Impact keeper Gaudette set to miss at least a month of action 14 Jun 2011 Goalies on Canada’s two NASL teams are falling like flies. Just two days after FC Edmonton’s Lance Parker broke his right arm in a home loss to the Carolina RailHawks, Montreal Impact goalie Bill Gaudette had to leave during the first half off a 2-1 loss to the Puerto Rico Islanders after getting involved in a three-way collision with PR striker Nicholas Addlery and defender Hassoun Camara.
Lenhart earns MLS Player of the Week nod, despite Hassli 13 Jun 2011 Eric Hassli may have scored the most jaw-dropping goal since the dawn of time, but it wasn’t enough to earn him the nod as MLS Player of the Week. San Jose Earthquakes’ striker Steven Lenhart got the nod after the ballots from the members of the North American Soccer Reporters were counted. Hard to argue with the decision: Lenhart bagged a hat trick and set up the Quakes’ winning goal in a 4-2 win over D.C. United.
FC Edmonton set to extend Ammar’s amateur contract 13 Jun 2011 FC Edmonton will extend the amateur contract of goalkeeper Justin Ammar, so he can continue to apprentice during the club’s current netminding crisis. Ammar is a St. Albert, Alta. native who came in and played the final 10 minutes in Friday’s 1-0 loss to the Carolina RailHawks after starting keeper Lance Parker left Foote Field in an ambulance after suffering a compound fracture to his right arm.
Gold Cup math update: Group A results make Canada’s path to quarters a lot clearer 13 Jun 2011 Now that Group A has completed its schedule, the picture for Canada and what it needs to do to qualify out of Group C has become crystal clear. If Canada beats Panama on Tuesday evening — even by a single goal — it will get through to the quarter-finals of the Gold Cup. And, barring a miracle result Monday night from Grenada, a draw will likely see the Canadian side going home early.
Montreal Impact’s woes continue in Puerto Rico 13 Jun 2011 The Montreal Impact traveled to the Caribbean and slugged it out with the Puerto Rico Islanders in a tough-tackling, mean-spirited match. But, two major defensive lapses ensured that the Impact left the island with nothing but a 2-1 loss to show for its effort.
MLS needs to suspend Beckham for awful challenge on Tchani 12 Jun 2011 In a season marred by some ugly tackles, injured stars and star suspension, Beckham’s awful challenge that knocked TFC’s Tony Tchani out of the game was the talking point of the match. And, no doubt, it will be looked at by the MLS disciplinary domos later this week. This isn’t unusual, MLS, as a rule, reviews all major incidents from the weekend’s matches.
Hassli’s wonder strike punctuates thrilling Cascadia derby 12 Jun 2011 On Saturday, Hassli showed just how special a player he can be; his equalizer in a 2-2 draw with the rival Seattle Sounders at Qwest Field was nothing short of brilliant. It is the kind of goal that will not only be shown on local highlight reels, but will likely be seen on best-goals packages broadcast all around the world.
Doing the math: Canada must beat Panama by two goals 12 Jun 2011 Canada knows that it must go to Kansas City and beat Panama, which leads the group with six points. (The U.S. and Canada have three each). If Canada beats Panama, and the U.S., as expected, beats Guadeloupe, we would have a three-way tie for first. And this is where it gets interesting. The Gold Cup tiebreakers — when more than two teams finish even on points, that is — is the goal difference in the matches played between the teams in question. In real English: The goals in the Guadeloupe games won’t count.
Canada gets fortunate win over 10-man Guadeloupe 12 Jun 2011 Canada is used to being on the short end of controversial referees’ decisions at the Gold Cup. On Saturday, the calls went Canada’s way —helping Les Rouges to a tense 1-0 win over Guadeloupe in Tampa. Dwayne De Rosario converted a second-half penalty-kick attempt to give Canada a win in a game in which it held a man advantage for 86 minutes plus stoppage time.
FC Edmonton ready to add veteran Dutch midfielder: Petrone 11 Jun 2011 FC Edmonton is getting closer to signing another Dutch player. The revelations came in an interview I did with FC Edmonton Director of Soccer Operations Joe Petrone for FCE TV that aired at halftime of Friday night’s broadcast of the home match against the Carolina RailHawks.