Vancouver acquired Nguyen through a weighted lottery. As the last-place team in the league in 2011, Vancouver had the best odds to get him. But coach Martin Rennie and the rest of the team brass understood that, if they won the rights to Nguyen, they would not be able to participate in another weighted lottery in 2012. Once you get a guy, you are out.

The Impact announced Thursday what pretty well everyone who follows the club was expecting to hear, that it has come to an agreement with Italian defender Matteo Ferrari, who has been in camp with the club since the middle of February.

But the game came to life in the second half — and the Whitecaps got goals from Sebastien Le Toux, Canadian youngster Russell Teibert and defender Carlyle Mitchell, as they went on to swamp SKC 3-0 thanks to a 17-minute spell of inspired play.

Bernier scored a great free-kick goal in the 56th minute, just six minutes after Dynamo second-year player Will Bruin had opened the scoring with a headed effort.

After a poor display in its first outing at the Walt Disney World Soccer Classic, Toronto FC coach Aron Winter adjusted not only the personnel, but the formation.

With Tuesday’s signing of reigning NASL MVP Etienne Barbara, Rennie has a wealth of attacking players at his disposal. The Maltese striker — who has been injured and hasn’t been able to see any preseason action so far in 2012 — joins Sebastien Le Toux, Eric Hassli, Camilo, 2011 No. 1 draft pick Omar Salgado, Atiba Harris, Davide Chiumiento, Long Tan and 2012 No. 2 overall pick Darren Mattocks in what is the most top-heavy roster in MLS.

Add Elbekay Bouchiba’s name to a list of Toronto FC players that even the most die-hard fans would have problems recalling. Olivier Tebily, Diaz Kambere, Abbe Ibrahim…

On Monday, the Impact confirmed what had been rumoured all weekend — announcing that the English midfielder had been waived.

Canadian midfielder Mozzi Gyorio’s Hungarian roots may have helped him connect with a trial at Sporting Kansas City.

Andrew Wenger, the top pick of the MLS SuperDraft, had some bright moments as the Montreal Impact hung on for a 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City in each team’s second match of the preseason Walt Disney World Classic in Orlando, Fla.