(Editor’s note: I’m on the road to Seattle over the next 48 hours, so updates will be sporadic. We’ll have great photos from the Whitecaps’ CCL match for you on Friday morning.)
CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
SEATTLE SOUNDERS 3 WHITECAPS FC 0
GROUP F, MATCHDAY #3
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2015
CENTURYLINK FIELD, SEATTLE, WA.
WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
CCL: Sounders FC defeat ‘Caps 3-0 to clinch top spot in Group F – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (CCL: 1W-1L-1D) will not advance to the knockout round of their first-ever CONCACAF Champions League campaign after falling 3-0 to Seattle Sounders FC (CCL: 2W-1L-1D) on Wednesday night at CenturyLink Field.
Lesson learned: Robinson feels young ‘Caps will be ‘better prepared’ for CCL next year – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s inaugural CONCACAF Champions League campaign came to a crashing halt at CenturyLink Field on Wednesday evening.
Champions League: Vancouver Whitecaps not planning to change approach in possible group decider – MLS
The Whitecaps are still licking their wounds after suffering a Cascadia Cup-losing 3-0 defeat at home to the Sounders on Saturday. Some quick revenge would help ease that pain a little, but the prime motivator at stake for Vancouver is qualification.
Preview: Whitecaps FC out for ‘revenge’ Wednesday against Seattle – Whitecaps FC
The Cascadia rivals renew acquaintances on Wednesday in CONCACAF Champions League action with the top spot in Group F up for grabs (7 p.m. PT on Sportsnet One/Sportsnet World and TSN 1410).
CCL a chance for Whitecaps’ Tornaghi to shine – Sportsnet
Realistically, the group of players that were part of last week’s victory should form the nucleus of the side that sees action on Wednesday. For the most part, that will likely mean what most would classify as a “B” team for Vancouver.
Whitecaps aim to win group early against Seattle – 24 Hours
When the Whitecaps and Sounders face off at CenturyLink Field, the winner will clinch first place in the three-team group and book a place in the CCL quarterfinals. A draw in Seattle would keep Vancouver alive, too, but force the ‘Caps to hold off Olimpia on their home field in Honduras next month in order to advance.
CONCACAF Watch: Sounders in must-win, but league takes priority – Goal
Throw out the playoff permutations you’ve been doing, MLS fans – the math for Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions League match between the Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps is refreshingly easy. If there’s a winner, that team wins the group and advances to the CCL quarterfinals. If not, it comes down to Vancouver’s trip to Honduras next month to face Olimpia.
Weber: When winning can be a negative – The Province
Is a win the best outcome for the Whitecaps on Wednesday? The obvious answer, and natural inclination, for any fan is “Yes! Why the heck would you even ask?”
24 Under 24: The complete 2015 Rankings – MLS
Who’s next? That’s the question that has always been the guiding principle of MLSsoccer.com’s “24 Under 24” list, our annual ranking of the top young players (under 24) and explorations into the latest in youth development in MLS, the United States, and Canada.
Talented teen Froese energizes Vancouver Whitecaps – Vancouver Sun
He didn’t make the cut in MLS’s 24 under 24, the annual ranking released Tuesday of the best two dozen players in the league under the age of 24. But at just 19, midfielder Kianz Froese has still got four more years to crack the list.
MLS Disciplinary Committee fines Kendall Waston, Daneil Cyrus for Hands to the Face/Head/Neck of opponent – MLS
Vancouver Whitecaps defender Kendall Waston has been fined an undisclosed amount for violating MLS’s policy regarding Hands to the Face/Head/Neck of an opponent in the Whitecaps’ 3-0 loss to the Seattle Sounders on Saturday. The incident occured in the 86th minute. (VIDEO)
Central FC vs. LA Galaxy | CONCACAF Champions League Match Preview – MLS
The Galaxy can join D.C. United in the knockout stage of the CONCACAF Champions League with a draw or better in their first road encounter of the competition after dominating their Group D matches at home.
Santos topple W Connection FC, D.C. United fight back for draw – ESPN FC
Andres Renteria bagged the only goal of the game as Liga MX champions Santos Laguna overcame a resilient W Connection FC 1-0 in Port of Spain on Tuesday night.
Sebastian Giovinco is the front-runner for MVP, but is he having the best season in MLS history? – MLS
Sebastian Giovinco’s first season in MLS has been pretty decent, shall we say. Okay, “decent?” That’s selling the Italian more than a little short: The 5-foot-4 attacking dynamo has collected 19 goals and 14 assists in 28 games so far.
Report: LAFC may not start playing until 2019 – The Goat Parade
Given the uncertainty surrounding the timeline for actually constructing a brand new stadium in Los Angeles — after completing the bureaucratic hoops remaining and demolishing the Sports Arena — I suppose it isn’t altogether surprising from a pragmatic perspective.
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BC SOCCER NEWS
Two BC Soccer Staff Members Promoted within the Community Development Department – BCSA
BC Soccer Association’s Community Development Department has been slightly restructured as two BC Soccer Assoc. staff members have been promoted. With years of dedication and commitment to the BC Soccer Association, Lori D’Andrea has been promoted to Director of Community Development while Dan Turvill has been promoted to Manager of Competitions and Discipline.
CD Olimpia’s Quioto enjoying Vancouver hospitality – Red Nation Online
The football world is essentially one big giant family. No matter where players go, who they play against or come across. They have an appreciation and respect level for opposition competitors. The response from the Whitecaps organization, Mynor and Marta Campos, and club supporters has been outstanding for injured CD Olimpia player Romell Quioto. The 24 year-old sustained a fractured rib and a collapsed lung and had to leave the pitch on a stretcher following a mid-air collision with Whitecaps keeper Paolo Tornaghi and both Vancouver centre-backs on Wednesday, September 16.
Soccer CIS Top 10: Fraser Valley move up in women’s poll, UBC top CW men’s team – Canada West
The Fraser Valley Cascades women’s soccer squad, along with the UBC men’s side are the top Canada West teams in the latest CIS top 10 polls.
Top 10 Tuesday: Cascades move up to No. 6 in CIS national rankings – UFV
Coming off a six-point weekend, the University of the Fraser Valley women’s soccer team moved up one spot in the CIS national rankings.
GNAC Players of the Week– SFU
Simon Fraser University cross country runner Oliver Jorgensen, golfer Chris Crisologo and goalie Priya Sandhu from the women’s soccer team have been named Great Northwest Athletic Conference Players of the Week.
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CANADA SOCCER NEWS
CIS TOP TEN (#4): Reigning champs remain No. 1 in soccer – CIS
National Top Ten rankings in Men’s and Women’s CIS Soccer.
CSA President Montagliani “pleasantly surprised” by FIFA reform discussions – the11.ca
When Canadian Soccer Association President Victor Montagliani was tabbed to a part of FIFA’s 13-member reform committee, he was skeptical. “I had some reservations in terms of whether FIFA was really serious about change,” he said Tuesday. But Montagliani said he’s been “pleasantly surprised” by the process, so far.
Soccer star Kaylyn Kyle hosting weekend academies in Saskatoon, Regina – CBC
Kyle plays for Portland in the National Women’s Soccer League. She is also a member of the Canadian women’s national soccer team and won bronze at the 2012 Olympics in London. “Growing up in Saskatchewan, I didn’t have a lot of opportunity for someone that played my sport to come in and actually coach me one on one,” Kyle said.
CSA president doesn’t believe brewing NASL-MLS Division-1 battle would spill into Canada – the11.ca
If the North American Soccer League and Major League Soccer are to be on opposite ends of a battle in the U.S. courts, the Canadian Soccer Association doesn’t want any part of it.
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NASL NEWS
Ottawa Steamroll Cosmos 4-1 at Shuart Stadium – Empire of Soccer
The Fury came to town and dealt the Cosmos a shocking 4-1 defeat — New York’s first home loss since August of last year. Paulo Jr.’s brace led the way for Ottawa, as a Tom Heinemann goal and Mendes own goal put the visiting Fury far ahead of the Cosmos. Andres Flores scored the lone Cosmos goal.
Fury midfielder Eustaquio earns Olympic team selection – Red Nation Online
Ottawa Fury midfielder Mauro Eustaquio has been named to the Canadian Olympic team ahead of the 2016 games in Rio. Mauro signed his first professional contract with Fury last year, and despite seeing a limited number of games, he impressed the coaching staff and fans. This season he has seen much more playing time and is thrilled to see his hard work paying off.
Rowdies Add Long Tan On Loan – NASL
The Tampa Bay Rowdies have brought in additional firepower for the postseason push with the signing of forward Long Tan for the remainder of the 2015 North American Soccer League season.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
Slovenia 0-3 Scotland: Kim Little hat-trick gives Scotland win – BBC Sport
Inspired by a Kim Little hat-trick, Scotland escaped from Ajdovscina with a convincing win despite a subdued opening Euro 2017 qualifier.
Matt Beard: Liverpool Ladies boss named Boston Breakers coach – BBC Sport
Manager Matt Beard is set to leave Liverpool Ladies to take over as the boss of Boston Breakers in the USA’s National Women’s Soccer League.
NCAA Weekly: Santa Clara’s big win; Rutgers perfect – The Equalizer
The fourth week of the 2015 college soccer season ended with a bang as Santa Clara beat Bay Area rivals Stanford for the first time in nine years. Broncos goalkeeper Andi Tostanoski saved a penalty kick taken by Haley Rosen in the 78th minute. Less than 10 minutes later, Dani Weatherholt scored off a corner to give Santa Clara the win.
Jacqui Oatley: Game can’t afford to let talent drain away – The Football League Paper
While Kelly Smith has been taking her coaching badges and passing on her skills as Arsenal assistant-manager, PaulineCope-Boanas has been out of the game for nine years until her appointment last week at Gillingham Ladies. Nine years! What a waste. She won 60 caps for her country and used to train regularly with Premier League goalkeeper Dean Kiely at Charlton Athletic.
Hartlepool United set up women’s team – BBC Sport
Hartlepool United have given their backing to a women’s team, by linking up with Seaton Carew Ladies.
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WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Lewandowski scores five goals in nine minutes as Munich beats Wolfsburg – TSN
Substitute Robert Lewandowski scored five goals in the space of nine minutes as Bayern Munich came from behind to rout Wolfsburg 5-1 and move top of the Bundesliga on Tuesday.
Robert Lewandowski: More goals in nine minutes than Liverpool – BBC Sport
BBC Sport looks at the records he broke, the reaction to his haul and compares his achievements to others.
CDC Report: 69 Percent Of Student Athletes With Concussion Symptoms Don’t Report It – CBS New York
“The report highlights that far too many athletes do not report their concussion symptoms and may not be removed from play, or may return to play too soon,” said Dr. Grant Baldwin, with the CDC.
CONMEBOL, CONCACAF Champions League in the works – Riccardo Silva – ESPN FC
The international media rights giant’s chief has revealed a project for a 64-team competition to mirror the UEFA Champions League’s format, which could fetch an estimated $500 million in television and marketing rights — quintupling the current annual take-ins for the CONCACAF Champions League and CONMEBOL’s Copa Libertadores combined.
Man City cruise past Sunderland in Capital One Cup, Swansea fall at Hull – ESPN FC
David Meyler’s goal shortly before half-time give Hull City a 1-0 win over Swansea, who made 10 changes from the side that drew with Everton at the weekend.
Chelsea anger as Diego Costa handed three-match ban for violent conduct – The Guardian
José Mourinho’s persecution complex was pricked evening when Diego Costa was given a three-match ban by the Football Association, shortly after Gabriel Paulista, the Arsenal central defender with whom the striker clashed at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, had seen his three-game suspension overturned.
Antoine Griezmann brace helps Atletico Madrid take La Liga lead – ESPN FC
Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann struck two goals in a 2-0 win against crosstown rival Getafe on Tuesday, helping his side take the overnight lead of the Spanish league.
Ángel Di María on target as Paris Saint-Germain beat Guingamp – The Guardian
Ángel Di María scored his first domestic goal for Paris Saint-Germain as the Ligue 1 champions eventually eased past a game Guingamp 3-0 at the Parc des Princes.
Pep Guardiola should have rung Sir Alex Ferguson about the Manchester United job – The Telegraph
A phone rings in Cheshire. A New York number. The caller says: “Alex, it’s Pep. Bayern Munich have offered me their manager’s job. You asked me to speak to you before I said yes to anything.”
Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro considers legal action after leaving post – The Guardian
Chelsea Football Club’s doctor, Eva Carneiro, is believed to have left her job and is preparing to sue the Premier League champions for constructive dismissal following an incident during the game against Swansea last month that led to her first-team duties downgraded at the request of the manager, José Mourinho.
Rangers dumped out of Scottish League Cup by St Johnstone – The Guardian
Mark Warburton suffered his first defeat as Rangers manager as St Johnstone dismissed the Championship leaders from the Scottish League Cup with a 3-1 win at Ibrox.
Big leagues and clubs keep their cash in the family, and Monaco get richer – Inside World Football
A breakdown of where the money went from the last transfer window finds that the overwhelming bulk of it – 70% – stayed within the Big 5 European leagues of England, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. And keeping it in the family proved particularly good for AS Monaco who took in €202 million in transfer fees and topped the list of clubs who profited from the summer trading window with a €121 million positive balance.
Luch-Energiya Vladivostok – Financial Difficulties Show Need for League Reform – Futbolgrad
Life is tough in Russia’s second division, the Football National League (FNL). Unlike the Russian Football Premier League (RFPL), which is almost entirely centred on the European part of Russia—Ural Yekaterinburg, the club that is located the furthest east in the RFPL, is technically right on the border between Asia and Europe—the FNL spans almost the entirety of Russia from its Baltic enclave in Kaliningrad (nudged uncomfortably between Poland, Lithuania, and the Baltic Sea) to the Pacific in Vladivostok (located just 80 miles north of the North Korean border). FNL clubs compete in ten out of Russia’s eleven time zones.
No, David Beckham will not be the next James Bond. – Washington Post
For months, rumors have abounded. Esquire posed the question in August and came up with a list of actors, including Idris Elba, Damian Lewis, David Oyelowo and Michael Fassbender. But it failed to name the man who might have been the most popular — David Beckham.