn into Group B with Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala and Guyana for the 2016 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship taking place in Texas starting 11 February 2016. Two teams from the competition will advance to the Rio 2016 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.
Herdman hopes that the “mavericks” will make the Canadian women’s team more unpredictable – the11.ca
Through the Women’s World Cup, the scouting report on the Canadian national team was pretty consistent: Well organized, tough to break down, but offensively challenged.
Doneil Henry returns to Rovers! – Blackburn Rovers
Rovers are delighted to announce the loan signing of Canadian Doneil Henry from West Ham United.
Interview with Randy Edwini-Bonsu – Some Soccer Playing Canadians
Randy Edwini-Bonsu is a 25 year old striker currently playing VfR Aalen in Germany’s 1760433.Liga. Born in Ghana, Edwini-Bonsu and his family immigrated to Edmonton in 2002 and he has since played for Canada at various levels and has earned 10 caps for the senior team, scoring his first goal this year against Puerto Rico. At the club level, he’s also played with the Vancouver Whitecaps, Oulu, Eintracht Braunschweig and Stuttgarter Kickers.
ICSS boosts anti-corruption team with hire of Canadian Sheehan – Inside World Football
The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) has further boosted its international law enforcement credentials with the addition of Canadian Dale Sheehan as Director of Capacity Building and Education. Sheehan is a leading anti-corruption expert and was formerly Assistant Commissioner with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), having spent 30 years with the organisation.
Humber Hawks cap off a big year for Men’s soccer in Ontario – Red Nation Online
It’s been another dominant year for Ontario in terms of the highest levels of Canadian Men’s Soccer. York University won the CIS Championship, over the summer K-W United won the American based PDL championship, and in the 2015 Canadian Challenge Trophy, the senior men’s club tournament, London Marconi beat Edmonton Scottish to win the championship. In a very competitive League One Ontario, new club Oakville Blue Devils beat out Woodbridge, Vaughan, Sigma and TFC Academy to win the season title and then beat PLSQ side CS Mont-Royal Outemont 5-3 to win the Inter-Provincial cup.
2015 Goalkeepers Of The Year – League1 Ontario
League1 Ontario is proud to announce the winners of the 2015 Goalkeepers of the Year awards: Woodbridge Strikers’ Matt George, and Durham United F.C.’s Nora Abolins.
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NASL & USL NEWS
Tony Meola Hired as Armada FC Head Coach and Technical Director – Jacksonville Armada
Jacksonville Armada FC owner and CEO Mark Frisch announced on Tuesday the hiring of legendary former U.S. Men’s National Team and MLS goalkeeper Tony Meola as the club’s new head coach and technical director.
In the City of the Fury: Review of 2015 – Stony Monday
Buenos Aires, the subject of the song by Argentinian super group Soda Stereo, is a city defined by its energy, passion and at times overflowing anger. So, basically the opposite of Ottawa. In the City of the Boring; In the City of the Quiet; In the City of the Cold; all once possible titles for a song about our beautiful yet frustratingly reserved city. Once and hopefully never again. Ottawa is becoming the City of the Fury, our Fury.
Difference between MLS, NASL models creates worrying arms race in second division – World Soccer Talk
NASL’s teams are allowed to spend what they want on players with limited restrictions on contract-length, among other things. While in the past the rhetoric about free markets and unregulated spending by NASL executives were simply theoretical, much of this is now being put into practice by newer clubs with owners that have not been around the North American soccer scene for very long.
Hope For Cosmos Stadium? ESD asks bidders to readjust proposals – Empire of Soccer
Just when you thought the New York Cosmos stadium bid flatlined, Albany breaks out the defibrillators. As first reported by Newsday, the Empire State Development Corp. is asking bidders to readjust their bids.
RailHawks Announce First Wave Of Roster Moves – NASL
The Carolina RailHawks announced that five players from the 2015 roster are under contract for the 2016 NASL season.
TFC II’s Thomas Keeps Tabs on Orange in Tournament – USL
A year ago, Toronto FC II’s Skylar Thomas was in the thick of the action for Syracuse, as he helped the Orange reach the third round before they fell in overtime to Georgetown. With the USL season concluded, Thomas made the trip back on campus to see his former teammates claim the ACC Championship, and is rooting for the team from afar as it reached the third round in this year’s tournament with a win against Dartmouth on Sunday.
FC Cincinnati Holds Inaugural Tryouts – Scratching the Pitch
FC Cincinnati, a USL expansion side set to begin play in 2016, held open tryouts on Saturday on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. Aspiring locals were joined by players from around the world (including England, France, Senegal, Mexico, and Honduras) to showcase their talents and compete for a contract with a professional soccer team. FC Cincinnati President and General Manager Jeff Berding was excited to see players in the club’s crest for the first time.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
CONCACAF women’s Olympic qualifying group set – The Equalizer
Three-time defending Olympic gold medalists USA will face Puerto Rico, Mexico and Costa Rica in Group A of CONCACAF women’s Olympic qualifying in February in Frisco, Texas.
NCAA WOMEN’S COLLEGE CUP – RECAP – NWSL
All four No. 1 seeds advanced to the Elite 8 – with Florida State earning its 11th consecutive trip to the quarterfinals
Reign re-sign seven core players, including Little – The Equalizer
The two-time defending NWSL Shield winners announced on Monday that they re-signed seven core players: defenders Lauren Barnes, Kendall Fletcher and Elli Reed, midfielders Jess Fishlock, Keelin Winters and Kim Little, and goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer.
Double relief for Frankfurt – FIFA
German giants 1. FFC Frankfurt have experienced few weeks as intense as the past seven days after securing two consecutive last-gasp wins. Elsewhere, Australian newcomers Melbourne City are going from strength to strength, while the excitement continues to build in Europe’s most prestigious club competition.
Rafferty out of England squad ahead of this week’s matches – The FA
Claire Rafferty has withdrawn from the England Women’s squad ahead of their double-header against Germany and Bosnia & Herzegovina because of a knee injury.
Lourdes Moreno, a promise and a goal… – CONMEBOL
Lourdes Moreno wears the number 10 shirt for Venezuela, in addition to the captain’s armband. Her team’s 4-1 win over Paraguay at the Women’s U-20 Sudamericano was for her in particular a very special game. Kika, as the back of her jersey says, spoke with CONMEBOL.com about her beginnings in football and warned that “we are seeking to qualify.”
Another Casualty in a Tough Reality – The Link
Women’s soccer in Canada suffered a blow as the W-League, a second-tier division women’s soccer league with teams operating in the United States and Canada, shut its doors.
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WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Preview: Barcelona vs. Roma – BBC Sport
Barcelona boss Luis Enrique did not confirm whether Lionel Messi will start their penultimate Champions League group game with Roma at the Nou Camp.
Ancelotti: Messi’s return is not good news for Roma – Goal
The ex-Real Madrid coach does not believe Lionel Messi will have a negative effect on Neymar and Luis Suarez, who have both netted 11 times in their past 11 games.
Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb: Groundhog Day for Gunners as they battle for Champions League lives – The Independent
Champions League survival is the rallying cry echoing around the Emirates as Groundhog Day dawns again at Arsenal.
Zenit saves their best form for Champions League – Sportsnet
After regaining the Russian Premier League title in the spring Zenit inked playmaker Danny to a new contract and signed striker Artyom Dzyuba from Spartak Moscow and Artur Yusupov from Dinamo Moscow—transactions geared to both ensuring continued domestic success and facilitating a long-anticipated European breakthrough.
Celtic’s Tom Rogic backs plans for club to play Scottish Premiership game in US – The Guardian
It emerged on Monday that Dundee are investigating plans that would see them give up a home match against the Scottish champions and instead stage it in America.
Ethics committee requests lifetime ban for Platini – Sportsnet
The FIFA ethics committee has requested a life ban for Michel Platini, the Frenchman’s lawyer said Tuesday, a move that would rule the UEFA president out of the race to succeed Sepp Blatter.
Wenger is right – soccer continues to turn a blind eye to doping – Goal
The severe lack of testing in world football has made it easy for potential drug cheats to continue playing, even at the highest level, writes Peter Staunton.
England FA issues new guidelines for assessing and dealing with concussion – The Guardian
The Football Association has issued new safety-first guidelines on how to identify whether a player has been concussed and how soon they should be allowed to return.
Manchester City Club Badge to Change – Manchester City
Having analysed all responses received, the Club can confirm that there is an overwhelming desire amongst Cityzens for the badge to evolve and that a round design, as used in two of the Club’s three previous crests, is by far the most popular shape and remained so throughout the consultation process.
Liguilla arrives not a moment too soon for Liga MX season – Goal
The final weekend of the Liga MX season has come and gone, and the Liguilla is now set. It’s not a moment too soon for the playoff to arrive and reanimate fans of Mexican soccer.
Ballon d’Or shortlists to be unveiled on FIFA.com – FIFA
On Monday 30 November at 14:00 CET, FIFA will announce the final nominees for the FIFA Ballon d’Or in a special ceremony hosted by Kate Abdo.
FIFA Club World Cup: Auckland City must grow up – FIFA
Emiliano Tade says the hunger and desire to succeed at the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2015 is more intense than ever. Last year, the Auckland City FC striker was a key figure as Oceania’s amateurs surged to a scarcely believable bronze medal victory over Cruz Azul. But it’s an achievement the Argentine forward says must be put firmly in perspective. He says its time for the Navy Blues to grow up.
Joys and surprises of watching Liverpool and Arsenal in Ethiopia (for 45p) – The Guardian
Premier League’s reach is underlined by hundreds in Lalibela – around 20% of the adult male population – following the matches on a public TV every Saturday