MLS Archive

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Canadians in USOC: De Rosario, Hamilton enjoy great games

By
Steven Sandor
– 06/13/2013

Dwayne De Rosario

Dwayne De Rosario

For Canadians Dwayne De Rosario and Paul Hamilton, Wednesday’s fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup saw them make important contributions as their clubs survived.

For Canadian Andres Arango, Wednesday represented the Open Cup end of the line.

De Rosario, who has struggled so far this MLS season and isn’t a sure starter with last-place D.C. United, was back in league-MVP form Wednesday. His hat trick was all that D.C. United needed to beat the Philadelphia Union by a 3-1 count. Two of De Rosario’s goals came from outside the penalty area, including a 40-yard lob to seal the game late.

Two weeks after his Carolina RailHawks knocked the Galaxy out of the U.S. Open Cup, Paul Hamilton and his NASL mates made it a sweep of of Los Angeles MLS sides. Hamilton played all 120 minutes at centre back as Carolina ousted Chivas 3-1 after extra time.
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All about the politics: QSF getting pressure from both sides on turban ban issue

By
Steven Sandor
– 06/11/2013

Joey Saputo

Joey Saputo

To speak about Quebec Soccer Federation’s turban ban as simply a turban ban is, well, yesterday’s news.

The pressure on the Quebec Soccer Federation is coming from both sides. The provincial premier, who leads the separatist Parti Quebecois, stated Tuesday that the Canadian Soccer Association had no right to suspend the QSF, and that the provincial soccer federation has the dominion over the provinces’s footballing affairs. Premier Pauline Marois said that the CSA should butt out.

Sounds almost like a call for the QSF to willfully separate itself from the CSA.

On Monday, the CSA board voted to suspend the QSF, which two Sundays ago decided to uphold its band of turbans, patkas and keski on the fields of play in Quebec. The QSF ignored a CSA directive to lift the ban that was issued in April. Quebec is the only jurisdiction in Canada to ban the religious headgear.

But, on Tuesday, the powers with some real political capital in Quebec didn’t sound at all apologetic about the QSF’s decision to ignore the CSA. Marois gave the QSF a big slap on the back and gave the group a public endorsement.
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Hamilton looking forward to Edmonton return, hopes for RailHawks run in USOC

By
Steven Sandor
– 06/11/2013

Paul Hamilton

Paul Hamilton

Canadian defender Paul Hamilton is looking forward to a massive week of matches.

On Wednesday, his Carolina RailHawks face Chivas USA in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup, a chance for the NASL to claim another MLS scalp. And, on Sunday, the RailHawks look to consolidate their hold on the NASL’s top spot in the spring season table. To do that, Carolina will need to beat FC Edmonton at Clarke Stadium.

And, for Hamilton, it’s the chance to go back home to Alberta — and revisit the city where he spent his first two NASL seasons. Hamilton, who was named to the NASL Best XI last season, was cut out of training camp in 2013.

Hamilton is more focused on playing in front of family, friends and the Edmonton Supporters Group than thinking about revenge being a dish that is best served cold.

“I’m looking forward to getting a chance to play back in Edmonton,” Hamilton said via e-mail. “I had a few great years there, still have many friends on the team and within the organization. My wife, and also many friends and family are going to be at the game. So yes, there is a greater excitement around this game for me. The supporters were always very supportive of me, and I would say I had a good relationship with them. So I would think I would maybe get a warm reception before the game, but when the first whistle blows, I would say I am fair game for some razzing.”
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2

Whitecaps recall injured defender Carlyle Mitchell from FCE to help replenish injury-ravaged backline

By
Steven Sandor
– 06/11/2013

Carlyle Mitchell

Carlyle Mitchell

It’s a bit of a head-scratcher.

Facing a shortage of defenders, the Vancouver Whitecaps announced Monday night that they have recalled centre back Carlyle Mitchell from FC Edmonton. The recall term? Indefinite.

But, Mitchell didn’t make FC Edmonton’s road trip to Atlanta on Saturday because of injury. He hasn’t played since spraining his ankle on the Clarke Stadium turf in the 17th minute of the May 26 loss to Fort Lauderdale. So, his status isn’t a sure thing for a team that needs help with depth, and was playing defenders out of position in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Sounders.

Mitchell had played every minute of every NASL game for the Eddies until suffering the injury, which came when he simply caught his cleats in the old artificial surface at Clarke. That surface is due to be replaced at the end of the NASL season.
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Garcia’s two-goal performance earns him the MLS Player of the Week nod

By
Steven Sandor
– 06/10/2013

Olmes Garcia

Olmes Garcia

It took only about a half-hour for Colombian forward Olmes Garcia to make a massive difference.

When Garcia came in as a sub in the 61st minute of Saturday’s match between Real Salt Lake and the Los Angeles Galaxy, the score was knotted 1-1. Then the sub turned the game on its ear, scoring twice as RSL came out 3-1 winners.

For his efforts, the 20-year-old was named the MLS Player of the Week after taking home the highest number of first-place votes from the membership of the North American Soccer Reporters.
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Whitecaps lose to Sounders: O’Brien’s injury a turning point in Cascadia Derby

By
Martin MacMahon
– 06/09/2013

O'Brien injury: Was the temporary grass surface to blame?

O’Brien injury: Was the temporary grass surface to blame?

Another Cascadia derby, and another loss for the Vancouver Whitecaps.

This time it was just down the I-5, as the ‘Caps fell to the Seattle Sounders 3-2, through goals from Andy Rose, Servando Carrasco, and Lamar Neagle.

Those goals were enough to cancel out Camilo’s brace. Both of his markers were set up by Canadian winger Russell Teibert — first through an instant response to Rose’s ninth minute goal after a nice link up play with Lee Young-Pyo, and then once again through a free kick delivery in the 26th minute, as Teibert found Camilo’s head between two Sounders defenders for the go-ahead 2-1 goal.

Ultimately, however, the Sounders maintained their cool, scoring twice late, first through Carrasco in the 70th minute, as the 24-year-old Californian stepped up to stroke home a penalty generated by Neagle, before Neagle himself bagged the game winner in the 81st minute.

Ultimately, however, the Whitecaps pointed to the forced withdrawal of centre back Andy O’Brien as the turning point of the match.
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7

Does now-unemployed Yallop become a Canadian men’s team coaching candidate?

By
Steven Sandor
– 06/07/2013

Frank Yallop

Frank Yallop

With Canada’s national-team coaching spot still vacant, and the Gold Cup a month away, more than a few ears will be to the ground now that Frank Yallop is unemployed.

On Friday, the reigning MLS Coach of the Year and the San Jose Earthquakes came to a mutual agreement to part ways. He will be replaced by his assistant and long-time Canadian national-teammate, Mark Watson.

Yallop led the Earthquakes to the Supporters’ Shield last season, but the team is struggling this season — as Chris Wondolowski is nowhere near his 27-goal pace of last season. Right now, the Quakes are out of a playoffs spot. But, making the move so early into the season, and with the parties coming to a mutual agreement, it raises the question: Is this the most polite firing ever, or is this a sign that Yallop wants to move on to different challenges?

Yallop has won two MLS Cups as a coach and has been the coach of the year twice.
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1

Whitecaps get draft picks from D.C. United for Rochat

By
Steven Sandor
– 06/06/2013

Alain Rochat

Alain Rochat

Alain Rochat has been an every-day player since he came to MLS with the Whitecaps back in 2011.

Thursday, the Canadian-born Swiss left back/centre back/midfielder was dealt to D.C. United. And the asking price wasn’t all that much; Vancouver gets a second-round pick not next year, but in 2015. And then, depending on Rochat’s future with D.C. United, a conditional pick goes to the Whitecaps in 2016.

“Alain has been an outstanding professional during his tenure in Vancouver,” said Whitecaps head coach Martin Rennie in a release issued by the club. “It is never easy making player personnel moves but when considering all the factors, this is the best move for the club and it is the right time to go in a different direction. We are thankful for the contributions Alain has made to this club and city, and wish him and his family nothing but the best in D.C.”

So, why the low return? And why make the deal now?
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Canadian U-20 Messoudi moves from Academy to Impact roster

By
Steven Sandor
– 06/04/2013

Zakaria Messoudi

Zakaria Messoudi

The Impact has added another young Canadian to the roster.

Nineteen-year-old midfielder Zakaria Messoudi, who was part of this recent cycle’s Canadian U-20 team, was promoted from the Academy to the senior squad. With CONCACAF Champions League and MLS Reserve League matches to come, the club needed to add a little depth to the roster.

“I am very excited to have signed my first pro contract with the club,” Messoudi said in a release issued by the club. “In a way, it’s a dream that is coming true as I’ve been a part of the club for over three years now and it is the culmination of a lot of hard work.”
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TFC does some housekeeping: Ephraim finally placed on waivers

By
Steven Sandor
– 06/04/2013

HoganEphraim_0The news has been out there for a few days — but on Tuesday, Toronto FC finally made it official: Midfielder Hogan Ephraim is no longer on loan to the club.

The loan deal that had sent the midfielder from Queens Park Rangers to Toronto FC is done. Ephraim has been placed on waivers and is likely on his way back to England.

Ephraim and John Bostock, who had been on loan from Tottenham, were brought in to add creativity to the midfield. Both were major disappointments. Bostock’s loan deal had already been terminated, and now the move of Ephraim at least allows TFC to open up a roster spot.
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