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.

FC Edmonton’s final push to promote Wednesday’s Nutrilite Canadian Championship opener at Commonwealth Stadium begins on Monday. The club is hosting a meet-the-team event at Sports Central Bar and Grill (9221 34 Ave.) Monday at 6 p.m. Edmonton products Shaun Saiko and Chris Lemire, Trinidad and Tobago striker Conrad Smith and coach Harry Sinkgraven will be on hand to meet fans. FC Edmonton’s new all-white road jerseys will be available for sale for the first time at the event; here’s to hoping that the new home blue strip also is at the event. On Tuesday, Toronto FC coach Aron Winter and Sinkgraven will attend a press conference at Commonwealth Stadium. For the pair, it will be a reunion of sorts. The two took classes together to get their coaching certifications in the Netherlands.

It was an insurance goal, but Mississauga Ont.’s Simeon Jackson got on the scoresheet against Norwich City’s most hated rival. Jackson, Canada’s 2009 player of the year, scored with his left foot from six yards out, the third goal in Norwich City’s 5-1 rout of Ipswich Town. The win puts, at least temporarily, Norwich into second place in the League Championship — two points ahead of Cardiff, which has a game in hand.

Nick Garcia has found a new team. The ex-Toronto FC defender and whipping boy has signed a one-game deal to play an indoor exhibition game with the Kansas Magic, which will enter the Professional Arena Soccer League in the 2011-2012 season.

Holt said the USL won’t talk expansion until the Canadian Soccer Association ends its moratorium on approving expansion teams into U.S.-based pro league outside of Major League Soccer. The CSA’s 10-month ban should end in October of 2011.

FIFA, in response to a query by The 11, has stated its policies on government interference into soccer. The letter is published, unedited, in full.

The 11 has learned that notice has been given to kill a a proposed resolution that would have deleted Article 32 from the Alberta Soccer Association’s bylaws, and allowed for the courts to rule on the longstanding battle over the leadership of the ASA. The Edmonton Interdistrict Youth Soccer Association, which had given notice it would table a motion at Saturday’s ASA annual general meeting to delete the bylaw, has written a letter stating it will withdraw that plan.

Being a great country is FAR more important than being a good FIFA member. Maybe it’s time for us to set an example for other countries to follow. FIFA can’t decide Saturday to suspend the Canadian Soccer Association. A suspension of a program is a process that usually takes months to complete. Board meetings have to be held. Reports have to be prepared.

With the CONCACAF Gold Cup less than eight weeks away, Canadian head coach Stephen Hart was in Toronto on Thursday morning to discuss Canada’s preparation for the tournament as well as its June 1 friendly with Ecuador at BMO Field.