Sunday, November 28, 2010

Full Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show - November 28 Show & Podcast





Full Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show new podcast is up!
Subscribe to the show on Itunes here!

On a very Vancouver Whitecaps heavy show, Tyler Green is joined by Goalkeeper Jay Nolly, Defender Wes Knight, Winger Phil Davies & new goalkeeping signing Joe Cannon.

Tyler also welcomes Paul Attfield from the Globe & Mail for a little on-the-pitch TFC talk.

Marc Rizzardo from Metrotown Physio also drops in to diagnose some of the soccer world's most prominent injuries!

Full Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show airs every Sunday night. 9p-11p. Only on TEAM 1040


Breakdown

Phil Davies - Midfielder - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Very proud to be first Canadian signed to MLS whitecaps
- considering passing game to be his biggest attribute
- Jay nolly has great leadership
- Wes knight has great speed and attacking skills
- believes hard work will only help him learn and improve

Jay Nolly - Goalkeeper - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- views consistency as his strngest asset
-does lots of mental prep for games
- views Cannon as superior to him
- welcomes the competition for starting keeper
- believes the competitiong for keeper will pish them harder for the team
- will be able to learn lots from Joe Cannon
- Cannon is an established game keeper
- Wes Knight is very versatile
- Phil Davies is very impessive for his age
- Jay Demerit brings leadership
- wants to stay healthy and keep training hard

Wes Knight - Defense - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- had lots of offers and interest but felt Vancouver was his homer
- has developed and got great experience at Whitecaps
- views his work ethic as his best asset
- hard work always pays off... never give up!
- Nolly has confidence and lots of people supporting him
- Phil Davies still has his best to come; mature far beyond his years
- Demerit is a great addition
- views himself as his own competition
- Physio will be imporant to rehabilitate his injured shoulder
- wants to bulk up for MLS physically
- Likes the white whitecaps jersy...over the blue one...

Joe Cannon - Goalkeeper - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- excited to establish himself up here in Vancouver
- whitecaps seems like a very professional organization
- views his Vancouver expiernce as a new experience and challenge
- wants to prove himself
- believes there is compeition where ever you go in sports


Friday, November 26, 2010

Full-Time midweek podcast




Whitecaps expansion draft. Then the subsequent trades. It's all discussed on the midweek edition of Full-Time. Mike Martignago and The Province's Marc Weber break it down while Tyler Green is AWOL.

You can subscribe to the podcast by clicking here.

As always, Full-Time can be heard Sunday nights on TEAM 1040 from 9-11pm.


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Canada announces roster for Brazil tournament




Canada has announced its roster for the upcoming Torneio Internacional Cidade de São Paulo. Canada will play four matches from 9-19 December in São Paulo, Brazil. The four-match set will close out Canada's 2010 season.

"It is important that we build on our momentum and continue to prepare for Germany 2011," said national coach Carolina Morace. "We have a few players who are absent unfortunately due to college commitments, so we will try some different things with this camp."

Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, will group in Brazil this 30 November. Coach Morace has selected 22 players for the camp. Canada plays 9 December against the Netherlands (17.45 ET / 14.25 PT), 12 December against Mexico (16.00 ET / 13.00 PT),15 December against Brazil (20.00 ET / 17.00 PT) and 19 December against one of the three teams in either the championship or 3rd place match.

Before the first match on 9 December, the Canadian staff will in fact have both the national "A" team and the women's U-18 team in São Paulo, with separate sessions for each group. Each day, a few players from the U-18 camp will be invited to train with the national team.

Earlier this month in Cancún, Mexico, Canada won its second CONCACAF national A title, finishing first in the eight-team CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifier. Canada won all five matches, including a 1:0 victory over Mexico in the championship final.

With its victories in Mexico, Canada has qualified for a fifth-consecutive FIFA Women's World Cup. Before this Saturday, 15 of 16 teams have qualified for next year's competition in Germany, including Canada and Mexico from CONCACAF. The Saturday USA-Italy playoff match from Chicago (whereby USA leads the two-leg playoff with a 1:0 victory in Italy) is followed by the Monday 29 November Official Draw in Germany.

Canada announces U-18 camp and roster

Canada has announced it will host a women's U-18 camp this 29 November to 8 December in São Paulo, Brazil. The U-18 camp will run alongside the national A camp that starts on the same day, but continues from 9-20 December for the four-team Torneio Internacional Cidade de São Paulo.

Coach Carolina Morace has selected 22 players for this camp. The U-18 squad features players born 1992 or later, so it is in fact the very age group that will participate in the next CONCACAF Women's Under-20 Championship in 2012.

CANADA
GK- Stephanie Labbé | SWE / Piteå IF | Stony Plain, AB, CAN
GK- Karina LeBlanc | USA / Chicago Red Stars | Maple Ridge, BC, CAN
GK- Erin McLeod | USA / Washington Freedom | Edmonton & Calgary, AB, CAN
CB- Candace Chapman | Unattached / sans club | Ajax, ON, CAN
CB- Robyn Gayle | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Mississauga, ON, CAN
CB- Shannon Woeller | USA / Rutgers University | Vancouver, BC, CAN
CB- Emily Zurrer | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Crofton, BC, CAN
RB- Brittany Timko | Unattached / sans club | Coquitlam, BC, CAN
RB- Rhian Wilkinson | NOR / Lillestrøm SK Kvinner | Baie d’Urfe, QC, CAN
LB- Kara Lang | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Oakville, ON, CAN
LB- Marie-Eve Nault | CAN / Ottawa Fury | Trois-Rivières, QC, CAN
M- Laura Chénard | CAN / Amiral de Québec | Ste-Luce, QC, CAN
M- Carmelina Moscato | Unattached / sans club | Mississauga, ON, CAN
M- Diana Matheson | NOR / Lillestrøm SK Kvinner | Oakville, ON, CAN
M- Chelsea Stewart | USA / Vanderbilt University | The Pas, MB, CAN
M- Kaylyn Kyle | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Saskatoon, SK, CAN
M- Brooke McCalla | CAN / Master's Futbol Academy | Pickering, ON, CAN
F- Josée Bélanger | CAN / Amiral de Québec | Coaticook, QC, CAN
F- Christina Julien | CAN / Ottawa Fury | Williamstown, ON, CAN
F- Amélia Pietrangelo | CAN / Comètes de Laval | Laval, QC, CAN
F- Christine Sinclair | Unattached / sans club | Burnaby, BC, CAN
F- Melissa Tancredi | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC | Ancaster, ON, CAN


Please visit www.CanadaSoccer.com for more details in regards to the U-18 roster.
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Whitecaps sign 3




Newest MLS players debut at Grand Opening of new Whitecaps FC store; ‘Caps jersey an ideal gift for the holiday season

VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today the signing of homegrown midfielder Philippe Davies, defender Wes Knight, and goalkeeper Jay Nolly to the club's Major League Soccer roster. Per club policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

Sporting 2011 Whitecaps FC jerseys, the trio were introduced at today’s opening of the new Whitecaps FC store in Metropolis at MetroTown (next to Sport Chek) in Burnaby, BC. The store carries a wide range of Whitecaps FC merchandise, which is also available online at whitecapsfcshop.ca. 2011 Whitecaps FC jerseys start at $99.99 plus tax and can be customized with name and number upon request.

All three players were members of Whitecaps FC during the club's final season at the North American second division level in 2010. Davies, Knight, and Nolly join USA World Cup star Jay DeMerit, as well as MLS Expansion Draft picks Joe Cannon, Atiba Harris, Jonathan Leathers, Shea Salinas, and John Thorrington in becoming the latest players to be part of Vancouver's inaugural MLS season in 2011.

Davies, 19, becomes a member of the club's inaugural MLS roster following a highly productive 2010 season with the 'Caps. A product of the Whitecaps FC Residency program from 2007 to 2009 and the club's first MLS homegrown player, Davies has started 27 of his 34 appearances, scored one goal and recorded two assists. His first men's team goal came last season in a 2-2 draw away to Carolina RailHawks on July 31. A former Canadian U-17 and U-20 international, the native of Longueuil, Quebec, was part of a recent training camp with Canada's U-23 Olympic team, as they prepare towards qualification for the 2012 London Olympics.

Knight, 24, moves to MLS after two productive seasons with Whitecaps FC. A popular defender, the native of Easley, South Carolina, earned the club's 'Fan Favourite' award in 2010 with his dependable performances in Vancouver's defensive backline, while providing an attacking threat on the right flank with his crosses and long throw-ins. A product of the College of Charleston, Knight was also a finalist for the 2009 United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1) Rookie of the Year award. He finished the regular season as the USL-1's joint-assist leader alongside former 'Caps teammate Ricardo Sanchez, having tallied eight assists during his rookie campaign. During his two seasons with Vancouver, Knight has started 69 of his 72 appearances and earned 10 assists.

Nolly, 28, returns to MLS after three highly successful seasons as the Whitecaps FC starting goalkeeper. In 2010, the native of Littleton, Colorado, was named United States Soccer Federation Division-2 Professional League (USSF D-2 Pro League) Goalkeeper of the Year after registering an impressive 14 shutouts and a goals-against average of 0.74 in all 30 of Vancouver's regular season matches. In the past two seasons with Whitecaps FC, Nolly started every competitive match for the Blue and White and claimed the club's Most Valuable Player award on two straight occasions. In fact, Nolly's 38 total appearances this past season helped him break the club's ironman record of 78 consecutive matches that was previously held by former 'Caps striker Joey Gjertsen. Nolly sits second on the Whitecaps FC career shutout list with 41 clean sheets, while he is only the second goalkeeper after Paul Dolan to pass the 100-appearance mark for goalkeepers in club history. In total, Nolly has started 109 matches, with a record of 42 wins, 29 losses, and 28 draws. Prior to joining Whitecaps FC, Nolly spent three years in MLS with Real Salt Lake and D.C. United between 2005 and 2007.

Philippe Davies
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-00
Weight: 165
Born: December 12, 1990, in Longueuil, Quebec
Hometown: Longueuil, Quebec
Last Club: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (USSF D-2 Pro League)
Citizenship: Canada
How Acquired: Signed to a MLS contract by Whitecaps FC on November 26, 2010

Wes Knight
Position: Defender
Height: 5-11
Weight: 175
Born: September 6, 1986, in Easley, South Carolina
Hometown: Easley, South Carolina
Last Club: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (USSF D-2 Pro League)
College: College of Charleston
Citizenship: United States
How Acquired: Signed to a MLS contract by Whitecaps FC on November 26, 2010

Jay Nolly
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6-03
Weight: 205
Born: January 2, 1982, in Orlando, Florida
Hometown: Littleton, Colorado
Last Club: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (USSF D-2 Pro League)
College: Indiana University
Citizenship: United States
How Acquired: Signed to a MLS contract by Whitecaps FC on November 26, 2010


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Monday, November 22, 2010

2010 MLS Expansion draft lists




Some interesting names available

Chivas USA

Borja, Carlos

Bornstein, Jonathan

Chijindu, Chukwudi

Espinoza, Rodolfo

Galindo, Maykel

Gordon, Alan

Kennedy, Dan

Lillingston, Eduardo

Maldonado, Giancarlo

Mayen, Gerson

Padilla, Jesus

Romero, Osael

Saragosa, Marcelo

Trujillo, Mariano

Zotinca, Alex



Chicago Fire

Castillo, Nery

Dykstra, Andrew

John, Collins

Krol, Krzysztof

Ljungberg, Freddie

Lowry, Peter

Robinson, Dasan

Thorrington, John

Umanzor, Deris





Colorado Rapids

Akpan, Andre

Amarikwa, Quincy

Ceus, Steward

Joyce, Ian

LaBauex, Ross

Lopez, Claudio

O'Brien, Ciaran

Palguta, Scott

Schunk, Ross

Thompson, Wells

Vagenas, Peter

Wallace, Anthony



Columbus Crew

Brunner, Eric

Burns, Kevin

Garey, Jason

Griffit, Leandre

Gruenebaum, Andy

Hejduk, Frankie

Moffat, Adam

Oughton, Duncan

Padula, Gino

Schelotto, Guillermo Barros

Williams, Joshua



FC Dallas

Avila, Eric

Cunningham, Jeff

Davies, Kyle

Edward, Edson

Guarda, Bruno

Harris, Atiba

Hernandez, Daniel

McCarty, Dax

Rodriguez, Milton

Sala, Dario

Yeisley, Jason



D.C. United

Allsopp, Daniel

Barklage, Brandon

Cristman, Adam

Graye, Jordan

Hernandez, Pablo

McTavish, Devon

Morsink, Kurt

Pena, Juan

Perkins, Troy

Rice, Barry

Varela, Carlos



Houston Dynamo

Appiah, Samuel

Ashe, Corey

Cochrane, Ryan

Mulrooney, Richard

Ngwenya, Joseph

Obodai, Anthony

Oduro, Dominic

Onstad, Pat

Robinson, Eddie



Sporting Kansas City

Aiyegbusi, Korede

Beasley, Jamar

Chhetri, Sunil

Conrad, Jimmy

Diop, Birahim

Hercegfalvi, Zoltan

Hohlbein, Aaron

Kounenakis, Nick

Kronberg, Eric

Leathers, Jonathan

Myers, Chance

Thomas, Shavar

Wolff, Josh



LA Galaxy

Berhalter, Gregg

Cazumba, Alex

Da Silva, Leonardo

Jordan, Bryan

Kirovski, Jovan

Kovalenko, Dema

Magee, Mike

Marshall, Yohance

Perk, Brian

Saunders, Josh



New England Revolution

Boggs, Zak

Burpo, Preston

Colaluca, Nico

Dube, Kheli

Gibbs, Cory

Griffiths, Jason

Linck, Roberto

Murray, Tim

Phelan, Pat

Sinovic, Seth

Smith, Khano

Stolica, Ilija



New York Red Bulls

Angel, Juan Pablo

Boyens, Andrew

Chinn, Conor

da Luz, Austin

Garcia, Irving

Nielsen, Brian

Robinson, Carl

Salou, Ibrahim

Sassano, Luke

Sutton, Greg

Talley, Carey

Ubiparipovic, Sinisa



Philadelphia Union

Arrieta, Cristian

Coudet, Eduardo

Fred

Jacobson, Andrew

Knighton, Brad

Miglioranzi, Stefani

Moreno, Alejandro

Noone, Joseph

Salinas, Shea

Seitz, Chris

Zimmerman, Nick



Real Salt Lake

Alexandre, Jean

Campos, Pablo

Findley, Robbie

Gonzalez, Nelson

Grabavoy, Ned

Horst, David

McKenzie, Rauwshan

Melia, Timothy

Nimo, Alex

Reynish, Kyle

Russell, Robbie

Schuler, Chris

Warner, Collen

Williams, Andy



San Jose Earthquakes

Alvarez, Arturo

Andre Luiz

Beitashour, Steve

Burling, Bobby

Cannon, Joe

Corrales, Ramiro

Eduardo

Geovanni

Glen, Cornell

Leitch, Chris

Morrow, Justin

Ring, Brad

Ward, Tim



Seattle Sounders FC

Baudet, Julien

Boss, Terry

Earls, Danny

Estrada, David

Gonzalez, Leonardo

Graham, Taylor

Ianni, Patrick

Levesque, Roger

Marshall, Tyrone

Montano, Miguel

Nkufo, Blaise

Noonan, Pat

Nyassi, Sanna

Scott, Zacharias

Seamon, Michael

Sturgis, Nathan

Wahl, Tyson



Toronto FC

Barrett, Chad

de Guzman, Julian

Gala, Gabe

Garcia, Nick

Hscanovics, Raivis

Ibrahim, Fuad

Kocic, Milos

Martinez, Miguel Angel Ferrer

Nane, Joseph

Sanyang, Amadou

Saric, Martin

Usanov, Maxim

White, O'Brian







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Full Time Podcast - November 21




Full Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show has just put up this weekend's podcast! Listen here.

You can also subscribe to the podcast on I-tunes here.

The boys welcome new Vancouver Whitecaps signing Jay Demerit and ask him about his decision and his future at the 'Caps.

Toronto FC Player of the Year & former Vancouver Whitecap Adrian Cann also joins to the show to talk about receiving his award as well as his plans for the offseason.

Once again, Marc Rizzardo of Metrotown Physio pops in to diagnose some of the soccer world's most prominent injuries!

Also, a full re-cap and analysis of the MLS Cup Final played at BMO field Sunday night. Not only that but the regular analysis of soccer from around Europe including EPL, La Liga, Seria A & Bundesliga coverage!

Producer Corey Basso has played off Vancouver's sub zero temperatures this weekend and made it a "chilly" theme...all things cold! (Snow, Ice etc)

Don't forget to tune in to the mid-week podcast when The Province's Marc Weber joins Mike & Tyler for more Vancouver Whitecaps talk!

Full Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show airs every Sunday! 9p-11p. Only on Team 1040!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Colorado Rapids win the 2010 MLS Cup


TORONTO (AP) -- FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman knows soccer can be cruel sometimes. It certainly was for FC Dallas defender George John on Sunday night in the MLS Cup.
John deflected a shot into his own net in overtime and the Colorado Rapids beat FC Dallas 2-1 for their first MLS championship.

"You play for 90 plus minutes and it's a game of inches," Hyndman said. "It's a deflection goal. It goes in and you say 'How did that happen?"'

Dallas captain Daniel Hernandez found it hard to contain his emotions.

"It definitely hurts to get this far and be so close," Hernandez said. "There's no words to describe the feeling if you win and there's no words if you lose."

League MVP David Ferreira scored for Dallas in the first half, and Colorado's Conor Casey, selected the game MVP, tied it in the second.

In the second half of overtime, Rapids substitute Macoumba Kandji took a long pass from Casey, drove inside the box, beat a defender and stabbed the ball across the face of the Dallas goal. His shot spun off John's left thigh and over goalkeeper Kevin Hartman's head. John was charged with an own goal.

"I don't mind how they come," Rapids coach Gary Smith said. "If they're winners, it doesn't matter. For somebody to score an own goal there must be some pressure, they must be under some pressure, to make that mistake."

The 23-year-old John, a second-year player from Washington, fell to one knee, holding his head in his hands.

"I told him you don't let stuff like that make you who you are," Hartman said. "You can make it a footnote in your entire resume, but you don't let it become who you are. He's a solid defender. He's probably one of the best defenders I've ever played with."

The attendance was announced at 21,700, a sellout, but there were hundreds of empty seats scattered around the stadium. The temperature at kickoff was 45 degrees.

Kandji, Colorado's third and final substitute, sprained his left knee on the play and had to limp off, leaving the Rapids a player short for the final 12 minutes.

"At that point, I thought the defenders did their job admirably," Smith said.

Kandji was slow to leave the field, leading to a confrontation with Dallas' Ugo Ihemelu, who accused him of wasting time. Ihelemu shoved Kandji as he hobbled slowly off the field, but was not disciplined.

Ferreira nearly set up the tying goal with 5 minutes left, sliding a pass across the box to Ihelemu, but the defender blazed his shot high.

Rapids goalkeeper Matt Pickens made a crucial save in the final minute, pushing John's shot wide. Moments later, defender Drew Moor cleared a shot off the goal line after Dallas striker Jeff Cunningham had rounded the goalie.

"Jeff's speed gives him some opportunities sometimes and I anticipated it pretty early," Moor said. "I don't think he quite got as much on it as he wanted to and I was just in the right place at the right time."

Dallas opened the scoring in the 35th minute when winger Marvin Chavez fired an precise cross into the path of a streaking Ferreira, who used his right foot to hammer the ball past Pickens.

"He scored a great goal," Casey said. "The ball played into him was perfect."

It was the second goal of the playoffs for Ferreira, who scored eight times during the regular season and also scored the opening goal last weekend in a 3-0 semifinal victory over Los Angeles.

Colorado tied it in the 57th minute. Jamie Smith cut into the penalty area and fired a low ball at the net, with Casey arriving at the same time as Hartman and defender Jair Benitez. Casey reacted fastest when the ball squirted loose, kicking it into the goal while still lying on the grass.

"(The ball) was caught up between the keeper and the defender," Casey said. "It was on the ground under his arm. No one could really get to it but my toe so I just poked it in."

The Rapids nearly took the lead 5 minutes later on a free kick by Jeff Larentowicz, but Hartman dove to his left to push the low, hard shot around his far post.

Colorado players surrounded referee Baldomero Toledo in anger after he denied the Rapids the chance to take a corner kick with time winding down at the end of the second half, blowing his whistle to send the game to extra time.

NOTES: John's own goal was the third in the 15-year history of the MLS Cup, and the first to decide a game. ... This was the seventh overtime MLS Cup final. ... Colorado was playing in the MLS Cup for the second time and first since 1997. Dallas was playing in the championship game for the first time.

MLS Playoff Format Change?




TORONTO — MLS Commissioner Don Garber said on Sunday that he will unveil details of the 2011 schedule and playoff formats as well as the possibility of moving to an international schedule.
The announcement will come during a halftime interview of the MLS Cup 2010 broadcast on ESPN and TSN2 tonight. The match is at 8:30 pm ET.
Speaking at the MLS Supporters Summit on Sunday, Garber indicated that next year's playoff format will change slightly—a "tweak," he said during a meeting with media members on Saturday—with the possibility of a play-in match.



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Friday, November 19, 2010

Canada returns to top-10 ranking




Canada has returned to the top-10 on the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Rankings. On the heels of five consecutive wins and a second CONCACAF championship, Canada has moved up four places to ninth on the world ranking. It marks the fourth time Canada has ranked as high as ninth in the world.

The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Rankings looks at each country’s international results from the last four years. The ranking takes into account the result, the importance of the match, the strength of the opponent, the regional strength, the time period, and the number of matches per year. The ranking comes out four times a year.

Canada gained 28 points after winning all five matches at the 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifier. Canada jumped ahead of Australia (Asia champions), Italy, Denmark and England. England gained six points on the ranking, but is now one point behind Canada (1973 to 1974) in 10th place.

Canada's 28-point jump was the biggest from any top-25 nation. Equatorial Guinea (48 points and eight places up to 62nd in the world) made the biggest jump. Peru took the biggest drop at 72 points, but the world's number-one ranked USA made a significant drop of 42 points. USA, Germany and Brazil remain the top-three nations in the world. Within CONCACAF, the top-three nations are USA, Canada and Mexico (still 22nd in the world).

FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Rankings

1 USA 2,185

2 Germany 2,153

3 Brazil 2,116

4 Sweden 2,063

5 Japan 2,036

6 Korea DPR 2,005

7 Norway 2,002

8 France 1,998

9 Canada 1,974

10 England 1,973


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Whitecaps FC Seat Selection Strategy

Teitur Thordarson, Whitecaps FC head coach, goes through the seat selection process for BC Place Stadium.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Full-Time Midweek Podcast Now Available


The Full-Time Midweek podcast is now available for your listening pleasure. You can do so by subscribing via iTunes here.

This week, Tyler, Mike and Marc discuss the Whitecaps first signing to the MLS side in Jay DeMerit. You will also hear from Jay DeMerit as Tyler went one on one with Jay. Teitur Thordarson is also heard from as he spoke to Tyler.

Other topics include the MLS Reserve League, roster expansion and other MLS notes from the Don Garber state of the union address.

Plus random future Whitecaps signings of the absurd. This week, Robbie Savage.

Enjoy!!

Random Whitecaps FC / Robbie Savage Rumour


Because we on Full-Time enjoy random Whitecaps FC rumours, especially those involving the Designated Players... here's another one to add to the list. Current Derby County Midfielder Robbie Savage.

Let's piece it together. Savage is a 36-year old midfielder. He has a style that in 2008, the Daily Mail labelled him as the dirtiest player in Premier League history, based on numbers of yellow cards received, though he has since been surpassed as the player with the most Premier League yellow cards by Lee Bowyer. Which would certainly excite the hockey fan in this Canadian market.

Savage, as mentioned, currently plays for Derby County. His contract expires at the end of this current season in 2011. Derby County is partially owned (or an investor) by Jeff Mallett. Mallett is also one of the owners of the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The final straw in this tale comes from Robbie Savage himself via the Twitter. Who wrote, "What's Vancouver like tweeps!!"

There you have it. Robbie Savage, a future Whitecap!!


And seriously, who doesn't want this man playing for your club.

Full-Time midweek podcast tonight




Tonight, Tyler and Mike from Full-Time: The Soccer Show on TEAM 1040 Radio in Vancouver will be joined, as always, by Marc Weber of The Province newspaper for the Midweek podcast.

The boys will discuss the first Major League Soccer signing by the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the form of Jay DeMerit. You'll also hear from Jay DeMerit and head coach Teitur Thordarson.

Details on where to listen will be posted later this evening.

As always, you can listen to Full-Time: The Soccer Show every Sunday night at 9pm on TEAM 1040 or online at www.teamradio.ca


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Adrian Cann named TFC's 2010 MVP winner


Toronto FC defender Adrian Cann has been named the club’s Most Valuable Player for 2010. Cann, 30, made 26 appearances in his first season with his hometown team and produced consistently strong performances in the heart of the defence.

Cann signed with Toronto after a successful preseason trial and made his debut in the 2-1 win against Philadelphia Union at BMO Field on April 15. He was a starter in all 26 of his MLS appearances.

“I am honoured to receive the award,” said Cann. “It is a surprise to me because a lot of players had a very good year. It was great to be back playing at home this year with lots of support from my family and friends. The fans have been incredible and nothing compares to them in MLS.”

Cann was originally drafted 16th overall in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids and also played for Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps. Prior to moving to Toronto, he spent two years playing in Europe with Danish team Esberg FB.

Goalkeeper Stefan Frei has been named Toronto FC’s 2010 Humanitarian of the Year, an award recognizing his commitment to working in the community.

“Toronto FC is more than just a football club. We represent the community and the city,” said Frei. “It is not just about performing on the pitch; we also have a responsibility off it as well. Everyone is part of the club and it is important that we stay connected and work together.”

Toronto FC captain Dwayne De Rosario is the Golden Boot winner after finishing as the team’s top goal scorer with a career high 15 regular season goals.

The awards were presented at Toronto FC’s 90th Minute Party in downtown Toronto on Wednesday night as part of the build up to Sunday’s MLS Cup at BMO Field. The League’s Championship match between FC Dallas and Colorado Rapids kicks off at 8:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast in Canada live on TSN2.



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Whitecaps FC sign Jay DeMerit


Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today the signing of American international and former Watford FC captain Jay DeMerit - pending his international transfer certificate. DeMerit becomes the first player named to the Whitecaps FC Major League Soccer roster. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

"Jay is a quality individual and leader - both on and off the pitch - and is the type of player we are looking to build our team with," said Bob Lenarduzzi, Whitecaps FC president. "He has excelled both at the club and international levels, and we are thrilled that Jay has joined Whitecaps FC as our first Major League Soccer player signing."

Internationally, DeMerit has earned 23 caps with the United States of America, and most recently started all four matches for his country during last summer's FIFA World Cup. The 30-year-old centre back helped the USA finish first in Group C and advance to the knockout stages before falling in extra time to Ghana. As a member of the top-ranked CONCACAF nation, DeMerit started all five matches in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and helped form the backbone of the Stars and Stripes' defence that reached the tournament final against Brazil. The native of Green Bay, Wisconsin, made his international debut against Guatemala in March 2007.

At club level, DeMerit enjoyed six outstanding seasons with England's Watford FC. He originally joined the Football League Championship side (second tier in England) in July 2004 following an impressive preseason friendly performance versus Watford as a trialist with semi-professional outfit Northwood FC of the Isthmian League Premier Division (seventh tier in England). Watford’s manager during that time was Ray Lewington, who was a starting midfielder for Whitecaps FC during the club’s 1979 North American Soccer League championship season.

DeMerit became an instant starter with Watford and helped the Hertfordshire-based club earn promotion to the English Premier League by scoring the match-winning goal in the 2005-06 Championship playoff final over Leeds United FC. Watford returned to The Championship the following season, and in December 2007, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound defender was named team captain. Following the 2008-09 season, DeMerit received the Community Ambassador award in recognition of his charity and community work with Watford.

Last season with Watford, DeMerit played in 27 league matches and one Football Association Cup match. As a member of The Hornets, DeMerit made 213 appearances in all competitions, including 193 starts, and scored 10 goals.

"I am very thankful for my experiences with Watford FC and look forward to this new opportunity in Vancouver," added DeMerit. "Whitecaps FC have a tremendous history and great support in this beautiful city. After spending several seasons in England, I felt it was the right time to return to North America and I have been impressed by the Whitecaps FC organization and the vision they have as a club. I am excited to make Vancouver my new home."

Prior to his time with Watford, DeMerit played the 2003-04 season with Southall FC of the Combined Counties Football League (ninth tier in England), while in 2001, the defender played one season with Chicago Fire Premier of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League. From 1998 to 2001, he was a starter at the University of Illinois at Chicago in the NCAA Division I.

Jay DeMerit
Position: Defender
Height: 6-01
Weight: 180
Born: December 4, 1979, in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Hometown: Green Bay, Wisconsin
Last Club: Watford FC (English League Championship)
College: University of Illinois at Chicago
Citizenship: United States
How Acquired: Free agent signing by Whitecaps FC on November 18, 2010

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Whitecaps interest in Guadeloupe international?




I mentioned this on Full-Time during Sunday evenings show. On 15 October 2010, Mickaël Antoine-Curier is a French born, Guadeloupe international currently out of contract. He had been with Dundee in Scotland, but had his contract terminated by Dundee, a victim of the club entering administration. Could the Whitecaps be interested?

According to the a report in a Scottish newspaper, (see the final few paragraphs),the 'Caps are interested in speaking to him. Other Scottish clubs were interested, but have since dropped from the race to sign him.

What makes this more plausible is the fact that both Antoine-Curier and current Whitecaps Head Coach Teitur Thordarson were in Norway at the same time, where Antoine-Curier scored 27 goals in 21 games in the 2005 season, winning the Norwegian golden boot and the Norwegian Second Division player of the year award. Thordarson was coaching against him that year.

The Whitecaps are also not afraid to sign French speaking players. It's almost the second language of the club with 6 members of the squad speaking French.

The Whitecaps are looking for someone who can score, and throughout his career, it appears Antoine-Curier can. 'Caps Head Coach Teitur Thordarson said on Full-Time a few weeks ago that, "you will see some players on trial when we go to California for a training camp", so it will be interesting to see if Antoine-Curier is one of the players headed to California on November 27th for camp following the expansion draft.

Meanwhile, a few more Whitecaps rumours can be found here, courtesy of website mls-rumors.

And with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC heading to MLS, more rumours will continue to follow, including DP Rumours. Like Full-Time host Mike Martignago's wild speculation of Robert Pires.

- written by Tyler Green

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Monday, November 15, 2010

Full Time Podcast - November 14




The most recent edition of Full Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show has uploaded to our podcast. Click here to listen.

To subscribe on I-tunes, Click here.

Canadian Women's National Team Goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc joins the program to talk about the team's qualification for the Women's World Cup as well as her future in soccer.

Once again, Marc Rizzardo from Metrotown Physio drops in to diagnose some of the soccer world's most prominent injuries.

All that plus all the action and scores from around Europe including the EPL, Serie A, La Liga & German Bundesliga. Also, a rundown of this weekend's epic Milan Derby!

Producer Corey Basso has conjurred up a "Remembrance week" theme...Lest we forget.

Of course, you can always tune in to the midweek podcast where The Province's Marc Weber joins Mike & Tyler for some Whitecaps talk!

Full Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show airs every Sunday. 9p-11p. Only on the TEAM 1040!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

The Milan Derby

It's that time of year again. Time for the Milan derby. The only derby in Europe played by two teams which has been champions of Europe and the world.



Since the 2006 Calciopoli scandal that crippled Juventus and almost did the same to AC Milan, Inter have won 6 of the 8 derby matches.

Milan fans will want to forget last year when they were defeated 6-0 on aggregate over the 2 derbies. Inter also went on to win the treble.

However, I have a feeling things may be different this year. One key element has been added that makes the derby more important that usual. Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Ibra was an absolute monster in front of goal for Inter Milan during his 3 years there. He was the driving force behind an Inter side that look one dimensional in his absence. However, now he wears the black and red stripes of Inter's cross town rivals AC Milan.

Ibrahimovic is definately fired up to prove his worth against his old club, especially after Inter President Massimo Moratti labeled Zlatan "selfish" after his summer transfer.

Zlatan will be the key man for AC Milan you must feel. With Pato & Inzaghi out as attacking options... it will no doubt be Zlatan & Robinho...possibly backed by Seedorf in the hole. Inter will want to shut down Milan attacking options and try to expose an aging and often faulty backline.

AC Milan are going to want to shutdown the trident of Eto'o, Milito & Sneijder. The trio ran rough shot over Milan last year in the derbies and if the Rossoneri have any chance of winning this one... they need to shutdown the attackers. Eto'o is in his usual fine form, Sneijder will be returning from injury and Milito will look to break a slump that has haunted him since the beginning of the season.

Pretty much, a battle of attack for me. Inter are without Samuel, who I believe to be their best defender and Milan's defense are a little past it. The last thing Milan want to do is give Diego Milito a ray of light to turn his season around.

Ibrahimovic will try and become the 2nd player ever to score for both sides in the Milan derby. The only other player to accomplish this is legendary Brazilian striker Ronaldo.


Battles aside...one must ask...does this match have title implications? Personally, I don't think so. It's far too early in the season to be jumping to conclusions just yet, however Milan should treat it like it's the most important match of the year.

In the past few seasons Milan have been on the verge of taking the driver seat in the scudetto chase but have fallen short in the derby. Last year, Milan looked unstoppable coming off a 4-0 win over Siena while Inter looked barely buoyant only managing to string together a series of draws. When it came time for the big match Inter showed their true colors and punished Milan and effectively killed their title hopes. Milan need to atleast get a draw from this encounter.

For me part of the reason Milan couldnt get past Inter last year... was the attack. Ronaldinho just isn't a big game player... for all the flashy trickery he sometimes pulls... he's looked like an invisible man in the derby. Pato was often isolated by himself and was just marked out of the game by Lucio & Samuel. With the addition of Zlatan and Robinho and the absence of Samuel... Milan look way better going forward this year.

Bottom line : The derby can be a huge momentum shifter and both defenses will have to be their best to shutdown razor sharp attacking lines.

There have been some past derbies that turned out to be absolute classics...let's take a trip down memory lane. Shall we?

2003: The Milan derby becomes the Euro derby as Milan & Inter meet for the first time in Europe in the UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals. The first leg finished 0-0. The second leg saw Andriy Shevchenko score on the stroke of half time to put Milan ahead. Obafemi Martins potted a late equalizer but it was no good as Milan won on away goals and booked themselves a spot in the UCL finals. They went on to defeat Juventus on kicks for their 6th UCL title. Highlights here

2004: Javier Zanetti & Dejan Stankovic scored early for Inter to put them up 2-0 over AC milan at half time. A determined Rossoneri stormed back with 3 goals in the 2nd half to take the three points. Goals from Tomasson, Kaka & Seedorf. Milan went on to lift the Serie A crown that year. Highlights here

2005: Easily the most infamous of the derby matches. Milan & Inter are drawn in their second Euroderby in 3 years. Milan win the opening leg 2-0 with goals from Shevchenko & Stam. The 2nd leg was all Inter as they pushed forward lookin to draw level on aggregate. Their dreams were shattered by a 25 yard left footed stunner by who else...Andriy Shevchenko. Most fans will remember this as the match where then Milan keeper Nelson Dida was pelted by live flares from the Inter faithful. The match was abandoned and the tie was awarded to Milan. Highlights here.

2007: New signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic leads Inter to a thorough 4-3 dismantling of AC Milan. This ushered in a new wave of dominance of Italian football by Milan's rivals. Highlights here.

2010: Inter wins both legs of the derby by a aggregate of 6-0 and establish themselves as Italian footballs number one force. Highlights here

Who will win tomorrow? Watch and find out.

Basso's prediction: 1-1 or 2-2 draw.

Producer Corey Basso
Full Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show
Full Time airs every Sunday night. 9p-11p. Only on TEAM 1040!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Devastating injury blow for St Johnstone loan striker Marcus Haber


After recently making his international debut for Canada in Ukraine, Marcus Haber's season in Scotland is officially over.

The news was broken to the 21-year-old by boss Derek McInnes and club physio Nick Summersgill on Monday.

Haber had arrived in Perth with high hopes on a season-long loan from English Premiership side West Bromwich Albion in the summer. However, his stay has been cruelly cut short.

"Marcus has suffered a cruciate injury and his season is over," McInnes said. "I am gutted for him. This is not nice at any time for a footballer.

The full details can be found my clicking here.

Sounders FC News & Notes - November 10, 2010




Sounders FC Year Two: Closing Fast on the Elite
A remarkable turnaround, a sensational surge into the postseason. Attendance records smashed and another trophy hoisted.

It was a very good year for the Seattle Sounders FC, and there's every reason to believe 2011 will be only better.

Sounders FC completed its second season earlier this week, falling to the L.A. Galaxy, 2-1, in the second leg of their MLS Western Conference Semifinal series and 3-1 on aggregate. Still, the Rave Green seems poised to take another stride forward toward becoming an MLS Cup champion and regional power.

Over the course of playing 44 competitive matches, Seattle developed into a deeper, more mature and more resilient side. While there is still a ways to go, certainly Sounders FC proved that its sensational first season was no fluke and that it is fast closing on the continent's best clubs.

In 2010 Sounders FC won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for a second time, becoming the first team in 27 years to repeat as champion. It earned a second straight postseason berth, won 14 games during the MLS regular season-two more than the inaugural campaign-and has lost fewer matches in the first two years than any club in the league's 15-year existence.

None of the achievements came easily. The team was shaken by the loss of several key players due to injuries. There was a disappointing start to the season and a demanding schedule as a consequence of its Open Cup run combined with the initial venture into the CONCACAF Champions League. No club in the region flew more miles and no team in MLS played more matches.

Just as the team's successes multiplied, so did its supporters population. Seattle shattered its own MLS season attendance record, averaging 36,173 fans at its home matches and running its streak of consecutive sellouts to 32 straight MLS matches on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. The home crowd of 31,311 for the Open Cup Final was by far the largest in the tournament's 97-year history.

Upcoming Media Availability for Players & Coaches:
Monday, November 15 - Starfire Sports Complex, 11:30 a.m.

Upcoming Key Dates (times are Pacific & subject to change)
Sunday, November 21, 5:30 p.m. - MLS Cup 2010, BMO Field, Toronto
Monday, November 22 - Expansion Draft Protected Lists Submitted
Wednesday, November 24, 11 a.m. - Expansion Draft
Thursday, December 2, 7 a.m. - FIFA Announces hosts for 2018 and 2022 World Cups
Friday, December 17- Sunday, December 19 - Sounders FC College Combine, Las Vegas

Sounders FC Fast Facts
·Sounders FC finished with a mark of 19-14-8 in all competitions, 14-10-6 in MLS regular season (6th overall) and had the third best road record (6-6-3)
·Seattle finished with the best record (10-2-3) during the second half of the regular season, winning a club record (and MLS season high) five in a row overall and going unbeaten (5-0-2) in the final seven at home
·The Rave Green became the first repeat champion of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 27 years and broke the 97-year-old tournament's single game attendance record with 31,311 for the final, a 2-1 win over Columbus
·Sounders FC shattered its own MLS regular season attendance record, averaging 36,173. It averaged 30,943 in 2009. There have been 32 consecutive sellouts for MLS matches
·Two new Designated Players-Swiss forward Blaise Nkufo and Uruguayan midfielder Alvaro Fernandez-arrived following their action in the World Cup. Nkufo scored the first hat trick in club history and a Fernandez goal sent the Rave Green through to the group stage of the Champions League
·Fredy Montero repeated as the club's Gold Boot winner, finishing with 10 goals and 10 assists (12 and 11, respectively, in all competitions). He was one of two players to rank among MLS top ten in both goals and assists and was chosen July Player of the Month
·Steve Zakuani more than doubled his rookie season total with 10 goals and added six assists
·Nate Jaqua was named the U.S. Open Cup player of the tournament and finished as the joint scoring leader with five goals
·James Riley was named the team's Humanitarian of the Year and the MLS W.O.R.K.S. October Humanitarian of the Month. Sanna Nyassi was the April Humanitarian of the Month
·Seattle sustained the fewest (17) losses in the first two seasons of any club in the 15-year existence of MLS
·Goalkeeper and captain Kasey Keller has played in 59 consecutive (and 63 of 64 overall) MLS regular season and playoff matches, dating to April 25, 2009
·The defense posted more shutouts (11) than 2009 and allowed only 12 goals in the final 15 games

Give Us Your Full 90 Again in 2011!
Sounders FC are currently accepting deposits for 2011 season tickets. To join, please visit SoundersFC.com or call 877-MLS-GOAL. Seattle's schedule will include matches with MLS newcomers Portland and Vancouver, plus an international friendly against a soon-to-be-announced opponent. Sounders FC had 32,000 season ticket holders in 2010.

Vote Now for MLS Goal of the Year
Fan voting is now open for the 2010 AT&T Goal of the Year and NAPA Auto Parts Save of the Year awards. The deadline for voting is Thursday at 8:59 p.m. PT.

Sounders FC has nine finalists for Goal of the Year-the most of any team. Steve Zakuani (two nominations), Fredy Montero (two also), Blaise Nkufo, Leo Gonzalez, Roger Levesque, Alvaro Fernandez and James Riley are all nominated by virtue of winning Goal of the Week awards.

Kasey Keller has five nominations for Save of the Year.

This year, fans of participating wireless carriers may also vote for the AT&T Goal of the Year by texting GOAL to 22442 from their mobile device to watch the nominees and select their favorite. The 2010 AT&T Goal of the Year and NAPA Auto Parts Save of the Year will be announced on November 17.

To vote online for the 2010 AT&T Goal of the Year, please visit:
www.mlssoccer.com/att-goal-year-vote-now

To vote online for the 2010 NAPA Auto Parts Save of the Year, please visit:
www.mlssoccer.com/napa-save-year-vote-now

Sounders FC Turns Three
Saturday marks the third anniversary of Sounders FC joining MLS. The November 13, 2007 announcement was made on the 75th floor of the Columbia Center.

Draft Dates
The Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the newest members of MLS in 2011, will each select 10 players in the expansion draft on November 24. All teams must submit their protected list by November 22. The MLS SuperDraft is scheduled for January 13 in Baltimore.

World Cup 2022: Join the Bid
There is still time to join Seattle's bid to host FIFA World Cup games in 2022. The Emerald City has been identified as an official host city by the USA Bid Committee and will be included in the formal bid book presented to FIFA on December 1 in Zurich. On the following day, December 2, FIFA will announce the host nations for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Over 1.1 million people have signed up online to support the U.S. bid (www.gousabid.com), including more than 46,000 backing Seattle as a site to host matches.

The other 17 cities selected by the USA Bid Committee are, in alphabetical order: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, Tampa and Washington, D.C.

Remarkable Notes
Seattle's resiliency and determination was put to the test throughout much of its second season, but in the end the Rave Green shined. After allowing nine goals in three straight losses to end the first half of the season, Sounders FC sat 11th overall in the table. Further, it was missing three starters and a fourth was just on his way back.

Nevertheless, Seattle battled its way back into contention and did so with momentum generated in its U.S. Open Cup run. A youth movement in midfield and a reshuffled central defense provided a platform for success. Sounders FC went undefeated in nine straight matches over all competitions, reaching the semifinals of the Open Cup, the group stage of the Champions League and the .500 plateau in MLS after the 4-8-3 start.

Fredy Montero shouldered much of the scoring load, scoring a goal or an assist in nine consecutive matches at one point (the longest such stretch in MLS this season). By September the entire attack caught fire, with Blaise Nkufo scoring five goals in a span of three games and wingers Steve Zakuani and Sanna Nyassi combined for five more in the final two months.

No team in MLS traveled more than Seattle, and added to that were four trips to Central America and Mexico in a seven-week period. Still, it persevered, going 5-1-1 in MLS road games.

Among the Leaders
Seattle finished the regular season leading the league in fouls suffered (362) and corner kicks (171). It finished second in assists (44) and seventh in goals (39). Fredy Montero took 91 shots (T-3rd) with 34 on goal (7th). His four game-winning goals is tied for fifth. He committed 44 fouls (T-5th) and suffered 60 (4th). Steve Zakuani and Montero each scored ten goals (T-10th) and had four game-winning assists (T-4th). Montero's ten assists is tied for fifth. Kasey Keller finished tied for third amongst goalkeepers with 14 wins. Keller's 11 shutouts is tied-second and he is fifth with 82 saves.

MLS Cup Playoff Bracket
Western Conference Semifinals
Real Salt Lake 1 at FC Dallas 2, October 30
FC Dallas 1 at Real Salt Lake 1, November 6
FC Dallas advanced 3-2 on aggregate

Los Angeles Galaxy 1 at Seattle Sounders FC 0, October 31
Seattle Sounders FC 1 at Los Angeles Galaxy 2, November 7
Los Angeles advanced 3-1 on aggregate

Western Conference Final
FC Dallas at Los Angeles Galaxy, Sunday, November 14, 6 p.m. PT (ESPN)

Eastern Conference Semifinals
Columbus Crew 0 at Colorado Rapids 1, October 28
Colorado Rapids 1 at Columbus Crew 2, November 6
Colorado advanced on penalties, 5-4, after finishing 2-2 on aggregate

New York Red Bulls 1 at San Jose Earthquakes 0, October 30
San Jose Earthquakes 3 at New York Red Bulls 1, November 4
San Jose advanced 3-2 on aggregate

Eastern Conference Final
San Jose Earthquakes at Colorado Rapids, Saturday, November 13, 6:30 p.m. PT (Fox Soccer)

Last Match Recap:
Sounders FC 1, L.A. Galaxy 2 - November 7, 2010 - The Home Depot Center
David Beckham assisted on a pair of set-piece goals as the Galaxy won the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinal to sweep the series and finish ahead, 3-1, on aggregate goals.

Seattle entered the match trailing 1-0 after dropping the first leg at home on October 31 but Steve Zakuani's late strike was not enough to overcome first-half goals by Edson Buddle and Omar Gonzalez.

Buddle scored the game's first goal in the 19th minute. Beckham swung a corner kick into the box where Buddle's header from 8 yards beat Kasey Keller to the far post.

Beckham again supplied the service on the Galaxy's second goal as he sent a free kick into the box from the left side in the 27th minute. Gonzalez made a near post run and nodded a diving header past Keller.

After threatening numerous times in the second half, Seattle scored in the 86th minute when Nate Jaqua cut the ball between two Galaxy defenders in the box and Zakuani blasted a left-footed shot past Donovan Ricketts.

Zakuani became the first Sounders FC player to score in postseason play. He has scored in each of the three matches against the Galaxy at the HDC.

Sounders FC had several opportunities to add another late tally. Just minutes after the goal, Tyrone Marshall flicked an Alvaro Fernandez corner kick to the far post but Jaqua's sliding attempt missed wide. Osvaldo Alonso struck a low shot from outside the box in the 93rd minute but it also slid just wide of the post.

Seattle held a 13-9 advantage in shots (4-4 on goal) and the sides were even on corner kicks at five. Earlier in the half, Zakuani got free in the box but his shot in the 67th minute was stopped by an onrushing Ricketts and Fredy Montero's drive in the 73rd minute was deflected wide of the far corner.

Keller made two saves, including a stop on a header from Gonzalez in the 6th minute and a save on Mike Magee's low try five minutes later.

Sounders FC remains winless (0-3-1) in four playoff matches, including a scoreless draw and a 1-0 extra time loss to the Houston Dynamo in the 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Seattle was without central defender Jeff Parke (ankle sprain) and was replaced by Marshall on the backline. It was Marshall's first MLS start since July 4 at Los Angeles.

Academy: Rave Green Visit NorCal
The Sounders FC Academy U16 team heads to northern California this weekend on the bounce of winning three straight, including a pair of home matches last weekend. Meanwhile, the U18 team remained undefeated following a win and a draw at Starfire.

In their Northwest Division opener, the U16s (5-1-0) got a goal and an assist from Ike Crook to beat the San Jose Earthquakes, 2-1. The goals came two minutes apart. Austin Sweeney converted a Crook cross in the 15th minute and Jesse Klug found Crook for what proved to be the game-winner on the next foray downfield. Keenan Townsend made a big save in the 60th minute to preserve the win.

Seattle came from behind with four second-half goals to defeat the Cal Odyssey, 4-1, the following day. Klug's brace was backed up by goals from Michael Gallagher and Crook, while Connor Adkisson produced a big save and then assisted on Klug's second tally with a long punt. Klug now has four goals.

The U18s (3-0-3) were held scoreless for the first time in four matches by San Jose, settling for a 0-0 draw. Despite playing a man down for most of the match, Sounders FC finished with a 22-7 advantage in shots. Still, it was a penalty kick save by Ryan Herman in the 80th minute that enabled the Rave Green to earn the point.

Sean Okoli scored a goal and an assist the next afternoon in a 3-nil win over the Cal Odyssey. Brandon Brockway and Darwin Jones scored in the 33rd and 35th minutes. Nick Palodichuk assisted on the first and Okoli's insurance goal (his fifth of the season) just before full time.

The Sounders FC Academy teams face the De Anza Force in Cupertino on Saturday and the Santa Cruz Breakers on Sunday. They each host Crossfire Premier on November 20.

Seattle will conclude the 2010 portion of the schedule at the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase, December 4, 5 and 7 in Phoenix. Sounders FC will face South Carolina United, Virginia Rush and Lonestar SC.

Sounders FC Roster
The following players are currently training with Sounders FC: Goalkeepers (3): Terry Boss, Kevin Guppy+, Kasey Keller; Defenders (10): Taylor Graham, Leo Gonzalez, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Patrick Ianni, Tyrone Marshall, Jeff Parke, James Riley, Zach Scott, Tyson Wahl, Jamel Wallace*. Midfielders (8): Osvaldo Alonso, David Estrada, Brad Evans, Alvaro Fernandez, Sanna Nyassi, Michael Seamon, Nathan Sturgis, Peter Vagenas; Forwards (9): Mike Fucito, Blaise Nkufo, Nate Jaqua, Roger Levesque, Miguel Montaño, Fredy Montero, Pat Noonan, Ty Perdido*, Steve Zakuani.
*invitee; +MLS emergency goalkeeper

Throw-ins
Upcoming birthdays: Osvaldo Alonso turns 25 on Thursday, November 11; Tyrone Marshall will be 36 on Friday, November 12; and Leo Gonzalez celebrates his 30th on November 21...Kasey Keller was the only player to appear in all 30 regular season matches. Fredy Montero and Steve Zakuani led the outfield players with 29 appearances. Altogether, Keller and Montero each saw action in 39 competitive games. James Riley played the most outfield minutes altogether (3180)...Sigi Schmid's lead in career playoff wins is being threatened by Galaxy boss Bruce Arena. Schmid has won 19 postseason matches while Arena has 18 wins...Tyrone Marshall will enter the 2011 season just six appearances short of the exclusive 300 club. Marshall is 15th in all-time regular season games played (294), and 9th amongst active players. He is currently 24th in postseason appearances with 24...There are four Sounders members among the top 40 active players in total points. Pat Noonan is 17th with 115 points, followed by Nate Jaqua (18th/109), Fredy Montero (37th/61) and Peter Vagenas (40th/55)...Seattle's Fado Irish Pub is again among the finalists for U.S. Soccer Best Soccer Bar. Fado won the honor for 2009. Online voting began this week at ussoccer.com...A complete list of 2010 stats is available at www.SoundersFC.com/Team/Stats/2010-Statistics.aspx.



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Canada wins second CONCACAF women's title in 2010




Canada has won two of three CONCACAF women's tournaments this year. The Canadian national team recently returned home a champion from the 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifier. Eight months earlier, the U-17 team won the CONCACAF Women's Under-17 Championship in March. It marks the first time in Association history that Canada has claimed two CONCACAF championships in the same year.

Canada's national teams have now won nine CONCACAF championships dating back to its first men's title in 1985. In all, Canada has won two men's titles (1985, 2000), two women's titles (1998, 2010), two men's U-20 (1986, 1996), two women's U-20 (2004, 2008) and one women's U-17 (2010).

From 29 October to 8 November 2010, Canada competed in the eight-team CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifier. The team posted a perfect record of five-straight wins, scoring 17 goals and conceding none. In the final, Canada won 1:0 over host Mexico in front of 16,005 fans at the Estadio Andrés Quintana Roo in Cancún, Mexico.

This victory marks the second time Canada has won the CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifier with a win over Mexico in the final. Canada previously won the same title back in 1998 in Etobicoke, ON.

Both Canada and Mexico qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011 while third-place finisher USA now faces Italy in a two-leg playoff later this month.

As for this year, Canada improves its overall record to 11 wins, one draw and two losses. It still has four international matches to play in December at the Torneio Internacional in São Paulo, Brazil, which will give the team 18 official international matches by year's end (not counting closed door matches or exhibition matches). Highlights are the CONCACAF championship in November, the home victory at BMO Field in September, and the Cyprus Women's Cup victory in March.

Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, has now qualified for five consecutive FIFA Women's World Cups: Sweden 1995, USA 1999, USA 2003, China 2007 and Germany 2011. The FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011 runs 26 June to 17 July in nine German cities: Augsburg, Berlin, Bochum, Dresden, Frankfurt, Leverkusen, Mönchengladbach, Sinsheim, and Wolfsburg.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Canada Women win CONCACAF Championship




Canada defeated Mexico for the second time in six days to win the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifier championship on Monday 8 November in Cancún, Mexico. Canadian captain Christine Sinclair’s sixth goal of the tournament in the 54th minute was enough to lead Canada to a 1:0 victory. The win capped an impressive tournament for the Canadian squad who finished undefeated with a 5-0-0 record; tallying 17 goals while conceding zero in the process.

With its place at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011 already safely secured, the Canadian’s faced a confident Mexico side that was coming off an impressive win over USA to advance to the final. The final proved to be a much tighter contest than the Group A match played between the two sides earlier in the competition.

The Canadian side created more in the way of clear cut chances in a cagey opening 45 minutes. Forward Melissa Tancredi saw a flicked header come back off the cross bar six minutes into the match and her follow up effort from the rebound was deflected wide.

Playing in front of an enthusiastic home crowd the Mexican side started much more confidently than it had when Canada dominated Mexico 3:0 the final group stage match six days earlier.

Sinclair nearly broke the dead lock in the 22nd minute as she weaved through the Mexican defence before hitting a low shot which was saved at full stretch by Erika Vanegas in the Mexican goal.

Veteran Mexican forward Maribel Dominguez was the most dangerous Mexican on the pitch and it was the tricky forward who won a pair of dangerous free kicks on the edge of the Canadian penalty area. Fortunately for Canada, the Mexican attackers were unable to trouble Karina LeBlanc in the Canadian goal with its resulting shots.

LeBlanc did have to be sharp in the 38th minutes as a low cross was destined for the far corner before she reached out a strong hand to push the ball away from danger.

The match exploded into life in the 53rd minute. Canada worked a short corner routine to perfection to set-up Sophie Schmidt for a strike on goal which came back off the post. The rebound fell to Josée Bélanger at the top of box and her first time effort was goal-bound until Mexican defender Veronica Perez deliberately used her hand to tip the ball over the bar. The Trinidad referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot and produced a red card for Perez. Sinclair stepped up and calmly converted the penalty kick to give Canada the lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

Down a player the Mexican’s picked up the physical intensity as both teams committed to each tackle following the goal.

The Canadian squad kept its defensive shape and limited Mexico’s chances while comfortably seeing out the remainder of the match.
With the 1:0 victory over Mexico Canada completes the competition without conceding a single goal, an impressive feat at an international competition. Canada’s well organized team defence was expertly marshalled by ever-present centre back Candace Chapman, who along with Sinclair and Schmidt were the only Canadians to play all 450 minutes of play during the qualifiers.

Coach Morace named the same starting eleven from the side that defeated Mexico 3:0 in the final group stage match as Tancredi and Carmelina Moscato returned to line-up while youngsters Jonelle Filigno and Desiree Scott returned to the subs bench. LeBlanc started in goal, Marie-Eve Nault, Candace Chapman, Schmidt, and Rhian Wilkinson left to right across the back line, Kaylyn Kyle, Moscato, and Diana Matheson in midfield while Belanger and Sinclair joined Tancredi in attack. Canada made one halftime substitution as Moscato was replaced by Scott. The two other Second half substitutions saw Bélanger replaced by Filigno in the 73rd minute and Tancredi replaced by Christina Julien in the 83rd.

Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, will now shift its focus to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011. 2011 will mark Canada’s fifth consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance. The 22 day football celebration will be held in nine cities across Germany beginning on 26 June leading to a 17 July final in Frankfurt. Mexico has also qualified for Germany 2011 by virtue of reaching the CONCACAF final. USA, the third place finisher, will try to become the third team to qualify from CONCACAF as it faces Italy in a home and home series with the winner advancing directly to the World Cup.


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Monday, November 8, 2010

Full Time Podcast - November 7, 2010




This weekend's edition of Full Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show is now available on our podcast. Listen here.

To subscribe to the Full Time Podcast on I-tunes... Click Here.

Another jam packed edition of Full Time includes:

Vancouver Whitecaps President Bob Lenarduzzi dropping in. He speaks about the hiring of Richard Grootscholten from Sparta Rotterdam. Grootscholten is the new coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps' residency program.

San Jose Earthquakes' Coach Frank Yallop makes his debut on the program to discuss his sides big 3-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls, which put them into the MLS Eastern Conference Final.

Once again, Marc Rizzardo from Metrotown Physio joins the show to discuss and diagnose some of soccer's most prominent injuries.

With the nasty flu going around, Producer Corey Basso has made it a "sick" musical theme for this week's edition of the show! All songs about being sick, getting sick or curing sickness.

You can always tune in to the midweek podcast, when Marc Weber from The Province drops in to discuss all things Whitecaps!

Full Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show airs every Sunday night. 9p-11p. Only on TEAM 1040!

Saturday, November 6, 2010

GAME NOTES - Sounders FC (0) at Los Angeles Galaxy (1) - November 7, 2010




Following a one-week intermission, the Western Conference Semifinal series between the Seattle Sounders FC and Los Angeles Galaxy will be decided with the second leg on Sunday evening in Carson, California. First kick is 6 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center, and the match will be nationally televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

The winner of the aggregate goal series advances to face either defending MLS Cup champion Real Salt Lake or FC Dallas in the Western Conference Final. The West and East representatives will meet in MLS Cup 2010 on November 21 in Toronto.

Sounders FC (14-11-6), owner of the second-best road record in MLS, needs a one-goal victory in the second leg to force 30 minutes of extra time. A two-goal margin would push the Rave Green through to the next round. After winning the opening leg, 1-0, Los Angeles (19-7-5) advances with either a draw or a win. If the teams are tied following extra time, the series will be decided on penalty kicks.

Seattle is still searching for its first postseason win, but it has won three of its last four MLS road matches. It is 1-1-0 against the Galaxy at the HDC, having won there in 2009.

Los Angeles was 9-4-2 at home this past season yet lost two of its last three. It has won all three MLS encounters with Sounders FC this season, with Seattle taking a quarterfinal U.S. Open Cup victory en route to claiming its second straight title.

Sunday's game can be heard live on KTTH 770 AM with Arlo White on the call. The pregame show begins at 5:30 p.m. PT with Matt Johnson, Alan Hinton, Pete Fewing and Jimmy Gabriel.

Official Sounders FC game notes for this week's match against Los Angeles are available at http://www.soundersfc.com/Game-Notes/2010/Releases.aspx.

Broadcast Information
National TV: ESPN
Talent: JP Dellacamera, John Harkes; Rob Stone (pregame and halftime)
Local Radio: KTTH 770 AM
Talent: Arlo White; Alan Hinton, Pete Fewing, Jimmy Gabriel with Matt Johnson (pregame radio)



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Sunday at 9pm on Full-Time







Full-Time: Vancouver's Soccer Show hits the airwaves once again this Sunday evening with an MLS and Whitecaps FC based show.

Fresh off the playoff win over New York, we'll connect with San Jose Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC president Bob Lenarduzzi joins us to talk about the appointment of Richard Grootsholten as the Whitecaps technical director and head coach of the residency program. Ticket prices, jerseys and scarves, plus expansion draft lead-up.

Plus Marc Rizzardo from Metrotown Physio will pop by for his usual injury report and Andy Shapiera from Setanta for our 'What's on Setanta' feature.

It all gets going at 9pm PT on TEAM 1040.

For full details on the show, check out our show page by clicking here.



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Friday, November 5, 2010

Canada qualifies for FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011




A second-half offensive outburst against Costa Rica on Friday earned Carolina Morace's squad a 4:0 victory and booked Canada's ticket at the FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany next summer. Three goals in the space of 13 minutes (plus a fourth in added time) gave Canada its fourth consecutive shutout win at the 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifiers and a spot in the final, but more importantly coach Morace can breath a sigh of relief knowing that this round of hard work is done and thoughts can now be turned to Germany 2011.

Josée Bélanger opened the scoring in the 62nd minute and Jonelle Filigno and Christine Sinclair then put the game out of reach shortly thereafter, capping yet another dominating performance by the Canadians in Mexico. An own goal by Daniela Cruz late in the game completed the scoring.

Karina LeBlanc was the busiest she has been during this tournament and fully earned her fourth consecutive clean sheet. Wearing their full red kits, Canada dominated from the opening whistle with a rapid and early attack. Kyle saw her early strike deflected off a Costa Rican defender for a corner kick and Filigno then put a diving header just wide of the opposition goal. Despite maintaining possession and creating scoring opportunities, Canada could not beat Costa Rican goalkeeper Dinnia Diaz in the first half.

After the break, however, the Costa Rican defence broke down and the Canadians filled the back of the opposition net. Twenty minutes after the break, Bélanger slotted home a rebound from a Filigno shot after captain Sinclair had rounded the Costa Rican defence to deliver a dangerous low cross. Filigno doubled the lead ten minutes later.

Three minutes after Filigno scored, a corner kick found Sinclair inside the penalty area and she coolly slotted the ball past Diaz in goal.


Coach Morace made two changes from the side that beat Mexico 3-0 on Tuesday. Desiree Scott replaced Carmelina Moscato in the midfield and super-sub Jonelle Filigno earned her first start here in place of Melissa Tancredi. LeBlanc was in goal once again with Marie-Eve Nault, Candace Chapman, Sophie Schmidt and Rhian Wilkinson left to right across the back. Kaylyn Kyle and Diana Matheson joined Scott in the midfield and Bélanger and Sinclair completed the attacking three.

Canada had won all previous six matches between the two nations at this level with a combined score of 18-1. Though the most recent match was a tight 1-0 win for Canada.

Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, will play in the championship final on Monday 8 November. It has been 12 years since Canada last won the CONCACAF Women's Championship in 1998.

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Thursday, November 4, 2010

Whitecaps Set MLS Ticket Prices




WHITECAPS FC SET SEASON TICKET PRICES FOR INAUGURAL MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER SEASON

Choice of Seven Seating Categories for Fans to Experience World Class Soccer in Downtown Vancouver

VANCOUVER, BC - With less than 140 days remaining until Major League Soccer (MLS) arrives in Vancouver, Whitecaps FC today unveiled the 2011 season ticket seating categories for the club's inaugural season. Fans will be able to choose from seven different seating categories ranging from a base price of $319 to the top-tier price of $1,482 (with special pricing for limited club front row seating), plus applicable tax and a $10 processing fee per order. Pricing starts at less than $17 per match and more than 60 per cent of seats are available for less than $31 per match.

"The pricing we've announced today offers exceptional value to fans across all seating categories,” said Whitecaps FC president Bob Lenarduzzi. “2011 will be a very exciting year for our club and our fans; witnessing a team's inaugural Major League season is truly special, and with more than 15,000 deposits already sold, people will now need to act very quickly to buy their season ticket and ensure they don't miss the chance to be a part of this historic season."

Season tickets include access to a total of 19 home matches, including all 17 Major League Soccer regular season fixtures and all Nutrilite Canadian Championship matches. In addition, season ticket holders will enjoy a number of exclusive benefits including savings over individual match tickets, discount on merchandise, and priority purchase rights for international friendlies that may be staged by the club.

Current season ticket deposit holders will be contacted throughout November to secure their specific seat locations. Soccer fans can still purchase 2011 Whitecaps FC MLS season tickets by putting down a $50 deposit. To secure a seat and for additional information about Vancouver Whitecaps FC MLS season tickets, suites and loge boxes, visit whitecapsfc.com or call 604.669.9283.

Whitecaps FC will kickoff their first MLS season next March at Empire Field before moving into the new BC Place Stadium in downtown Vancouver. The 34 home and away matches will be played in the span of 32 weeks, with the MLS regular season coming to a close on Saturday, October 22, 2011.

Empire Field is located within the Pacific National Exhibition grounds on the site of the old Empire Stadium, where from 1974 to 1983, it served as the original home of Whitecaps FC when the club played in the old North American Soccer League (NASL). In late summer, following the completion of the new BC Place Stadium, the ’Caps will return to downtown Vancouver for the remainder of the 2011 season and beyond.

When completed, the new BC Place will be one of North America’s most spectacular theatres for sports and entertainment. In addition to the soccer-specific updates including a secondary roof that will be employed to create a more intimate atmosphere in the lower bowl, the stadium will feature a state-of-the-art retractable roof along with a centrally-hung, four-sided videoboard that will be visible from every seat in the house. For additional information on BC Place, visit whitecapsfc.com.

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Wednesday, November 3, 2010

WHITECAPS FC APPOINT RICHARD GROOTSCHOLTEN AS TECHNICAL DIRECTOR AND HEAD COACH OF THE RESIDENCY PROGRAM




VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today the appointment of Richard Grootscholten as the new technical director and head coach of the club's full-time Residency program.

"As we begin the next chapter in our history as a Major League Soccer (MLS) club, the Residency program remains an integral part of our vision to develop players for the highest levels of the game," said Bob Lenarduzzi, Whitecaps FC president. "Attracting a top international coaching talent such as Richard speaks volumes to the reputation of our club and our Residency program. I believe Richard will play a crucial role in our plans to become one of the top professional clubs in world soccer."

Born in De Lier, Netherlands, Grootscholten joins Whitecaps FC with 20 years of coaching experience in Dutch soccer. Most recently, Grootscholten served as technical director of Sparta Rotterdam - the oldest professional soccer club in the Netherlands - from 2008 to 2010. Between 2006 and 2008, he served as head coach of the Sparta youth academy and assistant coach of the club’s first team.

Grootscholten's five-year tenure with Sparta resulted in the development of 17 academy players for the first team, with 12 of those youngsters moving up in the last two years. As many as six current and former Sparta players were recently involved with the Dutch U-21 squad. For his efforts at Sparta, the club received the prestigious Rinus Michels Award for having the best youth academy in the Netherlands during the 2008-09 season. Sparta also finished runners-up for the award in seasons 2007-08 and 2009-10.

“It is an honour for me to join Whitecaps FC and to be part of their plans to become the top professional club in North America,” said Grootscholten. “The club already has a great history and reputation, while it has clearly shown its commitment to developing young talent. Having worked my entire professional career in the Netherlands, I'm hopeful I can contribute in a positive way to the development of great young players in Canada.”

Grootscholten, 45, will join Craig Dalrymple, Steve Meadley, and Martin Nash as a member of the Whitecaps FC Residency coaching staff. Dalrymple will serve as the Residency's assistant technical director, while Meadley will serve as an assistant coach, and Nash as a staff coach.

“Adding a leader with Richard’s level of expertise and stature, coupled with the timing of the club's entrance into Major League Soccer, provides an incredible opportunity to build and expand the profile of our Residency program over the coming year,” said Dan Lenarduzzi, Whitecaps FC director of soccer development. “We’ve had great success with the Residency program over the past years, and believe Richard will help us build on that success and take the program to even greater heights.”

Prior to his role as Sparta technical director, Grootscholten spent time with Dutch clubs VV Katwijk, Excelsior Maassluis, and RKVV Westlandia.

Grootscholten's coaching credentials include Europe's top coaching certification from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA Pro License), as well as 'A', 'B', and 'C' - level certification from UEFA.

As a player, Grootscholten made a total of 352 appearances with Dutch semi-professional club RKVV Westlandia between 1971 and 1995. During that time, he served as the club's first-team captain.

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TORONTO FC HIRES SOCCERSOLUTIONS AND FOOTBALL ICON KLINSMANN

TORONTO FC HIRES SOCCERSOLUTIONS AND FOOTBALL ICON KLINSMANN
German football legend to consult on team’s soccer operations and manager search


Toronto FC announced Wednesday that they have retained the consulting services of former football player and manager Jürgen Klinsmann and his company, SoccerSolutions as advisors to Toronto FC as the club reorganizes its soccer infrastructure.
“We’re honoured to work with a football icon like Jürgen and to have access to his wealth of experience and expertise to evaluate our current operations and support our team’s development,” said Tom Anselmi, executive vice-president and chief operating officer for Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.
Anselmi added that Klinsmann will work closely with Interim Director of Soccer Earl Cochrane and Assistant General Manager Jim Brennan.
“Jürgen’s knowledge of the game and track record of international success, combined with Earl and Jim’s experience will allow us to objectively look at everything from players to people to processes and conduct a comprehensive search for new leadership.”
Klinsmann, a native of Goeppingen, Germany, was one of the game’s premier strikers who played for several prominent European football clubs including VfB Stuttgart, Inter Milan, Tottenham Hotspur, Sampdoria Genova and Bayern Munich. He began his professional career as a player with Stuttgart and capped it in 1998 at White Hart Lane with Tottenham Hotspur. For his career Klinsmann netted 227 goals in 506 professional club matches and 47 goals in 108 international appearances for Germany.
He was part of the West German team that won the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the German team that won the 1996 UEFA European Championship. Klinsmann was recognized as German Footballer of the Year in 1988 and 1994 and English Footballer of the Year in 1995.
Since retiring as a player, Klinsmann has been a partner in SoccerSolutions and has provided advice to numerous football-related organizations, in addition to giving technical guidance to the adidas Elite Soccer Program, a premier player development program in the United States, and the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. In addition, as head coach, Klinsmann turned the German National team around, compiling a 20-8-6 record between 2004 and 2006, including third place in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and was named Coach of the Year 2006 in Germany. He was also the head coach of FC Bayern Munich in 2008-2009, leading the team to a 25-9-9 record during that time.
SoccerSolutions is a US-based consultancy group providing football related consulting services (on and off-the-pitch) based on the international experience of its partners.


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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Canada Women defeat Mexico to top Group A




Canada finished first in Group A following a comprehensive 3:0 victory over Mexico on Tuesday 2 November, thus moving one win away from a spot at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011™. The Canadian squad will now face Costa Rica in one of two semi-final matches on Friday 5 November, knowing that a victory will qualify it for Germany 2011.

Candace Chapman and Josée Bélanger fired Canada into a 2-0 half time lead and Jonelle Filigno added a third midway through the second half to complete the scoring for Canada as it dominated a Mexican side that was expected to present the most difficult challenge in Group A play. Playing in front of a large and boisterous crowd at the Estadio Beto Ávila in Cancún, Mexico, Canada’s well prepared squad enjoyed a territorial advantage throughout the match.

"It was not easy to win this match in a stadium full of support and enthusiasm for the home team," said Canadian national head coach Carolina Morace. "I think we prepared very well as a team and we attacked Mexico. The players were fantastic."

The match, which kicked off in pouring rain, started at a high tempo with both teams understanding the importance of finishing first in Group A and avoiding the powerful USA side in the semi-finals.

In the opening 15 minutes Canada struggled to find the smooth passing game it had featured against Guyana due to the difficult conditions and feisty Mexican defenders. Mexico was paying a price for its physical defence and was repeatedly penalized for fouls on the Canadian attackers.
Canada was looking dangerous from its many free kicks and corners and it was from a corner that Chapman fired Canada into a 20th minute lead. Diana Matheson delivered the cross which fell to Chapman who had advanced from her centre back role and she made no mistake blasting the ball into the roof of the goal.

Melissa Tancredi came close to adding to the Canadian lead just two minutes later as her hard drive across goal had to be tipped over the bar by Cecilia Santiago in the Mexican goal.

Bélanger doubled the Canadian advantage in first half added time to cap an excellent opening 45 minutes for Canada. Mexican goalkeeper Santiago bobbled the ball with Sinclair bearing down and the Canadian captain was alert to dig the ball out of the scrum at her feet and feed Bélanger at the top of the penalty area. Bélanger calmly chipped her shot over the Mexican defenders struggling to get back into position and into the empty goal.
Mexico enjoyed its best period of the match at the start of the second half as its attacking with purpose forcing Canada onto the back foot for the first time in the match. The Canadians quickly rallied and rode out the early pressure as Coach Morace made some small adjustments to the Canadian formation to get more players behind the ball.

Canada’s third goal was a wonderful team effort converted by second half substitute Jonelle Filigno. The Canadian forward was picked out by an inch-perfect cross from Bélanger, heading home from the penalty spot. Sinclair and Matheson combined well in the build-up to goal as they worked the ball out to Bélanger in space on the right for the 66th minute marker. Filigno has been a “super-sub” at the competition scoring all three of her goals off the bench.

Coach Carolina Morace’s starting line-up against Mexico featured Karina LeBlanc in goal, Marie-Eve Nault, Candace Chapman, Sophie Schmidt, and Rhian Wilkinson left to right across the back line, Kaylyn Kyle, Carmelina Moscato, and Diana Matheson in midfield and Josée Belanger, Melissa Tancredi, and Christine Sinclair in attack. Second half substitutions saw Tancredi replaced by Filigno in the 54th minute, Bélanger replaced by Desiree Scott in the 68th minute, and Kyle make way for Chelsea Stewart in the 78th minute.

Canada, whose title sponsor is Winners and presenting sponsor is Teck, will now prepare for its semi-final showdown with Costa Rica on Friday 5 November. In the other semi-final, Mexico will face USA for the second automatic qualification spot at Germany 2011. The tournament final as well as the third place match will be played on Monday 8 November. The two finalists automatically qualify for the World Cup while the third place finisher will play Italy in a home and home series with the winner also advancing to the FIFA Women’s World Cup. All of Canada’s matches can be seen live on CBC Bold and CBCsports.ca. In addition, all matches played at the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifiers can be seen live online at CONCACAF.com


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