The scramble for fitness has already been lost by striker Josee Belanger, who has scored five times in 11 appearances for the Canadian team. She indicated to Quebec media sources Friday that her injured ankle would not be ready in time for the World Cup. Midfielder Kelly Parker is also racing to be fit in time to meet Morace’s May 10 deadline. Parker has played just 10 minutes in two subsititute appearances for the Western New York Flash of the WPS, where she teams with Christine Sinclair and FIFA player of the year, Marta.

Major League Soccer has issued the longest suspension in league history. Colorado Rapid Brian Mullan is the new owner of this dubious mark, after MLS lengthened his red-card suspension to a total of 10 games after last weekend’s studs-up challenge that broke the leg of Seattle’s former No. 1 overall draft pick, Steve Zakuani, in two places.

FC Edmonton’s two newest signings were on hand at the club’s meet-the-team event at a south side restaurant on Monday. Midfielder Kyle Porter and defender Adrian Leroy were on hand to shake hands with fans as the club hyped its Wednesday date against Toronto FC at Commonwealth Stadium, the opening leg of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship semifinals.

FC Edmonton debuted its new blue home jersey at a meet-the-team event at a south side eatery Monday. The club is also expected to announce the hiring of a new general manager later this week, after the first leg of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship semifinal against Toronto FC Wednesday. The team has also set a local broadcast crew for webcasts and television.

It’s taken until week six of the season. But, finally, there is a domestic Player of the Week in MLS. Landon Donovan was named the winner of the weekly honour after the votes from the North American Soccer Reporters were counted. He was in on all three goals as the Galaxy thrashed Portland 3-0 on Saturday.

Real Salt Lake general manager Garth Lagerwey knows that Wednesday’s second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final could be a watershed moment for U.S. Soccer and MLS. “We weren’t able to finish. We haven’t had the Lake Placid moment,” Lagerwey said in a conference call Monday ahead of the second leg.

Jackson scored all of Norwich’s goals, including the match-winner six minutes into stoppage time, as Norwich preserved its one point lead over Cardiff for second spot in the League Championship, which means automatic promotion to the English Premier League. Jackson scored with his head, then added a 20-yard drive to give Norwich a 2-1 lead. But Derby came back to tie the match. With Cardiff winning 1-0 over Preston North End, Norwich had to get the full three points to hold onto second place. Jackson obliged with a left-footed shot from inside the penalty area.

But the Montreal-Vancouver matchup is more than a rekindling of an old, bitter rivalry. It’s fascinating test for the staggering Impact, which moves to MLS next season. So, far, this NASL campaign, the Impact hasn’t won in three matches. The club has scored only once. No member of its current roster is signed to a deal that would take him into MLS in 2012.

Edmonton native Matt Lam started and played 62 minutes for JEF United as Japanese football got back on its feet Sunday. Lam, on loan from FC Edmonton to the second-division Japanese side, which is one of the favourites to earn promotion back to the top flight, got the start in a 3-0 win over FC Tokyo. It marked the first competitive game for either team since the devastating earthquake and tsunami killed tens of thousands in Japan.

Ferreira was hurt on what looked to be a rather innocuous play; as he charged to get to a ball deep in Whitecaps territory, defender Jonathan Leathers slid and got all ball with the challenge. No foul was called. Ferreira went over and was down for several minutes, clutching his ankle in pain. He was sent to hospital for tests to his ankle.