Coup at CONCACAF? Blazer tags Warner, Bin Hammam with bribery allegations 25 May 2011 Less than a month away from the Gold Cup, it looks as if a civil war is brewing within CONCACAF.
FC Edmonton’s Porter upstages Barbara for NASL Player of the Week honour 24 May 2011 For this week at least, FC Edmonton’s Kyle Porter looms larger than the most prolific scorer in North American pro soccer. Porter was named the NASL’s offensive player of the week on Tuesday. The Mississauga. Ont. native scored with his right foot in the first half and with his left in the second as FC Edmonton beat the NSC Minnesota Stars 2-1 to wrap up the Victoria Day long weekend.
Catching up with Geoff Aunger, the first Canadian to win MLS Cup 24 May 2011 There is one honour that belongs to Geoff Aunger that no other Canadian soccer player can ever take from him. Aunger, the Red Deer, Alta. native who was capped 44 times by the national team, was the first Canadian to ever play on an MLS Cup winner, the D.C. United side of 1999 that some would argue is still the greatest team to ever play in the league. “Making it in that league at that time was very difficult,” said Aunger, who now works in New York as a private banker. “At the time, we, the Canadian players, counted as import players."
Porter strikes twice as FC Edmonton beats Minnesota 24 May 2011 FC Edmonton vaulted into second place in the NASL standings with a 2-1 Victoria Day win over NSC Minnesota Stars at Foote Field. Kyle Porter scored twice for FCE, after Minnesota had taken the lead through Simone Bracalello.
Jeff Parke named MLS Player of the Week 23 May 2011 Seattle defender Jeff Parke got the nod after a runoff vote was needed to break a tie between him and Philadelphia Union forward Carlos Ruiz after the the first round of ballots from the North American Soccer Reporters was counted.
Hart won’t have a lot of time to sort out Canadian squad 23 May 2011 Coach Stephen Hart won’t have a lot of time to prepare his Canadian men’s national side for the June 1 friendly against Ecuador and the June 7 kickoff of the Gold Cup schedule. Hart named Canada’s 23-man provisional roster Monday; those players will be available for selection for the June 1 Ecuador match at BMO Field. From that, 20 will …
Toronto FC’s 0-0 draw in Colorado feels like a win 23 May 2011 Toronto FC didn’t win. It wasn’t a game that would remind anyone of Hungary of the early ‘50s or Brazil of 1970. But a 0-0 draw in the Colorado altitude, with three midfield regulars out of the lineup? Well, TFC coach Aron Winter will take it.
TFC’s Plata will only be available for two of Ecuador’s friendlies 23 May 2011 Toronto FC’s won’t lose Joao Plata for quite as long as originally feared. The club announced before Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Colorado that the Ecuadorean rookie midfielder would only be available for two of his country’s three pre-Copa America friendlies in the coming weeks. He’ll be eligible to face Canada at BMO Field June 1 and Greece in New York June 7. But he won’t be released for the May 28 friendly against Mexico in Seattle.
Montreal loses again: Impact looks nowhere close to being ready for MLS 22 May 2011 A 3-0 loss to FC Tampa Bay Saturday showed just how far behind schedule the Impact are when it comes to being ready for Major League Soccer. Other than keeper Bill Gaudette, who made several outstanding saves to keep the scoreline from being more severe, there wasn’t an Impact player on the pitch who looked anywhere close to being what anyone would call an MLS prospect.
PASL wants united North American indoor soccer scene; willing to work with MISL 22 May 2011 The Professional Arena Soccer League wants to work with the Major Indoor Soccer League. While the United Soccer Leagues, which took over the administration of the MISL last week, has made it clear that it thinks that its league is by the best indoor league on the continent, the PASL hopes the two leagues can discuss interleague play and competing against each other in Cup tournaments.