BC Soccer News, Weekend, July 29-31, 2016

FC DALLAS vs. WHITECAPS FC

SUNDAY, JULY 31, 2016, 6:00 PM

TOYOTA STADIUM, FRISCO, TX.

TV: TSN2  RADIO: TSN 1040   LIVESTREAM: TSN GO

FC Dallas vs. Vancouver Whitecaps | 2016 MLS Match Preview MLS
FC Dallas stayed atop the league’s overall standings after picking up a point in a 1-1 road draw vs. the Colorado Rapids thanks to a late goal from Victor Ulloa. FC Dallas are currently 12-6-5 on the year.

Whitecaps take on Dallas FC still looking for first victory in TexasMetro
The Whitecaps earned their first point ever in Texas with a 0-0 draw against the Houston Dynamo last weekend. They now hope to collect their first victory in the Lone Star State when Vancouver plays FC Dallas in a Major League Soccer game Sunday.

FC Dallas host Vancouver Whitecaps, look to retain top spot in the WestVavel
For the second straight week, the Whitecaps will face off against a Texas team in FC Dallas, the best team in Major League Soccer.

KNOW YOUR ENEMY: Vancouver Whitecaps FC Dallas
FC Dallas has spent this week recuperating after a tough stretch of their schedule had them play eight games in 29 days – ending with a 1-1 draw against Colorado last Saturday – before they gear up to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps at home on Sunday. FCD (12-6-5) kept Colorado goalkeeper Tim Howard on his toes for much of Saturday’s game, but Victor Ulloa finally broke through with a late equalizer, earing Dallas a point on the road.

Squad Selection: Is FC Dallas back to full strength against Vancouver?Big D Soccer
For the first time in a few weeks, FC Dallas only has one game to deal with this week. On Sunday they host the Vancouver Whitecaps following the league’s All-Star break that saw the club send both Mauro Diaz and Kellyn Acosta to San Jose to battle Arsenal.

Their words: Why Cole Seiler is dedicating his MLS debut to a childhood friendWhitecaps FC
It was just another pre-game meal – until Coach Carl revealed the starting lineup. There I was. Seiler. Right back. In about three hours, I would be making my MLS debut. On the ride to the stadium, I was thinking, “There’s no need to get nervous. This is the moment I’ve been training for my whole life.”

From The Pigeon Loft: Time to get serious AFTN
As I watched twitter and listened to Bob Lenarduzzi on the radio, the word that came to mind to describe the Espindola situation was “Capsy”. It is not a mark of pride. It seems that these kinds of things only happen to us. Our front office has set a number of firsts in recent years, that even by the standards of MLS, begger belief.

Beyond the Lens – Gone and Forgotten?Eighty-Six Forever
In the aftermath of the Fabian Espindola episode, I thought now would be a good time to take a look at a few players, who you may not have realized were a part of the Whitecaps organization.

Throwing Pedro at the wall to see what sticks Soccer Shorts
Not literally of course because that would be insane given his somewhat sketchy injury record but in a league in which tactical nuances are often boiled down to “faster, higher, stronger” it’s kind of fascinating to think about how to get the best out of Pedro Morales.

Waston plays 45 minutes as MLS All-Stars fall 2-1 to Arsenal FC Whitecaps FC
After defeating Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich in the last two editions of the summer showcase, the MLS All-Stars fell 2-1 to Arsenal FC on Thursday evening in San Jose.

Kendall Waston – A Vancouver Whitecaps All-Star Futbolgrad
The Major League Soccer All-Star game between the MLS All-Star Team and the London based club, Arsenal, featured two players from Costa Rica. Yet, while Arsenal’s striker Joel Campbell finally seems to have managed to stay with Arsenal’s first team last season—after spending the past five years on loan with five different clubs all over Europe—Vancouver Whitecaps’, Kendall Waston, is a relatively unknown quantity in Europe.

Late winner from Akpom leads Arsenal to win in MLS All-Star Game SBI
For the first time since 2013, the MLS All-Stars were defeated in the annual mid-summer showcase.

Didier Drogba proves Arsenal’s worst nightmare, but loss leaves him unhappyMLS
Drogba’s tally is now up to an impressive 16 goals in 17 all-time matches against the Gunners after his latest strike in first-half stoppage time gave the MLS side a momentary equalizer in Thursday’s 2-1 loss to Arsenal at the 2016 AT&T MLS All-Star Game.

The MLS All-Star Game is a massive waste of timeToronto Sun
Like Vieira, I tuned into Thursday night’s AT&T MLS All-Star Game Presented By Audi for one reason: To see if Sebastian Giovinco, TFC’s lone representative at the event, would escape without injury. He did. Toronto FC manager Greg Vanney likely breathed a sigh of relief.

MLS Week 21 Preview: Sunday showcaseEmpire of Soccer
Major League Soccer picks up after its All-Star Game with a full 10-game slate. With the All-Star festivities having taken place on Thursday night, the league has shifted nearly its entire schedule for the weekend to Sunday. There is, however, one game played on Saturday.

Seattle seeks win form, NYCFC hopes stars are fit, Kreis ready in OrlandoESPN FC
Now that the All-Star Game has come and gone, the business end of the MLS regular season is upon us. The playoff race is in full swing ahead of a busy weekend across the league.

Breaking Down the MLS Playoff Races After the All-Star Break Bleacher Report
Now that the excitement of the Major League Soccer All-Star Game is behind us, it’s time to get down to business.

MLS weekend preview: Bruce Arena is the last of the league’s coaching giantsThe Guardian
When Seattle and LA met just a few weeks ago, we were talking about the legacy of Sigi Schmid and Bruce Arena. The league was producing a graphic charting their influence over almost this entire generation of MLS coaches, who’d either worked or played under one or both of them.

Report: Sporting KC has agreed to sell Dom Dwyer to Olympiacos for €4.5 millionBlue Testament
A newspaper in Greece is reporting that Sporting Kansas City has agreed to sell striker Dom Dwyer to Olympiacos F.C. for €4.5 million pending an approval from the player. Peter Vermes says there is “no truth” to the report.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber gives expansion update, shares replay timelineMLS
Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber sat down with ESPN at halftime of Thursday’s AT&T MLS All-Star Game, giving an update on expansion and instant replay to the network’s Max Bretos, Kasey Keller and Alejandro Moreno.

MLS Expansion: All signs point to Minnesota in 2017Soccer America
Atlanta United FC is the only MLS expansion team confirmed for 2017, but MLS commissioner Don Garber told ESPN at halftime of the AT&T MLS All-Star Game that the league will have “another announcement in a couple of weeks” on who will join Atlanta. That should be Minnesota, though the team name and home field for 2017 remain to be determined.

Timbers enter familiar waters with Borchers injury  – Prost Amerika
The Timbers found the missing piece for their championship aspirations when they sent allocation money to Real Salt Lake City in exchange for defender Nat Borchers. Borchers solidified a defensive corps that was hardly more effective than stinky cheese in 2014. Only the Houston Dynamo and the Montreal Impact (teams which combined 35 losses in a 34 game MLS season!), allowed more than goals than Portland did that season.

Sigi Schmid says farewell to Sounders fans Seattle Times
Longtime head coach Sigi Schmid, who parted ways with the club on Tuesday morning after more than seven years in charge, spoke at a send-off event hosted by the Emerald City Supporters group on Thursday evening at Pioneer Square.

SeatGeek Becomes Official Ticketing Partner of Major League Soccer SeatGeek
SeatGeek and Major League Soccer announced today a groundbreaking multi-year partnership agreement focused on the development of a new, radically open ticketing ecosystem. Under the partnership, SeatGeek will collaborate with the league and its clubs to introduce an integrated ticketing platform that will be made available to all clubs. SeatGeek will also become the Official Ticketing Partner of Major League Soccer.

Goalkeeper is swapping soccer for law enforcement Washington Post
For 10 years, Tally Hall has made a living stopping shots. Now, he’s going to stop bad guys. The longtime MLS goalkeeper, who joined D.C. United this spring but did not make any appearances, will announce his retirement Friday. He is not expected to go into detail about his future plans, but multiple sources said he plans to pursue a career in law enforcement.

 Capture the  game in HD using aerial video, book now at www.gamevision.ca!

BC SOCCER NEWS

PCSL CHALLENGE CUP FINAL PHOTOS: Vancouver Thunderbirds 4, Mid Isle Mariners 1, July 24, 2016 BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

Burnaby’s best ready to shine in RioBurnaby Now
The 2016 Canadian Olympic team was officially announced this week, featuring 313 athletes from across the country. Among the long list of accomplished Canadians are eight athletes with strong ties to Burnaby, in a variety of sports.

U-13s continue week in Mexico with 4-2 win over Jamaican side Harbour View FC Whitecaps FC
Following their participation in the 2016 U-13 CONCACAF Champions League, Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s young Residency players continued their week in Mexico City with a friendly match against Jamaica’s Harbour View FC on Wednesday.

SFU Mens Soccer Program ID camp, August 8-11SFU
Spend four days with the most successful University soccer program in Canada. This is a great opportunity for our coaching staff to take a closer look at players by putting them through training sessions, and 11v11 game situations.

Soccer enthusiasm burns bright at UVIC Vikes campAlaska Highway News
Enthusiasm is not a skill, but an attitude. So, as eager soccer players arrived at the Dr. Kearny gym in Fort St. John for the 9th annual University of Victoria Vikes soccer camp this week, head coach Bruce Wilson knew what to expect.

’Pack soccer camp sets up seasonNews Kamloops
Excitement is in the air as the start of the TRU WolfPack men’s soccer team training camp approaches.

Surrey soccer trio head to Arizona Surrey Leader
The trio of 10-year-olds – Jaden Gosal, Hugo Patel and Jeevan Badwal – were selected recently to take part in the Wolverhampton Wanderers’ US National Academy camp, set for Arizona.

Kelowna bronze at Disney Castanet
A Kelowna youth soccer team came home with bronze medals from a 180-team international tournament in Florida.

Jay DeMerit launches Rise & Shine Captain’s Camp in Pemberton Rise & Shine Foundation
A captain is an individual who unifies teammates into one team.  A captain has to be well rounded to lead by example. At the Rise & Shine: Captains Camps, the curriculum is specifically built around creating a balance of elite soccer training on the field, and all encompassing life skills training off the field.

BC Soccer Assoc. Releases their 2015-2016 Year in ReviewBCSA
After another successful year of soccer in British Columbia, BC Soccer Assoc. is pleased to release their 2015-2016 Year in Review.  The creation of the BC Soccer Club Charter Program, delivery of a FIFA Live Your Goals Festival, along with the numerous Grassroots Festivals across the province and Coach Education highlight some of the major successes this past year.

BC Soccer Assoc. Delivery of Coach MandateBCSA
IMPORTANT:  If you are coaching in the ages U6-U12 you are required to complete the age appropriate course(s) even if you have a higher level of certification (ie. Soccer for Life, B pretest, C License, B License or A License). In order to enable our membership to deliver on the coaching mandate, BC Soccer Assoc. will be scheduling Learning Facilitator training sessions to assist organizations to have qualified individuals to deliver in-club coach certification courses to their coaches.

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 SyndicationBC 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.

Connect with Soccer in British Columbia! Advertise on BC Soccer Web today!

CANADA SOCCER NEWS

Calgary soccer underdogs defy odds, score their way to semifinalsCBC
A bit of a Cinderella story has been unfolding this week for Calgary’s only professional soccer team. Calgary Foothills FC U23 has only officially been a part of the Premier Development League for two years.

Winnipeg celebrates One Year To Go until 2017 Canada GamesCSA
The City of Winnipeg has celebrated the One Year To Go Countdown until next year’s 2017 Canada Games. The multi-sport competition will feature 16 summer sports, including soccer tournaments featuring U-18 select teams from provinces and territories from across Canada (players born 1999 or later).

#CanadaRed soccer notebook: Tosh Ricketts finds stability at TFCYahoo Sports
Tosaint Ricketts has had more than his share of misadventures playing in Europe, joining Toronto FC after a problematic stint with Boluspor in Turkey. Boluspor simply wasn’t paying Ricketts, which is similar to his situation with Romania’s Politehnica Timisoara, with whom he played from 2010 to ‘12. That time, Ricketts had to fight the Romanian Football Federation to become a free agent.

Canada Para Soccer opens Vejen 2016 in first placeCSA
Canada took an important first step in qualifying for next year’s IFPCF World Championship with a 10:0 win over Denmark on the opening day. Canada collected three points with the victory in the 29 July opener at the 2016 IFCPF Qualification Tournament in Vejen, Denmark.

League1 Ontario All-Stars Beat Quebec Selects 3-0 In Inter-Provincial ExhibitionLeague1 Ontario
League1 Ontario 2016 Women’s All-Stars beat Quebec Selects 3-0 on Wednesday July 27, in an exhibition match that showed off the best of League1’s All-Stars and a Quebec side filled with junior national players and provincial REX-based talent.

Northern girls make long trek for Summer GamesEstevan Mercury
Playing in the Estevan 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games girls soccer competition didn’t produce the hoped results for Team North, but it did allow the club an opportunity to know what they need to reach to.

Six N.S. soccer players score scholarshipsChronicle Herald
Six of the province’s best female high school graduate soccer players have received scholarships with Division I schools south of the border. Most of the players head to their respective schools at the beginning of August.

Maverick soccer standout crisscrosses the globeEdmonds Beacon
Hannah Taylor is racking up the frequent flier mileage this month. Taylor, who will be a senior at Meadowdale High School this fall, recently returned from a trip to China where, she joined the Canadian Women’s National U-17 team and played in three games against international opponents.

Erin McLeod: It’s time to Motivate a Nation! themotivenation.ca
After building a successful e-commerce (www.peaudeloup.com) and a physical retail store in West Vancouver (CAPOSHIE) Women’s National Team Goalkeeper Erin McLeod has decided after a series of misfortunate events it’s time to branch out on her own with her new inspiration project, Motive Nation, launching to the public on July 1st, online at www.themotivenation.ca.

WFC2, USL & NASL NEWS

UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE

COLORADO SPRINGS SWITCHBACKS vs. WFC2

FRIDAY, JULY 29, 2016, 6:00 PM

SWITCHBACKS STADIUM, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO.

USL LIVESTREAM

USL PHOTOS: WFC2 2, Sacramento Republic FC 1, July 24, 2016 BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

Whitecaps FC 2 visit Colorado Switchbacks FC in a crucial top-three matchupWhitecaps FC
Sitting atop the Western Conference after a big last-minute win against Sacramento Republic FC on Sunday at Thunderbird Stadium, Whitecaps FC 2 (10W-4L-5D) are back on the road for a two-game road trip.

WFC2 Goalkeepers’ Union: Melvin, Carducci, Richey push each other to the next level Whitecaps FC
With 19 games under their belt this season and a 10W-4L-5D record, Whitecaps FC 2 boast a daunting goalkeeping trio that continues to make game-changing saves and support the young ‘Caps between the posts.

USL Preview: Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2USL
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC welcomes Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 to Switchbacks Stadium on Friday night in one of the marquee games of Week 19 in the USL regular season, as two of the top three teams in the Western Conference square off. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. PT.

USL Weekend Preview – Week 19USL
Key top-four contests in both the Eastern and Western Conferences highlight a 13-game weekend slate of action in Week 19 of the USL season, as the race for the playoffs continues to tighten in both conferences. Friday night is marked by a marquee matchup as Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC plays host to Western Conference leader Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, and Saturday evening sees FC Cincinnati and the Charleston Battery both look to build on big wins last Saturday when they meet at Nippert Stadium.

FC Montreal hosts Charlotte Independence this SaturdayFC Montreal
After benefiting from a weekend off, FC Montreal will be back on the field against the Charlotte Independence, this Saturday at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex.

FC Edmonton adds Canadian youth international Ben Fisk FC Edmonton
Born and raised in Vancouver, B.C., Fisk rose to prominence after featuring with Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s residency program. After going on loan to Charleston Battery following his tenure with the ‘Caps, Fisk headed abroad to compete with Spanish football club Coruxo FC, scoring four goals in 24 appearances. In 2015, Fisk signed with Deportivo B of Tercera División, making 21 appearances.

FC Edmonton announces signing of midfielder Pedro GalvaoFC Edmonton
Galvao, 27, has spent the entirety of his career in Portugal, competing for a number of clubs that include Pamplihosa, Fatima, Sertanense and Gil Vincente before arriving in Edmonton late last week. Last season, the left-footed winger was efficient in his 2015 campaign with Sertanense, recording four goals in just 638 minutes of play.

OC Blues Sign Former Premier League Midfielder ChaplowUSL
Orange County Blues FC announced on Friday the signing of former Southampton FC and England Under-21 international Richard Chaplow. The experienced midfielder joins the Blues ahead of Saturday’s I-405 Derby with the LA Galaxy II at Anteater Stadium.

Republic FC notes: Paul Buckle not concerned about recent slideSacramento Bee
Republic FC coach Paul Buckle isn’t panicking, but with an 0-3-1 record over their last four games, Buckle and his players say the next two matches will go a long way in determining their playoff fate in the USL’s Western Conference.

NASL Levies Record Fine On Rowdies Owner Bill Edwards for Criticizing OfficialsEmpire of Soccer
EoS has learned the North American Soccer League front office has fined Tampa Bay Rowdies owner Bill Edwards for a letter posted on the team’s website criticizing the level of officiating the team has experienced during the year. Edwards went so far as to include a video with clips demonstrating bad calls that have gone against the Rowdies.

Austin Aztex likely will be sidelined for 2017, tooStatesman
As United Soccer League clubs meet this week in San Jose, Calif., it appears that Austin’s USL franchise, which suspended play for 2016, likely won’t return in 2017, either, as its long-term prospects grow dimmer.

Follow BC Soccer Web on Twitter and get news throughout the day!

WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS

2016 UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship – Spain 4-3 Netherlands: La Roja come out on top after frenzied second-halfVavel
Spain came from behind twice against the Netherlands to make it to their third successive 2016 UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship final.

2016 UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship – France 3-1 Switzerland: French impact subs stun SwissVavel
France reached their eighth UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship due to the impact of half-time substitutions, Clara Mateo and Perle Morroni, combined with calamitous Switzerland defending.

#WU19EURO final briefing: France v Spain UEFA
France and several Spanish players will be setting new records when they meet in Sunday’s #WU19EURO final after the highest scoring last-four ties in competition history.

Year after WWC run, England still has room to growEqualizer
When you exceed expectations at your first major tournament, it could be said that you make a rod for your own back and invite added pressure to succeed.

NWSL Defender of the Year Candidates Vavel
The NWSL is set for an Olympic break with 6 weeks left in the season, VAVEL USA writer Sandra Herrera takes a look at possible Defender of the Year candidates.

Orlando Pride’s Leah Fortune decides to retireOrlando Sentinel
A leap of faith brought midfielder Leah Fortune to the Orlando Pride. After a brief but productive stint with the club, Fortune opted to step away from team and retire from professional soccer.

Nadine Kessler becomes UEFA ambassadorUEFA
Former Germany international Nadine Kessler has been appointed as a UEFA women’s football development ambassador at the Women’s Under-19 finals in Slovakia.

Blue Heat women’s soccer readies for title match Signal SCV Sports
After a nine-week season, the Santa Clarita Blue Heat semi-pro women’s soccer team will play New Jersey Copa FC in this year’s United Women’s Soccer championship match.

Uvena Fernandes Becomes India’s First Woman Referee at a FIFA World CupNDTV
Uvena Fernandes, a former Indian international footballer and now a FIFA-certified referee, has been selected to officiate games at the upcoming FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan

Former Football Captain Khalida Popal On The Dangers Facing Afghan Women In SportHuffington Post
In Afghanistan, female players are not fighting for equal pay, they’re fighting for their lives.

Muslim female athletes find sport so essential they compete while coveredWashington Post
KUWAIT: On a perfectly breathable Friday near sunset in the spring, you might have spotted what residents say you never would have spotted 10 years ago: women, here and there, on the pathways that twist near a sports park, walking briskly or jogging, in their abayas.

Find a Team or Find a Player with BC Soccer Web FREE Classifieds!

WORLD SOCCER NEWS

Schweinsteiger retires from international football Goal
The midfielder brings an end to a 12-year spell with the Germany national team, during which he won the World Cup and picked up a silver medal from the European Championship.

Schweinsteiger’s most memorable moments UEFA
From his first cap to the heartbreak of 2006, the joy of 2014 and the despair of this summer, Bastian Schweinsteiger has enjoyed an international career to cherish.

The cull begins – Mourinho confines nine players to U-21 training Vavel
Bastian Schweinsteiger was the most high profile player excluded from the first team group, as speculation mounts over the future of several stars.

Bastian Schweinsteiger leads list of nine headed for Man United exit ESPN FC
The last of Manchester United’s Euro 2016 contingent — Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin, Anthony Martial, Matteo Darmian and Marouane Fellaini — returned to the club for training on Thursday. And with a full squad at his disposal, new manager Jose Mourinho took the opportunity to make it clear who is in charge at Old Trafford.

Manchester United manager Mourinho should disregard Europa League after Pogba mistakeManchester Evening News
Manchester United have six Europa League fixtures before Christmas but Jose Mourinho should use it as a chance to develop youngsters.

Guzan faces new challenges with Middlesbrough moveSBI
Middlesbrough announced on Friday that the club had come to terms with the USMNT goalkeeper on a two-year deal, further bolstering a new-look roster that now includes Valencia imports Alvaro Negredo and Antonio Barragán, Dutch attacker Viktor Fischer, free signing Gaston Ramirez and £12,000,000 man Marten de Roon.

Barcelona sells left fullback Adriano to BesiktasSportsnet
Barcelona says it has sold Brazilian left back Adriano Correia to Turkish club Besiktas.

Andy King: Midfielder signs four-year deal with champions LeicesterBBC Sport
Leicester City midfielder Andy King has signed a new four-year deal with the Premier League champions, until 2020.

Jermain Defoe to miss the rest of pre-season through injury Vavel
Sunderland’s assistant manager Robbie Stockade also provided an update on the fitness of Patrick van Aanholt, who limped off in Saturday’s win over Dijon FCO.

Kaizer Chiefs job has made Steve Komphela addicted to pressureAfrican Soccer
Steve Komphela believes coaching Kaizer Chiefs has made him addicted to pressure as he enters his second season in charge of the Soweto giants.

Liga MX W2W4: Can Tigres, Monterrey hit title-winning form? ESPN FC
The start of the Liga MX Apertura has yet to bring the expected excitement and goals. Will week 3 be the turning point?

Atletico Nacional prove worthy championsFIFA
Colombia’s Atletico Nacional lifted the Copa Libertadores for the second time in their history, beating tournament revelations Independiente del Valle of Ecuador over two gripping legs in the final. Miguel Angel Borja was the hero of the hour in the second leg at the Estadio Atanasio Girardot in Medellin, scoring the only goal of the game to secure an aggregate win for the Colombian side.

Four killed during Colombia’s celebration of soccer title Sportsnet
Authorities said they registered more than 600 street fights after Medellin’s Atletico Nacional scored a 1-0 defeat of Independiente del Valle of Ecuador in Wednesday night’s Copa Libertadores final.

Nigeria legend Keshi laid to rest not as a heroAfrican Football
Former Nigeria skipper and coach Stephen has been laid to rest in his village of Ilah, southern Nigeria, Friday afternoon, but without the fanfare promised by the country’s government.

1966 World Cup: how apathy turned to joy in England’s golden summer The Guardian
On the 50th anniversary of the final, we speak to organisers, fans and players who recall that what is now looked upon as England’s finest hour was actually a poorly arranged and often sparsely attended tournament until the realisation that the hosts might actually win it.

Christian Vieri: Striker targets Chinese Super League comeback aged 43BBC Sport
Former Italy striker Christian Vieri is planning to come out of retirement aged 43 to play in the Chinese Super League.

UK sports agency CSM expand in US grassroots with US Club Soccer hook-upInside World Football
UK based sports marketing agency CSM has announced a new partnership with US Club Soccer, a National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation to develop programmes for the organisation’s 500,000+ members.

Norwegian club Malvik turn down Real Madrid to host children’s football campThe Guardian
Real Madrid’s Super Cup preparations have been dealt a blow after fifth-tier Norwegian club Malvik IL turned down the European champions’ request to use their training facilities – because of a clash with a children’s football training camp.

Wendell Lira quits professional soccer to focus on playing FIFA full-timeFox Sports
Just six months removed from winning the 2015 Puskas Award, Lira announced his retirement on Thursday. The Brazilian cited mounting injuries for his decision to retire, but also stated his desire to pursue a career in the burgeoning eSports realm, per Globoesporte. His game of choice, naturally, is FIFA.

Posted in BC Soccer News.