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Hoilett’s wonder goal punctuates a breakthrough season

By
Steven Sandor
– 04/22/2012

Junior Hoilett

“Concentrating on playing for Rovers at the moment and nothing else, top priority for us is staying in the Premier League.”

Junior Hoilett made that Tweet on March 21, and hasn’t updated his account since.

And, as Hoilett continues to elevate his game in the English Premier League, that statement haunts Canadian soccer fans, who know that their national side — which struggles to score — could get the massive injection of magic and skill that it so badly needs from Blackburn’s resident Brampton, Ont. star.

No, it’s not too much to call Hoilett a “star.” The fact is, Hoilett has played so well for Blackburn this season, he’s proven he’s national-team worthy, no matter the passport. He has now scored seven times in the world’s best league (I will get to that later, for you La Liga fans), after Saturday’s wonder strike against Norwich City.
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Canadian teen Petrasso to leave for QPR this week

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/28/2012

Michael Petrasso

Former TFC Academy prospect Michael Petrasso will leave for English Premier side Queens Park Rangers this weekend. Dylan Carreiro, his former TFC Academy teammate, will have to wait.

The pair have been working out with SC Toronto, whose pro team plays in the Canadian Soccer League, since they parted ways with Toronto FC. SC Toronto coach Carmine Isacco confirmed in an e-mail to The 11 that Petrasso is set to leave for QPR this weekend, while paperwork issues will keep Carreiro at home a little while longer.

Petrasso played for Canada at both the CONCACAF U-17 Championships and the U-17 World Cup, while Carreiro played at the CONCACAF tourney.
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Hoilett keeps scoring as Blackburn edges away from relegation zone

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/20/2012

Junior Hoilett

Blackburn Rovers are now six points clear of the relegation zone, and Brampton, Ont.’s Junior Hoilett is a major reason why the club is pulling away from the trailing pack.

Hoilett was in the right place at the right time Tuesday, as he scored the winning goal as Rovers defeated Sunderland 2-0. In Blackburn’s previous match, Hoilett scored both goals as Blackburn defeated Wolves 2-0.

Those two wins have helped give Blackburn some needed breathing room from the relegation places. In those two wins, Rovers have scored four times — and Hoilett has accounted for three of those goals.
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Hume scores 100th career goal, gets dressing-down from manager, scores again

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/17/2012

Iain Hume

Canadian international Iain Hume scored a goal, got screamed at by his manager at halftime, then scored again, as Preston North End defeated Exeter 2-1 Saturday.

The first goal of the match was Hume’s 100th career goal in English league football.

The win puts PNE nine points clear of the relegation zone in English League One.

Hume now has nine goals on the season, eight in league play.

But, it was an odd way to score a brace.
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Brampton’s Hoilett scores twice for Blackburn

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/10/2012

Junior Hoilett

Junior Hoilett gave Canadian soccer fans two more good reasons to hope that he will finally decide to accept national-team coach Stephen Hart’s standing invitation to join Les Rouges.

Hoilett scored on each side of halftime as Blackburn Rovers beat Wolverhampton 2-0 in EPL play Saturday. It was a massive road win for a beleaguered Blackburn side that’s under relegation threat.

But it was Hoilett’s second goal that should have Canadian fans — and those in Lancashire, as well — talking for a long time. After taking a pass from Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Hoilett danced laterally across the top of the box, spied an opening in the Wolves’ back line, and rocketed a low, left-footed drive from 25 yards out that went just inside the post.
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Robson is another big-ticket item to add to Whitecaps’ budget

By
Steven Sandor
– 02/16/2012

The Vancouver Whitecaps are ready to once again open the chequebook.

The team announced Thursday that Scottish international Barry Robson will join the team in July as a Designated Player. Because Robson will join at the halfway mark of the MLS campaign, his cap will be US$167,500 in 2012.

“I am very excited to be joining Whitecaps FC and to continue my career in Major League Soccer,” said Robson in a release issued by the Whitecaps. “I am impressed by the quality of MLS and Vancouver as a club. They have a passionate fan base and a fantastic stadium in BC Place. My family and I are also looking forward to our move to Canada and the beautiful city of Vancouver this summer.”

Robson will finish the season at English Championship side Middlesbrough. He has scored 18 times and added 16 assists for ‘Boro since joining the club in January 2010.
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Eckersley discusses TFC deal; Reds bullish on Ecuador defender

By
Aman Dhanoa
– 01/27/2012

Richard Eckersley

At the end of last season Richard Eckersley made no effort to hide his frustration with Burnley, the English club who held his rights.

The former Manchester United product was not getting much playing time with the Championship club and resulted in him being loaned out to Plymouth Argyle, Bradford City and Bury. But his fortunes changed with a loan to Toronto FC last year.

Eckersley featured in 23 matches for the Reds and started in 22 of them. He worked hard on the pitch but was exposed at times during the Nutrilite Championship and CONCACAF Champions League play. For the most part his tenure was a success and TFC management made it a priority to bring him back into the fold.

After the season ended, Eckersley had heard nothing from Burnley and voiced his opinion to the media and none of it was positive. After a brief return to England, he managed to talk Burnley into terminating his contract and opening up the chance to sign with to TFC.
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Burnley cancels Eckersley’s contract, making way for TFC deal

By
Steven Sandor
– 01/25/2012

English side Burnley released a statement Wednesday confirming that the club has cancelled the remainder of defender Richard Eckersley’s contract.

The cancellation of the deal would make it easy for Toronto FC to get Eckersley signed to a full-time MLS contract. The English defender took over at right back for the club after coming to MLS on loan from Burnley, where he never got the chance to play.

The cancellation of the deal would also allow MLS to avoid paying a transfer fee — something which the league has so far been loath to do in any case where a player isn’t a major star attraction.
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Jackson wins FA Cup duel over Canadian teammate Edgar

By
Steven Sandor
– 01/08/2012

Canadian national teammates Simeon Jackson and David Edgar were rivals Saturday as their respective English sides met in FA Cup action.

Both Jackson and Edgar were in the starting lineups as Norwich City faced Burnley. But it was Jackson who got the last laugh, as his Premier League Canaries beat Edgar and his Championship-side Burnley by a 4-1 score.
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Jackson’s last-gasp goal gives Norwich a point

By
Steven Sandor
– 12/31/2011

Simeon Jackson

Last season, Mississauga, Ont.’s Simeon Jackson made a habit of scoring dramatic goals during Norwich City’s promotion campaign of 2010-11.

While he hasn’t broken into the starting lineup, he scored a dramatic goal Saturday to give Norwich City a 1-1 draw with Fulham. It was Jackson’s second English Premier League goal.
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