Toronto FC was unable to capitalize on 55-minute man advantage and dropped a 1-0 decision to the Chicago Fire Saturday evening at Charleston, S.C.‘s Blackbaud Stadium in the opening game of the 2011 Carolina Challenge Cup. A sixth-minute strike from Chicago’s Marco Pappa proved to be the difference, which resulted from a TFC defensive breakdown. Gaston Puerari initially sent a long ball across the face of the goal to Davis Paul, who one-touched back to an open Pappa for the tap-in from four yards out.

The Vancouver Whitecaps created plenty of chances, but had to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Portland Timbers Saturday at the preseason Cascadia Cup in Tukwila, Wash. The Timbers scored inside of the first 10 minutes, with Ryan Pore — who spent three years with the Kansas City Wizards slamming a the ball home after Whitecaps’ keeper Jay Nolly spilled it after the initial shot.

FC Edmonton has announced its full preseason schedule for the Arizona portion of its training camp. Highlighting the trip is a game against MLS Cup finalist FC Dallas, March 7 in Casa Grande, Ariz.

Lenarduzzi and coach Teitur Thordarson must believe that the core has established itself very nicely over the course of a few preseason games because, on Friday, the Whitecaps announced the signing of a DP — French striker Eric Hassli, who scored 21 goals in 34 games for Swiss side FC Zurich during its domestic championship season of 2008-09. He has scored one goal in five Champions League appearances.

Luke Kreamalmeyer led the way as the Montreal Impact finally beat an MLS team in preseason play. After loss to Portland and Sporting Kansas City, Montreal defeated FC Dallas 3-0 Wednesday in Arizona. But it has to be noted that FCD left most of its starting lineup well away from the pitch for this game. No sign of league MVP David Ferreira, striker Brek Shea, midfielder Daniel Hernandez or Winnipeg-raised defender Ugo Ihemelu. Regular starting keeper Kevin Hartman didn’t play, either.

On a brisk but tolerable night at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, Real Salt Lake was able to show what many had expected out of it coming into this CONCACAF Champions League Quarter-final matchup against the Columbus Crew. Its 4-1 victory showed the dominance over their opponent that many had expected given the relative stability of the two lineups.

Adrian Cann can’t go on. Toronto FC’s reigning team MVP has walked away from the club, beginning a holdout as he continues to look for an improved contract from the club. Cann did not travel with the team to Charleston, S.C. where the Reds will participate in the Carolina Challenge Cup. Cann signed a four-year deal to come to Toronto FC last season, but he made a huge impression as the safety-first centre back, providing some stability in the club’s fragile back line. Both Cann and Toronto FC were working on a new deal, but Cann rejected the club’s latest offer before packing his bags.

The11 caught up with Will Johnson at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah, in the midst of final preparations with Real Salt Lake for the final leg of their CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal matchup against the Columbus Crew. We asked Will about the rumors swirling that FIFA may be set to grant CONCACAF a fourth spot for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and about Team Canada’s important summer this year in Gold Cup action.

rlando City has yet to play a regular-season game in its central Florida home, but the USL side is already talking about a move to Major League Soccer. On its official Facebook page, the club has launched a new initiative by urging fans to buy tickets and to let family and friends know about the new soccer team. And the club has made it clear the end goal is to grow to the point where MLS can’t ignore the city.

In a game filled with trialists, some old problems haunted Toronto FC. Despite twice taking the lead, TFC lost 3-2 to the Houston Dynamo Thursday in their opening match of the preseason Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic in Orlando, Fla.