Archive for March, 2011

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Canadian teams add defensive depth

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/31/2011

Both of the Canadian MLS franchises made moves Thursday to add to their defensive depth charts.

The Vancouver Whitecaps announced the signing of French-Algerian central defender Mouloud Akloul. Akloul played one game for the Whitecaps in Div. 2 play back in 2010. He scored the match-winning goal and fractured his ankle in a 1-0 victory over AC St. Louis, and missed the rest of the season.

Akloul is now healthy enough to play again.

With the Whitecaps’ two main central defenders, Jay DeMerit and Michael Boxall, being regular callups to the American and New Zealand national teams, respectively, the Whitecaps need to make sure to have some reinforcements in the back. If DeMerit makes the U.S. Gold Cup squad, he could miss the better part of June.

Toronto FC announced the signing of Jamaican defender Dicoy Williams. While Toronto’s back line was much improved in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Portland, it is clear that some competition is needed to push the starting four for their places. Portland is clearly the worst team in MLS in month one of the season, so the jury is out on the backline until it faces stiffer competition — which it might not get this week when a weak Chivas USA side comes to Toronto.
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FC Edmonton ready to unleash its 4-3-3

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/31/2011

Harry Sinkgraven

When Toronto FC and FC Edmonton meet April 27 in the first leg of their Nutrilite Canadian Championship semifinal series, fans will likely see 4-3-3 vs. 4-3-3.

While FCE will be the heavy underdog, there will be similarities in the Dutch influenced style it plays with that of TFC. After all, FCE coach Harry Sinkgraven and TFC technical director and head coach Aron Winter were classmates when they went to get their coaching certificates.

Before TFC sees what FC Edmonton has to offer, the Alberta club will unleash the formation on a three-game road trip to open its first-ever NASL season, which kicks off April 9 against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Sinkgraven and the club worked on the 4-3-3 during the preseason training stint in Arizona, and will work on it again during a week’s worth of sessions in Sunrise, Fla. The team leaves for that camp on Saturday.
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FC Edmonton unveils new road kits, shirt sponsor

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/31/2011


To Chris Lemire, the difference is like night and day.

Lemire is the only member of FC Edmonton who spent the 2004 USL season with the Edmonton Aviators, which declared bankruptcy halfway through the season, had its offices cleaned out, was taken over by the league and finished the season under the Edmonton FC name.

It was an embarrassing time in the city’s soccer history. But it looks as if history won’t repeat itself with FC Edmonton. The new NASL franchise already has something the Aviators never enjoyed: a shirt sponsor.

FC Edmonton unveiled its new all-white road kits and its sponsor, Sears Financial, at a media event Thursday. A new blue home kit is still to come, and there are plans to work on a special third jersey. Toronto FC used its grey kit as a third jersey in Nutrilite Canadian Championship games last season. The Montreal Impact tried a pink jersey during NCC games.

“It is way better,” said Lemire “We’re not always worrying about what is happening in the office. We don’t have to worry about who is paying for the plane tickets before the next road trip. We worry about on-the-field stuff.”
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Decision time for Canadian U-20 coach

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/31/2011


Decisions, decisions.

Canadian national U-20 team coach Valerio Gazzola has to make some ahead of the kickoff of Friday’s Group C wrap-up game at the CONCACAF championships.

Joel Campbell’s two-goal performance led Costa Rica to a 2-0 decision over Guadeloupe on Wednesday. The result eliminates Guadeloupe and ensures that Canada and the Ticos advance to the quarter-finals.

All of the teams that reach the semis qualify for the U-20 World Cup.

But Canada still faces a very difficult scenario. Finish second in the group, and the quarter-final will likely pit the boys in red against the Mexican U-20 side, which is favoured to win Group D. Win Group C, and chances are Canada avoids Mexico.
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Hainault’s goal gives Canada 1-0 win over Belarus in clean Antalya friendly

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/29/2011

Andrew Hainault

It was played in an empty stadium in Antalya, Turkey. There was no television coverage. Fans had to follow the game through Sportsnet’s live chat or on Twitter.

But this is what we know: despite coach Stephen Hart putting together a lineup that was heavy on European-based players, an MLS man got the goal that gave Canada a 1-0 win over Belarus in a friendly on Tuesday.

Will Johnson’s corner kick was headed home by the Houston Dynamo’s Andrew Hainault in the second half. That’s what the Canadian Soccer Association’s Twitter feed read. According to the Belarusian Football Federation’s website, the goal came off a cross from Josh Simpson, not the Real Salt Lake midfielder.

Belarus, ranked 37th in the world but reeling after an upset 1-0 loss to Albania in a Euro 2012 qualifier on Saturday, didn’t make wholesale changes to the lineup. The backline, keeper and strikers were pretty well the same as for the Albania match.
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Teibert’s inspired play saves Canada’s U-20s from embarrassment

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/29/2011

Derrick Bassi

Russell Teibert’s inspired second-half performance helped save Canada from an embarrassing opening to the CONCACAF U-20 Championship.

The Vancouver Whitecaps’ winger set up both second-half goal as Canada rallied to beat Guadeloupe 2-1. Guadaloupe is so tiny, it’s not a FIFA member — so it can’t qualify for the U-20 World Cup even if, by some great upset, it got to the semis of this tournament in Guatemala.

Teibert made a darting run to collect a wayward cross, then dashed down the left side of the Guadeloupe penalty area, saved the ball from going into touch, then pushed a great pass to Lucas Cavallini, who smacked a skipping volley of a shot into the goal for the equalizer.

Teibert’s inch-perfect free kick was headed home by Derrick Bassi for the eventual game winner.
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New NASL commish will help with optics, broadcasting

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/28/2011

The North American Soccer League took a step towards stability with the hiring of an independent commissioner on Monday.

David Downs will take over as the head domo of the second-division league on April 4.

Downs has 30 years of broadcast experience as an executive with ABC Sports and Univision Communications. He negotiated U.S. broadcast rights for World Cups from USA ’94 to Brazil 2014. He was also the head of the U.S. bid committee for the 2022 World Cup, which lost out to Qatar in the voting.

“I’m excited to hit the ground running with the NASL as we work to elevate second division soccer in North America and play an active role in taking soccer to the next level in the region,” said Downs in a press release. “We plan to work closely with the fans, players, administrators, other leagues and everyone else involved in this beautiful game to build up the NASL at a league and local market level.”
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Manchester United… or the CONCACAF Champions League? You decide!

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/28/2011

MLS confirmed that Manchester United, which thrashed the MLS All-Stars last season, will be back for more.

Manchester United will provide the opposition for the All-Stars July 27 at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, a year after the Red Devils dominated the best in MLS in Houston.

But, will the game resonate with Canadian fans? That’s up for debate. The CONCACAF Champions League’s first leg of qualifiers is scheduled to be played July 26-28. Not only are FC Dallas and the Seattle Sounders scheduled to be playing in that three-day window, so is the winner of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. Betting people would place the two MLS clubs — Vancouver and Toronto FC — as the favourites.

Previously, MLS commissioner Don Garber pledged that all players selected to appear in the All-Star Game would be available for selection. But MLS has been tight-lipped on whether or not that means that they will work with CONCACAF to ensure its clubs play either on the 26th or 28th, or if it will make sure that no players from FC Dallas, the Sounders or an MLS-based Canadian champ would be on the ballot.
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Morales wins battle of the Javiers for MLS Player of the Week

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/28/2011

Javier Morales’ performance was judged to be superior to that of Javier Martina.

The Real Salt Lake midfielder was named the MLS player of the week by the North American Soccer Reporters on Monday. Morales scored twice and set up another goal as RSL decimated the Los Angeles Galaxy 4-1, only adding to Rio Tinto’s reputation as being the toughest place for a road team to go in all of North American pro sports.

Yes, one of Morales’ goals came on a penalty. But his other marker was a screamer from outside the box. And, he simply dominated Los Angeles with penetrating pass after penetrating pass. Andy Williams got the opener off a cross from Paulo Jr.; but the whole move was started thanks to a quick no-look pass from Morales that pierced the Galaxy’s back four.

Toronto FC fans would champion the performance of Javier Martina, who scored twice in a 2-0 win over Portland. Martina’s second goal was a ridiculous volley that’s up for goal of the week.
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FC Edmonton signs Sam Lam, Matthijs injured in friendly

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/28/2011

FC Edmonton announced that it has signed Sam Lam, the former University of Alberta standout — and brother of Matt Lam, who returned to Japan this weekend to resume training with JEF United.

Sam Lam spent the winter with the Edmonton Drillers of the Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League. He was an FCE target — in fact, he was encouraged by FCE to play in the CMISL this season, as he retained his eligibility as an amateur.

Matt Lam was sent to JEF United on a one-year loan deal, after a standout 2010 season of friendlies with FCE, which makes its NASL debut April 9 against the Fort Lauderdale strikers.
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