2018 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFYING
BELIZE vs. CANADA
2ND LEG (CANADA LEADS 3-0 AGGREGATE)
6:00 PM, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2015
FFB STADIUM, BELMOPAN, BELIZE
(TV: TBD LIVE STREAM: TBD canadasoccer.com)
CANADA SOCCER NEWS
Belize vs. Canada: Floro calls for clinical finishing – Goal
Benito Floro has warned his Canada side that it must be more clinical if it is to qualify for the World Cup ahead of its CONCACAF qualifying third-round second leg against Belize on Tuesday. Tosaint Ricketts scored twice and Atiba Hutchinson added a late third goal as Canada beat underdog Belize 3-0 in Toronto on Friday.
Canada wants clean sheet against Belize – CSA
Canada has targeted another clean sheet against opponent Belize in CONCACAF Round 3 of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, this time on the road at BFF Stadium in Belmopán, Belize. Canada already has a 3-0 lead in the two-match, total goals elimination series, but knows Belize will be pressing forward to score early and often to try and even the series.
Countdown: Canada @ Belize – Red Nation Online
Canada heads into their second leg of the third round of World Cup qualifying traveling south to the Central American eco-tourist destination of Belize. After a comfortable 3-0 win on Friday night, it would appear at first glance as a match where Canada simply needs to go through the motions to secure passage to the fourth round group stage.
Belize vs. Canada | CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying Preview – MLS
After the Canadians posted a thoroughly convincing 3-0 win at BMO Field on Friday night, the scene shifts down to Central America on Tuesday for the second leg of this third-round CONCACAF World Cup qualifying series.
Canada prepares for Belize second leg – CSA
Canada continued their preparations at home midway through the Belize series, holding both a regeneration session on Saturday and light training session on Sunday after their big win on Friday night. Canada holds a 3-0 lead in the two-match, total goals elimination series in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Belize.
Canadian men look to finish the job in Belize – Sportsnet
Belize becomes at least the 14th CONCACAF country stamp in Canadian captain Julian de Guzman’s passport. Chances are his short stay there will be pretty benign, given Canada’s 3-0 win in the first leg of its World Cup qualifier last Friday at BMO Field. The Canadian men, ranked No. 102 in the world, look to finish off the job Tuesday when they face No. 128 Belize at FFB Field in the return leg in the Belize capital of Belmopan.
Road To Russia: Send Them To Belize – Northern XI
On Tuesday night, Canada will take on Belize in the second leg of their home and home series, the winner of which will advance to the next round of qualifying for Russia 2018. Considering the ease with which Canada prevailed in a 3-0 win on Friday in Toronto, it would take a meltdown of San Pedro Sula proportions to prevent Les Rouges from acceding to the group stage against Mexico, Honduras and probably El Salvador (Los Cuscatlecos won 1-0 on the road in Curaçao on Friday).
Ricketts now has a better strike rate than De Ro: Canada does the job against Belize – the11.ca
Dwayne De Rosario is Canada’s all time leading scorer. He scored 22 times in 81 appearances for the senior national side. That works out to 0.27 goals per appearance. With his brace on Friday night against Belize, Tosaint Ricketts now has 12 goal in 43 appearances for Canada. That puts him at 0.28 goals per appearance, slightly better than De Ro’s standard.
CIS Men’s Soccer Roundup – CIS
Scores from the weekend’s CIS Men’s Soccer Action.
CIS Women’s Soccer Roundup – CIS
Scores from the weekend’s CIS Women’s Soccer Action.
Advertise your Soccer School or Academy from only 50 cents per day!
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
WHITECAPS FC vs. COLORADO RAPIDS
7:00 PM, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2015
BC PLACE, VANCOUVER, B.C.
(TV: TSN 1 RADIO: TSN RADIO 1410 LIVE STREAM: TSN GO)
WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
It’s a water fight as Whitecaps face Rapids – The Province
From mid-April to the Fourth of July, the Colorado Rapids won two of 13 MLS games, a horrid stretch that explains why they’re ninth in the Western Conference, seven points out of the playoffs. They should be a desperate team at B.C. Place on Wednesday (7 p.m., TSN1, TSN 1410) and urgency appears to be their friend. They’ve won three straight — at lowly Chicago and home to Houston and Kansas City.
Fire fall short against Drogba, Impact – Prost Amerika
Drogba scored a hat trick as the Impact defeated the Fire, 4-3, at Stade Saputo. The Fire are now four points out of a playoff spot with the Impact owning three matches in hand. The Fire’s winless streak on the road in all competitions is now at 23 matches (0-17-6). They also maintain a 0% record at Stade Saputo.
Montreal’s tactics: Just give the ball to Drogba – Sportsnet
Mauro Biello was never going to be able to transform the way the Impact plays after only a week in charge, but in his first game on Saturday as interim coach, Montreal showed great fighting spirit in a 4-3 come-from-behind victory against the Chicago Fire.
Seattle Sounders 2, Toronto FC 1 | MLS Match Recap – MLS
After Clint Dempsey appeared in just one of his team’s last 12 games, you’d expect him to return ready to produce. He did just that. The Seattle Sounders striker scored and assisted as Seattle defeated Toronto FC 2-1 on Saturday night at CenturyLink Field. Obafemi Martins provided the team’s other goal in the team’s third straight home win.
A Loss to Remember: Toronto FC Fall to Seattle Sounders – Waking the Red
They couldn’t hold on for an unlikely draw away from home, but yesterday against the Seattle Sounders Toronto FC proved they are a hard team to play against regardless of venue and team sheet.
Toronto FC earns moral victory in Seattle loss – Sportsnet
Missing no less than six starters for a variety of reasons and forced to deploy three young defenders who never played together before (and one who was only making his second start as a professional), TFC put forth a valiant effort at CenturyLink Field before succumbing 2-1 to the Sounders.
LA Galaxy open Blended Learning Environment with goal of creating the best academy in the United States – LA Galaxy
The LA Galaxy would like to one day have a first team made up primarily of graduates from the LA Galaxy Academy and this week, the club took a major step towards achieving that goal. The Galaxy’s new high school called the Blended Learning Environment opened its doors on Monday to 50 students of various high school grade levels who will make up the club’s U-16 and U-18 academy sides.
F Bombs, “SHORT shorts”, and Colin Clark: Your complaints to the FCC – Once a Metro
My favorite aspect of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), besides the marginally more open government, is the ability to read what activates the ennui centers of this great nation during its sports broadcasts. The complaints about Tom Brady cussing like a sailor were absolute gold. The complaints about Lebron James channeling his inner ‘Magic Mike’ took it to a whole ‘nother level. And now, we have soccer complaints! YAY!
FIFA 16 for Playstation 4 Arrives September 22! Pre-Order Now and Save.
BC SOCCER NEWS
Welcome to a new season on BC Soccer Web! – BC Soccer Web
With the new season comes a few changes as the new BC Soccer Web continues to evolve. I’m pleased to share them with you today.
BC Soccer Web Feature Matches, Sept. 8-13 – BC Soccer Web
This is always the best time of year. It’s the start of the amateur season in B.C., university soccer gets into full swing, and MLS is down to the business end. Each Tuesday, we’ll give you our pick of the best matches worth catching this week.
BC Soccer’s Coastal Season Kicks Off following Labour Day Weekend – BCSA
“Kicking off the coastal soccer season is always an exciting and busy time for players, coaches, and volunteers,” says Roger Barnes, President of the BC Soccer Assoc. “After an incredible and inspiring FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 this past summer, we know thousands of players are excited to kickoff their season and on behalf of the BC Soccer board and staff, we want to wish them all the best for the upcoming season.”
VMSL Reveals 2015-16 Premier League Schedule – VMSL
The Vancouver Metro Soccer league has unveiled the schedule for their 13 team Premier League. Play gets under way Friday, Sept.11.
UBC earns 1-1 draw against Victoria in Canada West opener –UBC
The UBC Thunderbirds men’s soccer team played to a 1-1 draw against the Victoria Vikes at Thunderbird Stadium on Saturday evening. The Canada West regular season opener featured just 11 minutes of scoreless action before both teams capitalized within a 41-second span beginning with Abbotsford, B.C., native Gagan Dosanjh’s 12th-minute strike before Victoria’s Craig Gorman answered with the equalizer moments later.
Radu With Deuce As WolfPack Win Second Ever CIS Women’s Soccer Match – TRU
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women’s soccer team didn’t have to wait very long for their second ever CIS victory. After waiting nine matches to taste a win in their inaugural Canada West campaign, the WolfPack were able to experience that same feeling in their second match of the young 2015-16 campaign.
Solid start for Heat women’s soccer – Kelowna Capital News
On the road for their first two games, the UBC Okanagan women kicked off the 2015 Canada West soccer season on the right foot. Claire Paterson’s Heat travelled to Manitoba on the weekend where they earned four of a possible six points.
Heat play to (1-1) draw versus Manitoba – UBCO
The UBC Okanagan women’s soccer team are off to a great start to their 2015-16 Canada West conference season after playing the Manitoba Bisons to a 1-1 draw on Saturday afternoon on the University of Manitoba Turf Fields. With the result in Winnipeg the Heat open the season with a win and a tie and earn four important points in the standings on a tough and long road trip to the Keystone Province.
Kovacs earns first regular season win as UBC beats Victoria – UBC
A 45th-minute goal by forward Jasmin Dhanda (Surrey, B.C.) gave her UBC Thunderbirds a 1-0 victory over the host Victoria Vikes in the Canada West regular season opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon.
Sisters Propel Clan to 3-1 Victory Over HSU – SFU
Christina Dickson scored twice and her twin sister Allyson added another to lift Simon Fraser University to a 3-1 season-opening win over Humboldt State University in a non-conference women’s soccer game Saturday evening on Terry Fox Field.
Clan Draws After Lightning Ends Game – SFU
Simon Fraser University outshot California Baptist 20 to 3 but had to settle for a draw after the game was called due to lightning near Interbay Stadium, resulting in a 1-1 tie with 17:17 still left on the clock.
Cascades past and present come together for men’s soccer alumni game – UFV
The last time the University of the Fraser Valley men’s soccer team held an alumni game, Trevor O’Neill was a wide-eyed Cascades rookie. That was way back in 2010, and O’Neill remembers relishing the opportunity to get to know some of the former Cascades stars who had helped build the program.
Women’s soccer highlighted Sept. 20 at UBCO – Kelowna Capital News
ViaSport British Columbia will be hosting a Women’s World Cup Legacy event on Sunday, Sept. 20 at UBC Okanagan. The event, which will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., is designed to promote, encourage, and provide training for women’s participation in soccer as coaches, officials and administrators across the Okanagan.
‘It’s going to be a lonely year’ – Surrey Leader
One of the city’s largest soccer clubs is mourning the loss of one of its most valued members. Martin Foden, 66, died suddenly Wednesday while on vacation with his wife Lynn in Palm Springs, California. Foden was the club’s executive director, just one of many positions he has filled in more than a quarter-century with the Cloverdale-based club.
When you disagree with volunteers and refs — do so politely – Soccer America
Parent coaches. Soccer club board members. These people are volunteers. Be nice. If you disagree with their vision, do so politely. Referees make a tiny bit of money. Be nice to them, too.
FIFA 16 for Xbox One is coming September 22! Pre-Order Now and Save.
WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
SPIRIT FORWARD CRYSTAL DUNN WINS 2015 GOLDEN BOOT – NWSL
Washington Spirit forward Crystal Dunn was honored Monday as the winner of 2015 NWSL Golden Boot, awarded to the player with the most goals during the regular season.
Reign FC finishes strong with eyes on an elusive trophy – Prost Amerika
At 89:56 a Kim Little cross found Jessica Fishlock and Fortress Memorial remained Fortress Memorial. The resulting celebration and post game NWSL Shield presentation on the otherwise dreary evening showcased the strength and character of a side determined to keep the foot on the gas and press forward for a cup that eluded them in 2014.
2015 NWSL playoff match-ups set – The Equalizer
The Spirit loss handed home-field advantage for a semifinal to the Chicago Red Stars who will host their Midwest Melee rivals FC Kansas City next Sunday, September 13 at 1:30 pm EDT. The match will take place at Toyota Park.
Press’ late equalizer earns Red Stars point against Dash – Prost Amerika
A late Christen Press goal handed the Chicago Red Stars a point and a bit of confidence before next weekend’s National Women’s Soccer League playoffs.
Man City boss Nick Cushing expects Chelsea to win title – BBC Sport
Manchester City Women’s manager Nick Cushing says he expects Chelsea Ladies to pip his side to this season’s Women’s Super League One title.
WSL 1: Manchester City Women 1-0 Sunderland Ladies – BBC Sport
Isobel Christiansen scored the winner as Manchester City beat Sunderland to go second in Women’s Super League One on goal difference.
Arsenal Ladies: Why Spanish stars chose the Women’s Super League – BBC Sport
Just five players from outside the British Isles played in the inaugural Women’s Super League in 2011. Now that number has risen to 27 and there are three Spain internationals at Arsenal Ladies alone.
Do you follow @bcsoccerweb on Twitter? You should!
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
PHOTO GALLERY: WFC2 1 SACRAMENTO REPUBLIC 2, SEPTEMBER 6, 2015 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Monique Lamoureux.
USL Match Report: WFC2 1 – 2 Sacramento Republic – Eighty-Six Forever
Loss officially eliminates the Thundercaps from the USL Western Conference playoff race; Marco Bustos’ fifth goal in five matches ties him for the WFC2 scoring lead.
Match Recap: Sacramento Republic FC 2, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 1 – Sacramento Republic
Sacramento Republic FC clinch a playoff spot with a road victory against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 behind a brace from captain Justin Braun.
USL: Rhinos clinch regular-season title – Soccer America
The Rochester Rhinos, who have lost only one game all season, clinched the 2015 USL regular-season title when they tied Richmond, 2-0, on the road. Rhinos goalkeeper Brandon Miller set a USL record with his 12th shutout of the season.
Lilley Happy As Rhinos Take Regular-Season Title – USL
Having missed out on the playoffs for the first time in its history the season before, the job at hand for Bob Lilley was to rebuild and restore the Rhinos to their former glory. With a strong defensive group at its base, and the addition of players who could provide timely finishing in attack, the Rhinos crashed their way to their first silverware since 2010 on Saturday night as they claimed the USL Regular Season Championship. (Editor’s note: Bob Lilley was the head coach who led the Whitecaps to a USL championship in 2006.)
Find a Team or Find a Player. Get Playing with BC Soccer Web FREE Classifieds
NASL NEWS
Recap: Minnesota sputters to a draw against 10-man Edmonton – Midfield Press
For the eighth time this year in all competitions, Minnesota transformed a win into lost points after the 70th minute as it gave up a set piece goal at the close of stoppage time. The foul that led to the free kick may have been suspect officiating, but in truth Edmonton had pressed for ten minutes and had themselves been hard done by the referee only moments earlier when the advantage was not given on a clear goal scoring opportunity.
The Not-so-Great Walls: 10-man Eddies fight back to draw Minnesota – the11.ca
On Sunday, both FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller and Minnesota United boss Manny Lagos will rue how the players in their teams’ respective walls got out of the way when free kicks were hammered in their direction.
Recap: Ottawa dispatches San Antonio with ease – Midfield Press
Even though Ottawa is flying high in the standings, it should be troubling just how weird of a bench it had for this match. The Fury had two goalkeepers and four forwards, a bench that really should only happen when playing a garbage match in FIFA or Football Manager.
NASL Week 11: A Look Back – SBI
A change in staff was exactly what the Tampa Bay Rowdies needed after an abysmal start to the fall. The Rowdies have turned their season on its head by beating the New York Cosmos and putting themselves in position to make the playoffs.
Who Killed Promotion and Relegation in the United States? – V2 Football
When NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson discusses promotion and relegation in the U.S., many American soccer writers dismiss it as fantasy. What they don’t know is that Peterson’s idea isn’t original: it was in fact promoted by the President of U.S. Soccer before and after the United States won the World Cup bid.
BC Soccer Web Premium Classified Ads from only 50 cents per day!
WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Soccer fans making voices heard on refugee crisis – Toronto Star
In the closing moments of Friday night’s Canada-Belize World Cup qualifier, a homespun banner was held up at BMO Field: “Refugees Welcome.” It’s an overstatement to say soccer fans are leading the way among those demanding action on what’s been described as the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War. But it has been extraordinary how supporters have made their voices heard and are influencing the discussion and driving action.
Match with Brazil just the tune-up USMNT needs before Mexico clash – SI.com
Brazil, the U.S.’s foe in a friendly in Boston on Tuesday, is still the five-time World Cup champion—albeit the five-time champion that lost 7–1 to Germany in last year’s World Cup semis (on home soil) and fell to Paraguay in this year’s Copa América quarterfinals.
USMNT friendly vs. Brazil represents important step in learning curve for team’s young players – MLS
Irrespective of their recent struggles, it’s hard to look past Brazil as one of the most attractive fixtures for any national team. Such is the weight of the history and star power that the Seleção carry with them wherever they travel, even as the program rebounds from hugely disappointing eliminations on home soil in the 2014 World Cup and then at the 2015 Copa América in Chile.
Germany, Portugal close in on Euro qualification – Sportsnet
Germany and Portugal closed in on European Championship qualification on Monday, while Northern Ireland missed the chance to book its place at next year’s tournament in France.
Netherlands among big teams making a mess of Euro 2016 qualification – ESPN FC
The last time the European Championships were held in France was 1984, which coincidentally was also the last time the Netherlands failed to qualify. Back then, only eight teams made it through to the finals, and only the winners of each qualification group were deemed good enough, so it was a pretty tough selection process.
Holland’s lurch into Euro 2016 crisis rooted in missing generation – The Guardian
As headlines go, the offering from Algemeen Dagblad was a jab at the most painful of weak spots. Writ large above a photograph of Robin van Persie lying on the turf with an expression that reeked frustration, the message could barely have been more damning: “We don’t count any more.” Whoa! This is Holland we are talking about here. The so-called best football nation to never win the World Cup.
Joachim Low says Germany’s win at Scotland was ‘well-deserved’ – ESPN FC
Germany manager Joachim Low said he was pleased how his side came through challenges at Scotland to earn a “well-deserved” 3-2 win on Monday.
Barcelona asking FIFA to ease restrictions on certain youth players – ESPN FC
Barcelona say they are asking FIFA to ease restrictions on some of their youth players connected to the club’s one-year transfer ban. Last year, FIFA punished Barcelona for breaking rules regarding the transfer of youth players by banning the club from signing new first-team members during 2015.
Palestine prepare to host World Cup Qualifier (again) – Inside World Football
Headlines around the world have been incorrectly proclaiming ‘Palestinians ready to host 1st ever World Cup qualifier’, ahead of Tuesday’s 2018 qualifier against UAE which will be held at the Faysal Al-Husseini Stadium in Al Ram.
South Africa: Bafana Bafana: From bad to worse – Daily Maverick
Another day, another embarrassing result for Bafana Bafana. After losing to Mauritania over the weekend, it will take an uphill battle for the team to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. It’s becoming an all-too-familiar story for the national football team.
Two decades of doing football business at Soccerex – BBC
The business of football has come a long way since the first Soccerex conference in 1996, with the sport moving over the past couple of decades from the sports pages onto the City ones.
When friends become foes. Prince Ali lines up second shot at FIFA crown – Inside World Football
Breaking a three-month silence since losing to Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan gave the broadest hint yet today that he wants to have another crack at the job but left a number of questions unanswerered, not least where his votes might come from next time.
FIFA TMS’s Big 5 report – FIFA
This year, for the first time, the transfer window analysis includes a special report disclosing the official salary figures for all worldwide transfers. The findings reveal that since 2013, player salaries have constituted 57% of the funds circulated in the international transfer market. Transfer fees accounted for 41% and club intermediary commissions the remaining 2%.
Clubs spend $2 billion more on players’ wages than transfer fees, FIFA says – ESPN FC
Clubs are now spending more on salaries for new players than transfer fees, official figures from FIFA have revealed. The figures show that the total international transfer fees for last year was $4 billion (£2.6bn) but the value of the salaries associated with those transfers is $6bn (£3.93bn) over the term of the contracts.
Harry Kane shows the way as walking football’s popularity takes off – The Guardian
With thousands of players having abandoned the grassroots game since 2012, walking football is well placed to help fill pitches again, either with returning older amateurs or a new breed of player who has no previous experience
Dave Robertson says social media pressure contributed to Posh exit – BBC Sport
Dave Robertson believes pressure from Peterborough United’s fans on social media was a contributory factor in his dismissal as the club’s manager.