BC Soccer News, Thursday, March 2, 2017

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

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‘Caps, Red Bulls name 23-man rosters ahead of Thursday’s Champions League quarterfinal at BC Place – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC and New York Red Bulls have submitted their 23-man rosters ahead of Thursday’s CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal at BC Place (7 p.m. PT – tickets still available). A win or scoreless draw would send Vancouver to the semifinals for the first time in club history, while a 1-1 draw would result in extra time and a penalty shootout if needed.

Champions League Preview: Vancouver Whitecaps v New York Red Bulls – ‘Caps in driving seat with one foot in a semi – AFTN
It’s crunch time… kind of. It still feels like preseason, but the Whitecaps face their first make-or-break game of the year.

The chance is here for a Whitecaps franchise reset – Vancouver Sun
Trying to become just the fifth MLS club to advance to the Champions League semifinals, the Whitecaps play the New York Red Bulls Thursday (7 p.m., on facebook.com/concacafcom) at B.C. Place Stadium — two months into 2017 — after qualifying for this particular CONCACAF championship in 2015.

Vancouver Whitecaps Guide – MLS
Entering the 2016 season with elevated expectations, a slow start turned into a midseason swoon for the Vancouver Whitecaps, who ultimately finished eighth in the West, seven points below the red line.

Whitecaps FC acquire General Allocation Money from Montreal Impact in exchange for international roster spot – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Wednesday that the club has acquired $75,000 of General Allocation Money from Montreal Impact in exchange for an international roster spot through to December 31, 2017.

Arabe Unido 2, FC Dallas 1 | 2016-17 CCL Quarterfinal Recap – MLS
FC Dallas finished the job on Wednesday, despite losing to Panamanian club Arabe Unido 2-1 in Panama in the second leg of their 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series, to advance to the tournament semifinal with a 5-2 aggregate scoreline.

CCL: Mexico’s Pachuca cruises into semifinals – Soccer America
Mexico’s Pachuca became the first team to advance to the semifinals of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League when it beat Costa Rica’s Saprissa, 4-0, at home to win their series by the same score on aggregate. FC Dallas should face Pachuca in the semifinals as it takes a 4-0 lead into its second leg at Panama’s Arabe Unido on Wednesday.

MLS vs. Liga MX in CCL semifinals will be fun, but not a referendum – SN
The semifinals are nearly set and for the second time in CONCACAF Champions League history, each semifinal will feature a Liga MX side taking on an MLS team.

MLS 2017 Western Conference preview – NBC Sports
It’s time to take a closer look at all 11 teams in the Western Conference as new boys Minnesota United boost the ranks of the “power conference” which provided six of the top nine teams in MLS in 2016.

MLS 2017 Eastern Conference preview – NBC Sports
Toronto FC nearly hoisted MLS Cup on its home turf in 2016 but Greg Vanney’s side won’t be the only Eastern Conference contender this season.

SBI MLS Season Preview: Montreal Impact – SBI
For the first time in franchise history, the Montreal Impact qualified for the MLS playoffs in back-to-back seasons. The Impact also reached its first-ever Eastern Conference final. If not for a few monumental comebacks by Toronto FC, Montreal would have been the first Canadian team to make an MLS Cup final.

New York Red Bulls sign Kyle Reynish, trades him to Atlanta United  – ESPN FC
The New York Red Bulls have signed goalkeeper Kyle Reynish and traded him to Atlanta United.

Red Bulls’ Hamlett Ready for ‘Huge Challenge’ – Empire of Soccer
Denis Hamlett’s first few days as the Red Bulls’ new sporting director have meant sleepless nights, hours on the phone and a transcontinental plane ride to Vancouver. After Thursday night’s CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal second leg against the Whitecaps, it will be on to Atlanta for the opening of the 2017 MLS season against the expansion United on Sunday.

Toronto FC’s Altidore not keen to just ‘stick to sports’ – Sportsnet
More and more, pro athletes who use their celebrity to speak out on a number of political and social issues are incurring the wrath of fans and sports journalists who want them to stay in their respective lanes.

Why does the MLS season last so long? – The Guardian
The new season kicks off on Friday and doesn’t end until December. It’s partly down to travel, and partly to geography – but TV complicates matters too.

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BC SOCCER NEWS

Present and past UBC stars do battle in ‘Birds vs. WCFC2 – UBC
The UBC men’s soccer team will have stiff test Friday, March 3rd at 7pm inside Thunderbirds Stadium. The ‘Birds will play a friendly versus Whitecaps FC2, the USL component of Whitecaps FC.

Powell River Villa soccer club returns to play with another loss – Powell River Peak
Due to an extended holiday break and some cancelled games, it had been three months since Powell River Villa soccer club played a game in Vancouver Island Soccer League Division 2 play. Villa returned to the pitch on Saturday, February 27, in an away game and, in a result that has become all-too-common for the team this season, lost to Victoria’s Westcastle United 3-0.

BC Soccer Assoc. Scholarships – BCSA
BC Soccer is proud to award scholarships every year to players and referees proceeding on to post-secondary education. The Scholarships are presented at a special Scholarship Celebration at a Whitecaps FC match in June/July each year. Applications must be received by the British Columbia Soccer Association Office by March 31st.

REVIEW: The Miracle Mile. Stories of the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games – BC BookLook
Author Jason Beck is curator of the BC Sports Hall of Fame in BC Place Stadium, Vancouver, and convenor two years ago of an excellent exhibition about the 1954 Games. In his first book, he proves to be a meticulous researcher, a compelling story-teller, and a crafty realist who knows how to hook his readers. Watch how, two pages into the book, he uses filmic technique to evoke the arriving athletes’ youthful buzz and give period colouring and costuming, but then smartly moves his camera in to introduce his stars.

TSS Rovers launch website & 2017 Season Ticket Campaign – TSS Rovers
TSS FC Rovers play their inaugural season in the PDL at iconic Swangard Stadium. Season Tickets are $70 for Adults, $49 for U12 Youth.

Becoming a BC Soccer Referee – BCSA
Whether you are an experienced referee new to British Columbia or if you are new to the discipline of refereeing BC Soccer Assoc. has a clinic and a pathway for you.  The minimum age to become a referee is 12 years old (small sided) and 14 years old (11-a-side). Please enjoy the short video showcasing some Referee programs that BC Soccer offers and continue below for more on how to become a referee in BC!

TSS FC Rovers Open Tryouts – TSS Rovers
Vancouver’s newest team, TSS FC Rovers, is looking for Canada’s best up and coming players to play for their first squad in 2017. If you are a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant, could possibly play for our national team one day, and meet the age requirment of 23 and under, we want to see you play!

To our Readers: A Choice – BC Soccer Web
Soccer has brought us to the United States many times. It’s a great place with decent people. We especially look forward to our Cascadia trips to Seattle and Portland. They’re incredible cities with wonderful supporters. That’s why it was so disheartening to see chaos and fear take hold in the airports and borders of our neighbours to the south.

FVSL All-Stars to face WFC2 in March – BC Soccer Web
January snow and ice in the Lower Mainland put the brakes on the annual clash between the Fraser Valley Soccer League All-Stars and the best from the VISL this year. That hasn’t stopped the FVSL from planning an ambitious All-Star series in March.

BC Soccer Assoc. is Now Accepting 2016-2017 Awards Nominations – BCSA
We are pleased to inform everyone that BC soccer Assoc. is currently accepting Awards nominations until the submission deadline date of March 31, 2017. Selection of the award recipients is based on many factors including the individual’s commitment, community involvement and willingness to give back to the game. This year any BC Soccer Assoc. member and their affiliate clubs may submit a nomination.

2017 BC Soccer Assoc. is accepting candidates for its Board of Directors – BCSA
BC Soccer Assoc. is accepting candidates for its Board of Directors for terms commencing June, 2017 (following the BC Soccer Annual General Meeting).

Victoria Highlanders 2017 Season Passes now on sale – Highlanders FC
Support local soccer on Vancouver Island. Join the excitement of Highlanders FC PDL Soccer!

PHOTOS: CANADA WEST WOMENS FINAL, UBC 3, TWU 0, NOVEMBER 6, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

VMSL PHOTOS: Richmond FC Hibs 1, ICSF Columbus FC 0, November 5, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

MWSL PHOTOS: Van United Primas 0, Fraser Valley Action 2, October 30, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

PHOTOS: GNAC Women’s Soccer: SFU 1 Concordia U. (Ore.) 0, October 20, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

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 Syndication – BC 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

Canada defeats Denmark 1-0 in its first match of the 2017 Algarve Cup – CSA
Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team defeated Denmark 1-0 in at the Estádio Municipal de Lagos in Lagos, Portugal in its first match of the 2017 Algarve Cup. After dominating most of the match, Canada’s Captain Christine Sinclair scored in the 90th minute to secure the win.

By the numbers: Canada at the Algarve Cup over the years – Sportsnet
Canada, the reigning Algarve Cup champion, is the highest ranked side heading into the 12-nation competition, at fourth in the world, followed by Australia (sixth) and Japan (seventh). The 2016 Olympic silver medalists from Sweden are also taking part in the tournament, which runs from March 1-8.

Euro trip? Women’s soccer stars feel pull from both sides of the pond – CBC
Should I stay or should I go? At some point in their professional careers, many female soccer players from North America debate whether to play closer to home in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) or head to Europe.

Canada Soccer removes Fonseca from high-performance director role – the11.ca
In a terse press release, the Canadian Soccer Association announced that Tony Fonseca is no longer the country’s director of high performance.

Statement from Canada Soccer – CSA
Canada Soccer announced today that it has released Director, High Performance, Tony Fonseca effective immediately.

Ontario Soccer reveals a new beginning for the provincial game – Ontario Soccer
Ontario Soccer is the new name and brand for the organization, replacing Ontario Soccer Association, and it’s meant to signal a fresh start for the game of soccer in Ontario. As well, a new simple and modern logo was unveiled to the over 380,000 players, 70,000 coaches, 10,000 match officials and 25,000 administrators.

Canada Soccer looking for candidates to serve on the Board of Directors starting May 2017 – CSA
Deadline for application is 4:00 pm ET on Wednesday, 22 March 2017.

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New Faces Spark Cosmos Victory in Preseason Opener – Empire of Soccer
A curling free kick from the newcomer Juan Guerra in the opening minutes of the second half gave the New York Cosmos a 1-0 victory on Tuesday in the North American Soccer League team’s first action of the preseason. The win over Atlántico was the first of three preseason matches the Cosmos will play during their trip to the Dominican Republic.

Seattle Sounders FC 2 begins training ahead of third season in USL – Sounders FC
As Sounders FC’s preseason winds down ahead of Saturday’s season-opening contest at the Houston Dynamo (5:30 p.m. PT | Matchcenter), another preseason stint at Starfire Sports Complex is just beginning.

Trio of Toros Sign with Dynamo – USL
The Houston Dynamo announced on Wednesday that it had signed former Rio Grande Valley FC midfielder Jose “Memo” Rodriguez and defenders Taylor Hunter and George Malki ahead of the new Major League Soccer season. Former PDL standout Joe Holland was also signed by the club after all four had impressed during preseason training camp.

Day 1 Algarve Cup Results: Schelin leads Sweden past Australia – The Equalizer
The 2017 Algarve Cup and 2017 Cyprus Cup both kicked off Wednesday for the first day of group play. Here’s a recap of all the action from today’s 12 matches.

US women’s soccer team beats Germany 1-0 to open 2017 – Our London
Lynn Williams scored her second career goal and the U.S. women’s soccer team kicked off its 2017 slate with a 1-0 victory over Germany on Wednesday night in a matchup of the world’s top two teams.

SheBelieves Cup a rousing success at Talen Energy Stadium – Philadelphia Union
The SheBelieves Cup kicked off at Talen Energy Stadium, with England playing France and the US Women’s National Team battling Germany. In the first game, France scored an extra-time goal to steal three points in a 2-1 victory, while the USWNT sent the Philadelphia faithful home happy with a 1-0 win.

Swedish women’s team replace shirt names with messages of empowerment  – The Guardian
The Sweden women’s team have dropped the names on the back of their football shirts in favour of messages that “inspire and motivate women to show that everything is possible”.

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WORLD SOCCER NEWS

Luis Enrique to step down as Barcelona manager at season’s end – ESPN FC
Barca are still fighting to win three competitions, and Enrique called for complete focus from everyone involved with the club between now and the end of the season.

Barcelona open-mouthed, not broken-hearted, at Luis Enrique’s imminent exit – The Guardian
The manager did things his way in revealing his departure but, despite all he has achieved in a relentless job, few tears were shed around the La Liga club

Lazio beats Roma in first leg of Italian Cup semifinal – Sportsnet
Lazio won its first derby in nearly four years as it edged city rival Roma 2-0 in the first leg of their Italian Cup semifinal on Wednesday.

Sergio Aguero double leads Man City to FA Cup win over Huddersfield – Sportsnet
Back in the team after an injury to new signing Gabriel Jesus, Aguero scored two goals for the second straight game to lead City’s fightback in a 5-1 win over second-tier Huddersfield in an FA Cup fifth-round replay on Wednesday.

J-League club Vissel Kobe signs German striker Podolski – Metro
Japanese club Vissel Kobe says it has signed German striker Lukas Podolski from Turkish club Galatasaray to a multiyear contract.

Brazil league ban on clubs playing out of state hits World Cup stadia legacy – Inside World Football
The Brazilian FA (CBF) has prohibited domestic clubs from playing top flight and division one games outside their state of origin. The ruling will have a dramatic impact on the struggling World Cup stadiums in Manuas, Natal, Cuiaba and Brasilia that have been battling to maintain operations.

Argentine FA faces possible FIFA ban – Reuters
FIFA warned the Argentine FA (AFA) on Wednesday it faces possible suspension if it does not accept South American soccer’s governing body CONMEBOL as arbiter in vetting candidates for AFA presidential elections.

Argentinian chaos is a tale of corruption and FIFA presidential intrigue – Inside World Football
Argentinian football is in a mess and it doesn’t look to be clearing up despite the efforts of a FIFA normalisation committee parachuted in last July to take over the running of the federation and attempt to bring order to the chaos.

Tommy Gemmell, Celtic hero and ‘Lisbon Lion’, has died after a long illness – The Guardian
Tommy Gemmell, a member of Celtic’s ‘Lisbon Lions’ team who won the 1967 European Cup, has died at the age of 73 after a long illness.