CONCACAF GOLD CUP
Wednesday, July 8
CANADA vs. EL SALVADOR
7:30 PM, CARSON, CALIF. (SPORTSNET 360 & WORLD)
Canada MNT relishing Gold Cup test – CSA
Canada’s Men’s National Team is eagerly anticipating the start of its 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign which opens this Wednesday, 8 July against El Salvador at Stub Hub Center in Carson, California, USA.
Countdown: How far has Canada come since the 2013 Gold Cup? – Red Nation Online
Canada heads into the 2015 Gold Cup with tangible signs of optimism. After being eliminated from the 2014 World Cup qualifying, it has taken up to this past year for the senior men’s national team to turn a page and visibly begin heading in an upward direction. Younger players have gained experience both at the club and national team level, and results have gone in their favour. From the eleven matches played since 2014, Canada has only lost twice, and more importantly have begun winning and scoring goals.
Canada looks to Akindele and Larin – Sportsnet
As Canada prepares for the CONCACAF Gold Cup the biggest question surrounding this side is the same one that seems to plague all Canadian teams: where are the goals going to come from?
Floro: Canada ready for Gold Cup despite absence of key players – Red Nation Online
With the Canadian Men’s national team set to kick off it’s 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament against El Salvador Jamaica and Costa Rica, it’s clear these games are viewed as important by head coach Benito Floro and the team as both continued preparation down the road to Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying and as a means to see how the team continues to grow and gel in meaningful and competitive matches.
USMNT take a punch – and all 3 points – in Gold Cup opener vs. Honduras – MLS
There was nothing new or proactive about the US in their 2-1, skin-of-their-teeth win over Honduras to open the Gold Cup. We were outshot 16-6, out-possessed fractionally, and had to make a dozen more clearances than our opponents.
United States lacking vs. Honduras, bailed out by Dempsey, Guzan – ESPN FC
There was absolutely nothing convincing about it, but the United States opened their Gold Cup defense with a 2-1 win over Honduras in a hot and humid Frisco, Texas, on Tuesday night. The second-best team for most of the 90 minutes, the Americans should be counting their blessings as they move on to the second game of the group stage against Haiti on Friday.
No armband? No problem: Dempsey shines in home state – Goal
The Seattle Sounders forward delivered two goals and an important Gold Cup victory for the U.S. national team on a hot night in his home state of Texas.
Panama 1, Haiti 1 | CONCACAF Gold Cup Match Recap – MLS
Panama came into the opening match of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup looking to build on their surprise runner-up finish from two years ago. Underdog Haiti, however, had other ideas, and used a late equalizer to earn a share of the spoils after a 1-1 draw Tuesday night at Toyota Stadium.
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WHITECAPS FC & MLS
Whitecaps’ Waston denied by Costa Rica again – The Province
Kendall Waston won’t get to “smash” Darren Mattocks on Wednesday, as the Whitecaps’ behemoth of a defender vowed he’d do when asked about the CONCACAF Gold Cup a month ago. Waston was beaming when he said it, thinking ahead to Costa Rica facing Jamaica in Carson, Calif.
TFC notebook: Reds consider making moves – Sportsnet
Toronto FC received a brutal reminder of the 4-0 loss they suffered against the LA Galaxy on the weekend when Robbie Keane, who netted a hat trick, was named Major League Soccer’s player of the week on Tuesday.
Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez unlikely to sign with MLS, Orlando City – Orlando Sentinel
Negotiations between MLS and the star Mexican forward have stalled due to Chicharito’s asking price, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the talks.
New York City FC’s Frank Lampard not dwelling on past, eager to help club make playoff push – MLS
Nearly one year after first signing with the club, Frank Lampard is finally nearing his New York City FC debut.
After decades at Liverpool, Steven Gerrard excited to embark on new challenge with LA Galaxy – MLS
CARSON, Calif. – Steven Gerrard didn’t need to hear a whole lot before he became convinced that Southern California was the ideal spot for him if he was going to leave Liverpool.
MLS expansion team Atlanta United FC unveil logo, club colors – MLS
Atlanta United FC unveiled their club badge and colors on Tuesday night at an event held for club supporters at a local midtown Atlanta establishment.
WFC2 & USL
PHOTO GALLERY: WFC2 3 SOUNDERS 2, JULY 4, 2015 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Monique Lamoureux.
Victor Blasco Named USL Player of the Week – Eighty-Six Forever
WFC2 forward Victor Blasco has been named USL Player of the Week and selected for Team of the Week for his stunning brace that sealed a memorable victory for the Caps over the Seattle Sounders FC2 this past Saturday afternoon.
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BC SOCCER
Pinnacles FC, Nelson Youth Soccer Association, 100 Mile House Soccer Association and Coastal FC Host the BC Soccer Youth Provincial Cups – BCSA
The best grassroots youth soccer teams from across the province will take to pitches in 100 Mile House, Nelson, Surrey and Penticton on July 9-12 to compete for three of BC Soccer’s Youth Provincial Championships.
Pinnacles ready for provincials – Penticton Western News
Pinnacles Football Club has five teams vying for a provincial championship this week. Starting Thursday, Penticton hosts the Les Sinnott Memorial Boys Provincial Cup and Girls Provincial B Cup (U16-U18). There will be 48 teams competing at Kings Park and Penticton Secondary/KVR Middle School July 9-12.
Mid Isle Mariners remain in the hunt for title – Nanaimo Daily News
The Mid Isle Mariners have had their eye on the Pacific Soccer League championship for some time now. With just three games left in the regular season, the Mariners sit third in the table, four points behind leaders the Victoria Highlanders with two games in hand.
NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET | 4 POINTS FROM 6 EARNED – Victoria Highlanders
Bragging rights for a league title in the Premier Men’s Division in the Pacific Coast Soccer League is being contested right down to the final week of the regular season. Highlanders FC are in the thick of the heated race for a playoff position with one game remaining in their schedule.
BC Soccer’s Annual Referee Instructor and Assessor Symposium Begins Wednesday July 8 2015 – BCSA
BC Soccer is holding their third annual Referee Instructor and Assessor Symposium in conjunction with the BC Soccer Provincial A Cup from July 8 -12 at the South Surrey Athletic Park. More than 35 referee instructors and assessors will attend and be educated on the 2015-2016 Referee Refresher Course content which is the course all referee in BC must attend to annually to ensure they are kept current in referee education and their development.
Get to know Whitecaps FC U-16 Residency ahead of tonight’s home playoff match – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-16 Residency will host the club’s first-ever USSDA playoff match in Canada tonight, when they face Georgia United U-16 in the quarter-final at SFU Field #4 (6 p.m. PT kickoff – admission is free of charge).
KYSA hands out Scholarship Awards – Kamloops This Week
The Kamloops Youth Soccer Association (KYSA) announced Tuesday the recipients of the nine Scholarship Awards it is presenting this year. Each recipient receives a $500 contribution toward the cost of their first year of post-secondary education.
North Van soccer star heads to Morocco – 24 Hours
It was an opportunity that seemed lost for Brandon Torresan, 11, after his Western Canada team lost to Eastern Canada in the qualifying match in June, but when the Eastern team, which became Team Canada, was looking for a 12th player — Torresan got the call. Canada’s coach for the Danone Nations Cup, Dean Howie, was very impressed when he got the chance to see Torresan play.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER
National Women’s Soccer League seeing signs of popularity surge – ESPN W.
In an attempt to capitalize off the U.S. women’s soccer team winning the Women’s World Cup, an intern for the Washington Spirit started making cold calls Tuesday. Sure enough, a person on the other end of the line who claimed to have never attended a women’s pro soccer game agreed to buy 30 tickets.
Lauren Holiday retires from international play – The Equalizer
Lauren Holiday used the United States national team’s World Cup championship celebration event on Tuesday in Los Angeles as the time and place to announce her retirement from international soccer.
US women’s soccer team to be honored with World Cup victory parade in New York on Friday – MLS
The US women’s national team, recently crowned as FIFA Women’s World Cup champions, will be fêted with one of New York City’s highest honors, the ticker-tape parade through the “Canyon of Heroes” in lower Manhattan.
Why Man Utd should join World Cup party – BBC Sports
We need to see more clubs running a women’s team, Manchester United being the perfect example. For the biggest club in the world to not have a women’s side is puzzling. It must be a commercial decision because I can’t think of any other reason. Perhaps they regard it as something which is not going to make money in the next five or 10 years.
FIFA WWC 2015 wraps up with record audience numbers – TSN
The FIFA Women’s World Cup™ has broken all-time audience records on CTV, TSN, and RDS, wrapping up as the most-watched FIFA Women’s World Cup™ ever with Canadians consumingmore than 69 million hoursthroughout the tournament. Total viewing of the FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP CANADA™ 2015™ was nearly four times that of the 2011 tournament.
WORLD OF SOCCER
CONCACAF and Traffic Sports USA End Corporate Partnership Agency Relationship – CONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and Traffic Sports USA announced today that their Corporate Partnership Agency relationship will end as of today. The mutual decision was reached following discussions between both organizations and will have no effect on CONCACAF’s ability to fulfill its existing obligations to sponsors or to stage future tournaments.
Los Angeles Is Replacing Nearly All Its 100 Grass Soccer Fields With Artificial Turf – LA Weekly
L.A. is in the midst of a dramatic move that would save a ton of water and improve the quality of soccer games for generations: replacing its 100-odd grass fields with synthetic grass, or artificial turf.
A €7m transaction that highlights how football is changing – Inside World Football
Few deals tell us as much about what football was, and what it is becoming, as the recent transaction that has seen a second division club based in the Eastern French town of Montbéliard (population: about 26,000) change hands for a reported €7 million.
From Africa Cup triumph to the depths of despair: how Nigeria unravelled – The Guardian
Nigerian football is at a new low after the sacking of coach Stephen Keshi less than three months into his new contract amid claim, counterclaim and deteriorating results
Tottenham Hotspur to stage NFL games at new stadium – ESPN FC
Tottenham Hotspur and the NFL have reached an agreement for at least two games a year to be played at the Premier League club’s new stadium.
Chelsea yet to make firm decision on playing at Wembley while Stamford Bridge is redeveloped – The Independent
Chelsea have yet to make any firm decision on whether they will move to Wembley amid reports the club have offered £11million-a-year to play at the national stadium while Stamford Bridge is redeveloped.
Ex-footballer Terry Bradbury scoops Lotto jackpot – BBC
A former Chelsea midfielder – who made £25 a week as a professional footballer in the 1950s – has scooped a £5.5m Lotto jackpot.