MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
WHITECAPS FC vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS
THE CASCADIA CUP
4:00 PM, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2015
BC PLACE, VANCOUVER, BC
WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
Preview: Whitecaps FC set to host rival Seattle Sounders FC in Cascadia finale – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC host rivals Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday afternoon at BC Place with a whole lot at stake. Not only will the Cascadia Cup be awarded to the winner, the ‘Caps are also chasing the MLS Supporters’ Shield while Seattle are fighting to stay above the red line in the Western Conference.
Preview: Vancouver Hosts Seattle With Cascadian Supremacy On The Line – Eighty-Six Forever
I’m sure you’ve had the same question burning at the front of your brain ever since you realized this game was approaching, so let’s get it out of the way right off the bat: what hashtag will we use to succeed #Ca5cadia? I vote for #C6scadia, recognizing the inconsistency of only replacing the letter “a” once.
Whitecaps-Sounders battle to decide Cup champs – 24 Hours
The stakes are high for the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday. Any meeting with the Seattle Sounders is soccer of the must-watch variety, but that’s especially true with everything the ‘Caps have on the line this weekend.
Threepeat? Whitecaps FC seeking third consecutive Cascadia Cup – Whitecaps FC
All year long, we’ve heard Whitecaps FC talk about “making history.” They did just that last month, winning the club’s first-ever Voyageurs Cup. After the match, Russell Teibert said: “This is the first of many for us this year.” “We have to get used to winning trophies,” he added.
Whitecaps I-5 rivalry has produced improbable fun – The Province
The Whitecaps are in a scrap for the Supporters’ Shield as MLS regular-season champs. The Seattle Sounders are in a scrap for their playoff lives.
Whitecaps and Sounders reverse roles, Crew surging and five things to watch in MLS Week 29 – Goal
A year after Seattle won the Supporters’ Shield and Vancouver barely squeezed into the playoffs, the Cascadia rivals meet with the Whitecaps on top.
View from 253: Your local team is brilliant – Eighty-Six Forever
We call him Jersey Boy. He comes with Pie Girl and stands up behind us. A great guy, he’s usually wearing the jerseys of other teams, usually big European clubs. Last night it was an Ibrahimovich shirt from Inter Milan. He gets a good ribbing from me from time to time, because it is a bit of a joke to show up at a Whitecaps match with another team’s jersey on your back. But Jersey Boy is alright. He has a few Whitecaps ones as well, and he’s a fierce Whitecaps supporter, singing the full ninety.
Countdown: Toronto FC v Colorado – Red Nation Online
Toronto FC limp home to BMO Field searching for answers as they hope to keep the wheels from falling off the 2015 season. Up against the Colorado Rapids, a team who until last year TFC had their number at home, the stakes could not be higher.
Impact look like new team since coaching change – Sportsnet
Evan Bush, Marco Donadel, Ignacio Piatti, Justin Mapp and Didier Drogba were already sent back to Montreal to rest up for subsequent home games against Eastern Conference rivals. San Jose were in-form and desperate for points; the Impact were going to lose—surely.
Pablo Mastroeni to return next year, Rapids to add offensive-minded assistant, sources say – Denver Post
Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni will be back for 2016, but with the help of an offensive-minded assistant coach — that’s according to the Denver Post’s Woody Paige who broke the news on The Sports Show on Wednesday, citing inside sources near the top of the Rapids’ organization.
2015 MLS Cup Playoffs Clinching Scenarios for Week 29 – MLS
The MLS stretch run is well underway and four teams have a chance at clinching a berth in the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs in Week 29. Be sure to bookmark the standings page for the latest on your team’s current position. If you need a cheat sheet, though, you can find the MLS Cup Playoffs clinching scenarios for this week below.
New York Red Bulls reap immediate rewards from offseason shakeup – ESPN FC
When newly installed Red Bulls sporting director Ali Curtis fired club legend Mike Petke and appointed Jesse Marsch in his place as coach in January, the blowback was as intense as it was predictable.
Greg Vanney Foolishly Rips Yankee Stadium After Loss To NYCFC – CBS NY
“It’s borderline ridiculous,” said the second-year coach about playing at Yankee Stadium. “It would be a perfect field for 12 year olds.”
LA Galaxy’s Giovani Dos Santos expected to play vs. Real Salt Lake after leaving last match with injury – MLS
Dos Santos didn’t train Tuesday but was fully involved at Thursday morning’s session at StubHub Center, LA’s final home practice before heading Friday to Salt Lake City. “He’s doing fine,” Bruce Arena reported afterward. “We plan on playing him.”
Javier Morales continues to astound in his ninth season with Real Salt Lake – Real Salt Lake
Javier Morales has found a way to defy age. This has been well-documented in recent years as the 35-year-old Argentine as continued to be among the top midfield playmakers in MLS. His importance to Real Salt Lake is immeasurable, but statistically he has been among the best goal creators in MLS throughout his career. Where that becomes more astounding is in the last three years, where even as he has gotten older he has stayed ruthlessly efficient in his production.
MLS needs more transparency in the way its teams do player business – The Province
There’s a good reason why MLS calls its salary structure a “budget” and not a “cap.” The basic framework of $3.5 million per team is largely irrelevant in a 20-team league that’s spending $160 million on salaries.
Armchair Analyst: Academies, college soccer and a new path for young talent – MLS
There are, of course, more Jordan Morrises in the pipeline — kids who have been in MLS academies since they were tweens, guys who’ve been instructed by pros for most of their lives, players coached to learn a specific skillset or system with the idea of transferring that type of learning “up” through the ranks of their various age-groups, then into USL, MLS and beyond. Teams are doing a better job now of “making” players, rather than relying upon an inefficient system to “find” talent. This is a relatively new concept for MLS, and the early returns are promising.
David Villa: Just a Kid From Tuilla – The Players Tribune
We were standing in the tunnel outside the locker rooms at Yankee Stadium. I had just moved from Atletico Madrid to New York City’s new football club, NYCFC. It was one of my first trips to the stadium, and I was walking around, taking it all in. When I was growing up in Spain, we knew very little about America. New York City was a place that only existed in movies. But the one thing we did know was the Yankees.
Clive Charles: The man who made Portland soccer grow tall remembered in the words of those who knew him – Timbers.com
“There wouldn’t be soccer where we are today out here if it wasn’t for Clive, in my opinion,” says Harry Merlo, former owner of the NASL Portland Timbers, University of Portland soccer booster, and a guy who ought to know.
Advertise your Soccer School or Academy from only 50 cents per day!
BC SOCCER NEWS
Women’s U-14/U-17 camp wraps up in Burnaby – CSA
The final Women’s National EXCEL U-14/U-17 camp of 2015 has wrapped up in Burnaby, BC. The 11-day camp featured 26 players born in 1999 or later, and served as a key milestone as Women’s National EXCEL director Bev Priestman prepares for March’s CONCACAF qualifiers to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016.
Two more home games for Heat men’s soccer – UBCO
This Friday and Satruday nights UBC Okanagan will play some twilight soccer as the Heat start at 6 p.m. both nights versus the UNBC Timberwolves on the Nonis Turf.
UNBC hits the road – Prince George Citizen
The UNBC Timberwolves learned a valuable lesson last weekend on the men’s soccer field in Victoria. No lead is too safe in the Canada West Conference, especially against a team ranked in the top-10 in the CIS.
Third straight weekend on the road for Heat – UBCO
West coast action for UBC Okanagan women’s soccer this weekend. Play Friday @ Trinity Western (5 p.m. PST) and Saturday @ Fraser Valley (5 p.m. PST).
Douglas set to improve on last season’s success – Burnaby Now
Douglas College’s women’s soccer head coach Chris Laxton is hoping to capitalize on the stellar season the team had on the pitch last year. The Royal women, including third-year Burnaby North graduate Courtney Sine, won all three of their first games this season starting with a 3-2 win over Langara College on Sept. 9 followed by a 3-0 shutout against Kwantlen Polytechnic University on Saturday and a 2-1 win over Quest University at home on Sunday.
Wave swamps Tigers in opener – Campbell River Mirror
Cermaq City Wave FC kicked off the regular season this past weekend in a Vancouver Island Soccer League Division Two match-up, hosting GH Bayside Tigers at Willow Point Sportsplex.
Villa sees red in season opener – Powell River Peak
Timberlane Park was in perfect shape for Powell River Villa soccer team’s return to action in Division 2 on Sunday, September 13. The team had been training for about a month for this home opening game and it looked like a tough one against Cowichan FC 2 who brought 18 players over for the match.
Do you follow @bcsoccerweb on Twitter? You should!
CANADA SOCCER NEWS
World Cup for Canada? Soccer association believes in 2026 bid – CBC
Pitch perfect: that’s what the Canadian Soccer Association feels about the timing for Canada’s application to host the 2026 Men’s World Cup. The combination of Toronto not applying for the Olympics and the City of Vancouver releasing a report that suggested the Women’s World Cup was a huge economic success gives association president Victor Montagliani confidence.
Canada WNT will not play on home soil until 2016 – The Equalizer
In terms of playing a match in Canada or possibly an away fixture across the pond, that is simply not in the works. As Montopoli explains, the Torneio Internacional Brasilia will lay the foundation for Rio 2016 Olympic Qualifying preparations, which will take place in Dallas and Houston from Feb. 10 – 21, 2016.
Canada picks 32 players for M20 identification camp in Laval – CSA
Canada’s men’s youth program has invited 32 players to a weekend camp in Laval, QC from 18-20 September. This mini camp continues the work coach Rob Gale and his staff have undertaken this year, notably a follow up to a similar camp held in late August in Vaughan, Ontario.
FIFA 16 for Xbox One is coming September 22! Pre-Order Now and Save.
WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
Thirteen women’s soccer players pulled from FIFA 16 roster over college eligibility concerns – Polygon
Thirteen women have been removed from the all-new women’s national team rosters in FIFA 16 because their appearance in a video game threatens their eligibility in the NCAA, EA Sports announced today.
Lloyd Hat Trick, Dunn goal propel USWNT past Haiti – Empire of Soccer
A hat trick from Carli Lloyd as well as goals from Christen Press and Crystal Dunn led the USWNT to victory. Dunn was the only player on the roster who was not with the USWNT in the World Cup, but her inclusion in tonight’s squad is a sign that Head Coach Jill Ellis is eyeing her for inclusion in the 2016 Olympics roster. Her goal and two assists tonight should certainly help her case.
USA-Haiti Takeaways: Can anyone stop Lloyd? – Soccer America
A hat trick by Carli Lloyd enabled the U.S. women’s national team to overcome some sluggish periods and defeat Haiti, 5-0, on Thursday before more than 34,000 fans at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday.
Thorns FC’s Michelle Betos voted NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year – Timbers.com
After appearing in 10 matches in her first two seasons in the league, Betos, 27, posted career-best numbers in games played (14), minutes played (1,260), saves (45), wins (5) and shutouts (2) in her second season with Thorns FC. Among NWSL goalkeepers, Betos ranked in the top three in games played and minutes played, conceding multiple goals in a match just four times all season.
Notre Dame’s Flores sisters embrace opportunities – The Equalizer
There’s just something compelling about siblings facing each other in sports. Whether it be on a track, court or field, it’s a narrative that’s too compelling to ignore. In the soccer world, there have been a handful of cases of brothers suiting up for different national teams. Perhaps most notably, Jerome and Kevin-Prince Boateng, who play for Germany and Ghana, respectively, garnered headlines when they played each other in the 2014 men’s World Cup finals.
A Personal Dispatch from MC: Covering Sky Blue FC – Empire of Soccer
his piece is a little out of the norm for me, at a minimum because I use first person. But, at the conclusion of Sky Blue FC’s 2015 season, I want to share with you my all too brief experience of covering the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) club.
FIFA 16 for Playstation 4 Arrives September 22! Pre-Order Now and Save.
UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE
WHITECAPS FC vs. AUSTIN AZTEX
3:00 PM SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2015
UBC THUNDERBIRD STADIUM, VANCOUVER, BC
WFC2 & USL NEWS
WFC2 Report: Haynes makes switch as season closes – 24 Hours
The idea of change is a polarizing topic; some loathe it while others embrace it with open arms. Nineteen-year-old Jordan Haynes definitely falls into the latter category.
S2 Secures Playoff Place With Late Win – USL
Seattle Sounders FC 2 fought back from a first half deficit to secure the sixth and final playoff berth in the Western Conference with a 3-2 victory against the Austin Aztex Thursday night at Starfire Stadium.
Porter To Step Down As Hammerheads Coach – USL
Wilmington Hammerheads FC officially announced today that Carson Porter will step down as head coach following Saturday’s final regular season match versus Toronto FC II at Legion Stadium.
Find a Team or Find a Player. Get Playing with BC Soccer Web FREE Classifieds
NASL NEWS
Opinion: Thoughts on Dos Santos’ Departure – Midfield Press
For anyone who has been following the Ottawa Fury for the past two years, it came as no surprise when the club announced that head coach Marc Dos Santos has been given permission to speak to an unnamed MLS club and will be leaving Ottawa at the end of the season. The Montreal native’s coaching philosophy and mentality have given the club a strong base on which to build for the future, something that has obviously been noticed by people in higher levels of football.
Edmonton’s Boakai attracting interest from MLS, Europe – Goal
His contract set to expire, Hanson Boakai could be on his way out of FC Edmonton in January. FC Edmonton re-signed three players to new deals this week, but Hanson Boakai, whose contract expires at the end of the season, might prove more difficult to retain.
Why US Soccer should consider eliminating designations for D1, D2 and D3 – World Soccer Talk
The continuing battle being waged publicly over the value of Division 1 sanctioning within the US Soccer pyramid has the making of the start of another “soccer war,” which the sport in North America can scarcely afford. While many fans of the game in the United States and Canada simply watch foreign leagues on their TVs or computers, others are deeply invested in community-based soccer projects and local professional clubs.
BC Soccer Web Premium Classified Ads from only 50 cents per day!
WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Copa America Centenario in United States still a possibility – CONCACAF – ESPN FC
Hope remains to hold the Copa America Centenario in the United States next summer, according to a CONCACAF spokesman. Leaders of CONMEBOL and CONCACAF, as well as CONCACAF’s television partners, Televisa and Univision, met in Mexico City on Thursday in a bid to kick-start an organizing process that has run aground in recent months.
FIFPro legal action against FIFA transfer system – FIFPro
FIFPro has asked the European Commission to explore the critical argument that the transfer regulations prevent clubs from fairly competing on the market to acquire sporting talent, harming the interests of players, small and medium sized professional teams and their supporters.
Why FIFPro are filing a legal complaint against FIFA over the transfer market – ESPN FC
Take contractual stability, for example; there are plenty of footballers who simply don’t have it. A FIFPro survey of more than 3,000 players in 12 countries revealed 42 percent claimed they weren’t paid on time, and 14 percent said they often received their paychecks three months late.
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke put on leave following corruption accusations – SBI
FIFA announced Thursday afternoon that secretary general Jerome Valcke has been removed from his position until further notice. The organization’s decision comes in the wake of accusations that Valcke schemed to sell World Cup tickets for above face value at last summer’s tournament.
Putin marks 1,000 days to World Cup without Valcke – Washington Post
Russian officials insisted Friday that the suspension of FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke will not affect the 2018 World Cup, as President Vladimir Putin marked 1,000 days until the tournament.
What did USSF know about Chuck Blazer’s shady deals? – World Soccer Talk
While there’s no evidence that Gulati was aware of Blazer and fellow CONCACAF officials (as well as Traffic Sports) taking bribes, there are so many questions about their relationship — all of which have gone unanswered after Gulati conveniently refused to appear in front of a US Senate Hearing while the US soccer media have been silent on the issue.
Could the Premier League lose a Champions League place? – ESPN FC
A bad season for English clubs in Europe alone will not make a difference — Italian clubs would also have to do well. No other league can overtake the Premier League, while the Bundesliga is also not immune from the threat.
Clasico Regio, Pumas’ winning streak headline Liga MX action – ESPN FC
Week nine in Liga MX should prove to be an exciting few days. There are new managers hoping for success, fringe El Tri options looking to impress and a highly noteworthy rivalry match in Monterrey.