WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
PHOTO GALLERY: WHITECAPS FC 2 COLORADO RAPIDS 0, SEPTEMBER 9, 2015 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Richard Howes.
Whitecaps back on top of MLS standings with six games to go – AFTN
Back on top. How’s the view up there Whitecaps? Can you see the Timbers and Sounders down there or are they just too far away? Six games of the MLS regular season to go and Vancouver Whitecaps are top of the Supporters’ Shield standings after grinding out a 2-0 win over Colorado Rapids on Wednesday evening.
Bargain basement Caps soar to top of the MLS – The Province
The loonie is taking a tumble, but the Vancouver Whitecaps have found ways to stretch a dollar. The Caps are first in MLS after Wednesday’s 2-0 home win over the Colorado Rapids.
How much production are the ‘Caps getting from their youngsters? – Whitecaps FC
As you can see, the ‘Caps are second to just FC Dallas in terms of goals scored by players born in the 90s. And there’s a big drop off after them.
Vancouver Whitecaps’ patience during Octavio Rivero’s scoring drought rewarded with winning goal – MLS
Octavio Rivero’s 10th MLS goal of the season set the Vancouver Whitecaps on their way to a 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids at BC Place on Wednesday night and first place in the Supporters’ Shield standings.
Sigi Schmid returns to Sounders training – Sounder at Heart
After missing Saturday’s match and the first two training sessions of the week, Sigi Schmid was finally back on Thursday. The Seattle Sounders head coach did not disclose the specific nature of his ailment.
MLS weekend preview: Montreal, Seattle and Toronto enter playoff grind – The Guardian
Curious viewers tuning in this weekend can see for themselves how far MLS has to go to compete with the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United and Bayern Munich. Yet while the MLS commissioner’s Euro-focused bluster was intended in part to convince skeptical sponsors at home, competitively speaking, rising to the standard of Mexican club soccer is a more realistic and fruitful goal.
Altidore, Jones returns drive playoff pushes in Toronto and New England – ESPN FC
Less than an hour had passed after the U.S. national team’s 4-1 loss to Brazil here on Tuesday, yet Toronto FC striker Jozy Altidore was already thinking ahead to Sunday’s marquee MLS game north of the border featuring the Reds and 2014 league runner-up New England Revolution
A wealth of attacking options for IMFC – Montreal Impact
The great Didier Drogba has finally debuted, scoring three goals on his first start last Saturday against the Chicago Fire. Fellow Designated Player Ignacio Piatti has overcome a calf injury sustained on Aug. 8 against D.C. United. Justin Mapp, after fracturing his elbow last March, made his first start in six months last Saturday. Johan Venegas, after a stint with the Costa Rica national team last week, will re-join his club team in Los Angeles later this week, ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Galaxy.
Countdown: Toronto FC v New England – Red Nation Online
Toronto FC return home to BMO field looking to recoup and heal ahead of a critical Eastern Conference showdown as they host the New England Revolution on Sunday afternoon. The Revs are currently three points ahead of TFC, but with a game in hand. It is an important battle for fourth place and all the spoils would go a long way in avoiding the wild card round of the MLS playoffs.
Orlando City GM upset by international duty as Kaka returns injured – ESPN FC
Orlando City’s general manager has spoken out against the FIFA mandate to release players for international duty, saying the MLS club is “extremely disappointed” that Brazilian star Kaka returned with a leg injury.
The Premier League And MLS Are Discussing A New Trans-Atlantic Cup Tournament – Paste Soccer
If you’re a fan of the Premier League, MLS, or both, this news will either be very exciting or very horrifying.
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BC SOCCER NEWS
RED STARS’ KARINA LEBLANC VOTED PLAYER OF THE WEEK – NWSL
LeBlanc, 35, made her last appearance in a regular season match as a professional helping the Red Stars earn a point at home in a 1-1 draw against Houston Dash on Sunday afternoon at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.
Vikes men’s soccer team wary of Timberwolves’ bite – Times Colonist
If there was anything Bruce Wilson took away from his lengthy pro soccer playing career and captaining Canada, it was that you never take any team lightly. So the University of Victoria Vikes head coach is wary, despite being 6-0 all-time against the University of Northern B.C. with a 21-5 aggregate goals advantage, since the Timberwolves entered Canada West in 2012.
UBCO Men’s Soccer Season Kicks Off On Saturday – Kelowna Now
Riding an unbeaten pre-season record (4-0-1), the UBC Okanagan Heat men’s soccer team go for real on Saturday when they play host to the Fraser Valley Cascades at Nonis Sports Field (2 p.m.).
Clan, Vulcans Play to Scoreless Draw – SFU
Simon Fraser University played to a 110-minute scoreless tie with the University of Hawaii at Hilo in an NCAA Division II women’s soccer match Thursday.
Villa ready to tackle Division Two – Powell River Peak
After an extremely successful campaign last year in Division 3B Villa was promoted and is now looking forward to the stiffer competition of Division 2.
U13 Intake Festival kicks off this weekend with the BCSPL’s Phase two kicking off the following weekend – BCSA
Phase two of the EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League (BCSPL) season kicks off on the September 19 and 20 weekend preceded by the BCSPL U13 Intake Festival on the September 12 and 13 weekend which is hosted by Thompson Okanagan Football Club. More than 300, 2003 born players will take part in the intake festival while the eight BCSPL clubs (U13-U18) will begin phase two of the fourth season of the BCSPL the following weekend.
Bryce Alderson’s soccer journey continues in Germany – Waterloo Record
Alderson, 21, is currently under contract to Fortuna Düsseldorf II and is training with the organization’s under-23 team. He signed with the 125-year-old club in early June after a weeklong tryout. He played for the Whitecaps’ U17 and U23 teams during his four-year run and was also loaned to the Charleston Battery of the United Soccer League for the 2013 season.
Three soccer players invited to national camp – Burnaby Now
Three Mountain United FC soccer players were invited to the Canada Soccer women’s national EXCEL under-14/-17 development camp in Burnaby.
Saanich player selected Canada West first star – Saanich News
Saanich’s Craig Gorman is the Canada West men’s soccer Player of the Week for scoring the UVic Vikes first goal of the season on Saturday (Sept. 5), a 1-1 draw with the UBC Thunderbirds.
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CANADA SOCCER NEWS
Vancouver to host Canada’s next round of WC qualifying – TSN
Benito Floro’s team will open the next round of World Cup qualifying against Honduras, the team that ended Canada’s chances of reaching the last tournament in brutal fashion. The Canadian men, ranked 102nd in the world, open at home against No. 81 Honduras on Nov. 13 — likely in Vancouver. Canada will then travel to face No. 107 El Salvador on Nov. 17 in the first round of play of the fourth round of CONCACAF qualifying, which will run from November to September 2016.
Report: Canada to Play Ghana in October 13 Friendly Ahead of Next Round of Qualifying – Waking the Red
According to a report out of reputable french publication L’equipe, the Ghana Football Association announced yesterday that its national team will face Canada in Washington D.C.
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UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE
WHITECAPS FC 2 vs. ORANGE COUNTY BLUES SC
3:00 PM, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2015
UBC THUNDERBIRD STADIUM, VANCOUVER, BC
WFC2 & USL NEWS
Marco Bustos 1v1: ‘That’s called the Marco Bustos Special’ – Whitecaps FC
Fans at Thunderbird Stadium can attest – Marco Bustos puts on a show on the pitch. What’s not easily discernible from the viewpoint of the spectator is the thought process that goes into each move, the calculation of angles and lanes, the reasoning behind each decision, and what each goal means to the player.
NYRB II Loss Puts Playoff Hopes in Jeopardy – Empire of Soccer
FC Montreal pulled off an upset 2-0 win over New York Red Bull II on Wednesday night at the Stade Saputo in Montreal. Alessandro Riggi’s two second half goals sunk what was shaping up to be a strong performance for New York on the road. The loss eliminates Red Bulls II from contention for a bye in the first round of the playoffs and may put their playoff hopes in jeopardy heading into the last game of the season.
MLS in Focus: The USL Partnership – Empire of Soccer
Now, eight MLS teams have reserve sides playing the full 28-game USL schedule, and every other team has an affiliate with which to make loan deals. The result is significantly more playing opportunities for young MLS players, and in a more competitive environment than the reserve league.
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NASL NEWS
Match Preview vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies – FC Edmonton
FC Edmonton (4-4-4) venture into the largest match of their North American Soccer League (NASL) season against fourth-place Tampa Bay Rowdies (3-2-6), Sunday, Sept. 13 at Clarke Field. Currently trailing the Rowdies by five points, this weekend’s match is pivotal for the Eddies as they chase for a spot in The Championship semifinals.
Marc Dos Santos Q and A: Ottawa Fury coach on the season’s turning point, playing Canadians and his thoughts on CPL rumours – the11.ca
We present an abridged version of the Q and A we did with Ottawa Fury coach Marc Dos Santos. He talks about the Ottawa Fury’s rise to the top of the NASL fall standings, the turning point of the season and why he believes the NASL (and not a Canadian professional league) is the place for the Fury to be.
Indy Eleven Adds Midfielder Daniel Cuevas –NASL
Indy Eleven continued to strengthen its roster for the stretch run of the 2015 NASL Fall Season on Thursday with the signing of former U.S. youth international Daniel Cuevas.
NASL’s Youth Movement Takes Center Stage – NASL
Growth is a key word when describing Haji Wright’s season with the New York Cosmos. There has never been a doubt about the precocious forward’s ability, but his time spent between Cosmos B and the first team, working alongside veterans such as Raúl and Marcos Senna, has added a bit of polish to the U.S. youth international’s game.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
NWSL Commissioner: “I don’t think we have a brand yet,” but pushing for growth – The Bent Musket
A lot of questions surrounded the 2015 NWSL season, but the league and Commissioner Jeff Plush got through World Cup logistical issues, PR gaffes, and even player criticism to survive it. Now the NWSL is poised for a milestone fourth season in 2016, and Plush is looking to build on their success.
Haiti replaces Australia as US opponent for Sept. – The Equalizer
Australia is out and Haiti is in as the United States women’s national team’s opponent in two matches on their World Cup victory tour later this month. The games will be played in Detroit on Sept. 17 and in Birmingham, Ala., on Sept. 20, as originally scheduled.
Matildas player strike: what are the key pay demands and disputes ahead? – The Guardian
More than six months of bargaining has passed and negotiations have morphed into a full-blooded industrial dispute. The Professional Footballers Association (PFA) as part of it’s “whole of game” collective bargaining negotiation, an approach supported by FFA, tabled an offer on behalf of the players in the past few days. The offer was a two-tiered system, which would see Tier 1 players (14 players) earn approximately $40,000 a year, with Tier 2 players (6 players) earning approximately $33,000 a year.
NWSL: Spirit without Krieger for Reign showdown – Soccer America
The NWSL moves into the playoffs with both semifinals on Sunday. Seattle Reign FC, the runaway winner of the regular-season championship, will host the Washington Spirit, while defending champion FC Kansas City will travel to the Chicago Red Stars for their game at Toyota Field, home of MLS’s Chicago Fire. Both games will air on Fox Sports 1.
Durkin out as Breakers coach, takes over youth role – The Equalizer
Tom Durkin is out as Boston Breakers head coach, the team announced on Thursday. In two seasons as Breakers head coach, Durkin amassed a record of 10-29-5, missing the playoffs both years. The Breakers are the only team of the eight original NWSL franchises to have missed the playoffs in all three seasons.
After Women’s World Cup snub, Crystal Dunn’s spirited effort could pay off – The Washington Times
Back in April, Crystal Dunn found herself in a dark place to kick off what turned into a fruitful National Women’s Soccer League campaign. The 23-year-old ultimately collected Golden Boot honors after leading the league with 15 goals. The MVP trophy seems like a mere formality for the second-year star.
Krieger to miss NWSL semifinal for dad’s wedding – The Equalizer
Washington Spirit fans have learned the hard way by now: Expect some bad news when the team has a conference call previewing the playoffs. For the second straight year, Spirit coach Mark Parsons announced on the typically mundane media conference call to preview the NWSL semifinals that he will be without one of his best players for the road match against Seattle Reign FC.
Matt Beard: Man City Women play like ‘international side’ – BBC Sport
Liverpool Ladies manager Matt Beard says playing against Manchester City Women is like facing an “international side”.
Lauren Holiday Is Quitting Soccer Because She Never Really Had a Choice – Vice Sports
Holiday explained her decision in July, saying that she was ready for “a new chapter of my life. I feel like this team isn’t my identity, it’s my choice. I think there’s power in making a choice. I chose this team for 10 years, and now I’m going to choose my family.”
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WORLD SOCCER NEWS
U.S. Soccer answers to Senate over youth club compensation dispute – SI.com
After its initial hearing with U.S. Soccer about cleaning up the game, the U.S. Senate turned its attention to American youth clubs’ quest for solidarity payments this week. U.S. Soccer had not responded publicly to the issue yet, but the federation had to answer in writing to the questions submitted by Senator Maria Cantwell (D., Washington).
USA must turn it around in time for judgment day next month vs. Mexico – SI.com
The U.S.-Mexico game is a mid-term referendum on Jurgen Klinsmann the U.S. men’s national team coach, while the Olympic berth is a referendum on Klinsmann the U.S. technical director. It’s a results-based business, so the takeaways will be relatively easy to make: Elation with two wins. Disaster with two losses. And something in between if there’s a mix.
Copa Centenario: U.S. Soccer has Conmebol over a barrel – Soccer America
Conmebol needs the money the Copa Centenario will surely generate from huge crowds across the United States, but it is at the mercy of U.S. Soccer, which can take it or leave it.
Pumas flying under radar into marquee matchup – Goal
You wouldn’t know it from the media coverage, but one of Liga MX’s grandes might be back. It’s understandable that the eyes of the press are on Estadio Azteca. That stadium will serve as the site for interim Mexico national team manager Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti’s Tigres entering the national stadium not to lead El Tri but to try and topple America. Las Aguilas are flying high with Dario Benedetto scoring at a clip of a goal per match seven weeks into the season.
Is FC Monterrey’s New Stadium Really “The Environmental Crime of the Decade?” – Vice Sports
On August 2, Enrique Peña Nieto, the President of Mexico, flew to Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, to say a few words at the grand opening of Estadio BBVA Bancomer, FC Monterrey’s new 51,000-seat soccer stadium. He and some hotshots at FEMSA, the company that runs FC Monterrey, toured the stadium, which took seven years to build. Lots of folks in Monterrey don’t think the Estadio BBVA Bancomer is so gran, however. Victor Esparza called it “the environmental crime of the decade.” Here’s why.
David de Gea signs four-year contract with Manchester United – The Guardian
David de Gea has performed a dramatic U-turn by signing a four-year contract at Manchester United, the goalkeeper doing so after accepting Real Madrid were culpable for his move to the Spanish club falling through.
Mauricio Pochettino: Emmanuel Adebayor has no future at Tottenham – Evening Standard
Emmanuel Adebayor has virtually no chance of playing again for Tottenham as the club seek a solution that would allow him to leave White Hart Lane.
André Villas-Boas Announcement Divides Zenit Fans – Futbolgrad
André Villas-Boas’ announcement that he is quitting Zenit Saint Petersburg at the end of the current season has divided fans. Some believe he should go now, while others think that his decision to leave at the end of the season is the right one.
VIDEO: Franz Beckenbauer: 70 today – FIFA
A resplendent performer for both Bayern Munich and West Germany, Beckenbauer redefined the role of libero, and after starring in the 1966 and 1970 FIFA World Cups™, he finally lifted the hallowed trophy as captain in 1974. Today, the Germany legend celebrates his 70th birthday.
Gamers score big in a football revolution that is not being televised – Inside World Football
There is a parallel sports world taking place to that of the traditional football world. It is a world that has more active participants than football has registered players, generates billions of dollars and is now filling stadiums full of fans to watch its players.