VANCOUVER WHITECAPS & MLS NEWS
Whitecaps FC defeat Iwaki FC 1-0 in Pacific Rim Cup opener – Whitecaps FC
A 90th-minute Cristian Techera penalty kick carried Vancouver Whitecaps FC to a 1-0 win over Japanese club Iwaki FC on Thursday in their opening match of the Pacific Rim Cup.
Tired Whitecaps make hard work of it in second preseason friendly as Robinson wants players to have to “think a little bit” – AFTN
You can’t really take too much from preseason results, but you can glean a little bit from the performance of certain players, especially those battling for starting spots, matchday squad spots, and even a place on the roster altogether. Thursday’s second preseason match for Vancouver Whitecaps gave us some reference points for these battles ahead.
Thousands turn out for inaugural Pacific Rim Cup at Aloha Stadium – Hawaii News Now
Hawaii soccer fans got a chance to watch international soccer stars under the bright lights of Aloha Stadium Thursday night.
Shea likely to stay, but clears the way for Caps to sign another DP – The Province
You get what you pay for. And that’s been the biggest gripe from Vancouver Whitecaps fans, who have watched their team keep the purse strings tighter than Scrooge, avoiding big-name — and big-ticket — players, instead opting to build a cohesive unit on a budget.
Rumor: Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC interested in Darwin Quintero – MLS
Reports over the years have linked various MLS teams to Colombian forward Darwin Quintero, and a new one reveals two teams reportedly chasing after the Club América star.
Toronto FC fall to Club America in altitude test – Waking the Red
Toronto FC played the first of their Mexican friendlies this afternoon, falling 6-3 to Liga MX side Club America in the capital. There was no stream, so I don’t really know how things went, but we have scores, lineups, and quotes from Greg Vanney — enough for a baseless analysis, right?
‘WE CAN BE BETTER’: Toronto FC coach Vanney challenges Reds with Champions League looming – National Post
“Crazy,” perhaps, but coach Greg Vanney agrees with his captain. After TFC skipper Michael Bradley told the Toronto Sun he thinks the Reds can improve on the best season in MLS history, Vanney backed the American’s sentiment.
Preseason debut: Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 3 Columbus Crew SC 2 – Massive Report
In what was officially the first game of the preseason for Columbus Crew SC, the Black & Gold could not carry over its winning ways from the team’s first two scrimmages.
New York Red Bulls shift focus to CONCACAF Champions League – Pro Soccer USA
As the New York Red Bulls entered the second phase of preseason, moving from Florida to Arizona, the team’s focus also shifted.
Saad waived by Sporting KC – Blue Testament
Sporting Kansas City announced Thursday forward Soony Saad has been waived. Saad has not been with Sporting KC in preseason and it was apparent the club had been shopping him around. Saad played in 70 games for Sporting KC over five seasons with 8 goals and 7 assists.
Justin Meram eager to help Orlando City learn how to win, reach MLS playoffs – Pro Soccer USA
When reports late last year the Columbus Crew could soon relocate to Austin, Texas, Justin Meram began weighing his future with the club.
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BC SOCCER NEWS
Fraser Valley soccer star Jordyn Huitema makes history with Golden Boot – Agassiz-Harrison Observer
The teenager lit up the 2018 U-20 CONCACAF Womens’ World Championship in Trinidad and Tobago.
Clan bolsters lineup with impact players in 2018 Recruiting Class – SFU
Simon Fraser University men’s soccer and head coach Clint Schneider announced the addition of five impact players from the Lower Mainland and from overseas that will bolster the team’s lineup for the 2018 season. Florian Langenegger (Germany), Quinn Dawson (Coquitlam), Tudor Mihaila (Pitt Meadows), Samuel Boppart (North Vancouver) and Joost Mangert (Netherlands) signed National Letters of Intent to compete for Canada’s NCAA team.
Random thoughts: Chase for VISL’s Jackson Cup begins – Times Colonist
The Vancouver Island Soccer League’s Jackson Cup, patterned after the FA Cup, operates on a random draw. The unpredictability of that has created peculiar situations in the Jackson Cup’s 103-year history, including having the top-two seeds play each other in the first round.
Fraser Heights soccer player heads for hill of SFU – Surrey Now-Leader
Fraser Heights Secondary soccer player Paige Gingras is headed for the hill of Simon Fraser University.
Soccer standouts score a hat trick of NCAA scholarships – Richmond News
Dakota Chan, Ebony Clarke and Jalen Donaldson all inked scholarship deals on Wednesday to continue their careers south of the border next fall.
LSU Soccer Inks Eight on 2018 National Signing Day – LSU
Reese Moffatt from Langley, BC was among the scholarship recipients.
Socioeconomic diversity may be threatened as a result of Quest athletics cuts – North Shore News
Current and former students say stopping the varsity sports program eliminates a way for people to enter via scholarships.
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.
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
State of the game in Canada: Another coaching chapter for CanMNT begins – Red Nation Online
It was recently announced the CanMNT’s first game under new coach John Herdman will be against New Zealand on March 24 in Spain. New Zealand can be generally regarded as a good opponent for Canada, as culturally their roster tends to come from a similar environment with most top players not playing domestically, but abroad.
Oakville teammates find different reasons for choosing schools – Oakville Beaver
Julia Semple and Kalin O’Brien will both carry on family traditions this fall, however, they had completely opposite reasons for choosing their schools.
Impact U14 returns to Tournoi Sans Frontière in France – Montreal Impact
The Montreal Impact Academy announced on Thursday that the U14 team, led by head coach Eduardo Sebrango, will participate in the Tournoi Sans Frontière in Sens, France, for a second consecutive year, from March 30 to April 2.
Why Canadian Soccer Needs To Divorce The US System – Northern Starting XI
Canadian soccer needs to 100% divorce itself from the current cesspool, future-coming rot and sewage, that is US Soccer.
Fort finds golden trio at FC Memorial Cup – Fort Saskatchewan Record
Fort Saskatchewan Soccer Association netted five medals during the FC Memorial Cup held across the Edmonton region on Feb. 2-4. Three gold medals were secured by the U10 boys, U12 boys and U14 girls. Podium finishes also included a silver won by the U16 boys and a bronze by the U16 girls.
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USL, NASL & LOWER DIVISION NEWS
Fury FC adds players Cristian Portilla and Kyle Porter – Ottawa Sun
Ottawa Fury FC has signed Spanish midfielder Cristian Portilla and Canadian Kyle Porter.
Minnesota United finally get USL affiliate in St. Louis FC – MLS Multiplex
Minnesota United have finally gotten their USL affiliate. According to ESPN FC’s Jeff Rueter, the Loons will form a partnership with St. Louis FC.
Soccer team Birmingham Legion FC has a home, new stadium coming – AL.com
Birmingham’s new USL pro soccer franchise will have a home when it begins league play in 2019.
Armada signs two as top scorer Blake exits – Jacksonville.com
Jacksonville Armada scoring leader Jack Blake left the club on a one-year loan Thursday, but the Armada added two more midfielders in the team’s first two signings of the year.
Red Bulls 2 finds balance between development and winning – US Soccer Players
Last month marked the five-year anniversary of the partnership between MLS and USL. The move integrated the MLS reserve teams into USL Pro, then a quaint 13-team operation, allowing for the reserve players to face better opposition on a regular basis.
WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
W-League semi-final: Newcastle Jets coach Craig Deans backs squad to lift again when it matters – The Herald (AUS)
JETS coach Craig Deans has rejected talk that his squad are inconsistent and has backed them to rise to the occasion again when they take on Sydney for a W-League grand final spot on Saturday.
Shortfalls still apparent as W-League heads into finals – The Guardian
The league may be years older than some rival competitions but many fans remain frustrated.
Utah Royals add five more to their roster – Vavel
The Royals have added a quintet of players to their roster on Thursday.
Q&A: Orlando Boss Tom Sermanni Talks W-League, Salary Caps, and Beating Portland – Backline Soccer
The Orlando Pride off-season has been anything but conventional. The team made the most out of a third-round pick, while trading away popular mainstays like Steph Catley and Jasmyne Spencer to add additional pieces.
American fans not going to Russia? There’s always France to look forward to – Soccer America
It’s unimaginable that the USA won’t qualify for the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France. FIFA released the official match schedule on Thursday for the 24-team tournament.
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WORLD SOCCER NEWS
European Weekend Preview: Tottenham hosts Arsenal, Schalke travels to Bayern, and more – SBI
Another weekend of European league action is upon us, and a cracking North London Derby kickstarts the Premier League slate on Saturday.
Bob Lenarduzzi: Tottenham has the weapons to topple visiting Arsenal – The Province
Tottenham host Arsenal this Saturday as the Premier League starts the weekend with a cracker of a London derby. The two teams are battling to get back in the top four.
Coutinho scores as Barcelona reach 5th straight Copa final – Sportsnet
Another year, another Copa del Rey final for Barcelona.
TFC test for PSG ahead of Real clash – Ligue 1
All of Europe is waiting with bated breath for Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League match at Real Madrid on Wednesday, but first the Ligue 1 Conforama leaders have Saturday’s trip to improving Toulouse.
Players are bigger than the club at Paris Saint-Germain – NBC Sports
t’s a scenario that has been repeating itself at Paris Saint-Germain. A scenario where a player becomes bigger than the club, and is basically allowed to do anything he wants.
Tigres and America renew rivalry; Atlas and Lobos in relegation scrap – ESPN
All the ingredients are there for this match to turn into the game of the weekend. It could be the first time that Andre-Pierre Gignac and Jeremy Menez go head-to-head in an event that has never been seen before: two France international footballers playing against each other in a Liga MX game.
CHAN top goalscorer Ayoub El Kaabi linked with Atletico Madrid – African Football
News coming from Morocco is that the CAF African Nations Championship top goalscorer Ayoub El Kaabi could join Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.
Roma target Badelj could stay at Fiorentina – Four Four Two
Despite reported interest from Roma and with his contract set to expire, Milan Badelj has not made a decision on his Fiorentina future.
Leipzig debts, turnover grew after Bundesliga promotion – NBC Sports
Leipzig’s reliance on backer Red Bull increased with Bundesliga promotion according to financial figures released for 2016.
Michael O’Neill signs contract to remain Northern Ireland manager – BBC Sport
Michael O’Neill’s four-year contract extension as Northern Ireland manager has been formally announced at a media conference in Belfast.
FIFA urged to scrap Chechnya as World Cup base for Egypt – Metro
FIFA approved Chechnya as a World Cup base for Egypt and immediately faced calls on Friday to reverse its decision in the face of charges of human rights violations by the Russian region’s strongman leader.
Appoint Scotland manager before chief executive, Neil McCann tells SFA – BBC Sport
The Scottish FA should concentrate on appointing a new manager before turning their attentions to a new chief executive, according to Dundee manager Neil McCann.
L.A. City Council has contradicting plans on bid for 2026 World Cup – L.A. Times
Los Angeles’ bid to be one of the hosts for the 2026 World Cup is in doubt as officials on Thursday gave contradicting statements about whether the city would pursue a piece of the international event.
Chaos continues in USSF election as ‘Gang of Six’ set to join forces – ESPN
The chaos surrounding the election for the next U.S. Soccer Federation president achieved a new level on Thursday evening, as six “change” candidates sought to combat the growing likelihood that an establishment candidate would prevail in Saturday’s vote.
As US Soccer picks a new president, everyone thinks they have the answer – The Guardian
Sunil Gulati’s successor will be elected this weekend in Orlando and ideas to secure a permanent place in the world’s elite are flying back and forth.
Geoff Cameron: What Must Change in U.S. Soccer – The Players’ Tribune
I wear my heart on my sleeve. I’ve been vocal. I’ve said my piece. But I’m not at peace. Not yet. By now, many reading this may know my feelings and opinions on why the U.S. won’t be in Russia this summer. Arrogance and complacency bred mediocrity. I’m not here to harp on that.