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No contest: Johnson is MLS Player of the Week

By
Steven Sandor
– 05/21/2013

Eddie Johnson

Eddie Johnson

Sometimes, you are so sure of the Player of the Week outcome, you almost forget to fill in your ballot and have it to the head office in time.

Sorta like an Alberta election: Voter turnout suffers because it’s assumed that the election is a done deal before the writ is signed by the lieutenant-governor.

This was one of those weeks. With two goals and an assist against FC Dallas, the team with the league’s best record, Seattle Sounders forward Eddie Johnson ticked off all the boxes when it comes to Player of the Week-worthiness. So, it wasn’t a surprise that he got the most checkmarks on the ballots from the members of the North American Soccer Reporters.
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Whitecaps plan to start strong lineup for second leg against FCE

By
Martin MacMahon
– 04/30/2013

Whitecaps Russell Teibert, left, and Johnny Leveron, right, sandwich FCE's Robert Garrett in last week's first leg.

Whitecaps Russell Teibert, left, and Johnny Leveron, right, sandwich FCE’s Robert Garrett in last week’s first leg.

The Vancouver Whitecaps are happy with where they stand going into Wednesday’s second leg of the Canadian Championship semifinal against FC Edmonton, but know they must maintain readiness from the first whistle.

Leading 3-2 on aggregate after last week’s controversial win over the Alberta-based NASL side, in which Camilo scored a goal in which Darren Mattocks appeared to be involved in the play from an offside position before scoring again from a penalty earned with minimal contact, the Whitecaps are hoping – but not expecting – smoother sailing in the second leg.

“It can be a situation where they have a lot more to gain than we do,” said Tom Heinemann after a training session at BC Place on Tuesday in relation to FC Edmonton. “I think clubs take advantage of that. I’ve been on the other side of the ball with clubs – with Charleston [Battery]. We cherished the opportunity to go into MLS clubs and try and take it to them, and beat them.

“As players, those guys want to be where we are, and we have to stand up to that and we have to acknowledge that and be prepared to fight and outmatch them.”
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Cahill named MLS POTW for breaking hearts at BMO Field

By
Steven Sandor
– 04/29/2013

Tim Cahill

Tim Cahill

Tim Cahill became just the latest in a long line of players who have broken the hearts of the fans at BMO Field with a late goal.

But the Australian’s two-goal performance, including an 89th-minute headed winner, earned him MLS Player of the Week honours. Cahill got the most first-place votes from the membership of the North American Soccer Reporters.

The fact that Toronto FC coughs up points late in games has become sort of a cruel joke with the team’s long-suffering supporters. Cahill gave the New York Red Bulls a 1-0 lead over the Reds on Sunday with a left-footed finish that was set up by a wonderful dummy from Thierry Henry. But, Cahill had more to do — after Jonathan Osorio had drawn TFC level, the Aussie won the game late with a powerful header.
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Manneh inspires Whitecaps to comeback draw against FC Dallas

By
Martin MacMahon
– 04/28/2013

Kekuta Manneh

Kekuta Manneh

A goal and an assist from Kekuta Manneh ensured the Vancouver Whitecaps a come-from-behind result at BC Place Saturday night, as they erased a two-goal deficit within the span of three minutes to draw FC Dallas 2-2 in front of 19,967.

The 18-year-old substitute started the comeback in the 72nd minute, thrashing a ball which ricocheted to him off Tom Heinemann past Raul Fernandez in the FC Dallas goal. The Gambian’s effort came moments after a fine save from Fernandez off Camilo, and marked his first-ever Major League Soccer goal.

“It always feels good to score, especially with my first professional goal,” Manneh told reporters after the match. “It was a tough situation. We were down two goals and we needed a goal.”

Manneh followed up that goal by running past a couple of Dallas defenders three minutes later before passing a ball across the six yard box which Camilo pounced on, taking a quick shot which touched off Jair Benitez before going into the goal.
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Whitecaps continue their Texas drought

By
Martin MacMahon
– 04/21/2013

Blas Perez

Blas Perez

The Vancouver Whitecaps are still without a win in the Lone Star State.

On Saturday, the visitors fell 2-0 to FC Dallas through a Brad Rusin first-half own goal and an opportunistic Blas Perez finish just after halftime.

The opener came 29 minutes in, as David Ferreira whipped in a ball from a corner which ricocheted off Rusin’s back and past Lee Young-Pyo and Joe Cannon, who couldn’t stop the ball on the line. Defender George John deserves credit for his work on the play, as he barged into the box, which seemed to cause Rusin to lose his balance at the crucial moment.

“I thought we defended [corners] quite well,” Whitecaps defender Andy O’Brien said on the radio broadcast following the match. “But the one that ended up bouncing in the six yard box and ended up hitting one of our lads and going in.

“That’s a bit disappointing to concede from a corner, but I said before the game that we haven’t hit fifth gear in any games this season really on a consistent basis, so it’s something we need to work on.”
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TFC reverses the usual script: Reds score late goals to salvage a point

By
Mark Polishuk
– 04/07/2013

Darel Russell

Darel Russell

For the second straight game, Darel Russell was the key figure behind the final goal of a 2-2 Toronto FC draw. This week, however, Russell exchanged goat horns for what may be an MLS Goal of the Week award by scoring a spectacular equalizer in the 90th minute to steal a point for his side against first-place FC Dallas.

After lying dormant for much of the match, TFC’s attack suddenly roared to life in the closing minutes, putting the Hoops on their back heels. Late substitute Justin Braun cut the lead to 2-1 in the 85th minute and then was the catalyst five minutes later when he sent a cross over to Russell on the right side. Standing just outside the box, Russell launched a right-footed shot that soared through the air and banked into the left side of the net, past diving FCD goalkeeper Raul Fernandez.

It was Russell’s first goal with TFC and his first goal of any sort since Sept. 13, 2011, when he was still a member of Preston North End. It was an outstanding strike for anyone, let alone a player not necessarily known for his offensive prowess and one who is still getting used to a more defensive-minded role on Toronto’s back line.
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New Eddie Edson Edward reflects on a bittersweet cutdown day

By
Steven Sandor
– 03/05/2013
Edson Edward in action for Puerto Rico

Edson Edward in action for Puerto Rico

To quote Dickens, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

That’s an appropriate way to describe how FC Edmonton fullback Eddie Edward felt on Saturday afternoon. The Ottawa native, who spent last season with the Puerto Rico Islanders, was confirmed as an FCE player for the 2013 NASL season. But, at the same time, he found out that his long-time pal, Kenny Caceros, had been cut.

Caceros spent the 2012 season with FCE. And, he helped sell Edward on the idea of coming to Edmonton. In the cruelest of ironies, Edward got a job, while Caceros was left off of coach Colin Miller’s roster.

“It definitely was tough,” Edward said at Commonwealth Fieldhouse on Tuesday. “I tried to be there for him. But, what happened doesn’t change the fact that Kenny is still a great player. It unfortunate, but it’s a business. I am confident he’ll be all right.”
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The Super-Duper MLS preview, 2013 edition

By
Steven Sandor
– 02/28/2013
Philip F. Anschutz Trophy, the big prize at the end of the season

Philip F. Anschutz Trophy, the big prize at the end of the season

With the MLS season moved up to its earliest start ever, forgive us if we don’t feel 100 per cent totally prepared for First Kick. Judging by the way many MLS teams finished preseason, with tentative matches and still looking at trialists with a week to go before the games count in the standings, a lot of coaches aren’t quite ready for the early start, either.

And that could be telling. The teams that got the jump and have their ducks in a row could have a real advantage in these March matchups; and they could find some bonus points that could help them in the fall.

Steven Sandor, Editor of The 11 and contributors Randy Davis, Aman Dhanoa, Mark Polishuk and Gavin Day all submitted their picks. We tallied the scores and we present our picks below.
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Payne does best he can with deal to unload TFC’s panic buy of Hassli

By
Steven Sandor
– 02/04/2013

Panic buys very rarely work out in the world of soccer. And Toronto FC president and GM Kevin Payne made the best of a bad situation by dealing Designated Player Eric Hassli to FC Dallas for a conditional second-round pick in the 2014 SuperDraft.

“Eric requested a move for family-related reasons and we committed to him we would make every effort to do so, providing the deal was favourable for the team,” said Payne in a release issued by the club Monday. “We are satisfied with the terms of the trade. If Eric has a productive year for Dallas the consideration paid to us will be greater.

“The most important aspect of this deal is creating salary cap room and a Designated Player spot. We’d like to thank Eric for his contributions to our club and wish him all the best with his new team.”
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Mallorca: Julian de Guzman training with club

By
Steven Sandor
– 01/07/2013

Julian de Guzman: Training in Spain

Julian de Guzman is training with Spanish side Mallorca.

On Monday, the Spanish club confirmed on its website (CLICK HERE) that the 31-year-old de Guzman was with the club, but was not signed. Mallorca was the former club of Jonathan de Guzman, Julian’s brother who has moved to play with Swansea of the English Premier League.

The club’s website indicated that Julian de Guzman approached Mallorca about coming to train with the club.

De Guzman was dealt by Toronto FC to FC Dallas halfway through the 2012 MLS regular season, and his Designated Player contract expired at the end of the year.
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