BC Soccer News, Weekend, April 21-23, 2017

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

 PORTLAND TIMBERS  vs.  VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC

CASCADIA CUP / MLS MATCHDAY #7

SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2017, 1:00 PM

PROVIDENCE PARK, PORTLAND, OR

TV: CTV & TSN 1, 2 ,4, 5   RADIO: TSN 1040  ONLINE: TSN GO

‘Caps face league-leading Timbers Saturday in Portland – Whitecaps FC
One Cascadia rival down, one to go. After knocking off defending MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC face league-leading Portland Timbers on Saturday in a matinee affair at Providence Park.

Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps | 2017 MLS Match Preview – MLS
Last week saw the first meeting in this year’s edition of the Cascadia Cup, a decades-long, fiercely contested rivalry among the Seattle Sounders, the Portland Timbers, and the Vancouver Whitecaps. There are nine match-ups in the series this year, and the first edition, on April 14, saw the Whitecaps take down the reigning MLS Cup champ Sounders, 2-1. So despite the naysaying from some circles, it’s definitely not time to discount Vancouver after all.

Match Preview: Portland Timbers v Vancouver Whitecaps – the roller coaster season continues – AFTN
The roller coaster season continues. Up, down, throw up, repeat. Much like the big wooden roller coaster at Playland, the Whitecaps season is trundling on despite it’s squeaky start. A Cascadian derby in Portland is the next bump in the road for the ‘Caps as they look to string two wins together for the first time this season.

Derby games bring out that extra rat in soccer foes and fans. Just ask David Ousted. – The Province
“That’s what I love about this rivalry. You’ll see fans getting after each other, then you’ll see them going into a bar and having a beer. I think that’s the right spirit of a rivalry.”

2017 Cascadia Cup | Portland Timbers begin quest Saturday against Vancouver Whitecaps FC – Timbers FC
The race for the Cascadia Cup begins anew on Saturday as the Portland Timbers host rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Providence Park.

Vancouver Whitecaps: Wishing they were lucky – Soccer Shorts
Napoleon Bonaparte famously preferred his generals to be lucky rather than good which, when you think about, is a startlingly incompetent way of running any kind of army and can therefore probably go into the history folder marked “apocryphal quotes”.

MLS Week 8: A Look Ahead – SBI
It shouldn’t come as a total shock that FC Dallas is involved in a marquee match this weekend because its been featured in plenty of top-notch contests early in 2017. This time, Oscar Pareja’s men face Sporting Kansas City in a top-of-the-table clash that highlights the weekend’s action in Major League Soccer.

MLS Week 8: What to Look For – Empire of Soccer
Week 8 in Major League Soccer has already kicked off. There was one midweek game, a scoreless draw at the sparsely attended match at Gillette Stadium between host New England and San Jose. Here’s a look ahead at some key storylines this weekend.

Impact can’t take slumping Union lightly in quest for first away victory – Sportsnet
The message to the Montreal Impact from coach Mauro Biello this week was about overconfidence. Just because they are coming off their first win of the Major League Soccer season and have the foundering Philadelphia Union next up on the schedule, that doesn’t mean an automatic three points.

LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders | 2017 MLS Match Preview – MLS
Two of the West’s marquee teams are set to meet for the first time in 2017 on Sunday afternoon, though both have some early-season questions to answer, especially in the case of the LA Galaxy.

What’s up with Seba? Despite lack of production, TFC not worried about star – MLS
Through five matches, the Italian forward, who tallied 39 goals and 31 assists through 61 regular season appearances over the past two years, has scored just once and is yet to collect an assist. Reason for concern? Not for Toronto FC.

Toronto FC waives young Canadian forward Mo Babouli – Sportsnet
Babouli, a 24-year-old native of Mississauga, Ont., showed flashes of creativity during his brief tenure with the club, but the goals never came, and the opportunities quickly dried up.

MLS-loving Subbuteo fans combine soccer, tabletop gaming – MLS
At its core, Subbuteo — also known as “table soccer” in some circles — plays like soccer, with players trying to score as many goals as possible in a match by flicking the player pieces toward a plastic ball.

MLS PHOTOS: Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 Seattle Sounders FC 1, April 14, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

3v3 Live Soccer Tour Comes to Canada

BC SOCCER NEWS

Whitecaps FC mourn the passing of Bob Rosenlund – Whitecaps FC
Bob was an accomplished soccer player, competing at the national level with Canada Soccer in his youth. In 1980 at age sixteen, Bob was awarded the Vancouver Sun Soccer Boy. In 1982, he was drafted by the New York Cosmos. He also played for the Edmonton Eagles of the CPSL and the Vancouver Firefighters Soccer Club where he continued to play until his diagnosis with cancer at the age of 45.

Cowichan teams open BC Cup tournament Saturday – Lake Cowichan Gazette
Cowichan’s Div. 1 and masters men’s soccer teams will be in action at home this weekend as their respective provincial cup tournaments get underway.

2017 BC Provincial Cups: Keith Millar B Cup preliminary round preview – AFTN
One of our favourite times of year in the footballing calendar gets underway this weekend, with action kicking off in all four men’s BC Provincial Cups.

BC Soccer Female Grant Initiative – BCSA
BC Soccer is pleased to be able to offer a specialized grant program to member organizations that are working to enhance female-specific programming within their club. This initiative, brought forward by the Women in Soccer Committee aligns with BC Soccer’s strategic objective of increasing the percentage of female players, coaches, referees, and administrators in the sport, and is designed to help the BC Soccer membership retain, attract, and enhance female programming. There will be $1,000 grants available.

Nelson’s Hanna Quinn shines along side Saskatoon teammates – Nelson Star
Coaches from more than 150 colleges and universities across Canada and the United States were in Vancouver recently scouting some of the top high school female soccer players during a Showcase Soccer Tournament. One of the players on the pitch was Nelson’s Hanna Quinn of the Whitecaps Academy, who played goal for the squad from the Saskatoon Academy.

3V3 LIVE NATIONAL SOCCER TOUR COMES TO ABBOTSFORD – 3v3 Live Canada
3v3 Live Soccer Tour and Holbrook Sports Management are excited to announce the expansion of the 3v3 Live Soccer Tour into the Canadian soccer market.  With the first event previously announced to take place on the August 19/20 weekend in Surrey, BC, the 3v3 Soccer Tour will expand to Abbotsford, BC, on August 20 and will include men’s and women’s open divisions.

Former waste settling pond could become site for soccer facility – Kelowna Daily Courier
An old settling pond for septic waste is one of the sites under consideration for West Kelowna’s new indoor soccer pitch.

Highlanders’ Roster Still a Few Kilts Short – Northern Starting XI
As of writing, there are 8 players confirmed for Highlanders in 2017, two of which are Keepers. This leaves the team in search of a lot more players to round out the team prior to their first match against Lane United FC on May 14th.

Get To Know Your TSS Rovers: Chad Bush – AFTN
He may still be only 22-years-old but TSS goalkeeper Chad Bush has a wealth of experience under his belt.

E-Sports: Eight Berlin berths to play for in Vancouver – FIFA
The participants will be battling it out not just for the title but also for spots at the FIFA 17 Ultimate Team Championship, to take place in Berlin on 19 and 20 May.

BC Soccer Women’s Provincial Cup Draw Monday April 3, Men’s Provincial Cup Draw April 13 – BCSA
Complete brackets and results for the 2017 Women’s and Men’s Provincial Cup Tournaments.

2017 VISL JACKSON CUP PHOTOS: Nanaimo Utd. 2 Cowichan LMG 1 (XT), April 2, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

FVSL PHOTOS: Pakenham Cup Final, PMO Rangers 1 PMO Lordco Gunners 0, April 1, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Richard Howes.

REVIEW: The Miracle Mile. Stories of the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games – BC BookLook
Author Jason Beck is curator of the BC Sports Hall of Fame in BC Place Stadium, Vancouver, and convenor two years ago of an excellent exhibition about the 1954 Games. In his first book, he proves to be a meticulous researcher, a compelling story-teller, and a crafty realist who knows how to hook his readers. Watch how, two pages into the book, he uses filmic technique to evoke the arriving athletes’ youthful buzz and give period colouring and costuming, but then smartly moves his camera in to introduce his stars.

TSS Rovers launch website & 2017 Season Ticket Campaign – TSS Rovers
TSS FC Rovers play their inaugural season in the PDL at iconic Swangard Stadium. Season Tickets are $70 for Adults, $49 for U12 Youth.

Becoming a BC Soccer Referee – BCSA
Whether you are an experienced referee new to British Columbia or if you are new to the discipline of refereeing BC Soccer Assoc. has a clinic and a pathway for you.  The minimum age to become a referee is 12 years old (small sided) and 14 years old (11-a-side). Please enjoy the short video showcasing some Referee programs that BC Soccer offers and continue below for more on how to become a referee in BC!

To our Readers: A Choice – BC Soccer Web
Soccer has brought us to the United States many times. It’s a great place with decent people. We especially look forward to our Cascadia trips to Seattle and Portland. They’re incredible cities with wonderful supporters. That’s why it was so disheartening to see chaos and fear take hold in the airports and borders of our neighbours to the south.

Victoria Highlanders 2017 Season Passes now on sale – Highlanders FC
Support local soccer on Vancouver Island. Join the excitement of Highlanders FC PDL Soccer!

PHOTOS: CANADA WEST WOMENS FINAL, UBC 3, TWU 0, NOVEMBER 6, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

2016 BC Soccer Provincial Cup Photo Galleries – BC Soccer Web
Westhills Stadium & Goudy Park in Langford hosted the 2016 BC Soccer Adult Provincial Cup Finals. It was a thrilling weekend of soccer on Vancouver Island that saw seven champions crowned. Richmond FC & Surrey Pegasus qualified for the National Championships this Fall in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Both Coquitlam Metro-Ford Masters & Classics sides qualified for the Western Canadian Masters Championships in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In all, it was a clean sweep for teams from the VMSL & MWSL. Monique Lamoureux & Bill Currie from BC Soccer Web were on location that weekend, capturing the all the action.

Free Physiotherapy Clinical Trial for Achilles Pain at UBC – UBC Centre for Hip Health & Mobility
Do you have Achilles pain? Interested in free Physiotherapy? If yes, join our clinical trial to look at the effectiveness of intramuscular stimulation (IMS), a form of acupuncture therapy, in treating Achilles tendon pain.

The BC Soccer Web Guide to Empire Field – BC Soccer Web
Empire Fields and Plateau Sports Park is the lofty and formal name given to Vancouver’s newest addition to the soccer scene. Yet, anyone who’s ever kicked or carried both kinds of footballs around these parts knows the place by heart.

Introducing BC Soccer Web Syndication – BC Soccer Web
You can now add BC Soccer Web news to your website simply by adding our new RSS Feed! Find out more.

Send your Soccer News to BC Soccer Web! – BC Soccer Web
BC Soccer Web is the hub for soccer in British Columbia. We want to share your soccer news with the entire province, and you can help by letting us know! We want your match reports, club news, league standings, and info on upcoming tournaments and clinics. Whether you submit links to existing news on the web, or your own original writing, we want to share it with the soccer community in B.C.

 Premium Classified Advertising on BC Soccer Web Starting at 50 cents per day!

CANADA SOCCER NEWS

Former Olympian Kaylyn Kyle retiring from professional soccer – CBC
Well-known Saskatoon born soccer player Kaylyn Kyle is leaving the world of professional soccer.

Christine Sinclair sets tone for Portland Thorns – CBC
Sinclair, one of the most prolific scorers of all time, has been with Portland since the league got its start in 2013. As a member of the Canadian national team, she was among the players distributed across the fledgling league. It was a no-brainer for Sinclair to wind up in Portland, given her history with the city.

Canada Soccer kicks off 2017 Futsal Canadian Championship in Kingston, ON – CSA
The expanded 2017 edition of Canada Soccer’s Futsal Canadian Championship will feature three provincial representatives for the first time as Saskatchewan joins perennial participants Ontario and Quebec. The round robin tournament kicks off in Kingston, ON Friday 21 April at 14:00 PT live on Canada Soccer TV (www.youtube.com/canadasoccertv).

Canada opens against Costa Rica at the CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 Championship – CSA
Canada will kick off the 2017 CONCACAF Men’s Under-17 Championship with a tough Saturday test against Central American winners Costa Rica. The two nations will go head-to-head on Group B’s opening day as CONCACAF’s 12 remaining nations fight for four berths to the FIFA U-20 World Cup India 2017.

Stalteri’s starlets have eyes on India – FIFA
Former players passing on their wisdom is an invaluable part of educating the next generation of footballers looking to make it to the top. With that in mind, following a decorated playing career in Europe, Canada’s U-17 coach Paul Stalteri makes a convincing mentor for his aspiring charges.

State of the game in Canada: MLS, TFC II, and the CanPL in Toronto – Red Nation Online
Earlier this month, Toronto FC President Bill Manning was on the Vocal Minority Podcast, whose hosts did an excellent job asking him questions regarding MLS, the Canadian Premier League (“CanPL”) as well as discussing other soccer stories.

Register for the UBCO High-Performance Summer Training Camp in Kelowna

UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE

WFC2  vs.  SAN ANTONIO FC

SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2017, 3:00 PM

BUY TICKETS

THUNDERBIRD STADIUM, VANCOUVER, BC

LIVESTREAM: WHITECAPSFC2.COM

Whitecaps FC 2 host San Antonio FC at Thunderbird Stadium home opener – Whitecaps FC
Unbeaten in their last three matches, Whitecaps FC 2 find themselves in a playoff spot a month into the USL season. This Saturday, they face a tough test when first-place San Antonio FC come to town.

Whitecaps FC 2 sign Residency midfielder and Richmond, BC native Patrick Metcalfe – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Friday that the club has signed midfielder Patrick Metcalfe from the Residency program to a professional contract with Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) in the United Soccer League (USL), pending league and federation approval.

USL Weekend Preview – Week 5 – USL
One of the most historic clubs in the USL, and one of the newest, both host their home openers to highlight the fifth weekend of the 2017 USL Regular Season, which also features the return of one of the biggest rivalry matchups in the league in the River Cities Cup.

Match Preview: FC Edmonton returns to Clarke Stadium to host Puerto Rico – FC Edmonton
The Eddies look for the club’s first win of the 2017 NASL season when Puerto Rico comes to Edmonton this Saturday.

Despite three losses in first three games, FC Edmonton won’t panic – the11.ca
FC Edmonton made all sorts of preparations to ensure they hit the ground running when the NASL season began. The team spent two weeks in Manchester, England, playing the reserve sides of Premiership and Championship clubs.

Match Preview Fury FC -v- Toronto FC II – Ottawa Fury
After a three-game road trip to open the 2017 USL season, Ottawa Fury FC return home to TD Place for their much anticipated Home Opener against Toronto FC II Saturday afternoon as chapter one of the ‘Battle of Ontario’ is set to be written.

Local Standouts Sign with Orange County – USL
Orange County SC announced on Thursday the club had signed Orange County natives Zach Kobayashi and Michael Suchy. Kobayashi joins the club from Croatian champions GNK Dinamo Zagreb, having spent the past year with the club, while Suchy joins the club after a successful trial spell.

NASL Week 5 Preview – MLS Multiplex
Week Five of the NASL features four matchups this weekend as the Jacksonville Armada look to remain atop the table while others look to catch up.

Richter Happy to Be in Cosmos Country – Empire of Soccer
Ryan Richter knew nothing but victory after joining the New York Cosmos at the end of September.

USL Top Five – CONCACAF U17 Championship – USL
The CONCACAF U17 Championship kicks off tonight in Panama, with not only a championship but also four places at the 2017 FIFA U17 World Cup up for grabs in the 12-team event that will conclude on May 7.

USL PHOTOS: WFC2 3 SOUNDERS2 0, Saturday, April 8, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Richard Howes.

Soccer legend Marta lands at OIA, welcomed by Pride fans – Orlando Sentinel
Goat videos, Brazilian flags and purple-clad soccer fans united Thursday night as part of #MartaWatch, the gathering — in real life and on social media — to welcome soccer superstar Marta Vieira da Silva to Orlando.

Kailen Sheridan talks similarities between Sky Blue FC and Canadian Women’s national team – Vavel
Kailen Sheridan, a Canadian international, talks about similar balances between Sky Blue and Canada and what she knew about Sky Blue before the draft and goals for her rookie season.

FA WSL 1 club Notts County Ladies go out of business – Sky Sports
Notts County Ladies have folded just two days before they were due to travel to Arsenal in their first match of the Spring Series. The 2015 Women’s FA Cup finalists had England internationals Laura Bassett, Carly Telford, Jo Potter, Jade Moore and Rachel Williams on their books.

Notts County Ladies ‘jobless and homeless’ as club folds on eve of season – The Guardian
While there has been some uncertainty about the club’s finances, the timing of the announcement was unexpected, with County due to start their campaign on Sunday against Arsenal.

WSL 1 Week 1 Preview: Women’s Super League 1 returns amidst Notts County folding – Vavel
The Women’s Super League 1 is back this weekend with six teams in action during the opening game week.

Carli Lloyd on Manchester City v Lyon – UEFA
Manchester City’s European debut season moves up a notch when they welcome holders Lyon, and Carli Lloyd spoke to UEFA.com about the tie and their continental bow.

Eniola Aluko, The Nigeria-Born Footballer Making History In England – Konbini
Aluko, who plays for Chelsea Ladies FC, is the first female footballer of African descent to be named for a PFA award. She is also the first female footballer of African descent to appear twice in a PFA award, having been named to the WSL Team of the Year category in 2015.

Man City Women recruit Hays as official sponsor partner – Inside World Football
The trend towards recognising the Women’s club game in England as a sponsorship opportunity at club level and separate to the mens team, is continuing with double title winning side Manchester City Women signing Hays as their Official Recruitment Partner. This follows the deal unveiled earlier in the week when Liverpool’s Women’s team announced Avon as their shirt sponsor.

The football gender gap must get the boot!– HR News
It’s great that we now care sufficiently about the gender pay gap that large businesses are now required to report it.  However, the way we treat our sporting heroes doesn’t set the best example for the rest of society to follow.

Bob Lenarduzzi: Spurs, Palace look to continue their winning ways – The Province
Two of the Premier League’s most in-form teams are Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace, though the two sides are on very different missions.

With La Liga title at stake, Real Madrid meet Barcelona in El Clasico – ESPN FC
Across the hundreds of countries that will broadcast it live, Real Madrid against Barcelona is usually known as El Clasico. Fair enough too, as it’s a genuine all-time classic of football rivalry. But in parts of Spain, particularly where traditionalists meet and shout at each other in smoky cafes over canas of cerveza, jabbing their stogies forward with each repeated argument, this match is also called “El Derbi.”

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo’s seasons could be over as Jose Mourinho fears the worst  – The Telegraph
Jose Mourinho admitted that he fears the worst over injuries to Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo that could end their seasons and deal a crushing blow to Manchester United’s prospects of Europa League success and Champions League qualification.

FA Cup Preview: Emotions run high as powers meet at Wembley – NBC Sports
It’s a weekend for the big boys, with no underdogs in sight as the FA Cup hits the semifinals Saturday and Sunday.

Ajax hit back with 10 men to stun Schalke, Lyon win marathon shootout – Reuters
Ajax Amsterdam, trailing 3-0 and down to 10 men, scored two late goals to overcome Schalke 04 in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday while Olympique Lyonnais won a 16-kick penalty shootout against Besiktas.

Bundesliga Match Day 30 Preview – Prost Amerika
European exits and Bundesliga existence on the line in this preview of the 30th match day.

Ugo Ehiogu: Former Aston Villa & England defender dies, aged 44 – SN
English football is in mourning following the sudden death of former Aston Villa defender Ugo Ehiogu at the age of 44.

Ugo Ehiogu: a warrior on the field but a gentle giant off it – The Guardian
The former Aston Villa and Middlesbrough defender, who has passed away aged 44, will rightly be remembered as one of the best English defenders of his generation.

Ugo Ehiogu dies: Tributes paid to former Aston Villa and England defender and Tottenham coach – The Telegraph
The news came ahead of Tottenham’s FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday, in which there is now expected to be a minute’s silence with both teams wearing black armbands.

German officials: Borussia Dortmund attack suspect acted out of greed – ESPN FC
A 28-year-old German-Russian citizen took out a five-figure loan to bet that Borussia Dortmund shares would drop, then bombed the team’s bus in an attack he tried to disguise as Islamic terrorism in a scheme to net millions, German officials said Friday.

Bastia: Ligue 1 club must play home game at a neutral ground after crowd trouble – BBC Sport
Bastia must play their next home game behind closed doors at a neutral ground after their Ligue 1 match with Lyon was abandoned on Sunday.

Tricky Lyon exam for Monaco – Ligue 1
AS Monaco face a stern test of their Ligue 1 title credentials when they face fellow European semi-finalists Olympique Lyonnais at Parc OL on Sunday.

What is Lukaku’s future? Assessing the Everton striker’s options – ESPN FC
It has been an eventful week for the Belgium international striker, who scored his Premier League-leading 24th goal of the season in a 3-1 win against Burnley, was named in the PFA Team of the Year and has been the subject of considerable speculation over his future.

Chivas – Copa MX Victory Could be a Much Needed Catalyst for the Liguilla – Futebolcidade
Club Deportivo Guadalajara, better known as Chivas (the Goats), have not won a Mexican championship since their 2006 Apertura title. Given that they are one of the two most supported clubs in Mexico (the other is Club Amércia) eleven years without a national championship may as well be an eternity.

I-league finale: Aizwal have chance to make Indian history – Inside World Football
Aizawl FC and Mohun Bagan square off this weekend in the season’s penultimate match day in a game that could prove decisive for the I-league, and which may propel the team from Mizoram to a historic title.

Former Costa Rican FA president Li banned for life – Four Four Two
Following an investigation by FIFA’s Ethics Committee, Eduardo Li, former president of the Costa Rican FA, has been banned for life.

NFL helping fund new Tottenham Hotspur stadium – sources – ESPN FC
Tottenham have agreed a 10-year deal for the NFL to host a minimum of two matches per year at the stadium, which is expected to open for the start of the 2018-19 season.

VIDEO: Youth Soccer Dad Battle: w/ Kevin James & Adam Sandler – Late Late Show w/ James Corden
When Kevin James and James Corden show up to the same soccer match to cheer their sons on, their competitive instincts take over and they each attempt to one-up their expressions of support.