Match Picks of the Week

Selected games to watch from British Columbia's top senior men's and women's amateur leagues.
Please check league schedules for late changes.

Friday January 27

FVSL: Poco FC vs North Delta SC
7:00pm Gates TURF
Premier Soccer City League Cup
Important game in Round Robin play for these two top premier teams.

saturday, January 28

VMSL: Columbus FC vs West Van FC
2:00pm Adanac Park
Two of the best teams in the VMSL will face off in search of the all-important 3 points!

VISL: Nanaimo United FC vs Cowichan FC
7:00pm Nanaimo Turf (Merle Logan)
Winning this 'mid island derby' would allow either team to distance themselves from their nearest VISL rivals, title favorites Cowichan are looking to get closer to the 40 pt mark!

MWSL: Richmond FC 'A' vs Westside FC Premier
2:30pm Minoru Turf #2

Sunday January 29

LIWSA: Bays United FC vs Castaways FC (Division 1)
12:00pm Canarvon Rugby pitch

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International Tournaments

Today in Football History

27 January 2006
Canada falls 2:3 to USA in the 2006 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship in Veracruz, MEX. After USA loses a player to an ejection, Canada scores two goals to take a 2-1 lead. USA, however, comes back with goals from Jessica Rodstedt and Lauren Cheney to capture to championship with a 3:2 victory.
(Soccer Canada)

Quotable

Malcolm McDonald
"Mirandinha will have more shots this afternoon than both sides put together."

friday, january 27, 2012

A couple of fan favourites arrive at Whitecaps camp - Whitecaps FC
Last year’s team MVP Camilo saw his first action this preseason, as he went through a light workout with another late arrival, Korean legend Young-Pyo Lee.

Montreal Impact concludes its Mexican trip undefeated - Montreal Impact
The Impact tied Mexican first division club Atlas 1-1, on Thursday in Zapopan, a borough of Guadalajara, in its fourth and final preseason game in Mexico. Despite facing a tough opponent, the Impact finished its Mexican tour undefeated.

TFC Sign Defender Geovanny Caicedo - Toronto FC
Toronto FC announced Thursday that the club has signed Ecuadorian international defender Geovanny Caicedo. “Caicedo brings great club and international experience to Toronto FC and can compete for a starting position,” said Toronto FC Head Coach and Technical Director, Aron Winter.

TFC to launch season with rare roster continuity - Globe and Mail
Having conceded more goals than any other goalkeeper in Major League Soccer last season, a trip to face Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez and Co. might not be everyone’s idea of a confidence builder. But after finishing out of the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, Toronto FC goalie Stefan Frei happily welcomed the challenge to train with English Premier League giant Liverpool for a week last month.

Reds no longer the parachute club - SLAM!
Stability. After five seasons spent outside of the playoff picture, largely the result of constant roster shuffling and an ever-changing plan, Toronto FC enters Year 6 in better shape than ever. For once, the core of the roster is set and likely here to stay for a while.

Sounders looking to fill Keller's shoes - Herald
For three years, Kasey Keller was the face -- and quite often the very loud voice -- of Sounders FC soccer. So when Seattle opened preseason training last weekend, it was admittedly a bit odd to be doing so without Keller, who retired following the 2011 season.

Seattle's Star - Seattle Sounders
Kasey Keller put the final touch on his pro career by winning Seattle's Sports Star of the Year. Now his focus shifts to broadcasting the game he has played professionally for the last 20 years.

Portland aim for the top after opening week of preseason - Portland Timbers
With the first week of preseason training nearly over, two things are certain: Portland Timbers head coach John Spencer is right where he wants to be. And he expects all his players to feel the same way.

Timbers name Cameron Knowles an Assistant Coach - Portland Timbers
Knowles, 29, enters his first season as an assistant coach and joins Mike Toshack and Amos Magee on Spencer’s coaching staff. He played professionally for seven seasons, including four with the Timbers from 2007-10. Knowles was originally drafted by Real Salt Lake in the 2005 MLS Supplemental Draft and played two seasons in MLS.

Red Bulls Soccer Team Ordered to Pay Taxes on New Jersey Home-Field Arena - Bloomberg
The New York Red Bulls, the soccer team owned by Austrian billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, owesproperty taxes to Harrison, New Jersey, a tax-court judge ruled.

Strikers Gain a Player, Lose a Player; RailHawks Sign 2 - IMS
The Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Carolina RailHawks both made players moves late this week. The Strikers added former MLS player Andy Herron to their roster but in turn lost Mike Palacio from their 2011 roster. Carolina announced two signings, Palacio and Ty Shipalane who had played for the RailHawks in 2010.

More than just a game: Why girls soccer matters - The Star
When the women’s Olympic qualifying soccer tournament started Jan. 19 in the UFO-style BC Place, barely a mention was apparent. Despite Vancouver’s thousands of recreational soccer players, the qualifier brought just a quizzical nod and non-committal afterthought. Most people here had no idea Canada will host the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Official opening for Queen's Park turf field - New Westminster News Leader
The official opening for the Queen’s Park artificial turf field in New Westminster will be held Saturday, Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. Minor lacrosse and soccer players from across the city will be participating in the ceremony originally scheduled for Jan. 19, but postponed due to snow.

Amway Canadian Championship

Amway Canada to return as title sponsor of Canadian Championship
Amway Canada will return as the title sponsor of the Canadian Championship and become a primary partner of the CSA with an involvement in the Active Start Soccer Fests, National Teams and the Canadian Soccer Association’s National Championships.

FC Edmonton confirms Commonwealth as venue for Whitecaps’ ACC match - The 11
FC Edmonton has yet to announce where it will play its NASL home games, but the club confirmed Thursday evening that it will contest its Amway Canadian Championship match opener at Commonwealth Stadium.

team canada

Canada's Hart to meet with Jonathan de Guzman - MLS
The wheels are still in motion for Villarreal midfielder Jonathan de Guzman to eventually don Canadian national team colors, according to his brother.

concacaf women's olympic qualifying

Soccer night in Canada entertains and enlightens - Vancouver Courier
"Appetite for soccer has empty feeling." After eyeballing that headline on the front page of Saturday's Vancouver Sun sports section, I turned to my U7-soccer playing daughter and asked if she wanted to see Team Canada take on Cuba at B.C. Place Stadium. "Yes, yes," she said jumping up and down, almost knocking over my morning coffee.

Canada v Mexico pre-match interviews - Red Nation
The Canadian Women's National Team are ninety minutes away from advancing to the Finals, but most importantly earning a spot in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. All that is standing between them and London is Mexico, who Canada has defeated sixteen out of eighteen encounters.

Sinclair, Canada ready for a scrap vs. Mexico - Sportsnet
The Canadian women’s soccer team is ready for a scrap. As the ladies in red prepare for Mexico in Friday’s semifinal of the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic qualifying tournament, there’s a resoluteness in the camp, and an understanding they’ll be facing a side with a reputation for physicality.

Herdman hoping to take Canada over 'ome - Toronto Sun
Over the past two weeks, it's been nothing but rave reviews from the Canadian women's soccer team when describing coach John Herdman.

Canadian women on brink of Olympics - Globe and Mail
The national women’s soccer team faced a crossroads when it returned home from a disastrous performance at last summer’s World Cup in Germany. The team’s confidence was shredded, its pride wounded, and head coach Carolina Morace resigned, ending her tumultuous relationship with the Canadian Soccer Association.

Scott tasked with shutting down Mexican attack - Canada.com
Desiree Scott has traded taking on defenders for time on the ball, and she couldn’t be happier. The 24-year-old from Winnipeg has shifted positions under new Canadian women’s national soccer team head coach John Herdman, from wide midfielder to a holding role in front of the back four.

Vancouver's Olympic sized challenge - 24th Minute
Earlier today BC Place announced that it was releasing more tickets for the Olympic qualifying semi-final double header Friday. It didn’t say who was buying the tickets. We do know that about 6,000 Mexican fans showed up on a weeknight to watch the final game of the group stage against the United States. We’ve heard that more will be in the stands on Friday. So, the potential of Canadian fans being outnumbered (again) in their own country is there.

Olympics on Canada's mind ahead of crucial Mexico semifinal - CBC
There aren’t many sports tournaments in the world where the semifinals are more important than the final, but that’s exactly the situation at the 2012 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament at BC Place in Vancouver.

What is Canada's women's soccer team doing with a forensic psychologist? - Province
There are several theories as to why Canada failed to win a game at the Women's World Cup last summer. Among them: Other counties, like France, which cut Canada apart in a decisive group game, had improved exponentially. Or the Canadians were burnt out from living in Rome all summer (if only we could be so lucky).

Canadian women still waiting for soccer breakthrough - The Province
The problem — like Michael Cimino’s first movie and The Black Crowes’ first album — isn’t necessarily what followed but the expectations which were created the first time we saw them.

Injured Solo practices before U.S. women's Olympic qualifier - USA Today
Hope Solo stood in the net, leaned forward and grimaced. She had just dived to her right to make a save, and her injured leg was feeling the effects. The goalkeeper for the U.S. women's soccer team was back on the practice field Thursday, one day before the game that will determine whether the Americans go to the Olympics. Whether she'll actually play was still in doubt.

Underdog Mexico, Costa Rica very aware of odds - CONCACAF
The coaches of Mexico and Costa Rica realize the length of their odds in Friday's CONCACAF women's qualifying semifinals better than anyone.

Olympic women's qualifying semifinal refs set - CONCACAF
Irazema Aguilera of Cuba and Dianne Ferreira-James of Guyana have been designated to referee Friday's semifinals of CONCACAF Olympic women's qualifying.

canadians abroad

Another young Canadian signs for 2.Bundesliga club - CSN
Following in the footsteps of striker Randy Edwini-Bonsu, another young Canadian player has signed with Eintracht Braunschweig in the German second division. Attacking midfielder Andrew Barsalona, 21, will be joining the German club after most recently playing for Hamilton FC of the PDL.

world football

Sepp Blatter, Rupert Murdoch have power meeting after FIFA, Fox seal $425M World Cup TV deal - Yahoo!
ZURICH - FIFA President Sepp Blatter met with News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch on Thursday, weeks after their organizations signed a $425 million broadcast deal.

Financial fair play key to football's future - UEFA
UEFA has emphasised that its financial fair play measures are crucial for the future of European club football – and has welcomed the readiness of Europe's clubs in particular to participate in a process designed to bring stability and well-being to a sport that remains a No1 attraction for the public.

Interview: Lionel Messi on His Sport, Cristiano Ronaldo — and Argentina - Time
Journalists are evenly split on whether or not they should interview their personal heroes: some say you shouldn't because you'll find your idol has feet of clay, others argue the opportunity is too good to miss. For me, it was a no-brainer.

Messi snubbed on US cover of Time - The Sideline
You’ll never guess who’s on the cover of the Feb. 6 issue of Time Magazine! It’s Lionel Messi! Coming soon to newsstands near you! (NOTE: This offer not valid in the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico or anywhere you can actually buy a Time Magazine).

Racism charge creates more tension at F.A. Cup - Canada.com
The F.A. Cup fourth round is this weekend and features another cracker of a match, with Liverpool hosting Manchester United on Saturday. Tensions between these clubs are high even at the best of the times, and this is not the best of times.

Everton drove FOX deal for Fulham FA Cup clash - Tribal Football
Everton drove the deal to have their FA Cup tie with Fulham shown live on American television tonight. The Daily Mail says a sign that football in the United States is beginning to have a significant impact comes with Fox Sports broadcasting the Everton v Fulham FA Cup tie live in America on Friday.

Bayern Munich apologizes after tricking fans on Facebook over signing of new striker - Star
Bayern Munich apologized Friday for tricking fans over a “spectacular new signing” after supporters reacted angrily to a publicity stunt in which the Bundesliga leaders sought to increase their fanbase on Facebook.

Lazio defender Dias banned for 3 Cup matches - Metro
Lazio defender Andre Dias has been banned for three Italian Cup matches for taking a swipe at the head of AC Milan midfielder Mark van Bommel.

Craig Bellamy – the signing of the season? - Goal Posts
Everyone loves something for nothing.  In the high-priced world of professional football, the same is even more true.  When in August last year Kenny Dalglish asked Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini nicely for Craig Bellamy, the Liverpool icon became the proud “owner” of one very cheap, slightly-used Welsh forward.

Bayer Leverkusen laments Ballack 'failure' - Metro
Former Germany captain Michael Ballack has failed to live up to expectations since returning to Bayer Leverkusen from Chelsea in 2010, according to the club's managing director.

Sebastian Prodl Suffers Broken... Face? - SB Natiion
Sebastian Prödl suffered a fractured nose and upper jaw along with a concussion in Werder Bremen's match against FC Kaiserslautern on Saturday.

Redknapp too 'disorganized' to 'fiddle taxes' - Sportnet
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp denied tax evasion to police by insisting he "couldn't even fill a teamsheet in." A tape recording of the interview was played at Redknapp's court trial where he is accused of hiding $295,000 of transfer bonuses in an offshore account.

Danish federation suspends player for betting - Metro
The Danish football federation says a player with Danish top-division club Lyngby has been suspended for eight games after betting on his team to lose.

thursday, january 26, 2012

Whitecaps' Sanvezzo back with a new deal - The Province
Camilo Sanvezzo, the Vancouver Whitecaps MVP last season, returns to the club this week with a new deal imminent. The Brazilian forward, who led the Caps with 12 goals in 2011, has missed the first three days of training camp for family reasons. That was not a smoke screen.

Go! How fast can the 'Caps run? - Whitecaps FC
Whitecaps FC players have been put through their paces by strength and conditioning coach Steve Ramsbottom and the rest of the medical staff. There were a number of tests that the players had to endure, which will give the medical staff all the information they need to make their evaluations.

Knighton returns to MLS to compete for spot in Vancouver - Whitecaps FC
Last week, Vancouver Whitecaps FC brought in Brad Knighton to provide a challenger to incumbent No. 1 goalkeeper Joe Cannon. Days later, the battle for the starting spot between the sticks when the season kicks off against Montreal Impact is already underway.

Impact wins 7-0 against Iteso University - Montreal Impact
The Montreal Impact won its second game in a row by shutout, this time against Iteso University in Guadalajara, by a score of 7-0, Wednesday, in its third game of the preseason in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Reds Make Eckersley Move Permanent - Toronto FC
Toronto FC announced Thursday that the club has signed defender Richard Eckersley. “Signing Richard was a very high offseason priority, our team has worked tirelessly to ensure he would be returning,” said Toronto FC Head Coach and Technical Director, Aron Winter.

Orlando City and MLS not committed, just in that getting to know each other phase - MLS Insider
There are no vows being exchanged. There's no mutually-owned property. Hell, there's not even a joint vacation booked yet. MLS and USL Pro's Orlando City certainly aren't in a relationship but they are definitely flirting.

RBNY have more connections to Scandinavia than any airline serving in NY area - MLS Insider
Earlier today the Red Bulls announced their latest signing, little-known American keeper Jeremy Vuolo. Where did they find him? The Finnish Ykkönen or first division.

Sounders FC Aligns With U-23 PDL Franchise - Seattle Sounders
The Tacoma Tide FC, who will now be known as Sounders FC U-23, has been a member of the PDL's Northwest Division since 2006.

Sounders ‘Adopt’ Tacoma Tide and Join the PDL - Prost Amerika
Sounders FC have announced their arrival in the PDL. They have conjoined or adopted the Tacoma Tide who came under new ownership late last year. They will meet the Portland U23s, Vancouver Whitecaps Residency and the Kitsap Pumas among other sides.

Tim Ream and the MLS to EPL journey - Guadian
As you read this, Tim Ream is probably somewhere in a phone shop in the Lancashire area, choosing between international plans. Trying to reach him for comment in Manchester at the height of his drawn out $3m transfer to Bolton Wanderers, a New York Times journalist found himself quickly ushered off the phone as Ream counted the costs of international roaming.

Indian adventure too good to pass up for Quaranta - MLS
Santino Quaranta’s retirement didn’t last long. The former D.C. United midfielder, who retired last December, recently agreed to join the Premier League Soccer in India, a new league scheduled to launch in February.

FC Edmonton and St. Joseph Partner Up for Residency Program
Twelve local soccer players have been selected after a three-day combine held earlier this month for Edmonton FC's first-ever Residency Progrom operated in partnership with St. Joseph's High School.

First Person: From the New Silverbacks - NASL
Four of the Silverbacks' recent signings will be coming in from abroad to start preseason with the team in late February. Forwards Reinaldo Navia and Stephen Ademolu, defender Rilla, and goalkeeper Daniel Illyes each gave their thoughts on joining the team in 2012.

Edmonton Drillers on indoor world championship schedule, but they won’t be going - The 11
FIFRA says that the Edmonton Drillers will represent Canada at the new world indoor club soccer championships. The Drillers say no way.

Quick gains in running speed:Harnessed over-speed treadmill training – Part 2 - Red Nation
In Part 1 of this article, the science behind both conventional and harnessed treadmill over-speed training methods was examined. In Part 2, the specific training plan used with Joseph Di Chiara, of Team Canada and Krylia Sovotev in the Russian Premier League, during the December 2011 break, will be presented.

CSA elections 2012: Electing the new board - Onward Soccer
As I think we all know by now, the Canadian Soccer Association is getting a new governance structure in May. Gone will be the old system, where all provincial and territorial soccer association presidents get an automatic seat on the board.

Lenarduzzi: success in business or sports means setting goals - Kamloops Daily News
Overcoming obstacles in business requires the same attributes as achieving success in sports, the president of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC told an audience Wednesday. Bob Lenarduzzi, 56, spoke in Kamloops at the Canadian Home Builders Association Central Interior dinner, held at the Kamloops Convention Centre. About 250 people attended.

youth soccer

South Okanagan Youth SA gears up for another season Osoyoos Times
A quick look outside will tell you that you would have to be crazy to be thinking about playing soccer at this time of the year. But that certainly wasn’t the feeling at the Sonora Community Centre last Tuesday night as more than 30 people came out of the cold for the South Okanagan Youth Soccer Association’s (SOYSA) town meeting.

college soccer

Gill to chase pro career at USL PRO Combine - UBC
The chase for a professional soccer career has begun for UBC men's captain, Jason Gill. The defender, who finished his university career in the fall, is one of four CIS players who have been invited to the USL PRO Combine, which begins today.

concacaf women's olympic qualifying

With Olympic berth at stake, Canada shouldn't take Mexico lightly - Canada.com
Canada’s national women’s soccer team has won 16 and tied one in 18 “A” matches, all-time, against Mexico. There is little reason, therefore, to suppose that Friday night’s semifinal of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament at BC Place will end any other way than with the Canadians booking passage to London for the Games of the XXX Olympiad. But there is another kind of history at work here.

Mexico throws down gauntlet for CONCACAF match Friday with Canada - The Province
Mexico head coach Leonardo Cuellar has thrown down a bit of a gauntlet for Friday's 2012 Olympic qualifying match against Canada. "I feel that the team, after this experience, is going to be ready for the challenge," he said after a 4-0 loss to the U.S. Tuesday before a noisy throng of Mexico supporters that dominated the B.C. Place crowd of 7,599.

Canada faces do-or-die for Olympic soccer berth - CBC
It's all or nothing now for Canada at the CONCACAF Olympic women's soccer qualifying tournament. After coasting through the preliminary round, the hosts are in a do-or-die situation as they meet Mexico in a semifinal game Friday night in Vancouver. With a win, Canada will clinch a berth in this summer's London Games.

Canada Can’t Take Mexico Lightly - Soccer Shorts
As was widely predicted when the Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament began Canada will play Mexico in the semi-final on Friday, with the winners earning the coveted right to a place at London 2012.

Burnaby's Christine Sinclair helps Canada chase Olympic soccer dream - Burnaby News Leader
As the crowd files in to watch Canada's women's soccer team play Costa Rica at the 2012 Olympic qualifying tournament there's a row in section 244 at BC Place where almost everyone wears a Canada No. 12 jacket or jersey.

U.S. Women Face Final Hurdle Before Olympics - New York Times
The United States women’s soccer team could provide a riveting story line at the 2012 London Olympics, given the household names of players like Hope Solo and Abby Wambach and the galvanizing performance the Americans displayed last year at the World Cup. 

Hope Solo uncertain vs. Costa Rica - ESPN
Hope Solo has an ailing leg, the result of some extra work she was putting in to get back into playing shape after "Dancing With the Stars." The timing isn't great. The U.S. women's soccer team is about to play the game that determines whether it goes to the Olympics.

CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying: USA v Mexico - Monday Morning Centreback
Here’s what has surprised me tactically in a lot of the games. Set pieces can be the great equalizer when a weaker team is taking on a stronger team.

Canada vs. Costa Rica Women’s Soccer Match Produces Best Own Goal Ever - Opposing Views
Canada absolutely destroyed Costa Rica in a 5-1 rout on Monday at the CONCACAF women's Olympic qualifying tournament. The unquestionably best thing about this game, though, happened early in the second half. On what appeared to be a routine backpass.

Cuban defector describes escape from Vancouver - Times Colonist
A momentary distraction and an identity card hidden in a shoe was all Cuban women’s soccer player Yisel Rodriguez needed in her bid to defect to the United States. Rodriguez and teammate Yezenia Gallardo left their team Saturday night while at the CONCACAF women’s Olympic qualifying tournament in Vancouver and made a beeline for the border.

canadians abroad

Attakora leaves FC Union Berlin camp without a deal - The 11
Nana Attakora’s attempt to land a job in Germany wasn’t successful. Second-division side FC Union Berlin announced Wednesday that the Canadian defender’s trial had ended and that Attakora would not stay with the team.

world football

Barcelona holds off Real Madrid fightback to reach Copa del Rey semis - Globe and Mail
Barcelona held off a spirited Real Madrid fightback to salvage a 2-2 draw that was enough to see it through to the Copa del Rey semifinals.

A New Look, and New Hope, for Real Madrid - New York Times
It might be easier to referee fighting dogs than Barcelona versus Real Madrid. For that matter, any team taken to the Camp Nou stadium by coach José Mourinho is predetermined to turn out behavior more like a pit bull than a sports club.

Napoli beats Inter to progress to Italian Cup semi - Globe and Mail
Edinson Cavani scored twice to dump defending champion Inter Milan out of the Italian Cup on Wednesday as Napoli won 2-0 to progress to a semifinal against Siena.

Milan's Tevez decision due tomorrow - Irish Times
AC Milan will make a final decision regarding the signing of Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez tomorrow, according to club vice-president Adriano Galliani. The Italian champions are hoping to land the Argentina international but have yet to reach an agreement with City regarding the transfer fee.

Ex-SAFC chairman’s role in the £100m National Football Centre - Jarrow and Hebburn Gazette
First came the Stadium of Light. Next there was the Academy of Light in Cleadon. Then there was the new Wembley. Now former SAFC Chairman Sir Bob Murray is the driving force behind St George’s Park – the Football Association’s £100m National Football Centre.

Bundesliga sets new revenue, crowd record for 2010/11 - Reuters
The Bundesliga's 18 clubs set a seventh straight revenue record, generating almost 2 billion euros ($2.60 billion) in the 2010/11 season compared to 1.77 billion the previous season, the German football league (DFL) said on Wednesday.

Turkish Football Federation votes against scrapping relegation rule for clubs guilty of match-fixing - Goal
The governing body had been expected to amend Article 58, which states that teams found to have attempted to influence the outcome of games should be demoted.

Small City Is Home to Israel’s Unlikely Top Team - New York Times
Kiryat Shmona is one of Israel’s smallest cities, a hardscrabble place with a population of 23,000 that is less than two miles from the Lebanese border and through the decades has repeatedly found itself caught in the crossfire of Arab-Israeli strife.

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