WHITECAPS FC & MLS
Whitecaps can’t afford another summer swoon – 24 Hours
July has never been kind to Vancouver Whitecaps FC and 2015 is shaping up the same way. So far – through three matches and a possible nine points up for grabs – Vancouver has claimed just one point, losing two games and drawing the other. On average over their first four seasons in Major League Soccer, the ‘Caps have never claimed more than 50% of the points possible in July.
Waston still fuming from Gold Cup exit, but now focused on Whitecaps – Red Nation Online
After an exciting journey to join up with the Costa Rican national team last week at the Gold Cup. Whitecaps centre-back Kendall Waston is back in Vancouver training with his teammates after Los Ticos were unceremoniously dismissed from the 2015 Gold Cup competition.
Help is on the way for Whitecaps – 24 Hours
The reinforcements are starting to arrive for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Though he didn’t get a chance to play in Sunday’s controversial Gold Cup quarter-final against Mexico, Kendall Waston’s brief spell with the Costa Rican national team is finished, and he was back training with the ‘Caps on Tuesday. Fellow centre back Pa-Modou Kah was also a full participant for the first time in a while, having missed two games with a calf injury.
Whitecaps coach Robinson disagrees with Harvey red card but won’t appeal – Metro
When it comes to any possible appeal of Jordan Harvey’s red card from Saturday’s match against the Portland Timbers, Vancouver Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson won’t even try.
Vancouver Whitecaps’ young defenders Christian Dean, Tim Parker draw praise after hard-fought draw – MLS
Vancouver Whitecaps fought back to earn a share of the points with a 1-1 road draw vs. the Portland Timbers, as tempers flared towards the end of a match played in sweltering conditions in front of a fervent sellout crowd. Amidst it all, two of the coolest heads out on the pitch belonged to Vancouver’s young center back pairing of Christian Dean and Tim Parker.
FIFA responds in U.S. youth club compensation case vs. USSF, MLS – SI.com
FIFA has told Crossfire Premier to take its case against Major League Soccer and the United States Soccer Federation for solidarity payments to the governing body’s Dispute Resolution Chamber in a letter obtained by SI.com. Since February, Crossfire has been seeking payments on DeAndre Yedlin’s transfer from MLS to Tottenham Hotspur in conjunction with FIFA regulations.
U.S. Youth Club Given OK To File Complaint With FIFA Regarding DeAndre Yedlin Transfer – Vice Sports
The news is a significant victory for both Crossfire and any other youth club wishing to pursue the payment of such fees, which are mandated by FIFA, but are disallowed by U.S. Soccer, who claim that such payments violates the Fraser vs. MLS anti trust suit from 1998.
MLS remains on pace to smash attendance record – Soccer America
After almost two-thirds of the 2015 season, Major League Soccer is averaging 21,142 fans a game, up 10.4 percent over last season’s record average of 19,149.
Impact want Drogba but Fire still first MLS team in line – SBI
The Montreal Impact have identified Didier Drogba as a prime target, but the Canadian club will have to do some finagling to acquire his services.
MLS Is To Salary Cap What Donald Trump Is To Humility – Forbes
When is a salary cap not a salary cap? Based on the salary survey published by the Players Union the answer has to be when it is operated by Major League Soccer. The regulation salary cap for each of the 20 teams is $3.49M but……then comes a myriad of loopholes and exemptions.
LA Galaxy forward Robbie Keane named MLS Player of the Week after second straight hat trick – MLS
LA Galaxy forward Robbie Keane was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 20 of the 2015 MLS season.
LA Galaxy 1, FC Barcelona 2: Reigning European champions dazzle record crowd at Rose Bowl – MLS
The LA Galaxy kept FC Barcelona from finding the net until almost halftime, but that was the best they could do Tuesday night in an International Champions Cup friendly that shattered attendance records.
Galaxy’s friendly with Barcelona helps pay bills, and that’s not all – LA Times
Barcelona’s tour is part of the International Champions Cup, a series of tournaments that will see 16 teams play on four continents. Relevent Sports, the New York-based company organizing the events, declined to discuss financial guarantees for the teams, though a soccer official with knowledge of similar agreements said Barcelona will likely get around $2.2 million for Tuesday’s appearance while the Galaxy’s cut will approach $1 million.
San Jose Earthquakes 1, Manchester United 3: English giants sharp in friendly visit to Avaya Stadium – MLS
Manchester United continued their successful American tour Tuesday night with a 3-1 defeat of the San Jose Earthquakes in an International Champions Club friendly.
Defoe: ‘Injuries led to Toronto FC departure’ – Sportsnet
What happened? It’s the one question that local reporters have been dying to ask Jermain Defoe ever since Toronto FC sold the English forward to Premier League team Sunderland in January in a deal that saw Jozy Altidore come to the Reds in return.
Open Cup: Philadelphia Union’s Jim Curtin calls win over New York Red Bulls biggest in club history – MLS
Just three weeks ago, after watching his 10-man team rally for a come-from-behind US Open Cup victory over rival D.C. United, Jim Curtin said he was the “most proud” he’s ever been as Philadelphia Union head coach.
Sporting Kansas City 3, Houston Dynamo 1 | US Open Cup Match Recap – MLS
After having a penalty kick saved in the second half of Tuesday night’s US Open Cup quarterfinal against the shorthanded Houston Dynamo, Dwyer delivered the go-ahead goal in the 86th minute and followed that up with an assist on Krisztian Nemeth’s insurance goal to complete Sporting Kansas City’s 3-1 comeback victory.
Open Cup: Houston Dynamo say Espinoza deserved red card during valiant defeat to Sporting KC – MLS
Thirty minutes into Tuesday’s US Open Cup semifinal at Sporting Park, the Houston Dynamo were feeling good. They were controlling the tempo and creating chances against a Sporting Kansas City team that sputtered out of the gates. Things changed when Luis Garrido was shown the door for a reckless challenge on Amadou Dia in the 30th minute, putting the Dynamo down a man and sentencing the visitors to 60 minutes of chasing and defending in what turned out to be a 3-1 loss.
Atlanta United’s Darren Eales Thinking Global, Working Local – 21 Peach Street
With around 4,000 people showing up for the team’s brand unveiling, and two Gold Cup semifinals being played in the city, interest in Atlanta United is at an all-time high. Team President Darren Eales believes that this interest shows that even with 19 months until MLS play begins, the team is laying down roots to be successful. And he’s got the ambition to match that momentum.
Beckham forced to go less posh, settling for Little Havana in Miami – Inside World Football
David Beckham appears to have found a mutually agreeable site in Miami for his long awaited MLS franchise. The city’s resolve to push Beckham away from its prime real estate has forced him to resort to the less desirable land next to Marlins Park, home to a Major League Baseball team, which is west of downtown in Little Havana.
Find a Team or Find a Player. Get Playing with BC Soccer Web FREE Classifieds
WFC2 & USL
Portland Timbers 2 4, Newcastle United 3: PTFC’s USL side knocks off Magpies in Rose City thriller – MLS
Portland Timbers 2 treated their fans to one of the most memorable nights in their short history on Tuesday, defeating English Premier League side Newcastle United 4-3 in a wild international friendly at Providence Park.
TFC II announces friendly against AS Roma Primavera – TFC
Toronto FC II announced Monday that the club will host a friendly match against Campionato Nazionale Primavera club AS Roma Primavera on Tuesday, July 28 at the Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan. Kick-off time will be at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Do you follow @bcsoccerweb on Twitter? You should!
BC SOCCER
Empire Field returns to its sporting ways – Vancouver Courier
When Empire Stadium opened for the British Empire and Commonwealth Games July 30, 1954, it was the largest sports facility in the country. While the heyday of the stadium is nothing more than a hazy memory for most, it’s fitting that the site of the former venue at Hastings Park is now the place of the city’s newest and arguably best sports park.
HIGHLANDERS CONCLUDE SEASON UNDEFEATED AT HOME | SCORELESS DRAW VS. MID ISLE – Victoria Highlanders
Highlanders FC concluded their season this past Sunday at Royal Athletic Park with a scoreless draw versus Mid Isle Mariners, going undefeated at Royal Athletic Park, and netting only one defeat in sixteen games total. With both teams already booked into the Pacific Coast Soccer League’s playoffs, the 0-0 tie determined final season standings with the Mariners holding onto second place on 33 points and the Highlanders in third with 31 points.
Golden weekend at provies for U14 Delta Coastal Selects – Surrey Now
It was a golden weekend on the soccer pitch for the U14 Delta Coastal Selects. The girls team beat some of the best metro select squads to win the B.C. provincial championships held in South Surrey last weekend, blanking the top-ranked Port Coquitlam Castillans in the finals.
FIFA 16 for Playstation 4 Arrives September 22! Pre-Order Now and Save.
CONCACAF GOLD CUP
Panama vs. Mexico | Gold Cup Semifinal Preview – MLS
Neither Mexico or Panama are firing on all cylinders, and yet each stand 90 minutes from a shot at a Gold Cup title. El Tri are the clear favorites, despite the fact Panama scored a famous upset in the same stage of the tournament two years ago.
USA preparing to face toughest Jamaican test in recent memory – Goal
The U.S. national team will be heavily favored in Wednesday’s Gold Cup semifinal against Jamaica, but this edition of the Reggae Boyz is the toughest seen in some time.
Jamaica’s Schaefer wants to hurt U.S. in ‘David vs Goliath’ Gold Cup semifinal – ESPN FC
Jamaica coach Winfried Schaefer admits his side are the underdogs against the United States in Wednesday’s CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal, but will try to hit Jurgen Klinsmann’s side “where it hurts the most.”
Who should the USMNT start vs. Jamaica? – SBI
After a walk in the park in Saturday’s 6-0 rout of Cuba, the U.S. will take on Jamaica in the semifinals of the competition on Wednesday (3 pm PDT, Sportsnet World). The Americans enter the match in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome with an undefeated 3-0-1 record, but so too do the talented Jamaicans.
Giles Barnes’s unexpected journey to Houston, Jamaican national team – SI.com
Seven years ago, when Giles Barnes was a 19-year-old playing for England’s Under-19 national team and in the Premier League for Derby County, he never would have predicted that in 2015 he’d be starring for MLS’s Houston Dynamo and the Jamaican national team.
Tempo-Free Soccer: How does USMNT’s style differ across competitions? – MLS
A good measure of a team’s passing style is the number of passes per possession they attempt. Generally the higher the number, the better a team is at retaining possession.
U-20 USMNT forward Maki Tall signs with FC Sion – SBI
Tall announced via Twitter on Tuesday that he has signed with Switzerland outfit FC Sion. The 19-year-old forward most recently played for French club Red Star FC on loan from Lille, but he will now look for first-team minutes in the Swiss Super League with a club in Sion that finished in seventh place out of 10 last season.
FIFA 16 for Xbox One is coming September 22! Pre-Order Now and Save.
CANADA – PAN AM GAMES & WOMEN’S SOCCER
Buchanan, Lawrence keep Canada’s Pan Am run going – Daily Athenaeum
West Virginia’s Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence have been competing on the Canada Women’s National Soccer Team for the last few months in both the 2015 World Cup, where Canada lost in the quarter-finals, and the 2015 Pan Am Games where the Canadians are still standing in the semi-finals.
Canadian soccer women go for broke — and it pays off – Toronto Star
In Canadian midfielder Jessie Fleming’s eyes, if you don’t take a risk you won’t get the reward, and that’s what the 17-year-old and her teammates did Sunday night in Hamilton.
USWNT to face off against Australia in two September friendlies – SBI
U.S. Soccer announced Tuesday that the USWNT will face off twice against World Cup group stage opponents Australia in a pair of September friendlies. The teams will play at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, before traveling to Birmingham, Alabama, for a match at Legion Field three days later.
NWSL: US stars make difference on field – The Equalizer
It’s Monday night in Kansas City, and FC Kansas City and the Houston Dash are locked in a 1-1 tie. As the clock passed 90 minutes, a minor battle broke out near FC Kansas City’s defensive goal box. Carli Lloyd had the ball with only Becky Sauerbrunn separating her from a chance to shoot for the match-winner. It was the Golden Ball winner from the World Cup going up against the player many thought should have been at least a finalist, Becky Sauerbrunn.
Carly Telford helped Siobhan Chamberlain Notts County move – BBC Sport
Carly Telford invited extra competition for the number one spot at Notts County Ladies by suggesting they sign fellow England goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain.
Introducing BC Soccer Web Premium Classified Ads
WORLD OF SOCCER
River advance to Libertadores final – FIFA
Argentinian giants River Plate have advanced to the final of the Copa Libertadores after battling to a 1-1 draw against Guarani of Paraguay to seal a 3-1 aggregate victory.
The U.S. Soccer Revolution – The Odyssey
The identity of Fredericksburg Football Club is unique in this U.S. soccer community. The club offers Virginia soccer players a single address to develop every aspect of their game and to see their dreams through from start to finish. As Grover Gibson explains, “The complete development from U4’s all the way through to the senior men’s and woman’s teams is a must, if you are truly trying to develop players to their maximum potential and move them hopefully on to the top collegiate and professional levels.”
While FIFA continues reform effort, U.S. criminal probe enters new phase – Washington Post
Back on this side of the Atlantic, the criminal investigation into FIFA has entered a new phase, the outcome of which could determine whether U.S. prosecutors make good on their predictions of more indictments. Last week, the first FIFA executive arrested in Zurich agreed to come to the U.S.
Fifa: Domenico Scala set to lead reform taskforce – BBC Sport
Domenico Scala is set to chair Fifa’s reform taskforce after being backed by three confederation presidents, including Uefa’s Michel Platini. Scala has been leading the governing body of world football’s latest attempt to reform itself since Sepp Blatter said he would stand aside.
Emmanuel Frimpong handed two-match ban after Russian FA rejects racism claims – The Guardian
Allegations by Ufa’s Ghanaian midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong that he was racially abused by Spartak Moscow supporters have been rejected, the Russian Football Union (RFU) said on Wednesday. The 23-year-old former Arsenal player was sent off after he raised a finger to the crowd in response and has been suspended for two Premier League matches, the RFU added in a statement.
Zimbabwe: Shattered Dreams – All Africa
It’s now official — Zimbabwe will be the only African country that won’t be part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying process, in yet another sad chapter for local football. This will be the first time for the Warriors to miss the global showcase since the country gained independence 35 years ago.
Dussuyer the new coach of Ivory Coast – TSN
Michel Dussuyer has been appointed as Ivory Coast’s new coach, replacing French compatriot Herve Renard. Dussuyer has signed a two-year contract to take the defending African champion past the 2017 African Cup of Nations in Gabon. There will then be the option of extending his contract for another two years.
Playing for their futures: the tournament giving unemployed footballers a lifeline – The Guardian
Around 60 out-of-contract players, including the former Chelsea midfielder Jiri Jarosik, competed in the finals of the Fifpro Tournament in the Netherlands in the hope of finding a club for the new season.
Police make 25 arrests following Leeds-Frankfurt crowd trouble – Goal
Police made 25 arrests after Leeds United’s preseason friendly against Eintracht Frankfurt in Austria erupted into violence on Tuesday.
Blackpool Supporters’ Trust £16m takeover bid ‘ignored’ by Oyston family – The Guardian
The Blackpool Supporters’ Trust has revealed that it has not had a response from the Oyston family over a £16m offer to buy the League One club. The Oyston family have proven unpopular in recent years, having been subjected to numerous fan protests, and recently saw a pre-season match against Lancaster City abandoned following a pitch invasion as well as a game at Morecambe called off through further safety fears.
Tax collector to re-auction CSKA Sofia logos after no buyers in first round – Inside World Football
The Bulgarian tax collector, the National Revenue Agency (NAP), has failed to find a buyer for the CSKA Sofia brand (it’s logos and trademarks) and has dropped the asking price by 20%, to BGN2,944,288 (€1,472,144). This is the second time it has lowered the price.
Wednesday’s Champions League second legs – UEFA
Competition top scorer Michael Wilde is gunning for Videoton, Dundalk hope to upset BATE and both Astana and Sarajevo believe in comebacks: we preview Wednesday’s ties.
Cherno Samba retires after modest career but as a Championship Manager legend – The Guardian
The former Millwall prodigy was scarcely seen at senior level but statistical quirks in the popular computer game saw him become a cult hero.