WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
One on One with Bobby Lenarduzzi – Red Nation Online
The Vancouver Whitecaps are fresh off the most successful MLS season in club history. Vancouver finished second in the MLS western conference and for the first time ever, the team hosted a home playoff match. The result may not have gone the Whitecaps way, but the building blocks are certainly in place for a solid and bright future going forward.
Latest Whitecaps signing means lockdown duo of Laba, Waston now all locked up – The Province
The Whitecaps have re-signed their stud defensive midfielder, Matias Laba, and their dominant centre-back, Kendall Waston, to multi-year deals. Now comes the hard part: locking up all-star goalkeeper David Ousted.
Lower seeds make major first-leg statements in the conference finals – Goal
The Portland Timbers snatched a stoppage-time goal courtesy of Nat Borchers to grab control of their Western Conference finals series against FC Dallas.
Portland Timbers unleash attack in first leg win against FC Dallas – Portland Timbers
Heading into the first leg of his team’s Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference matchup with FC Dallas Championship against FC Dallas, Porter preached pragmatism, saying he’d be happy with a 1-0 win or even a scoreless draw, so as not to allow the all-important away goal. What transpired was a commanding 3-1 victory at Providence Park on Sunday, with the Timbers flying out of the gate.
New formation and team depth prove the keys to Portland Timbers’ playoff win vs. FC Dallas – MLS
The Portland Timbers entered their most important game since the 2013 Western Conference Championship missing arguably their most important attacking player in midfielder Diego Valeri, in addition to starting winger Rodney Wallace, both due to yellow-card accumulation.
Fanendo Adi: The Lone Timber – 8 x 8 Magazine
The Timbers star striker dishes on the team’s playoff mentality, the quality of MLS, and Nat Borcher’s beard.
Big Trouble for Big D as Timbers dominate FC Dallas 3-1 – Prost Amerika
Behind two set piece goals and an incredible screamer of a volley by Dairon Asprilla, the Portland Timbers beat FC Dallas in Game 1 of the home-and-home series. The conclusion of the match will transpire on Sunday.
FC Dallas Confident in Ability to Advance at Home – FC Dallas
FC Dallas has been here before, and feel confident that it can end the same way again. It was more late frustration on the road in the playoffs as FC Dallas allowed center back Nat Borchers to score off a scramble in the box in stoppage time to give the Portland Timbers a 3-1 advantage heading into the Western Conference Final second leg at Toyota Stadium on Sunday.
Crew SC shuts out Red Bulls in First Leg of Eastern Conference Championship – MLS
Thanks to the fastest goal in Audi MLS Cup Playoffs history by Justin Meram and a late tap-in from Kei Kamara for his 25th goal in all competitions this season, Columbus Crew SC blanked the New York Red Bulls 2-0 at MAPFRE Stadium.
Black & Gold by the Numbers: No. 9’s record-setting nine seconds – Columbus Crew
Leg One, two goals, three points. Columbus Crew SC shut out the New York Red Bulls 2-0 at MAPFRE Stadium on Sunday night. It took Crew SC only nine seconds to get on the scoreboard in front of a record playoff crowd of 21,617. What a way to kickoff the Eastern Conference Championship between the top two teams in the East! Here’s a breakdown of the action by the numbers.
Second Guessing, Failure to Execute Doom Marsch’s Red Bulls – Empire of Soccer
Discipline and dominance have been two of the New York Red Bulls’ most defining characteristics this season — but the team lacked in both categories for the first leg of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Burned by “embarrassing, school-yard” defending, New York Red Bulls know they must “bring it” in second leg – MLS
During a regular season that began with an expletive-laced town hall meeting and ended with a Supporters’ Shield celebration, the New York Red Bulls took special pleasure in proving people, among them their own fans, wrong.
MLS Cup conference finals: A look at four teams’ business off the pitch – Sports Business Daily
The MLS Cup conference finals kick off this weekend. Before the games begin, we checked in with each of the four clubs set to play to see how their on-field success this year has affected their business operations.
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BC SOCCER NEWS
PHOTO GALLERY: USSDA U-18, WHITECAPS FC 4 JUVENTUS SC 0, NOV. 21, 2015 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Richard Howes.
The 2016 BC Soccer High Performance Program Kicks Off in January – BCSA
BC Soccer Association’s 2016 High Performance Program which is designed to better support the EA Sports BCSPL along with Whitecaps Residency and Whitecaps FC in partnership with BC Soccer Rex Programing, will begin its first project in January, 2016. The program will continue to provide a platform for high-performance youth players to be assessed by both those of Whitecaps FC and Canada Soccer programs.
VISL Week 11 Results and Upcoming Matches – VISL
Week 11 saw Cowichan leave other teams a little further behind by staying undefeated.
Mountain United FC host university night for their 1999/1998 players – BCSPL
On Wednesday, November 25/26, Mountain United FC will be hosting a University night at Fortius, Burnaby. We have invited all the local Mens and Womens University/College coaches to attend.
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CANADA SOCCER NEWS
Decent draw for Canadian women in Rio qualifying – Sportsnet
The Canadian women’s team on Monday received a favourable draw for the upcoming CONCACAF qualifying tournament for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Canada, ranked 11th in the world by FIFA, will compete in Group B with Trinidad and Tobago (No. 48), Guatemala (No. 84) and Guyana (No. 92).
Herdman assessing young talent as Women’s National Camp convenes in Vancouver – CSA
With a busy schedule ahead of the team as they prepare to qualify and compete in the upcoming 2016 Rio Olympics, Head Coach John Herdman is using this November’s camp to assess some young players as he looks to continuously improve the Canadian national squad in their bid to medal at next summer’s Olympic Games.
Canada women’s team gathers for Vancouver camp – Sportsnet
Canadian women’s coach John Herdman will hold a training camp in Vancouver from Nov. 21 until early December with an eye towards preparing the team for a busy 2016.
Herdman eyes future with young December roster – The Equalizer
Olympic qualifying is right around the corner, but Canada coach John Herdman already has an eye on the next World Cup cycle.
Scott Arfield Ready To Answer Canada Call – Sky Sports
Scott Arfield admits he is contemplating making himself available to the Canadian national team. The Clarets midfielder has yet to earn a Scotland call, despite being one of the Clarets’ most consistent performers since arriving at Turf Moor in the summer of 2013.
Canadian content in 2015: Final numbers – Out of Touch
If you are one to make the argument that part of the role of Canadian pro teams is to bring along young Canadians to the point where they are able to play first team minutes then the year was less successful. All but Vancouver saw a decrease from their 2014 numbers, with Vancouver’s additional minutes coming when they ran out a reserve side in some of their CCL matches.
2015 Coaches Of The Year – League1 Ontario
League1 Ontario is proud to announce the winers of the 2015 Coaches of the Year awards: Vaughan Azzurri men’s head coach Carmine Isacco, and Durham United F.C’s women’s head coach Tony La Ferrerra.
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NASL & USL NEWS
Ottawa Fury FC Appoint Paul Dalglish as Head Coach – Ottawa Fury
Ottawa Fury FC today announced the appointment of Paul Dalglish as the second head coach in the club’s history. Dalglish brings extensive experience as a professional player and coach to the Nation’s Capital joining the reigning NASL Fall Season Champions from the Austin Aztex where he served as Head Coach and Technical Director. Dalglish will serve as both head coach and general manager of Fury FC.
NASL: Dalglish off on Canadian adventure at Ottawa – Soccer America
The Ottawa Fury, the NASL fall champion, has appointed Paul Dalglish as its head coach to replace Marc Dos Santos, who left to take a position with Sporting Kansas City’s new USL team. Dalglish has worked as an assistant at MLS clubs Houston and Real Salt Lake and most recently served as the head coach and technical director at the Austin Aztex, who have had to go on leave in the USL after their stadium flooded.
USL: Swope Park Rangers hire Dos Santos – Soccer America
The Swope Park Rangers, Sporting Kansas City’s new second team that will play in the USL, hired former Ottawa Fury head coach Marc Dos Santos. The 38-year-old Montreal native enters his 10th season as a coach and is considered one of the top young coaches to come out of Canada.
Dos Santos Expects Aggressive Rangers Side in 2016 – USL
The excitement is in the air in Kansas City for next year’s USL addition, the Swope Park Rangers. Newly named Head Coach Marc Dos Santos anticipates that excitement and eagerness to carry over into the style of his team when the Rangers take the field.
Swope Park’s Duke Eager for Hometown Return – USL
Christian Duke spent the past two USL seasons with OKC Energy FC, first joining the club in 2014 on loan from Sporting Kansas City. Now he takes on a bigger role with his hometown side.
Does FC Cincy Understand Cincinnati & Its Soccer Fans? – Sixth Day Soccer
So this has been a fairly daunting task. I tried to write this post immediately after the announcement of a new soccer club in Cincinnati but everything was too raw and fresh to be coherent. After some time to collect my thoughts and talking with Gary De Jesus, Senior Vice President of Marketing/Communications for FC Cincinnati (FCC), I was finally able to write it all out. My biggest concern remains the lack of authenticity from this club and how it manifests that in its branding and marketing.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
Steph Houghton hot on World Cup homecoming at Bristol City – The FA
The Lionesses take on Bosnia & Herzegovina in a Euro 2017 qualifier in Bristol on Sunday 29 November – their first home match since winning bronze at Canada 2015.
Westfield W-League 2015/16 Round 6 Review – Westfield W-League
Melbourne City have continued their winning ways with a 4-0 victory over Brisbane Roar to extend their lead at the top of the Westfield W-League to ten points.
Naeher headed to Chicago, Engen to Boston in trade – The Equalizer
Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is headed to the Chicago Red Stars as part of a trade which will send United States teammate Whitney Engen to the Boston Breakers, sources tell The Equalizer.
Houston Dash waive midfielder Rachael Axon – Houston Dash
The 30-year-old appeared in 11 games for the Dash (eight starts), playing a total of 1,004 minutes in 2015. The London, England, native also scored one goal, a penalty kick, in Houston’s 2-2 draw against the Chicago Red Stars in May.
Anna Signeul says Scottish women’s football is on the up – BBC Sport
Scotland coach Anna Signeul says Scottish women’s football is in great health, with progress being made at national and domestic level.
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WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Barcelona flex muscles in Clasico crushing of Real Madrid – ESPN FC
The result means Barcelona are now six points ahead of Madrid atop of the table — and Los Blancos could slip to third on Sunday should Atletico Madrid win at Real Betis.
Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez ‘to be backed by club president’ – Sky Sports
On Monday evening, Perez will face the media to clarify the position surrounding his manager and Sky Sports News HQ’s Spanish football expert Guillem Balague believes he will offer his support to Benitez.
Klopp has Liverpool believing after thrashing City – SI.com
The 25-minute salvo with which Liverpool demolished Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening was a perfect storm of brilliant attacking and horrible defending.
It’s time to take Leicester City seriously – Sportsnet
The Foxes sit atop the Premier League table following their road win over Newcastle United, a game that saw Jamie Vardy tie Ruud van Nistelrooy’s league record for scoring in 10 consecutive matches. Leicester narrowly avoided relegation last season—now they’re the best team in England, with eight wins and just one loss in their first 13 matches to start the current campaign.
Kasper Schmeichel on Leicester City’s remarkable rise to the top – BBC Sport
The Foxes were bottom of the table in April, but seven months on, led by the goals of prolific striker Jamie Vardy, they have lost only one of their first 13 league matches.
Francis Coquelin injury: Arsenal midfielder out for ‘at least two months,’ Arsene Wenger confirms – The Independent
Arsenal midifleder Francis Coquelin will be out for “at least two months,” Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed.
Vincenzo Montella returns to Sampdoria but there will be no quick fix for club – The Guardian
Walter Zenga has long been known to Italian audiences as l’Uomo Ragno – Spider-Man. But by the time he got fired by Sampdoria, he had begun to sound more like Ross Geller from Friends. It was widely reported that he had flown out to Dubai on holiday after his team were beaten by Fiorentina on 8 November. Zenga protested that he was only ever on a break.
Liga MX Liguilla looms with Pumas ready to push favorites Tigres – ESPN FC
Now the regular season is over and Pumas have finished top of the league with 35 points over 17 games — a rare feat in a league that prides itself on its parity — it seems the appropriate moment to admit that the university club under “Memo” Vazquez is the real deal and the team to beat this Liguilla. Certainly, Pumas go into its quarterfinal against Veracruz as heavy favorite to advance.
‘We must feel French’ – A new era for France and for Paris Saint-Germain – Goal
Laurent Blanc said events of the previous week inspired him to seek relief from the youth academy — and after such success it would be surprising if he did not do so again.
Le Havre’s American owner sees Bob Bradley as vital promotion piece – SI.com
When Connecticut-born Vincent Volpe, the new principal owner and president of the Ligue 2 club Le Havre, fired his head coach earlier this season, he didn’t announce the replacement at the same time. And so, within 24 hours of the decision, he says, more than 50 applications came in for the open job.
Panathinaikos vs. Olympiacos Match Suspended Amidst Violent Riots – Vice Sports
Shortly after ticketless fans clashed with police outside the stadium, Panathinaikos fans inside turned their flares against Olympiacos players, hitting forward Alfred Finnbogason on the leg as the team took the field. Even before the starting whistle was blown, referees determined the match conditions to be too dangerous to resume, and postponed it until an undetermined date.
Fifa opens formal proceedings against Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini – The Guardian
Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini will have formal hearings later this month into allegations that they breached Fifa’s ethics code, it has been announced.
Smoggy future for German clubs facing loss of VW sponsor cash – Inside World Football
Bundesliga clubs Worlfsburg, Hannover 96, Werder Bremen and Schalke 04 as well as second division 1860 Munich are on a list of sports sponsorships Volkswagen are considering dropping to cut costs amid the ongoing emissions scandal.
Kenya stun Uganda with a 2-0 win in Cecafa Cup Group B clash – BBC Sport
Kenya stunned in-form Uganda Cranes with a 2-0 win in their Group B clash on Sunday at the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Hotel guests mistake Belgium midfielder Radja Nainggolan for a terrorist – Washington Post
Belgium’s Radja Nainggolan was all set to take on Spain in an international friendly on Tuesday, but instead he took on what appears to have been racial profiling. The Indonesian-Belgian player was mistaken for a terrorist by guests at the Radisson hotel in Antwerp. The case of mistaken identity came after the friendly was canceled because of security fears.