BC Soccer News, Wednesday, August 3, 2016

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

CENTRAL FC  0  WHITECAPS FC  1

TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016

ATO BOLDON STADIUM, COUVA, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

Whitecaps FC open 2016-17 CONCACAF Champions League with 1-0 win over Caribbean champions Central FC – Whitecaps FC
It was a long journey – the longest trip Vancouver Whitecaps FC will make this year. Over 7,000 kilometers from Vancouver. And over 4,000 kilometres from Dallas, where the ‘Caps departed from just yesterday. But it was worth it in the end.

Whitecaps FC earn three points against Caribbean champions – CSA
Vancouver Whitecaps FC have collected three points in their away 2016-17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League opener against Caribbean champions Central FC. The Canadian club won 1:0 in the 2 August match, with Cristian Techera the lone goalscorer at Ato Bolden Stadium in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago.

Busy Whitecaps shift into grind mode in CCL opener: “We did a job today” – MLS
The Vancouver Whitecaps got their 2016/17 CONCACAF Champions League campaign off to a winning start with a hard-fought, but fully deserved, 1-0 win at Trinidad & Tobago champions Central FC on Tuesday night.

Whitecaps top Central FC in CONCACAF Champions League – CBC
Cristian Techera scored in the first half and the Vancouver Whitecaps held on for a 1-0 victory over Central FC on Tuesday night in their opening CONCACAF Champions League group match.

Vancouver Whitecaps avoid Caribbean Shark attack to kick off latest CCL campaign with away win –  AFTN
Vancouver Whitecaps’ opening group game in their 2016/17 CONCACAF Champions League game against Central FC in Trinidad and Tobago afforded not just the MLS fringe players the chance to shine and impress, but also four USL call-ups.

Whitecaps 1 Central FC 0: Young Caps capture CCL opener – The Province
Those who gripe about Carl Robinson not taking certain competitions seriously enough are missing a rather large point. At some stage, you have to find out what you have in players, and that can’t just come from scrimmages and lower-league games.

Whitecaps top Central FC 1-0 in CCL – Eighty-Six Forever
They might not have known a ton about their opponent, but that didn’t stop the Vancouver Whitecaps from staging a 1-0 victory over Central FC on Tuesday night. The Whitecaps opener of the 2016/17 Champions League season included some puzzling lineup decisions, but they were able to stake themselves to the win on the strength of a Cristian Techera marker.

Vancouver leave Couva with a win – Soccer Shorts
The important thing to remember is that there are no easy road games in the CONCACAF Champion’s League which very much fits into the “it’s a cliché because it’s true” category (actually is “it’s a cliché because it’s true” now a cliché itself? I think it might be).

CCL Results & Schedule: Richey shines in Vancouver debut – Soccer America
Goalkeeper Spencer Richey, who has been starring for WFC2 in the USL, made five saves — all in the first half — to secure the Vancouver Whitecaps a 1-0 win over Central FC in Trinidad & Tobago in the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League. Uruguayan Cristian Techera scored the game’s only goal in the 34th minute.

Whitecaps signings won’t solve scoring woes – 24 Hours
To say that Vancouver is futile against FC Dallas on their home turf is being kind. Including this past weekend, FC Dallas have won all seven encounters between the clubs in Frisco, Texas, outscoring Vancouver 14-2. One would think that sheer luck would have allowed the ‘Caps to get at least a single point in those seven matches.

Plata’s return brings back bad memories for TFC – Toronto Sun
These are simpler times for Toronto FC. The Reds are winning. On the whole, they’re respectable. And there have been few player revolts. On Wednesday night, though, Toronto FC supporters will be reminded of trying times when the Reds host Joao Plata-led Salt Lake City.

Real Salt Lake-Toronto FC preview – Yahoo Sports
Building on that momentum against Toronto could be challenging for RSL. The Reds won their second straight match on Sunday, routing the Columbus Crew 3-0. Toronto prevailed behind strong play from forward Sebastian Giovinco, who scored or assisted on all three goals.

Toronto FC looks to squelch RSL’s Argentine attackers – Sportsnet
They call Juan Manuel Martinez el Burrito (“the Little Donkey”), a cute nickname that belies how dangerous of an attacker he’s become since coming to Major League Soccer.

Timbers move “a new lease on life” for Newcastle ex Steven Taylor – MLS
Signed this week to bolster the Portland Timbers back line, the former Newcastle United center back said he is excited about the chance to play in Major League Soccer and to compete for championships.

Source: Toronto FC turned down $5 million bid for Michael Bradley – Goal
The Toronto FC star and U.S. national team captain was the subject of a $5 million transfer offer that the MLS club rejected, a source confirmed to Goal USA.

MLS Moves: Paparatto headed to FC Dallas – Soccer America
Argentine defender Norberto Paparatto returned to MLS, joining FC Dallas after it gave Targeted Allocation Money to Portland, which had his right of first refusal after he left the league at the end of the 2015 season.

AS Roma provides special treat for Montreal soccer fans – Montreal Gazette
Montreal’s Italian community — and soccer fans in general — will get a treat Wednesday night when AS Roma plays a friendly against the Impact at Saputo Stadium.

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BC SOCCER NEWS

WolfPack Men’s Soccer Training Camp Opens – TRU
There were over 40 players (both veterans) and recruits at Hillside Stadium on Tuesday night (Aug 2). It was the first ‘open tryout’ for the WolfPack men’s soccer team. The players had a brief warm up and then went into a two hour scrimmage. head coach John Antulov and his staff will run similar practices the rest of the week. The WolfPack have their own exhibition tournament which begins Thursday August 11th at Hillside Stadium and involves teams from both the Canada West and the PACWEST (Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association).

Club to support Powell River Villa soccer team – Powell River Peak
There was a time, according to some of the old-school, diehard soccer fans in the area, that Powell River Villa soccer club could count on 200 to 300 fans per game. That was back in the golden era of the team, in the 1990s, when it was winning Vancouver Island Soccer League (VISL) championships and hoisting the Sir John Jackson Cup.

KYSA Scholarship Awards – KYSA
The Kamloops Youth Soccer Association (KYSA) today announced the recipients of nine Scholarship Awards it has to present this year. Each recipient receives a $500 contribution toward the cost of their post-secondary education.

KYSA Soccer Schools – KYSA
The first of four weeks of Soccer Schools offered by the Kamloops Youth Soccer Association in August (KYSA) kicks-off on Monday.

PCSL CHALLENGE CUP FINAL PHOTOS: Vancouver Thunderbirds 4, Mid Isle Mariners 1, July 24, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.

Jay DeMerit launches Rise & Shine Captain’s Camp in Pemberton – Rise & Shine Foundation
A captain is an individual who unifies teammates into one team.  A captain has to be well rounded to lead by example. At the Rise & Shine: Captains Camps, the curriculum is specifically built around creating a balance of elite soccer training on the field, and all encompassing life skills training off the field.

BC Soccer Assoc. Releases their 2015-2016 Year in Review – BCSA
After another successful year of soccer in British Columbia, BC Soccer Assoc. is pleased to release their 2015-2016 Year in Review.  The creation of the BC Soccer Club Charter Program, delivery of a FIFA Live Your Goals Festival, along with the numerous Grassroots Festivals across the province and Coach Education highlight some of the major successes this past year.

BC Soccer Assoc. Delivery of Coach Mandate – BCSA
IMPORTANT:  If you are coaching in the ages U6-U12 you are required to complete the age appropriate course(s) even if you have a higher level of certification (ie. Soccer for Life, B pretest, C License, B License or A License). In order to enable our membership to deliver on the coaching mandate, BC Soccer Assoc. will be scheduling Learning Facilitator training sessions to assist organizations to have qualified individuals to deliver in-club coach certification courses to their coaches.

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.

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CANADA SOCCER NEWS

2016 RIO OLYMPICS WOMEN’S SOCCER

CANADA  2  AUSTRALIA  0

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2016

Canada upsets Australia in Rio 2016 women’s soccer opener – Olympic.ca
A 10-woman Canada squad beat Australia 2-0 in the opening match of the Olympic football tournament at Rio 2016 on Wednesday.

Preview: Canada kicks off Rio2016 Olympic tournament against Australia August 3rd – CSA
The Rio 2016 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament kicks off 3 August, two days before the opening ceremonies, with six group stage matches featured in three host cities.

Canada women start Olympics run with new faces, but familiar ambitions – MLS
Christine Sinclair and Diana Matheson are back. Coach John Herdman is back. This is the Canadian team everyone remembers from the 2012 Olympics, right? Not by a long shot.

Olympic Opener Against Australia Will Reveal A Lot About Young Canadian Team – Waking the Red
Australia is a tough opponent to start the tournament against, but will get Canada ready for what is a tough draw.

Australia raring to go ahead of Olympics clash with Canada – AFC
Head coach Alen Stajcic believes Australia will reap handsome dividends for their meticulous preparations as they brace themselves for Wednesday’s Olympics opener against Canada.

Canadian women’s soccer team out to prove London wasn’t a fluke – TSN
Four years ago the Canadian women’s soccer team captured the hearts of fans back home during the London Olympics. A controversial and gut-wrenching semifinal loss against the top-ranked Americans in extra time was followed by a resilient win over favoured France in the bronze medal game.

Stony Plain’s Stephanie Labbe backstopping Canadian women’s soccer team at Rio Olympics – Edmonton Journal
The Stony Plain product will be the starting goalkeeper for the Canadian women’s national soccer team when they kick off the Olympic tournament Wednesday (noon) against Australia in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Manitoba Bisons to watch former teammate, Desiree Scott, compete in Rio Olympics – Global
The Manitoba Bisons women’s soccer team will be coming together to root for former Bisons’ player and coach, Desiree Scott.

Triple hat trick threat Samuel Charron still a teen – CSA
In three quick games, Samuel Charron has shot up the Canada Para Soccer goal-scoring leader board. The Ottawa-born midfielder has suddenly moved into second place on the all-time list, scoring an incredible 10 goals in three international matches over a long weekend in Denmark.

Gaels announce final set of recruits for the 2016-17 varsity season – Queen’s Univ. Journal
In an attempt to bolster his defence, head coach Christian Hoefler rounded out his 2016 roster with the announcement of the final two recruits for the upcoming season: Ottawa goalkeeper Tyler Gowdy and east coast defender Cameron Mackinnon (Halifax, NS).

Okotoks squad makes club history – Okotoks Western Wheel
Years of gradual ascendency has landed Okotoks United Soccer Club a new benchmark. The Okotoks United U12 Boys made association history last week when they became the first Okotoks squad to take home a Tier I regular season championship in the Calgary Minor Soccer Association.

Steffensen appears before court – Whitecourt Star
Whitecourt resident Christopher Steffensen made his first appearance before court for several charges on July 26 at the Whitecourt Provincial Courthouse. The charges are related to alleged frauds by Steffensen against the Rotary Club, the Whitecourt Minor Soccer Association as well as Steffensen’s former place of employment, Midtown Mall. Steffensen is alleged to have failed to forward registration fees to one of the groups involved.

Erin McLeod: It’s time to Motivate a Nation! – themotivenation.ca
After building a successful e-commerce (www.peaudeloup.com) and a physical retail store in West Vancouver (CAPOSHIE) Women’s National Team Goalkeeper Erin McLeod has decided after a series of misfortunate events it’s time to branch out on her own with her new inspiration project, Motive Nation, launching to the public on July 1st, online at www.themotivenation.ca.

WFC2’s Richey, Levis Boost Whitecaps in Champions League – USL
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 goalkeeper Spencer Richey recorded a five-save shutout to help Whitecaps FC claim a 1-0 victory against Central FC on Tuesday night in the club’s opening game of the CONCACAF Champions League at Ato Boldon Stadium.

PREVIEW: Arizona United SC Embarks On Seven-Match August – Arizona United
Arizona United Soccer Club squares up against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, the top team in the Western Conference, this Wednesday, August 3 at Peoria Sports Complex (7:30 P.M. kickoff time). The match will also begin a daunting stretch of seven league matches in the month of August.

NYRB II routs Harrisburg 5-0, takes first place in the Eastern Conference – NYRB
New York Red Bulls II put an emphatic end to its two-game losing streak with a 5-0 rout on the road against Harrisburg City Islanders, 5-0. Vincent Bezecourt scored twice while Anatole Abang, Dan Metzger and Zoumana Simpara also added goals.

Sacramento Strikes Late to Down Energy FC – USL
Sacramento Republic FC got a late goal from James Kiffe as it brought OKC Energy FC’s eight-game undefeated streak to an end with a 1-0 victory in the USL Game of the Week on ESPN3 at Taft Stadium on Tuesday night.

Eddies’ Deep Squad Setting Pace In Fall Season – NASL
FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller feels he has more quality players at his disposal than at any time in club history – and it shows in the results.

FC Edmonton earn contender status, stand atop NASL Fall Season standings – Edmonton Sun
FC Edmonton are proving to be for real and getting the rest of the North American Soccer League to take notice.

Connecting flights: FCE embarks on 5,600-km trip to Puerto Rico – the11.ca
How long is the road trip between Edmonton and Bayamon, Puerto Rico? It’s the longest road trip in a North American pro sports league. At just a little more than 5,600 km, it’s about the same distance as a flight between Toronto and London, England, or a jaunt between Ottawa and Oslo, Norway.

Miami FC: Alessandro Nesta’s Team Finally Taking Shape – MLS Multiplex
Miami FC, the 2nd newest addition to the NASL (behind Puerto Rico FC) has been enjoying a recent run of good form.  After bowing out in last place this past Spring Season, Nesta and his men have fought back hard in the Fall to earn themselves 7th place thus far.

The Miami FC Acquires Local Product Sebastian Evers From Armada  – Miami FC
The Miami FC has added goalkeeper Sebastian Evers, who most recently played for the Jacksonville Armada.

Al Lang Stadium to Host the Florida Cup in 2017 – Tampa Bay Rowdies
The Florida Cup and the Tampa Bay Rowdies announced today that the legendary NASL club will make its tournament debut alongside other notable international teams. It was also revealed that Al Lang Stadium will be a host venue for the Florida Cup in 2017. The Florida Cup is the largest international sporting event held each year in the Sunshine State.

LouCity owners to appoint new leadership – Courier-Journal
Wayne Estopinal will no longer be the face of Louisville City FC’s ownership group. In a July 28 letter to the team’s investors acquired by The Courier-Journal, Estopinal wrote that he had been asked to take a smaller role in the Louisville City FC ownership group after two and a half years of running the club. Estopinal confirmed the authenticity of the letter on Tuesday evening.

The Future Of US Club Soccer At A Crossroads: Part One – USL’s Second Division Ambitions & The Consolidation of US Soccer Under MLS – Midfield Press
A greatly expanded United Soccer League is petitioning the USSF for D2 status.  USL commissioner Jake Edwards expects a decision from the federation soon.  “We’re hoping to hear in the next few weeks,” Edwards told WVXU. “They’re wrapping up their due diligence. They’re sending folks out to our teams now; they’re inspecting some of our clubs. They’re spending time with our owners. They’ve got a few more weeks of due diligence to go and then we’re hoping to hear in the next month or so.”

MLS expansion fee could reach $200M, FC Cincy not discouraged – Cincinnati.com
A report that Major League’s Soccer’s new expansion fee could reach as high as $200 million doesn’t appear to have fazed Futbol Club Cincinnati’s leadership from its lofty goals.

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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS

Why the US will win the gold again – and why they may not – Empire of Soccer
The squad, which has never finished with less than a silver medal since women’s soccer was introduced in 1996, will try to do something no team have done — follow up a World Cup championship with an Olympic gold medal. Back-to-back. In consecutive years.

Olympics Match Day 1 preview – Equalizer
Shortly after the final whistle blew in Vancouver last summer, many women’s soccer fans began waiting for the start of the Olympics in Rio. Since the wait is nearly over, here’s a quick preview of the first set of matches for the tournament.

Despite the critics, USWNT striker Alex Morgan is in form and ready for Rio – Fox Sports
If there’s one player who is both criticized and praised more than anyone else on the U.S. women’s national team, it’s Alex Morgan. At any given time, judgments on her performance for the U.S. seem to fall simultaneously on both sides of the spectrum.

Orlando Pride’s Monica eager to help Brazil shine in Olympic spotlight – Orlando Sentinel
When Monica Hickmann Alves was 16, she left Porto Alegre, her hometown in Brazil, to pursue her dream of becoming a professional soccer player.

Lady Andrade: I’ve prepared like never before – FIFA
Calm, relaxed and all smiles, Lady Andrade is clearly relishing kick-off at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. With Colombia gearing up for their opening game of Rio 2016, the 24-year-old forward is almost unrecognisable from the player usually so intense, elusive and tenacious on the pitch. “I feel good”.

Olympic opener gives SA women opportunity to push on – Inside World Football
When South Africa’s women footballers kick off the Rio Olympics later today, it will represent another crucial step in the long struggle for recognition back home.

Christie Rampone: Ready to experience Olympics at home with family – Empire of Soccer
When the Rio 2016 Olympics begin and the United States takes on New Zealand in its opening match in Group G, Christie Rampone won’t be anywhere near South America.

Manchester City’s Abbie McManus sidelined for season – Vavel
Following an awkward fall during Manchester City’s 5-1 thrashing of Notts County last month, England Under-23 international Abbie McManus was stretched off with what looked like a serious injury.

The 20 greatest female football players of all time – The Guardian
As the women’s football tournament kicks off at the Rio Olympics, our panel of experts compiled a countdown of the greatest players to have graced the game.

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WORLD SOCCER NEWS

Talavera: Mexico aiming for another gold – FIFA
These days, the mere mention of the Olympic Football Tournament is enough to bring a smile to the faces of Mexican football fans. The tournament has been a source of huge national pride since the 2012 Games in London, where El Tri took home gold following a memorable victory over Brazil in the final. That triumph, now recalled in the country with a mixture of nostalgia and fondness, has gone down as one of Mexican football’s finest hours.

Real Madrid v Sevilla: UEFA Super Cup facts – UEFA
Sevilla become the first team to play in three straight UEFA Super Cups and once again take on Spanish opposition as they face Real Madrid in a rematch of their 2014 encounter on August 9.

Unpaid flight bill grounds Nigeria’s Olympic footballers in Atlanta – The Guardian
Nigeria’s Olympic footballers are cutting it fine with their arrival in Rio de Janeiro with their flight expected to touch down in Brazil less than 36 hours before their opening match of the men’s football tournament.

Bayern Munich tour of U.S. exceeded expectations – Karl-Heinz Rummenigge – ESPN FC
Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said the club’s preseason tour of the US has been a success. The tour ends with a friendly against Real Madrid in New York on Wednesday.

West Ham enter brave new world with their first match at Olympic Stadium – ESPN FC
The athletics track will be covered with astroturf, the capacity reduced and the lower tier moved, ingeniously, closer to the centre; the noise, though, will be comparable when West Ham step out at their new home for the first time. And if Thursday’s Europa League third qualifying round tie against Slovenian minnows Domzale holds little immediate appeal, then its wider significance is hardly in doubt.

West Ham United vs NK Domazle Preview: Hammers needing comeback in Olympic Stadium debut – Vavel
West Ham will be looking to reach the Europa League group stages when they take on NK Domazle in the second leg of their third-round qualifier.

Leicester bolsters squad with Polish winger Kapustka – Sportsnet
English Premier League champion Leicester signed Poland winger Bartosz Kapustka on Wednesday, adding more depth to its squad ahead of a first appearance in European competition in 16 years.

Gabriel Jesus: Man City sign Brazilian winger from Palmeiras – BBC Sport
Manchester City have signed 19-year-old Brazilian winger Gabriel Jesus from Palmeiras for £27m plus add-ons.

Hull First team coach Keith Bertschin sacked on team bus – Vavel
The Hull City pre-season debacle continued this week as first team coach Keith Bertschin was told “his services were no longer required” just moments before the team bus headed to the airport for the Tigers’ flight to Austria.

Hull City fans plan protest during Premier League opener against Leicester – BBC Sport
Hull City fans are planning a protest against the “ill-considered ideas” of the newly-promoted club’s owners on the first day of the Premier League season.

Semi-professional Green Gully stun Central Coast Mariners in FFA Cup upset – The Guardian
Last season’s A-League strugglers Central Coast have started the new campaign in ignominious fashion, suffering a 2-1 FFA Cup defeat to semi-professional Melbourne club Green Gully.

News analysis: Why China’s ban on betting is a Lose-Lose solution – Inside World Football
The Communist government in China has long had an uncomfortable relationship with gambling, but the mounting interest in sports betting may make the country’s leaders rethink some of its policies.

Mark Clattenburg: Champions League & Euro 2016 tattoos for referee – BBC Sport
Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg now has a permanent reminder of taking charge of 2016’s biggest football matches.