VANCOUVER WHITECAPS & MLS NEWS
2017 MLS CUP FINAL
TORONTO FC vs. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1:00 PM PST
BMO FIELD, TORONTO, ONT.
TV: TSN 1 ONLINE: TSN GO
MLS rumours again connect Whitecaps to veteran striker Kamara – The Province
A Major League Soccer source suggests the Vancouver Whitecaps are trying to complete a trade with the New England Revolution to land veteran striker Kei Kamara.
MLS offseason set to kick off with four-hour trade window on Sunday – Whitecaps FC
The MLS offseason officially begins this weekend – and it could start with a bang. Following a three-month roster freeze, there will be a half-day trade window bright and early on Sunday from 6 to 10 a.m. PT in which teams can once again make roster moves ahead of Tuesday’s MLS Expansion Draft.
Toronto FC vs. Seattle Sounders | 2017 MLS Cup Preview – MLS
After hundreds of games, goals and memorable moments, the 2017 MLS season will conclude in the same way it did last year: With Toronto FC and the Seattle Sounders facing off in MLS Cup at BMO Field.
With history on the horizon, TFC, Sounders collide yet again in MLS Cup – SBI
It’s not easy to make it to an MLS Cup. There are so many pitfalls along the way in a league defined by parity and the unexpected. In truth, the best teams rarely survive a viciously long playoff cycle that follows a rugged regular season campaign. It’s just the way things are.
Toronto FC vs. Seattle Sounders: Who has the advantage in MLS Cup? – Sportsnet
Saturday’s MLS Cup final promises to be a salivating affair between Toronto FC and defending champions Seattle Sounders at BMO Field.
Seattle Sounders captain Osvaldo Alonso ruled out for 2017 MLS Cup – MLS
The Seattle Sounders will have to make do without captain Osvaldo Alonso in their quest to repeat as MLS Cup champions.
Mutual respect reigns between Toronto FC, Seattle Sounders in MLS Cup rematch – SN
It’s rare that the contestants in an MLS Cup final are the same in consecutive years, but that’s the case this season with Toronto FC playing host to the Seattle Sounders in the league championship match.
Seattle’s Dempsey, Toronto’s Moor savor MLS Cup after heart scares – MLS
Clint Dempsey and Drew Moor grew up in the same North Texas youth soccer scene, spent an NCAA season together at Furman University and are integral veteran leaders of the Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC squads that will contest the 2017 MLS Cup on Saturday. They also share a sobering, career-threatening health scare.
Toronto FC, once the favourite punchline of MLS, aiming to have last laugh – The Guardian
The Canadian side go into Saturday’s MLS Cup final against the Seattle Sounders confident of becoming the team they always had the potential to be.
Seattle City Hall awash in red? Here are the terms of Mayor Jenny Durkan’s ‘big bet’ with Toronto over MLS Cup match – Seattle Times
It’s on! Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has accepted a challenge from Toronto Mayor John Tory over the outcome of this weekend’s MLS Cup soccer match between the Sounders and the Toronto Football Club.
Toronto’s forgotten soccer champions? Remembering Metros-Croatia on the eve of MLS final – CBC
Robert Iarusci and Carmen Marcantonio remember their triumph as Metros-Croatia rookies 41 years ago.
MLS Cup in ’17 will be one last hurrah ahead of a harsh 2018 for Canadian club soccer – the11.ca
The truth is, 2018 will be a low point for men’s soccer in Canada. Boy, is it going to suck. It will be ultimate in lame-duck years. Canadian jobs will dwindle. We’ll have fewer teams to support. And even in TFC beats Seattle 10-0 on Saturday, that’s not going to change a thing.
Q&A with Commissioner Don Garber ahead of MLS Cup – Toronto Sun
The league’s head honcho dishes on everything from Canadian content to league expansion to his ‘disgust’ for how Toronto FC’s top players have been treated during these playoffs. So strap in. Boil a fresh pot of tea. And enjoy Garber: Unplugged.
Atlanta United signs Argentine defender Escobar – NBC Sports
The club announced Friday morning it had signed promising centerback Franco Escobar on a transfer from Newell’s Old Boys. The 22-year-old has become a regular starter for Newell’s in the Argentine Primera in the last 12 months and has become such a mainstay that Atlanta United reportedly paid a $1 million transfer fee.
Houston Dynamo complete permanent transfer for Juan David Cabezas – MLS
After spending the 2017 season with the Dynamo on loan, the 26-year-old midfielder was acquired by Houston on a full transfer from Colombian club Deportivo Cali on Thursday.
Ohio attorney general threatens to invoke law that would keep Crew SC in Columbus – SB Nation
A law passed after the Cleveland Browns left could be used to keep the Columbus Crew from moving to Austin.
Top Five MLS players at each position who are out of contract – Dirty South Soccer
The flashy signings are nice. However, not every player on an MLS club can be Miguel Almiron or Josef Martinez. It’d be nice, but it’s not possible in this league just yet. With that being said, essentially all MLS teams rely on a core group of players familiar with the league to fill out their respective squads.
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BC SOCCER NEWS
VISL Division 1 Upcoming Matches – December 8-10 – BC Soccer Web
Here is what we have going on in local top flight Division 1 soccer this weekend.
LMG’s Paddy Nelson hits century mark in LMG win – Cowichan Valley Citizen
Paddy Nelson hit a unique milestone on Friday as he scored all three goals for Cowichan LMG in a 3-1 road win over Lakehill.
VMSL Round-up (with video): Chasing pack close the gap as top two lose again – AFTN
It’s been building up nicely over the past few weeks, but the VMSL Premier championship race really sprang into life last weekend, with the top two teams once again suffering defeat and allowing the chasing pack to close the gap and nip right at their heels.
49ers get the goals they need – Cowichan Valley Citizen
If there’s a nice way to beat a shorthanded soccer team by 10 goals, the Craig Street 49ers did it last Saturday.
B.C. Sports Hall of Fame set to salute Sports Page’s iconic glory days – The Province
“I’m worried about kids knowing more about the Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Maple Leafs than the Vancouver Canucks, B.C. Lions and Vancouver Whitecaps.”
Local soccer player to suit up for his hometown team – My Prince George Now
The recruiting has started for the UNBC Timberwolves men’s soccer team. Prince George midfielder Anthony Preston has committed to the Timberwolves for the 2018 season.
Canadian legends Nick Dasovic & Andrea Neil team up for Individualized Coaching Program – Dasovic-Neil Coaching
Nick Dasovic & Andrea Neil have teamed up to provide training programs for players & coaches. The programs specialize in individual, positional, age, and gender specific training for players, with a combined technical and physical focus while providing education and mentorship opportunities for coaches to improve their skills and deepen their knowledge base.
BC Soccer Web’s 2017 Soccer & Sports Book Recommendations – BC Soccer Web
Over the years, there have been many books on soccer and sport that have given us joy, laughter, and much to think about. We’re happy to share these with you. We’ll be updating this list as new titles become available, so keep checking.
PCSL CHALLENGE CUP PHOTOS: Vancouver Utd. 3, Mid-Isle Mariners 1, July 30, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Richard Howes.
2016-2017 BC Soccer Year in Review – BCSA
BC Soccer Assoc. is proud to release their 2016-2017 Year in Review after another successful year of soccer. The #respectall initiative, High Performance License, Club Charter Program activity, along with the delivery of hundreds of coaching courses and referee clinics this past year highlight some of the successes.
BC PROVINCIAL WOMEN’S A CUP PHOTOS: Surrey United 1 NSGSC Renegades 0, May 13, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.
2017 VISL JACKSON CUP PHOTOS: Nanaimo Utd. 2 Cowichan LMG 1 (XT), April 2, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.
FVSL PHOTOS: Pakenham Cup Final, PMO Rangers 1 PMO Lordco Gunners 0, April 1, 2017 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Richard Howes.
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!
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.
CANADA SOCCER NEWS
Edge owners now focusing on bringing QMJHL team to St. John’s; also considering pro soccer or football for city – CBN Compass
John Graham, who helped put together the deal to bring pro basketball to Newfoundland, says the ownership group behind the NBL Canada’s St. John’s Edge is actively working to bring a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team to Mile One and is even considering the possibility of acquiring a pro soccer or football team for the city.
2017 Allstate Good Hands Award Announced – CSA
Canadian soccer fans have voted Stephanie Labbé’s leaping save against the USA in an international friendly on November 9 as the 2017 Allstate Canadian National Teams Good Hands Award.
Local soccer player’s big potential matches her big dreams – CTV Saskatoon
Claire Abrey has come a long way in her soccer career. “It’s just crazy to think that I started when I was four years old,” said the 17-year old. “I was just kicking the ball around with my Dad in the backyard, and now here I am.” A decade of hard work and practice on the pitch is producing results. Earlier this year she was invited to join Soccer Canada’s Under-20 national development camp in BC.
2017 Canada Soccer Player of the Year Awards kick off with Para Soccer and Futsal Awards – CSA
Jamie Ackinclose and Nazim Belguendouz have been named winners as part of the 2017 Canada Soccer Player Awards, with Ackinclose named the Canadian Para Soccer Player of the Year and Belguendouz named the Canadian Futsal Player of the Year. The two Canada Soccer national team players excelled in their respective sports in 2017.
2017 AMSL Player Awards – Alberta Soccer
At the end of each year, Alberta Soccer takes the opportunity to recognize outstanding individuals from the past Alberta Major Soccer League season. As the 2017 season wrapped up, each team nominated both a player and coach from their squad who demonstrated exceptional skill and leadership. Based on these nominations, the teams voted to award a Coach of the Year and Most Valuable Player of the Year on both the men’s and women’s side.
Garrett’s Legacy Act passes second reading at Queen’s Park – Quinte News
If passed into law, it would mandate all soccer goal posts in the province would be properly anchored to the ground to stop them from falling over.
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USL, NASL & LOWER DIVISION NEWS
Whitecaps FC assign three players to USL affiliate Fresno FC – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Thursday that three players from the club have been signed to USL contracts with new affiliate Fresno FC, pending league and federation approval. The trio includes goalkeeper Sean Melvin, midfielder Matthew Baldisimo, and striker Terran Campbell. All three players graduated from the Whitecaps FC Residency program and made their professional debuts in USL with Whitecaps FC 2.
Colorado Rapids extend USL affiliation with Charlotte Independence – Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids Soccer Club and Charlotte Independence have announced that the clubs have extended their affiliation agreement through the 2018 season.
Ex-Dillon Stadium developer gets three years in jail – Hartford Business Journal
In July, Duckett Jr., was found guilty of bilking the city out of more than $1 million as part of a scheme to bring pro soccer to the Capital City. A jury found Duckett guilty of conspiracy, fraud and money laundering offenses stemming from the scheme.
Harrisburg becomes an American soccer science lab with USL team overhaul – Philly.com
When making a list of places at the American soccer vanguard, would you ever consider Pennsylvania’s capital city? You might be about to.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
Hope Solo announces she’s running for president of U.S. Soccer – Denver Post
Former U.S. national team goalkeeper Hope Solo says she’s running for president of U.S. Soccer.
Why I’m Running for President of U.S. Soccer – Hope Solo – Facebook
“The systemic problem in U.S. Soccer starts at the youth level. Soccer has always been a middle class sport and in more recent times, has become an upper middle class sport. Some of the best clubs around the country charge each youth player between $3000-$5000 per season. I have personally witnessed young players heartbroken over the financial reality that they could no longer pursue their dream.”
Westfield Matildas in action: Westfield W-League Round 7 – W-League
Another big schedule of fixtures looms for our Westfield Matildas as they aim to steer their Westfield W-League clubs to valuable points.
Rachel Hill named PFA Player of the Month for November – Vavel
News broke earlier today that Perth Glory forward Rachel Hill won the Professional Footballers Australia Player of the Month award. The forward leads the Westfield W-League with a leading seven goals in six games.
S. Korea women’s football coach laments defeat to Japan at regional tournament – Yonhap
South Korea women’s national football head coach Yoon Duk-yeo said Friday his side will move on from their opening defeat at a regional tournament to prepare for the upcoming inter-Korean match.
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WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Cristiano Ronaldo wins fifth Ballon d’Or award as world’s top men’s player, tying Messi’s record – Toronto Star
Ronaldo won the trophy awarded by France Football magazine at a ceremony held at the Eiffel Tower on Thursday. He finished ahead of contenders Lionel Messi and Neymar.
Bob Lenarduzzi: Toffees crisp, but Liverpool is tough in home derbies – The Province
Saturday’s MLS Cup showdown features the same two sides as last season, with Toronto FC looking to sink the Seattle Sounders and avenge last year’s loss in penalty kicks.
Manchester City must be wary of Manchester United’s ‘dangerous’ approach, says Yaya Toure – SN
Yaya Toure has warned his Manchester City teammates to anticipate a more dangerous counter-attacking Manchester United side in Sunday’s derby at Old Trafford.
Jamie Carragher: I should know what the Merseyside derby means – I used to hate Liverpool – The Telegraph
I will never forget my first Anfield derby. I was sitting in the Main Stand and saw one of the greatest goals in the history of the fixture. My team won and I bounced out of the stadium. My team was Everton.
Liverpool v Everton: Tony Bellew on ‘a day of torment and stress’ – BBC Sport
“Everton have not won at Anfield since Kevin Campbell scored the only goal way back in September 1999. Since then I’ve had three kids and, as a professional boxer, been punched in the face more times than I can remember.”
Morocco meets Mexico in transatlantic clash – FIFA
Abu Dhabi provides the venue for the opening match of the second round of the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017 on Saturday, with CONCACAF Champions League winners and tournament regulars Pachuca taking on new boys Wydad Athletic Club, who will be hoping to build on the success enjoyed by African sides in previous editions.
Pachuca hope strong organizational model yields results at Club World Cup – ESPN FC
Pachuca is in the United Arab Emirates at present, preparing to open its FIFA Club World Cup campaign on Saturday against Wydad Casablanca of Morocco. Los Tuzos represent not only the CONCACAF region and Liga MX, but also a club model that is arguably the most developed in the confederation.
Monterrey vs Tigres UANL – Apertura Final Second Leg – Preview – Futebolcidade
Tigres vs Monterrey is a fitting conclusion to the Liga MX Apertura playoffs. The two clubs represent one of the biggest rivalries in Mexican football. Known as the Clasico Regiomontano, the rivalry is the most traditional in Mexican football, and by far overshadows the derbies in Mexico City.
Tigres fail again to win a first leg as Liga MX final vs. Monterrey stays even – ESPN FC
Each time Tigres drew or lost the first leg of the series, they’ve gone trophy-less, so when the game ended 1-1 amid some freakish weather that included a high degree of sleet, Monterrey manager Antonio “Turco” Mohamed looked pleased.
Europa League round of 32 draw line-up confirmed – UEFA
Next up is Monday’s draw in Nyon, Switzerland, with the qualified teams divided into two draw pots. The 12 group winners and the four best third-ranked teams in the UEFA Champions League group stage are seeded. They will be drawn against the 12 group runners-up and the remaining third-placed UEFA Champions League sides.
All-Americans: NCAA Division I men – Soccer America
Seven players who will participate in the Men’s College Cup semifinals on Friday were named to United Soccer Coaches’ NCAA Division I Men’s All-America Teams. They include Stanford senior defender Tomas Hilliard-Arce, who is a first team All-American selection for the second straight season, and SMU senior midfielder Mauro Cichero, also a two-time first-team All-American for the second time (2015, 2017).
FIFA awaits new evidence next week on Russian doping cases – Metro
FIFA is expecting to receive new evidence next week from a Moscow laboratory database about doping cases in Russian soccer.
Peru captain Guerrero gets 1-year ban for doping, misses World Cup – Sportsnet
Peru captain Paolo Guerrero will miss the World Cup after being banned by FIFA for one year because of a positive test for cocaine.
UEFA reveals seedings for inaugural Nations League draw – UEFA
UEFA has set the seedings for the inaugural Nations League draw on January 24 with Germany, Portugal, Belgium and Spain in Pot 1 of League A. England are in Pot 2 of the same league.The inaugural Nations League will take place over six match days during the international breaks in September, October and November 2018.
Ronaldo annoyed by Real Madrid fans with ‘short memories’ – SN
Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted that he can become frustrated with Real Madrid’s supporters, saying that they sometimes annoy him.
Swedish club Ostersund finds success on and off soccer field – Metro
More famous for snow sports like cross-country skiing and biathlon, the “Winter City” of Ostersund is making quite a name for itself on the soccer field. The club from the northern Swedish city has progressed so quickly that even reaching the last 32 of the Europa League isn’t enough for everyone.
2017’s TOP SOCCER BOOKS