CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
WHITECAPS FC vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS
MATCHDAY #1, GROUP F
(SPORTSNET ONE & WORLD, TSN RADIO 1410)
7:00 PM WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015
B.C. PLACE, VANCOUVER, B.C.
Eyes on the prize: ‘Caps, Sounders battle again with sights set on Champions League glory – Whitecaps FC
Just four days after a resounding 3-0 statement win in front of 53,125 in enemy territory, the setting shifts north to BC Place on Wednesday as long-time Cascadia rivals Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Seattle Sounders FC clash again, this time in their opening match of the CONCACAF Champions League.
Rivalry between Whitecaps and Sounders heats up ahead of CCL game – The Province
It says a lot about where the Whitecaps and Sounders are at these days that a few celebratory photos are among the hot topics heading into Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions League game at B.C. Place. The Caps are flying, full of confidence, sitting first in the West, and fresh off a 3-0 thrashing of their oldest rivals at CenturyLink Field on Saturday.
Whitecaps close-lipped for rematch with Sounders – Vancouver Sun
Back at home on Monday, the snapshots and memories from another quick and wonderful trip to Seattle already tucked away, the Vancouver Whitecaps refused to be drawn into war of words with the stunned and reeling Sounders.
CONCACAF Champions League: Seattle-Vancouver series headlines tough group | Group F Preview – MLS
It may be hard to classify any team as the David in this group. You’ve got two MLS teams: One (Seattle) just about landed a first-ever treble after winning the US Open Cup and Supporters’ Shield last year but falling just short of an MLS Cup after losing in the Western Conference championship series; and another (Vancouver) currently leading the West and very much in the running for this year’s Shield.
With stock rising post Gold Cup, Mattocks committed to Vancouver – Red Nation Online
The MLS Secondary Transfer Window deadline will close on Thursday, August 6. MLS teams have two days left to put pen to paper and secure their newest additions. We’ve already seen several marquee players arrive in Major League Soccer during the window. The Western Conference leading Whitecaps have remained quiet. Not wanting to disturb the chemistry, locker room cohesiveness and his teams fantastic form. Carl Robinson hasn’t got much on the burner in terms of transactions.
CCL: Brutal road trip takes RSL to Guatemala City – Soccer America
A bigger concern is the RSL defense, which was without goalkeeper Nick Rimando and defender Jamison Olave — both veterans of RSL’s 2010-11 CCL campaign in which it finished second to Monterrey — for the 6-4 loss to D.C. United.
CONCACAF Champions League: Real Salt Lake look to reverse fortunes, return to final | Group G Preview – MLS
While Real Salt Lake are certainly the favorite, Group G is a bit up for grabs, with a somewhat down Claret-and-Cobalt roster facing off against two solid Central American sides in Municipal and Santa Tecla.
Watch CONCACAF Champions League on Sportsnet – Sportsnet
Remember the Montreal Impact’s magical run to last season’s CONCACAF Champions League final? Well, the excitement and drama is going to start up again this week with the beginning of the group stage of the 2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League.
Montreal Impact’s “Lucky Loonie” – The story of their CONCACAF Champions League good-luck charm – MLS
With the 2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League group stage kicking off Tuesday, stories of long trips, hostile environments and “CONCACAF’ing” will unfold. Some will be told. Others will be withheld. This is the forgotten story of the Montreal Impact’s run to the 2014-15 CCL final. It involves a coin and some ingenuity. And no names have been changed to protect the guilty.
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WHITECAPS FC & MLS
MLS PHOTO GALLERY: Sounders 0 Whitecaps FC 3, August 1, 2015 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie
Vancouver Whitecaps defender Pa-Modou Kah named Player of the Week after first career MLS brace – MLS
Defender Pa-Modou Kah had yet to score a goal for Vancouver Whitecaps FC before this weekend. He then tallied two in a single game to lead the Whitecaps to a huge 3-0 win over the Seattle Sounders on Saturday, more than enough to be voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 22 of the MLS season.
Kah double turns I-5 nightmare into sweet dream – Whitcaps Fan Blog
I made up a group of four in a car heading down to Seattle for a crucial Cascadia Cup match. If the Sounders won the match it would mean passing the Cup over to them for 2015. I must admit I had my doubts heading down there; Seattle have always been a Major League Soccer powerhouse and more than 50,000 fans had bought tickets to the match. Reports had 1,000 Vancouver Whitecaps fans going down the I5 to Seattle.
An impe-Kah-ble performance – 24 Hours
It’s tough to say what was more surprising for the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday – that they so easily handled the Seattle Sounders in a 3-0 road win, or that two of those tallies came from Pa-Modou Kah.
Whitecaps’ Pa-Modou Kah’s back-heel brilliance up for MLS goal of the week – Metro
Here’s something the Vancouver Whitecaps and their supporters won’t hear often: Pa-Modou Kah nominated for MLS goal of the week.
Sounders will sign two international players, King 5 says – Sounder at Heart
“The Sounders will sign two international players this week – one from South America, another from Europe,” King 5’s Paul Silvi said during the evening news . “Look for the Sounders to have a deal in place for both players by the close of the transfer window Thursday.”
Montreal Impact trade striker Jack McInerney to Columbus Crew for second-round draft pick – MLS
McInerney, who turns 23 on Wednesday, has already scored 36 career MLS goals, which is tied for 22nd among all active players. Among that group, McInerney is the youngest by nearly three full years. The only other player in league history that’s scored more goals ahead of their 23rd birthday is former Columbus forward Stern John (44 goals).
Portland Timbers and attacker Gaston Fernandez mutually agree to part ways – MLS
The Portland Timbers and attacker Gaston Fernandez mutually parted ways, the club announced via press release on Monday evening. Per league and club policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Larin: I’m no longer star-struck by Kaka – FIFA
Cyle Larin has exploded on to the scene over the past 15 months. The Brampton native made his Canada debut as a 19-year-old – despite having never represented his country at youth level – and scored in both legs of the 6-0 aggregate thrashing of Dominica, which propelled the Canucks into the third round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.
Tempo-Free Soccer: Measuring the deadly effectiveness of Orlando City SC rookie Cyle Larin – MLS
Look at the top of the MLS scoring chart and you see the expected names: Kei Kamara, Sebastain Giovinco, David Villa, Robbie Keane, Kaká. Right there with them is Orlando City SC’s 20-year-old Canadian international Cyle Larin, who has 11 goals to his credit in just 16 appearances after being taken first overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft.
Brad Evans on the Major League Soccer CBA: ‘We’re kind of handcuffed into this situation” – Seattle Times
Sounders defender Brad Evans, who was a Players’ Union representative during the Major League Soccer Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations prior to this season, reflected Monday morning at Starfire Sports Complex on the deal’s impact less than a season into a five-year deal.
Atlanta United soccer complex deal approved by DeKalb Commission – AJC.com
The DeKalb County Commission voted 4-3 Tuesday to approve an incentive package for Atlanta United FC to build a $30 million soccer complex along Interstate 285 near Memorial Drive. Atlanta United will construct a 3,500-seat stadium, three practice fields and a two-story team headquarters behind the DeKalb Jail, according to a Memorandum of Understanding. An indoor training facility and additional fields may be built later.
Minnesota United owner wants 25 more acres for MLS stadium development – Twincities.com
Minnesota United FC would need less than 10 acres to build a stadium in St. Paul for Major League Soccer, but city emails in June show team owner Bill McGuire saying an adjacent 25 acres “now is essential.”
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BC SOCCER
Mexican soccer legend Campos a TRU ambassador – Kamloops This Week
Media were invited on Tuesday to Hillside Stadium to promote the Jorge Campos Award, a one-year Thompson Rivers University scholarship given to a student from Mexico who is deemed worthy of the opportunity. Outside of a few Kamloops Youth Soccer Association and TRU WolfPack players who were invited for a photo-op, barely anyone showed up.
Kamloops Invitational Soccer Tournament celebrating silver anniversary – Kamloops This Week
The silver-anniversary tournament, featuring 80 teams from B.C. and Alberta playing in nine divisions, ran through Monday — a four-day party that boasted a beer garden on McArthur Island and social events each night.
NASL
Match Preview vs. Indy Eleven – FC Edmonton
The fourth-place Eddies are coming off a close match with Ottawa where the North American Soccer League (NASL) Combined and Fall Season leaders stunned the Eddies deep into injury time in Fort McMurray. Ottawa swung a corner kick into the box and Brazilian defender Rafael Alves’ header went off the post and in to give Ottawa the eventual 1-0 victory.
Fury FC Sign Ugur Albayrak – Ottawa Fury
Ottawa Fury FC today announced the signing of German striker Ugur Albayrak (Ew-ger Al-bye-rack). Born in Frankfurt, Albayrak has spent the majority of his career playing in Germany enjoying plenty of success with Eintracht Frankfurt II. As per club policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER
Canucks Abroad: Schmidt signs with Frankfurt, Scott plays in the FA Cup Final, and an NWSL update – Red Nation Online
It’s been over a month since Canada was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup, and Canadians have recently returned to club action around the World. Fortunes have been mixed: some players have made history, with others struggling to get playing time after being away from their clubs for so long. Let’s take a look at how the Canadian women are doing.
DASH’S CARLI LLOYD VOTED NWSL PLAYER OF THE MONTH – NWSL
Lloyd, 33, helped Houston earn a 2-0-1 record in July to move into the number four spot in the standings with a 5-5-5 (20 pts.) overall record going into Week 17 of the campaign. The Dash are one point ahead of FC Kansas City, who continue to battle for the last spot in the NWSL playoffs.
Silverware claimed as interest continues to soar – FIFA
Supporters have continued to show their support for women’s football as the momentum established by the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ continues to build. An impressive new record crowd figure was set in England, while fans have continued to turn out en masse in the USA. FIFA.com looks at the action on and off the field in both countries, plus the latest from Norway, Sweden and Finland.
Eniola Aluko: Why FA Cup win was best day of my career – BBC Sport
It felt like we were part of the cool club when I drove into Chelsea’s training ground at Cobham on Monday morning, albeit with a slight headache still.
Nigeria misses second straight Olympics with loss – The Equalizer
Nigeria’s women’s soccer team will not take part in the Olympics for the second straight competition. The reigning African champions lost, 2-1 to Equatorial Guinea on Sunday to lose the two-leg series, 3-2 on aggregate.
Only Smiles in Autograph Alley – 8 by 8
This push is as savvy as it is necessary. Women’s soccer in the United States is littered with the musty carcasses of failed leagues. For NWSL to thrive, they must properly harness the post-World Cup buzz. I went to watch the Breakers play Reign FC to see how it was going.
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WORLD OF SOCCER
CONCACAF Olympic qualifying in US in January? – The Equalizer
CONCACAF women’s Olympic qualifying will take place in the United States from Jan. 21-30, 2016, according to FIFA.com. Dates and venues are yet to be determined, a source tells The Equalizer.
Dutch launch stepping-stone league to build pro-club base – Inside World Football
he KNVB, the Dutch FA, is implementing a structural reform of its domestic club football. From the 2016/17 season onwards professional and amateur football in the Netherlands will be integrated through a mandatory system of promotion and relegation.
Can Arsenal win the Premier League? Is Raheem Sterling the answer to Man City’s problems? Can anything stop Chelsea? – The Independent
Can City’s new £49m man turn them into title challengers? Who will get relegated? Falcao’s not actually any good, is he? Jack Pitt-Brooke has all the answers to the biggest issues ahead of the start of the Premier League season this weekend
Copa Libertadores: Revived River indebted to final opponents – FIFA
With four minutes remaining of their penultimate game in Group 6, away to Tigres of Mexico, River Plate were heading out of the Copa Libertadores. Trailing 2-0, the Argentinian giants found themselves bottom of the section and facing an early exit from a competition they have won only twice, the last of those occasions coming nearly 20 years ago.
Premier League transfer spending this summer reaches £500m – BBC Sport
Transfer spending in the Premier League has reached £500m this summer, £335m short of last summer’s total with four weeks until the transfer deadline.
The Football Lawyer: The career of a Premier League footballer is similar to that of a City professional – The Independent
In football, where money talks, there are few pronouncements louder than the salary of a Premier League player.
Interest heating up for U.S. U-20 standout Emerson Hyndman – Goal
U.S. Under-20 national team midfielder Emerson Hyndman has clubs from England, Germany and Spain, among others, trying to pry him away from Fulham.
Chattanooga FC moves on to NPSL final after winning in front of record crowd of 9,236 fans – MLS
Chattanooga defeated the Indiana Fire, 3-0, on Saturday in a National Premier Soccer League semifinals match played in front of a record crowd of 9,236. That total was more than the 8,878 Chattanooga reeled in at last season’s national semifinals game, and marked the highest attendance in the history of the 4th tier NPSL.
Legia Warsaw made 3-0 winners over Kukesi after abandoned Europa qualifier – The Guardian
Legia Warsaw have been declared 3-0 winners over Kukesi after last week’s Europa League qualifier in Albania was abandoned early in the second half following crowd trouble. The second leg will be played in Warsaw on Thursday.
South Africa: Pirates Lift Carling Cup Trophy – All Africa
Orlando Pirates have won the 2015 edition of the Carling Black Label Cup at the FNB Stadium, beating rivals Kaizer Chiefs on penalties on Saturday.
Referee in hospital after Russian football match ends in violence – The Guardian
A non-league Russian football match ended in chaos on Sunday, with the referee in hospital and players from both sides questioned by police. The referee had taken to the field with a stun gun in an attempt to ward off the unruly players but still ended the match unconscious.