For the second year in a row, midfielder Bryce Alderson has been named Canada’s U-17 male player of the year.

Former Toronto FC coach Nick Dasovic is the new coach of the Canadian men’s U-20 team.

After informing Dan Gargan he was no longer part of the team’s plans earlier this week, Toronto FC sent the defender and a second-round pick to the Chicago Fire for veteran fullback Dasan Robinson.

In a game that Canada needed to win in order to advance to the round of 16 at the U-17 World Cup, it could only really trouble Rwandan keeper Marcel Nzaroza once in a dour 0-0 draw Saturday in Pachuca, Mexico.

But, on a historic night for Canadian soccer — and a historic night for the U-17 World Cup — goalkeeper Quillan Roberts provided one of the most remarkable goals anyone from this country has scored in an international match at any level. His goal gave Canada a 2-2 draw with England, keeping this country’s hopes alive entering Saturday’s Group C finale against Rwanda.

Uruguay, far more accustomed to the rareified air than the Canadians, was frustrated through the first half. But Mascia, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea, opened the scoring in a disastrous second half which saw Canada make numerous defensive errors, concede a penalty and lose goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau to a knee injury. When the dust settled, Canada had fallen 3-0.

Canada’s lineup for the U-17 World Cup will be almost identical to the squad coach Sean Fleming brought to Jamaica for the CONCACAF Championship.

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.

Keven Aleman, TFC Academy’s star of Canada’s second-place finish at the CONCACAF U-17 Canadian championships, has parted ways with the club. Toronto FC announced Thursday evening that the club has parted ways with Aleman, even Aleman, Dino Gardiner, and Jonathan Lao — all members of the Academy.

It took until extra time of the final game of the CONCACAF U-17 Championship for Canada’s spotless defensive record to be broken — and then the goals came in droves. The Canadians, who hadn’t given up a goal in the round robin, quarter-finals or semifinals, made it through 90 minutes of scoreless soccer with the Americans in the championship game Sunday in Montego Bay, Jamaica. But, the U.S. teens struck three times in extra time to take the regional championship with a 3-0 victory.