MLS officiating crackdown already taking its toll 27 Mar 2011 Before the kickoff of the season, MLS headquarters instructed its officials to crack down on fouls in the box and to make absolutely certain that a player was in an offside position before raising the flag. More penalties, more cards, less offside calls — the recipe to boost scoring. We are clearly seeing the effect of the mandate. Fans will likely have to get used to seeing the flag stay down more often than not.
10-man Whitecaps lose on controversial Ruiz goal 27 Mar 2011 The Vancouver Whitecaps gave it their best shot to maintain their perfect season here yesterday against the Philadelphia Union and their boisterous Sons of Ben fan club —which cheers its heroes and jeers the opposition nonstop the entire game. They really did. But in the end the Caps simply couldn’t overcome a red card to striker Eric Hassli — his second yellow-card infraction of the day — forcing them to play a man down the final 35 minutes. The Union applied consistent pressure from there, finally converting an opportunity goal from Carlos Ruiz in the 79th minute to squeeze out a 1-0 win that might’ve been a different story otherwise.
Martina’s magic helps TFC give Portland a chilly reception 26 Mar 2011 Perhaps all Toronto FC needed was to be back at BMO Field. A week after a disappointing loss in the season opener in Vancouver, a much-improved TFC side won its home opener by a 2-0 score over the Portland Timbers. Striker Javier Martina led the way with his first two career MLS goals, but perhaps even more important than Toronto's scoring was the lack of a goal from the other side. The Reds' back line stood up against a persistent Timbers attack and kept the clean sheet, just a week after allowing four goals to the Whitecaps.
Obstacle removed: Salgado cleared to play for Whitecaps 25 Mar 2011 Omar Salgado won’t have to wait until his 18th birthday to play in his first MLS game. The Vancouver Whitecaps have been successful in their efforts to get the No. 1 pick in the 2011 Superdraft cleared to play. Salgado is currently with the U.S. U-20 team as it prepares for the CONCACAF qualifiers in Guatemala, so he won’t be able to help the Whitecaps this Saturday in Philadelphia, where the club has a bit of a roster crisis because of international call-ups.
Two Canadian keepers up for Save of the Week 23 Mar 2011 This week, both Canadian keepers are nominated for MLS Save of the Week. Sutton made a couple of fantastic stops on attempts from Seattle’s Fredy Montero in a 1-0 win, but the best was a reflex stop with his arm as Montero tried to get one upstairs from only a couple of yards out. Onstad, who is old enough to recall a time when players wore cotton jerseys, made a diving stop off a redirected Columbus Crew corner, as D.C. United won its opener by a 3-1 count.
Bravo! Mexican star named MLS player of the week 22 Mar 2011 Omar Bravo won the hearts and minds of soccer reporters across the continent, capturing the first Player of the Week award of the MLS season. Bravo, Sporting Kansas City’s Mexican Designated Player, scored twice as his new club travelled to Los Angeles and edged Chivas USA 3-2. As Bravo once starred for Chivas Guadalajara, the irony was too good to pass up.
Garber: Empire Field sets example for other MLS suitors 20 Mar 2011 MLS commissioner Don Garber thinks the temporary arrangements that the Vancouver Whitecaps have at Empire Field can be translated into other potential MLS expansion markets. A sold-out throng of 22,592 electrified the stadium as the Whitecaps beat Toronto FC 4-2.
Whitecaps overwhelm Toronto FC at euphoric Empire Field 20 Mar 2011 In 2007, it took Toronto FC 23 minutes and 13 seconds its fifth MLS game before it could register a goal. It took the Vancouver Whitecaps only 15. Designated Player Eric Hassli got the party started at a sold-out Empire Field (22,592), slamming home a half volley — endearing himself as a new folk hero on the Vancouver sports scene, as the Whitecaps stormed past an overwhelmed Toronto FC 4-2 in the all-Canadian curtain-raiser for both clubs.
Whitecaps hope continuity gives them advantage 18 Mar 2011 Jay Nolly will start his first game in MLS since 2007, when he goes between the sticks for the Vancouver Whitecaps for Saturday’s season opener against Toronto FC. Like a lot of players on expansion clubs — no matter what the league — Nolly told media Friday at Empire Field that the Whitecaps can exceed the low expectations placed upon them by the pundits. After all, in MLS, there is a history of expansion teams walking into a league with a low salary cap and high roster turnovers and winning. Chicago won it all in an expansion season. The Seattle Sounders have been to the playoffs each of their first two years in the league, and have two U.S. Open Cups. Nolly believes the Whitecaps will benefit from consistency. “We’ve brought, 10, 11, 15 guys from last year along,” said Nolly.
Teibert: Canadian U-20s inspired by U-17 success 18 Mar 2011 ussell Teibert and his teammates on the Canadian U-20 will look to the recent success of our U-17 program for inspiration. Teibert will leave the Vancouver Whitecaps Sunday, the day after they open the MLS season against Toronto FC, to head to Florida for the national U-20 camp. The Canadian team will then head to Guatemala for the CONCACAF qualifiers for the U-20 World Cup.