A comprehensive 4-0 win at Foote Field over FC Tampa Bay put FCE in second place overall in the NASL standings, six points behind the surging Carolina RailHawks.FC Edmonton has lost just two of eight matches in its first NASL season.

Toronto FC can’t build its new Downsview training facility fast enough.The artificial turf at the City of Toronto’s Cherry Beach field claimed a victim Tuesday, as Toronto FC defender Adrian Cann was carried off the pitch by teammates after making an awkward turn. His right knee was wrapped in ice and he was taken to hospital.

Expansion team or not, the Whitecaps’ brass expected better than winning just one out of its first dozen games in a home-heavy early season schedule.Coach Teitur Thordarson paid for it with his job. The club’s Director of Soccer Operations, Tom Soehn, takes over as the new coach of the club. Before coming to Vancouver, Soehn spent a tumultuous three years coaching D.C. United after being promoted up to the job. After winning the Supporters’ Shield in 2007, the club underwent a decline through the end of his reign, in 2009.

The significance of Toronto FC’s 6-2 home loss to the Philadelphia Union can’t be ignored.Through five coaches and three GMs/directors of soccer/technical directors, TFC fans have heard of long-term plans, rebuilding processes and the continuing pleas to fans for patience.Philadelphia was a raw expansion franchise last season. It has played a third of its schedule in year two of its existence, and it’s in first place in the East. You could make the argument that the Union is at a better point now than TFC has been any time in its history. When the Union faced TFC — on TFC's home turf — it was men vs. boys.

That’s the rub. The crackdown on corruption in FIFA can’t be taken seriously until FIFA allows someone else to do it. Damaseb spoke of bringing in some top legal minds from around the world as the investigation continues; he praised the fact that Robert Torres, who sat on the disciplinary committee, is the Chief Supreme Court Justice of Guam in his day job. But, Damaseb stressed that, no matter what legal opinions it gets, FIFA will always control the investigation. Just as FIFA forbids political and/or judicial interference in the matters of national associations, it doesn’t want to be judged by, well, a judge.

“We are not in a crisis,” said Blatter in a press conference Monday from FIFA headquarters. “We are having some difficulties.”Blatter spent the better part of 45 minutes ducking and dodging questions from journalists. When two-part questions were asked, he insisted on answering only one. When questions were asked about FIFA’s reputation, he spoke of gambling in the game. When asked about reforming FIFA, he spoke of zero tolerance for abuse of officials on the field.

The cloak-and-dagger preparations of the Canadian women’s team continue ahead of the World Cup.Despite having no mention of it in an materials sent to the media or on the Canadian Soccer Association website, we have it on good authority that Canada beat the Netherlands 2-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly in Rome.

Same country, new club.Canadian national-team efender Mike Klukowski has signed a two-year deal with Mansiaspor, which finished in 10th position in the Turkish league last season. Mansiaspor is also home to Canadian winger Josh Simpson.

But, today, the Canadian Soccer Association announced the launch of a new online store, where fans can buy jerseys, warm-up gear and other licensed products. Reps from Umbro Canada confirmed that the prices in the online store are identical to the MSRPs for the physical retailers.

Yes, the Canadian Soccer Association’s rules are quite clear. A match that is abandoned must be replayed in full.But Winter can still do the right thing. He can order his troops to take the opening kickoff and then fire the ball into their own goal.