MLS MATCHDAY
WHITECAPS FC 2 MONTREAL IMPACT 3
SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2016
B.C. PLACE, VANCOUVER, B.C.
WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
Vancouver Whitecaps 2016 set to begin – Whitecaps Fan Blog
The 2015 season represented a giant leap forward for the Vancouver Whitecaps. Though the season ended with a whimper due to injuries and poor form, 2015 was the best MLS season yet for the still-young team. The Whitecaps finished third in the overall MLS standings. A second place finish in the Western Conference meant they had a home playoff game, something the club had set as a goal going into the season. They finally won the Canadian Championship, something which had been a monkey on their back for years. And, they participated in the CONCACAF Champions League, though they went out in the group stage.
Let the games begin: Whitecaps FC set to host Montreal Impact in 2016 season opener – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC open the 2016 MLS regular season on Sunday afternoon, when they host longtime Canadian rivals Montreal Impact at BC Place.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Montreal Impact | MLS Match Preview – MLS
The Impact took a 2-1 win in the only league meeting between the teams last season, June 3 at Stade Saputo, their first victory ever against Whitecaps FC in MLS competition. The ‘Caps had won the first two matches, before the teams played to a scoreless draw in 2014 in their last match at BC Place.
Vancouver Whitecaps v Montreal Impact – A First Kick match preview – AFTN
Vancouver Whitecaps kick off their 2016 MLS season with a sixth straight home opener, and their second against Montreal Impact at BC Place. Kick off is 2.30pm
MLS Preview and Prediction: Vancouver Whitecaps vs Montreal Impact – MLS GB
Vancouver Whitecaps host Montreal Impact in an all-Canadian clash as part of Sunday’s bumper schedule as the 2016 MLS season kicks off in style.
2016 Whitecaps FC Season Preview – Whitecaps FC
New season. New players. New opportunities. After a record-breaking 2015 campaign, Vancouver Whitecaps FC are set to open the 2016 Major League Soccer regular season on Sunday, March 6 against longtime Canadian rivals Montreal Impact (2:30 p.m. PT at BC Place | TSN 1/3).
Whitecaps set up to make run in MLS playoffs – Sportsnet
Going into his third year as Vancouver Whitecaps coach, Carl Robinson has perhaps his best chance yet at making a deep playoff run.
Montreal’s Drogba won’t play on turf – Toronto Sun
Just call him Primadrogba, Larson say. Impact star’s commitment needs to be questioned amid strange offseason.
Impact striker Didier Drogba to miss start of MLS season – Montreal Gazette
Asked if his loyalties were still with the Impact or back in England with Chelsea, Drogba gave a rather tepid response: “I think my body is here . . . yeah, why not? Why this question?”
Impact’s Bernier not thinking about retirement – Sportsnet
The majority of pressing questions surrounding the Montreal Impact ahead of the 2016 Major League Soccer regular season focus squarely on Didier Drogba.
BC Soccer Web’s List of MLS Previews – BC Soccer Web
The start of the MLS season brings out the best and worst of predictions from around the web. We’ve linked to some of the best previews to get you ready for the new MLS campaign. Keep coming back for updates.
Bolanos ready to make his mark with talented Whitecaps squad – Red Nation Online
The Vancouver Whitecaps will kick off the season on Sunday afternoon at BC Place against the Montreal Impact. After finishing second in the MLS Western Conference last season, expectations are even higher in 2016. Winning the MLS Supporters Shield is certainly an attainable goal with David Ousted, Kendall Waston, Matias Laba, and Pedro Morales making up the nucleus spine of the Whitecaps.
Whitecaps FC increase regular season capacity, open to 25,000 for three matches – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced on Friday that regular season capacity at BC Place will be expanded to 22,120. The club also announced that three matches in 2016 will be opened up to 25,000 capacity – April 2 against LA Galaxy, October 2 versus Seattle Sounders FC, and the regular season finale against Portland Timbers on October 23.
Introducing new Vancouver Whitecaps FC players for 2016 – VanCity Buzz
I don’t want you to watch the match on Sunday and go “Who is that guy with the headband?” or “Who is the kid wearing number 8?” or “Why is that guy making bull horns with his fingers?”. That’s why I present you with a quick guide to four key acquisitions for Vancouver Whitecaps FC this past offseason.
Young-Pyo Lee returns to Whitecaps FC as a club ambassador: ‘My team forever’ – Whitecaps FC
“My team forever.” That’s what Young-Pyo Lee said of Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2014 after retiring from professional soccer the year prior. Turns out he was onto something, as it was announced today that the South Korean soccer legend is returning to Whitecaps FC as a club ambassador.
Will LA Galaxy’s stars lift the MLS Cup? Our soccer writers predict the season – The Guardian
Columbus and Toronto look good bets for the East, Seattle and Portland should be strong in the West – and expect lots more fireworks from Sebastian Giovinco.
2016 MLS supporters’ group field guide: Vancouver Whitecaps FC – MLS
A quick guide to Vancouver Whitecaps Supporter Groups.
The Life of a Capo: They may not always watch the game, but they always affect it – MLS
During the week they’re students, bartenders, airline maintenance technicians and white-collar workers. But when the weekend comes, their responsibilities change. Perched at the head of large swaths of their club’s most ardent fans, they serve as pseudo-orchestra directors, actively conducting their fellow supporters in organized song, chants and visual support.
Can a Canadian club win the 2016 MLS Cup? – US National Soccer Players
The league’s three Canadian representatives – Toronto FC, Montreal Impact, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC – enter the 2016 season poised to do well. All have rosters competitive enough to compete for a spot in the playoffs.
Didier Drogba’s 2016 Montreal Impact debut slated for March 19 vs. FC Dallas – MLS
The Ivorian forward will sit out four of the club’s first five matches in order to skip playing on artificial surfaces due to a nagging knee issue. The Impact’s first match scheduled on grass will be at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.
Season Preview: New York City FC – Empire of Soccer
New York City FC’s inaugural season ended with three straight losses and the removal of Jason Kreis as head coach. Patrick Vieira takes the reins in his first ever senior head coaching gig after coaching Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad.
New York City FC expect Frank Lampard to miss season opener due to injury – MLS
New York City FC are about to embark on a new season with a new coach and a new system. But it appears they will also begin Year Two as they did Year One – without Frank Lampard.
Season Preview: New York Red Bulls – Empire of Soccer
The New York Red Bulls start the 2016 season very differently than they started the prior year. Gone are many of the questions and criticisms from fans and pundits alike. Instead, expectations will be high for the once-overlooked Red Bulls.
MLS Season Preview: Galaxy hope veterans lead team to glory – Goal
After bidding farewell to two of the team’s key players from the past few years, the Galaxy added experience they hope will help them back to MLS Cup.
MLS remains caught in a no-man’s land – Yahoo Sports
It’s 20 years since it all began but MLS remains a tough sell, and a curious place with quirks and idiosyncrasies like no other. It’s single-entity, there’s no promotion or relegation, salaries are capped and terms like “waivers” and “allocation money” feature far too much in a relentlessly confusing transfer system. It’s very tightly wound. It’s a league that still has the handbrake on.
I’m out of patience: A letter to Sigi Schmid – Sounder at Heart
Here’s the thing – Seattle has a history of watching Hall of Fame level coaches do wonderfully in the regular season and merely passable in the playoffs. This history causes a lack of patience. We Seattleites, we Puget Sounders, are too used to failure.
Fox to mic-up coaches during MLS live broadcasts – Inside World Football
En route to becoming a leading world soccer league, the MLS is innovating by placing microphones on coaches during nationally televised TV games so that viewers can hear the words coming from the horse’s mouth.
Capture the game in HD using aerial video, book now at www.gamevision.ca!
BC SOCCER NEWS
Marisa Kovacs resigns as UBC women’s soccer head coach – UBC Thunderbirds
Marisa Kovacs has resigned her position as head coach of UBC women’s soccer. Kovacs guided UBC to conference and national championships in her sole season at the helm of the T-Birds, who won the school’s 100th CIS title in November at Thunderbird Stadium.
Cup action sparks local soccer squads – Oak Bay News
The quest for the cup is playing out on soccer fields all across the south Island, including right here in Oak Bay.
Royal City marks 50 years on the pitch – New Westminster Record
New Westminster’s Peter Van Garderen added to his executive position the task of detailing the Royal City Youth Soccer Club’s history, and in the process found plenty of interesting information.
Robron Field Committee launches fundraising campaign for new clubhouse – Campbell River Mirror
The Robron Turf Field was 10 years in the making and required many, many people to come together. The new all-weather artificial turf field has been in use since Jan. 7, and on Feb. 28, in the middle of a Super 8 Jamboree featuring 15 soccer teams from across Vancouver Island, community members celebrated the grand opening of the field and the launch of a new fundraising drive that will build the next step of the improvements at Robron Park— a new clubhouse.
Girls soccer squad takes championship title – Mission City Record
The Mission Sprinters U14 girls capped an unbeaten season with a 1-0 victory in the pouring rain over the VUFC Avengers from Vancouver.
Fort St. John Soccer Club has strong performance in Edmonton – Energetic City
Various teams within the Fort St. John Soccer Club were in Edmonton for the 2016 Slush Cup this past weekend and a number of them brought back medals. The indoor soccer tournament is one of the biggest in Canada as more than 390 teams participated.
Fort St. John Women’s Soccer League concluding this weekend – Energetic City
Teams with the Fort St. John Women’s Soccer League will be saying goodbye to another season this weekend. They’ll be at the Kids Arena Fieldhouse for their year end tournament which begins on Friday.
Preston GM Madrid FC win league title – Langley Times
The Preston GM U13 Madrid FC girls select soccer team scored three second-half goals to capture the B.C. Coastal Girls Soccer League title.
BC Soccer Assoc. is Now Accepting Candidates for its Board of Directors – BCSA
BC Soccer Assoc. is accepting candidates for its Board of Directors for terms commencing June 11, 2016. Prospective candidates are invited to review the information provided on the BC Soccer web site www.bcsoccer.net. Candidates who provide notice to BC Soccer Assoc. of their intent to stand for election by May 1, 2016 will have their applications circulated to the membership in early May.
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 vs. MEXICO, March 25, 2016 @ BC PLACE STADIUM. Buy Tickets Today!
CANADA SOCCER NEWS
Canada w17 takes positive first step on road to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016 – SIRC
Canada earned a full three points with a 3:0 win over Guatemala on the opening day of the 2016 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship. Jayde Riviere, Sarah Stratigakis and Vital Kats were the goal scorers in the Canadian victory.
Osorio will consider Gio Dos Santos for Canada qualifiers – Goal
The LA Galaxy star has yet to be called up by the Mexico manager but will be considered for March’s World Cup qualification matches.
Young players improving in Men’s EXCEL Program along Canada Soccer Pathway – CSA
Some of Canada’s bright young talent had the chance to meet Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach Benito Floro this week. The group of 23 players, all aged 13-15 years old, met Mr. Floro during Canada Soccer’s Men’s U-15 identification camp in Vaughan.
Toronto FC and Ontario Soccer Association Announce Partnership – Toronto FC
Toronto Football Club and the Ontario Soccer Association announced a renewed partnership today that will see the two organizations work closely together to build a model professional and amateur sport partnership that focuses on player and coach development and inspires and encourages Ontarians to play soccer.
Toronto FC partners with OSA to promote soccer from grassroots to pro ranks – Winnipeg Free Press
Former Toronto FC skipper Steven Caldwell has played at the highest level of soccer on either side of the Atlantic. Now the 35-year-old Scot has been tasked with helping Ontario soccer talent find its way to the top via a partnership between Toronto FC and the Ontario Soccer Association.
Second chance ushers Nunavut student back to Arctic Winter Games – Nunatsiaq Online
When Emily Ann Niego Dunphy learned she aged-out for Team Nunavut’s soccer — or futsal — team, the 16-year-old spent months lamenting the fact that she would not return to the Arctic Winter Games for 2016.
Successful indoor season for Leduc U10 United boys – Leduc SA
The 2015/2016 indoor soccer season was successful one for the Leduc Soccer Association U10 United.
Battle River U16 United take silver at Slush Cup – Leduc Rep
The Battle River United U16 finally got a chance to play some home games at the Leduc Recreation Centre over the weekend and did not disappoint with a 6-2 win over the Calgary Rangers and a narrow loss 5-4 to the Blizzard Hornets who went on to win the gold.
Lending a hand – Prince Albert Daily Herald
The Prince Albert Youth Soccer Association is giving back to the community. During its upcoming registration nights for the outdoor season on Monday and Tuesday at the Alfred Jenkins Field House, the Prince Albert Youth Soccer Association (PAYSA) is accepting non-perishable food donations for the Prince Albert Food Bank.
BC Soccer Leagues & Clubs – Share your News With The BC Soccer Community!
WFC2, USL & NASL NEWS
Inspired second half performance sends Fury FC Past Indy Eleven – Ottawa Fury
Brazilian duo Paulo Junior and Pablo Dyego forged Ottawa ahead and Gerardo Bruna netted his second of the pre-season in a convincing 3-0 victory.
Puerto Rico FC Signs Chris Nurse, Ramon Soria – NASL
Nurse played in Puerto Rico in 2010 and 2012, while Soria was a member of Ottawa Fury FC’s inaugural squad.
USL Eastern Conference Preview: FC Cincinnati – Louisville Coopers
What can I say about FC Cincinnati and their cadre of official sponsors that I haven’t already said before? Plenty! Just to set the tone, let’s do a quick recap: FC Cincinnati hasn’t kicked a ball yet but have already decided that they’re too good for our league, have a sponsor for literally everything they can possibly think of, and their marketing team might be the most tone deaf thing you’ve heard of since Britney Spears tried to sing without auto-tune. They actually think they’re going to sell out 40,000 seat Nippert Stadium at the University of Cincinnati. It’s gonna be an easy team to hate.
Former Nottingham Forest striker Robbie Findley finds new team, in the NASL – HITC Sport
Back in 2011 Nottingham Forest completed an exciting signing that would have had fans of the club undoubtedly excited.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
SheBelieves Cup: Well Dunn by USA – Soccer America
The USA opened play at the four-team SheBelieves Cup with a 1-0 win England on a spectacular goal by 2015 NWSL MVP Crystal Dunn, who came off the bench to win the game in the 72nd minute. Germany defeated France, 1-0, in the first match before a crowd of 13,027 at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium.
SheBelieves: The Highs and Lows of USWNT v England – Midfield Press
Who would have thought, even a year ago, that England could kick such ass? In their first matchup of the SheBelieves Cup, the Lionesses played great. They were easily the toughest competition the USWNT has seen since they played Brazil on the victory tour, maybe even since the World Cup itself.
What we learned from USWNT win over England – The Equalizer
The United States got its toughest match of the year Thursday night against England and despite looking shaky in midfield for long stretches, managed to come away with a 1-0 victory. Crystal Dunn made the difference with a world class strike and you can argue the U.S. would have done no better than a draw without that piece of individual brilliance. But here are a few other takeaways from the SheBelieves Cup opener.
Mark Sampson: Lionesses are closing in on the elite – The FA
Mark Sampson reckons England Women are on the verge of beating the world’s best teams on a consistent basis, despite being defeated in their SheBelieves Cup opener.
SheBelieves Cup: Germany 1-0 France – The Equalizer
Germany got the inaugural SheBelieves Cup off with a 1-0 victory over France. Leonie Maier scored the goal in the 84th minute after Germany took a corner kick that looked to be harmless until France made a mess of the clearance.
Japan women’s soccer team needs miracle to make Olympics – NBC Sports
The runner-up at the 2015 Women’s World Cup and 2012 Olympics needs an incredible amount of help to qualify for the Rio Games.
S. Korean women fall to Australia; Olympic football dream in jeopardy – Yonhap
South Korea suffered a 2-0 loss to Australia at the final Asian women’s Olympic football qualifying tournament Friday, with their quest for the maiden Summer Games appearance now in jeopardy.
Help promote football by women, for everyone: Unusual Efforts – 7500 to Holte
Unusual Efforts will not solve the systemic problems of gender inequality in football journalism but it is, without a doubt, the best effort I have seen yet to begin to correct the issue. It deserves our support because whatever we can put into it will be returned and amplified by making coverage of football better. You’re here because you love football, so let’s do what we can to do what’s best for football.
#SheBelieves U.S. Soccer Could Be Doing More – Midfield Press
Today is one of the biggest days in women’s soccer, yet no one is talking about it. Today is the day that four of the best teams in the world go head to head in tournament play, yet no one is talking about it. Today is the day that the U.S. Women’s team plays against England, a team that came in third place in the World Cup last summer, yet no one is talking about it.
Melania Fullerton Answers The Call To Represent Grenada – Real FM Grenada
Big things come in small packages. This is a fitting description for Melania Fullerton. At 10 years old she is the youngest overseas based player to be secured by Grenada for the CONCACAF U17 Women’s Championship.
Ladies’ football team secures place in final – Minute Man Press
Basingstoke Town Ladies will be going for glory next month, having secured a place in the Hampshire Women’s Cup Final by defeating Solent Ladies in the recent semi-final.
BC Soccer Leagues & Clubs – Share your News With The BC Soccer Community!
WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Lenarduzzi: Premier League title hopefuls Tottenham, Arsenal look to right the ship – The Province
Stumbling teams face off Saturday with an eye on catching Leicester for the overall lead.
European Weekend Preview: North London Derby, Dortmund-Bayern and more – SBI
With three of Europe’s five major leagues still holding fierce battles at the top of the table, there won’t be a shortage of must-see fixtures this weekend.
Premier League: Previews and team news for weekend’s games – BBC Sport
Previews and team news for the weekend’s Premier League games, as title chasers Tottenham and Arsenal meet in the north London derby, while lowly Aston Villa travel to League Cup winners Manchester City.
UEFA warns against referee ‘mobbing’ – Goal
UEFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina insists that the governing body will not allow the “mobbing” of officials. The issue of players surrounding referees has long been an issue at the top level of the game, but Collina insists UEFA will no longer tolerate such behavior and says that managers have been reminded about the rules.
Liga MX Talking Points: Blanco returns, rivalry clash in Monterrey headline Round 9 – Goal
Is Liga MX the only league in which a 43-year-old mayor is suiting up this weekend? Probably! Jon Arnold looks at that and more of Round 9’s biggest stories.
Premier League’s ‘breakaway five’ discuss playing Champions League matches in USA and the Far East – The Telegraph
The Premier League’s ‘big five’ clubs held talks over playing Champions League matches in the United States and the Far East during a meeting at which the future of the competition was discussed.
Stillitano brings debate of European soccer’s birthright’ into the open – Soccer America
Give Charlie Stillitano credit for setting out the case for and against a closed European Champions League. The Relevent Sports chairman, the architect of the International Champions Cup, says England’s big five clubs — Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United — discussed the issue when he met with them on Tuesday in London. But getting the clubs themselves to openly discuss the issue is another thing.
Charlie Stillitano’s Champions League plans are an insult to Leicester City – and football – The Guardian
The American’s suggestion that it is better to have teams such as Manchester United rather than Leicester City in the Champions League makes it abundantly clear he has no idea of what makes football such a great sport.
Gluttonous Super League plans signal the end of European football as a proper competition – The Telegraph
Covert meetings between England’s power five and Stephen Ross’ Relevent Sports threaten to turn our game into an eternal museum of the status quo.
Roman Abramovich will meet Antonio Conte in next seven days to seal Chelsea deal – The Telegraph
Antonio Conte will meet with Roman Abramovich in Monte Carlo inside the next week to thrash out the final details of his appointment as Chelsea’s next permanent manager.
South Africa: Referees’ Review Committee Suspends Top Match Officials – All Africa
The Referees’ Review Committee, citing poor performance, has sanctioned several top officials in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and National First Division (NFD).
Probe ordered by German FA can’t rule out 2006 World Cup vote-buying – ESPN FC
An independent law firm’s probe into corruption allegations against Germany’s 2006 World Cup organisers has found no proof that votes were bought, but said it cannot be ruled out completely.
Tax and fraud investigators swoop on Belgian FA – Inside World Football
Local law enforcement authorities are investigating possible tax evasion and a conflict of interests at the Belgian FA KBVB. The torrent of allegations of financial mismanagement may make the position of KBVB president François De Keersmaecker untenable.
Fornaroli shows why A-League should look to South America – Sydney Morning Herald
The Uruguayan could become the fourth Latin American to win the Johnny Warren Medal by the season’s end, so why has the A-League ignored the region?
Soccer is a communist plot to take over China – Sportsnet
Soccer, they’ve said in the hyper-paranoid U.S.A, is a communist plot to take over the country. Now, the very notion of such a conspiracy, as with most conspiracies, isn’t even worth the energy of laughter among sensible, thinking people. During the last World Cup, conservative pundit Ann Coulter claimed any “growing interest” in soccer could “only be a sign of the nation’s moral decay.”
The forgotten story of … Steve Zungul, indoor soccer’s greatest ever player – The Guardian
Slavisa Zungul was a 1970s star for Hajduk Split. But then he moved to America, changed his name to Steve, and racked up the most goals in MISL history.