WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
Let the fun begin: ‘Caps set to kick off 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs against Portland Timbers – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC kick off their 2015 MLS Cup Playoff campaign this Sunday, when they visit Cascadia rival Portland Timbers in the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinal.
Match Preview: Playoff Push at Providence Park – Eighty-Six Forever
There was reason to cheer for Portland on Thursday night. Sporting Kansas City were the 6th and lowest seed in the West, meaning they would’ve played FC Dallas had they won at Providence Park, leaving the Vancouver Whitecaps up against the Seattle Sounders: the lime-green equivalent of the Caps’ Achilles heel this season. Now the Caps have a slightly less potent Cascadia rival to deal with and a familiar trip down the I-5 on Sunday.
Whitecaps ready for Rose City cauldron – Goal
Vancouver expects a difficult contest versus the Timbers, despite Portland coming off an emotional penalty-shootout win over Sporting Kansas City on Thursday.
Confident Laba looks ahead to the playoffs – Eighty-Six Forever
The Whitecaps Designated Player chats exclusively with Eighty Six Forever and explains why there is a cool confidence in his team ahead of the MLS 2015 playoffs.
Whitecaps bound for Portland after Timbers pull off classic playoff win against Sporting KC – The Province
The Whitecaps are heading to Portland, and they sat through a classic to get there. A Portland win at home to Kansas City on Thursday teed up a Caps-Timbers matchup in the Western Conference semifinal. If Portland had lost, the Caps were headed to Seattle to face the Sounders. In one of the wildest MLS playoff games ever, Portland led 1-0, trailed 2-1 late into extra time, tied it late, then won it in the 11th round of penalty kicks.
VIDEO: POR vs SKC: The craziest penalty shootout miss you will ever see – SBI
Here is the miss, which will haunt the nightmares of Sporting KC fans for a long time, and be the stuff of legends in Portland forever.
Whitecaps will face a familiar foe in Timbers – Vancouver Sun
Expansion cousins in 2011, the Whitecaps and Timbers will meet in the MLS playoffs for the first time starting Sunday in Portland. It’ll be an I-5-extended matchup that promises to be filled with a whole lot of intensity in front of noisy sellout crowds.
Atlantic Cup, Cascadia Cup highlight Conference Semifinals – MLS
The Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs Knockout Round – full of drama, controversy and golazos – is over. Up next? The Conference Semifinals, featuring the league’s oldest rivalry, a Cascadia clash and a rematch from 2014.
Is team chemistry the secret ingredient to Whitecaps FC’s success? – Whitecaps FC
Tight-knit. Special. Family. These are some of the words that have been used to describe Vancouver Whitecaps FC this season by those involved with – and close to – the club. Some might write it off as pure rhetoric. Can’t say I’d blame them. Professional sports are filled with these sorts of clichés. From the outside, it’s hard to know the truth sometimes.
The Salty Dog and the Piano Player: Jack Jewsbury and Darlington Nagbe helped influence Portland soccer in MLS – Timbers.com
We examine the impact that Timbers Darlington Nagbe–the team’s first-ever MLS SuperDraft selection–and Jack Jewsbury–one of the Timbers’ original players–and how they helped form the culture of the club in the modern era.
Montreal Impact dominate Toronto FC in Knockout Round – MLS
How about this for a narrative on that third goal: An MLS lifer sets up a local boy come back from Europe who’s been on the outs all season, eventually setting up a global superstar. Welcome to MLS in 2015.
Bernier delivers standout performance in Impact win over TFC – Goal
After spending much of the season on the sidelines, the veteran has returned to being an integral part of the Montreal Impact midfield.
Toronto FC suffer nightmare playoff loss to Impact – Red Nation Online
Only several days after completing the regular season against the Impact, Toronto FC were back in action on Thursday for the club’s first ever MLS playoff game. With Toronto have fallen to 6th place on Sunday, there was plenty at stake for the Reds in a match that was going define their season as either a success or just another in a long line of failures.
A lesson in collective balance costs abysmal TFC – TSN
The greatest thing about this sport is its fluidity, how combinations must tick for a team to be ultimately successful. A side that can find the right balance will then see their stars take over games.
TFC’s season ends in embarrassing fashion – Sportsnet
That’s it? We waited nine years for that? A Toronto FC season that promised hope and achievement when it began back in March ended Thursday in embarrassing fashion courtesy of a 3-0 loss to the Montreal Impact in the first round of Major League Soccer’s playoffs.
Impact win sets up Red Bulls, DC encounter – Empire of Soccer
A crushing 3-0 win by the Impact over Toronto FC at Stade Saputo on Thursday night sets up an Atlantic Cup reunion, pitting the New York Red Bulls against DC United.
Why Jermaine Jones faces suspensions for both MLS matches and U.S. World Cup qualifiers – Washington Post
Jermaine Jones lost his mind Wednesday. Jones’s stoppage-time meltdown at RFK Stadium — ignited by referee Mark Geiger’s decision to not award a potential match-tying penalty kick to Jones’s New England Revolution — resulted in a red card and automatic suspension for the start of the MLS regular season next spring.
Sources: Fabio Capello in talks with NYCFC – Goal
A disappointing expansion season has New York City FC considering its coaching options, and sources tell Goal USA that the MLS club is in talks with the former England coach.
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BC SOCCER NEWS
A leader’s legacy inspires championship soccer teams at Surrey United – Surrey Now
The memory of Martin Foden inspired a quartet of Surrey United soccer teams at their national championship games on the Thanksgiving long weekend. Foden, the club’s executive director, died in his sleep Sept. 2 while vacationing in Palm Springs. He was 66.
Playoff Race Down To Season Finale After Clan 4-1 Victory – SFU
Simon Fraser University took care of business with a 4-1 win over Saint Martin’s University on Thursday setting up a final day showdown in the playoff race for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference women’s soccer championship tournament.
Clan Picks Up 3-1 Road Victory At Concordia – SFU
With goals in the 9th and 31st minutes, Simon Fraser jumped out to a quick lead and then held on for a 3-1 win over Concordia University on Thursday night at Tuominen Yard in Great Northwest Athletic Conference men’s soccer action.
PACWEST Men’s Soccer All-Stars and Major Award Winners – PACWEST
The PACWEST is proud to announce the 2015 Men’s Soccer Player of the Year, is Kristian Yli-Hietanen from the Capilano University Blues.
PACWEST Women’s Soccer All-Stars and Major Award Winners – PACWEST
The PACWEST is proud to announce the 2015 Women’s Soccer Player of the Year, is Marni McMillan from the Douglas College Royals.
VIU will contend at provincials – Nanaimo News Bulletin
The VIU Mariners play in the Pacific Western Athletic Association championships this Friday and Saturday (Oct. 30-31) in Burnaby.
Veterans look to lead Vikes soccer teams back to the promised land – Times Colonist
Wilson’s Vikes (6-3-3 for second place in the Pacific Division) meet Ryan Gyaki’s Mount Royal Cougars of Calgary (7-4-1 for third place in the Prairie Division) in a Canada West Conference men’s soccer quarter-final game tonight at 7:15 at Centennial Stadium. The winner advances to next weekend’s semifinals.
Weekend preview: Soccer teams open playoffs, rowers to nationals, volleyballers at home – UFV
In light of the success the University of the Fraser Valley women’s soccer team has had over the past five years – Canada West gold and silver medals, two trips to CIS nationals, and a national bronze medal are the highlights – it’s surprising that they’ve never once played host to a conference playoff game. They’ll taste home field advantage in the Canada West postseason for the first time on Saturday, as they host the Victoria Vikes in the first round of the Canada West playoffs. Kickoff is at 4 p.m. at Abbotsford Senior Secondary.
UFV women earn home playoff date – Abbotsford News
For the first time ever, the UFV Cascades women’s soccer team is hosting a home playoff game. UFV clinched the home playoff date after a 2-2 draw on Saturday against the UVic Vikes. The single point ensured that the Cascades finished one point ahead of the Vikes for third place in the Canada West Western Division, and earned them home field advantage for round one.
Sooke Loggers shutout pesky Castaways FC – Sooke Mirror
Sooke Loggers improved their season record to 3-3-1 with a 1-0 win over the Castaways FC in Vancouver Island Soccer League action at Fred Milne Park on Friday.
Powell River Villa falls to Nanaimo United – Powell River Peak
A hard battle was expected at Timberlane Park on Sunday, October 25, between two soccer teams separated by just a single point in the standings.
Cowichan Cubs edged by JDF – Cowichan Valley Citizen
An outstanding second half wasn’t quite enough for the Cowichan Cubs to beat Juan de Fuca in last week’s Lower Island Women’s Soccer Association game at Evans Park, with the host team settling for a 2-1 loss.
TOFC girls move closer to first-place finish – Kelowna Capital News
The Thompson Okanagan FC U13 girls played to a 2-2 draw with Coastal on Sunday in B.C. Soccer Premier League action.
DCS locked into soccer provincials – Cowichan Valley Citizen
The Duncan Christian School Chargers punched their ticket to the provincial single-A senior boys soccer championships next month by finishing second at the Island tournament at the Cowichan Sportsplex last week.
Youth soccer club merger poised for next season – Delta Optimist
After years of speculation and even some preliminary attempts, the merger of all three local youth soccer clubs cleared a significant hurdle Monday night. A vote for the Ladner Boys, Ladner Girls and Tsawwassen Soccer Clubs to come together and become South Delta United overwhelming passed, setting the stage for the unified organization to be up and running in time for the 2016-17 season.
This Riot ain’t quiet as they climb U21 ranks – New Westminster Record
With a moniker like ‘Riot,’ this Royal City soccer squad can be counted on bringing the noise to the pitch on a weekly basis. The under-21 women’s soccer team are showing they mean business in the Metro Women’s junior circuit, standing their ground against the competition.
FIFA 2018 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING
CANADA vs. HONDURAS
7:00 PM, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015
B.C. PLACE, VANCOUVER, B.C.
FIFA World Cup Qualifying – Canada vs. Honduras at B.C. Place, Fri. Nov.13 – Buy Tickets Here
CANADA SOCCER NEWS
VIDEO: Get to Know Fraser Aird – CSA
On the road to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, meet Canada’s Men’s National Team player Fraser Aird. Canada will face Honduras in a crucial match on Friday, November 13th at BC Place.
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NASL & USL NEWS
Cosmos, Rowdies Meet In Potential Postseason Preview – NASL
The New York Cosmos-Tampa Bay Rowdies match may be the most crucial of the final weekend of the NASL regular season. It could have an impact on both the race to the No. 1 and No. 4 seeds for The Championship.
Chicago Sting aim for 2017 NASL debut; Peter Wilt involved – Empire of Soccer
Is another NASL heritage club on the verge of resurrection? It certainly looks that way. The Chicago Sting have long been rumored for a potential revival. Several sources have confirmed the reports to EoS, pulling the curtain back on an operation which aims to find their way to the NASL playing field by 2017.
Belmar Thrilled By Rookie Experience With T2 – USL
Even now, looking back on his first professional season, Kharlton Belmar is still a little awed at the experience. “There are so many things,” Belmar said recently. “The overall experience in general just taught me a lot about being a professional, and how this whole thing works. The amount of consistency and preparation you have to put in to prepare yourself for games and going out and performing and producing, it’s just so much, and I just got to learn all about that. I can’t speak enough on the experience that I’ve gained this past year. It’s unbelievable.”
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
Women call for Carrard to balance FIFA’s ‘institutional’ gender issues – Inside World Football
FIFA’s reform guru Francois Carrard is being urged to address the question of gender imbalance as an immediate priority as part of the measures to lift football’s world governing body out of the dark ages.
Women’s round-up: October 2015 – FIFA
It was yet another massive month in women’s football on both the international and club stage. FIFA.com reviews all the action highlighted by the impending retirement of the game’s greatest-ever goalscorer. There is also major news from USA’s domestic league, as well as from Europe, Rio 2016 qualifying and more.
LEIGH ANN BROWN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT – NWSL
FC Kansas City defender Leigh Ann Brown (nee Robinson) has announced her retirement from professional soccer shortly after helping the Blues win back-to-back championships.
Notts County’s Laura Bassett issues Cup final rallying call – The FA
Laura Bassett has urged her Notts County team-mates to win the Continental Tyres Cup for Sophie Bradley. The Lady Pies club captain has been out for over a year with an ACL injury which has forced her to miss two FA WSL 1 campaigns.
Manchester City Women: Jennifer Beattie loaned to Melbourne City – BBC Sport
Manchester City Women defender Jennifer Beattie has joined W-League side Melbourne City on loan for the 2015-16 season.
Forecasting a rematch: More in store for FSU, UVA – The Equalizer
When an official’s blown call ultimately decides a game, often the rest of the contest gets overshadowed. When the matchup is as tantalizing as then No. 1 Florida State and No. 2 Virginia, it’s really a shame.
Round three preview – Westfield W-League – Westfield W-League
We preview round three in the Westfield W-League, highlighted by the first Sydney derby of the season.
Women in Football meet in Scotland for first time – BBC Sport
Around 80 delegates attended the first Women in Football conference to be held in Scotland on Thursday evening.
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WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Sepp Blatter: Michel Platini told me he had been instructed to vote for Qatar – Evening Standard
Sepp Blatter has claimed that Michel Platini revealed to him that he was told to vote for Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup by then-French president Nicolas Sarkozy.
Fifa’s ‘big players’ were behind 2018 Russia agreement – BBC Sport
The agreement to hand Russia the 2018 World Cup before the vote took place involved “big players” in Fifa, says president Sepp Blatter’s adviser.
Fifa ‘should repay’ Australia failed 2022 World Cup bid costs – BBC Sport
Fifa should repay the money spent by Australia on its failed 2022 World Cup bid, according to a whistleblower who worked on the campaign.
Sampdoria maintains unbeaten home record – Sportsnet
Sampdoria was held to a 1-1 draw by Empoli in Serie A on Thursday but maintained its unbeaten home record.
Arsenal’s Theo Walcott could be out until December with calf injury – The Guardian
Arsène Wenger says that Theo Walcott will be out for a “fraction longer” than the international break with his calf injury, meaning that it could be December before he returns to action.
Leicester’s Vardy a feel-good story for BPL – Sportsnet
Perhaps the truest metre of Jamie Vardy’s value to Leicester City is the fact he started Tuesday’s league cup match at Hull City on the bench. Granted, he didn’t stay there.
CONCACAF Announces Details of Copa America Centenario Play-in Matches – CONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) today announced details of the two play-in matches for the final two berths in the Copa America Centenario, to be played in the United States from June 3-26, 2016.
Newcastle Jets stage comeback against Melbourne City to go top of A-League – The Guardian
Milos Trifunovic stunned Melbourne City with a second-half brace to put Newcastle Jets on top of the A-League table with a comeback 3-2 win on Friday night.
Dinamo Moscow vs. Spartak Moscow – Visiting Russia’s Oldest Derby – Futbolgrad
Today Khimki has a population of 190,000 people, and is home to Arena Khimki, a stadium that was built between 2005 and 2008 in the belief that Khimki’s growing population could sustain professional football. FC Khimki, however, plays in the third division and although officially based at the stadium usually uses the much smaller SK Rodina. Yet Moscow’s stadium crisis has meant that both CSKA and Dinamo Moscow have been forced to play their home games in Khimki rather than in Moscow proper.
The Joy of Six: celebrating unglamorous football clubs – The Guardian
Away from the glitz of the Premier League, the Colchesters, Burys and Blue Brazils of the world mean something very special to their ‘long-suffering’ fans.