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    <center>** Match report and post-game reaction from the locker room on Seattle Sounders' 3-2 win over Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS action **</center>

    <b><u>Report:</u></b>
    Another Cascadian derby and another game goes by with Vancouver Whitecaps failing to get a win against their local rivals.
    They came close and served up a five goal thriller in Seattle tonight, fighting back to lead at the half through two headers from Camilo Sanvezzo, after going behind to a Lamar Neagle strike.
    Vancouver had shown some great attacking play in the first half, unusual for an away performance, but resorted to their more defensive style in the second half and Seattle staged a fightback to take all three points thanks to a Servando Carrasco penalty and a close range winner from Neagle.
    It was more local derby heartbreak and a tough one to take for the travelling throng from Vancouver.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Seattle had the first attack of any real note in the 5th minute when a DeAndre Yedlin cross from the left just went over the head of an unmarked Obafemi Martins eight yards out.
    The Sounders play was by far the more attack minded to kick the match off and they got their reward in the 9th minute.
    Lamar Neagle played a delightful through ball to Andy Rose. With Jun Marques Davidson and Jordan Harvey pushing up, the midfielder collected the pass and coolly slotted home into the bottom left hand corner.
    The home side’s joy was to be short lived and Vancouver were level a minute later in their first foray forward of the match.
    Russell Teibert stayed onside perfectly to collect a diagonal pass to the right wing from Young-Pyo Lee and whipped in an outswinger into the box which Camilo Sanvezzo headed home to tie things up.
    It was an explosive start and there was nearly more to soon follow as Seattle attacked from the restart and Martins came within an inch of getting onto a Neagle cross from the left and the ball flew past the back post.
    Seattle came close to retaking the lead mid through the half when a long range Neagle rocket first hit off Johnny Leveron and then Martins before going inches past the left hand post.
    It’s often said that football is a game of inches and that miss from Seattle was to prove costly when Vancouver went ahead in the 26th minute and again it was the Teibert/Camilo combo that did the damage.
    The Canadian sent in a free kick from 35 yards out and the Brazilian lost his marker Neagle to direct his header perfectly into the bottom right hand corner of the net again.
    Vancouver were now playing with a lot of confidence and looking like the attacking force many have wanted to see on the road for many games now.
    They had a couple of half chances, the best of them being a cross in from Miller on the right into an empty box with no takers up in support till it was too late.
    Seattle were only able to create half chances themselves and Brad Knighton wasn’t being tested.
    Vancouver had the last chances of the half in stoppage time when Nigel Reo-Coker bulldozed his way through the last line of a high Seattle defence but seemed caught in two minds whether to shoot or pass and in the end the Sounders closed down for a corner, which Andy O’Brien did well to get on to the end of but directed his effort straight at Michael Gspurning.
    The half time whistle soon followed, with Vancouver going in with a rare first half lead in a Cascadian derby. Could they now hold on for an even rarer win?
    The second half started amid a lot of Seattle pressure but Vancouver had a great chance to increase their advantage in the 53rd minute.
    Camilo hit a fierce low free kick from 30 yards out which Gspurning fumbled into the path of Reo-Coker but the Sounders keeper made amends by blocking the Englishman’s effort over the bar.
    Vancouver got a let off a minute later when Martins was brought down in the box by Davidson, but referee Hilario Grajeda gave a free kick right on the edge of the box, which hit the wall and flew over.
    The Caps defence was a little threadbare and it was hit worse when O’Brien had to go off injured just past the hour mark to be replaced by Greg Klazura. Klazura slotted in to the left back role with Harvey moving in to the middle.
    The new look defence was carved open in the 64th minutes when Martin was played in, left Leveron in his wake and after doing all the hard work shot inches wide left.
    Vancouver were riding their luck but that came to an end in the 69th minute when Klazura chopped down Neagle for a penalty. Servando Carrasco stepped up and made no mistake from the spot to tie things up.
    The writing looked on the wall for the visitors but Vancouver nearly got their lead back two minutes later. Miller was played in and hit the byeline before cutting the ball back to an open Camilo in the six yard box, but the hat-trick eluded him by a step and Seattle cleared the danger.
    Vancouver were playing deep and trying to catch on the break but Seattle looked the more likely to grab the winner and they went ahead with nine minutes remaining.
    Rose played a through ball to Martins who outpaced Leveron and Klazura, hit the byeline and crossed over for Neagle to score from close range and give the Sounders a lead once again.
    Vancouver brought on Kekuta Manneh to try and get something going but they couldn’t kickstart any real danger and the game headed in to five minutes of stoppage time.
    The Caps pushed and had a penalty claim waved away when Reo-Coker went down in the box, but in the end Seattle held on for a comfortable three points and a vital win in terms of playoff hopes and placings.
    After the highs of the win in New York, Vancouver came crashing back down to earth and are still left searching for that first elusive win over Cascadian opposition in MLS. They’ll get another chance in a month’s time in Vancouver.
    What changes the Caps will make between now and then to try and get the job done will be interesting.
    FINAL SCORE: Seattle Sounders 3 - 2 Vancouver Whitecaps
    ATT: 53,679
    SEATTLE: Michael Gspurning; DeAndre Yedlin, Zach Scott, Djimi Traore, Leo Gonzalez; Mauro Rosales (David Estrada 90), Servando Carrasco, Andy Rose, Alex Caskey (Marc Burch 65); Obefami Martins, Lamar Neagle [subs Not Used: Marcus Hahnemann, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Patrick Ianni, Phillip Lund, Sammy Ochoa]
    VANCOUVER: Brad Knighton; Lee Young-Pyo, Johnny Leveron, Andy O’Brien (Greg Klazura 62), Jordan Harvey; Jun Marques Davidson (Kekuta Manneh 83), Nigel Reo-Coker, Matt Watson (Daigo Kobayashi 90); Russell Teibert, Kenny Miller, Camilo Sanvezzo [subs Not Used: Joe Cannon, Erik Hurtado, Corey Hertzog, Tommy Heinemann]
    <p>
    <b><u>Reaction:</u></b>
    <b>Martin Rennie on the overall game:</b>
    “We started off a little bit slow. We didn’t track a run in midfield as well as we’d have liked, we responded very well to that. Two fantastic goals and some good play from that point. Felt we were really comfortable in the game and doing pretty well, but the turning point was losing Andy O’Brien and when we lost him, the game opened up, we were disjointed.”
    <b>Martin Rennie on whether he regrets trading Alain Rochat so close to this game:</b>
    “No, not really, because we wouldn’t have played him at centreback and he hasn’t done that well anyway”
    <b>Martin Rennie on his squad:</b>
    “I know that we’ve got a good team. We’ve got lots of work to do. I know that we’re in a building phase. We have to grow, we have to improve. Tonight you saw a good response when we went a goal down. There was no worry about our work ethic or our mentality, nothing concerning me on that at all.”
    “What I know about this team is that they’ve got a lot of character, a lot of drive. We’re close to clicking and doing well.”
    <b>Martin Rennie on whether he’ll be looking at bringing any players in before the next game:</b>
    “Maybe. Like I said Carlyle’s injured at the moment, so he would be an obvious one to come back in, we’ll see how he is. Brad Rusin, Andy and Jay are all out, so we’ll have to just look at that and see what we can do. It would be nice if one of them was available.”
    <b>Martin Rennie on whether it is imperative to get six points from the next two home games:</b>
    “Well that would be nice. We have two games coming up pretty quick at home and our home form’s been very good. We need to perform really well in those home games. It would be nice to get six points and we’re definitely capable of that.”
    <b>Andy O’Brien on the overall game:</b>
    “We’re disappointed. To go 1-0 behind to a good side and then to come back 2-1 was disappointing not to get something out of the game.”
    “We’ve got to take some positives out of the game. There were some great performances out there tonight, Camilo mainly one of them.
    <b>Andy O’Brien on difference between an attacking Caps in first half and a defensive Caps in second. Gameplan or were Seattle too strong?:</b>
    “I don’t necessarily think it was because they were too strong. We were expecting them to come out of the blocks quickly, I think they did that. But we managed to get back into the game at 2-1 and then it’s a matter of trying to hold on or…
    “I find with a lot of MLS teams, because there’s no relegation, it’s all about going for the win. Teams will throw players forward so sometimes you can bring in more defensive minded players or you can flip it the other way and try and hit them on the counter attack to get a third.
    “So from that perspective it always makes for an exciting game but unfortunately we came away with the losing end.”
    <b>Andy O’Brien on his injury:</b>
    “It’s not great, but I’ll have to wait till Monday to get a better idea. It’s a matter of trying to get it to settle down and take it from there.”
    <b>Andy O’Brien on the temporary grass pitch:</b>
    “I don’t think it was great. I don’t think it was great as it probably contributed to my injury so it was frustrating.”
    “It was unpredictable with the bounces and things. It not ideal.”
    <b>Brad Knighton on the temporary grass pitch:</b>
    “The field was, not to make excuses about the field, but the field was ridiculously terrible. It’s heavy, it’s bumpy, the turf’s coming up, it’s just a weird surface to play on and any time you put grass down on top of turf you’re going to get that. Not to make excuses, but maybe Andy’s injury doesn’t come from not playing on grass on top of turf. But that’s the way the game goes and they have to play in those conditions as well.”
    <b>Brad Knighton on the overall game:</b>
    “It’s disappointing obviously. We were in total control of the game and looking to get our first win against a Cascadia team and Andy unfortunately goes down with a hamstring injury and it kind of took the wind out of our sails a little bit. The game turned very quickly. It’s just a bit unfortunate.”
    “I thought we showed a lot of heart, a lot of character, a lot of determination and I don’t think the result indicates right now where we are as a club.”
    <b>Nigel Reo-Coker on the game:</b>
    “The big disappointment was losing Andy and we had players filling in in positions that they’re not too familiar with.
    “They’re good players. They started off the game well and they finished off the game well. They were a solid team throughout the ninety minutes, you’ve got to give them credit. But we’ve got to learn to be a bit more resilient as a team to keep leads that we get.”
    <b>Nigel Reo-Coker on what Caps need to do to win these derby games:</b>
    “Finish off a game. I honestly don’t know. We played well, we were in control of the game and we just let it slip out of our hands. It was just one of those games.”
    <b>Camilo on his Teibert assisted two goal performance:</b>
    “It’s positive to score but the whole team played well, not just me and Russell. I think everybody had a good game. We just need to pick up points.”
    <b>Andy O’Brien on what fringe players are and aren’t bringing to the team:</b>
    “It’s not really a time for passing opinion on other players.”
    <b>Brad Knighton on singling out players for mistakes:</b>
    “We’re not going to single anybody out because we’re all in this together. We need to stick together and get a full team performance for ninety minutes and be solid defensively.”
    <p>
    Guest
    KEY PLAYERS
    Attacking
    After a couple of great performances where he was Vancouver’s most dangerous player, Camilo Sanvezzo came down to earth against New York. He still had chances to show how much of a weapon he was against Montreal and Portland. The collaboration with Miller and Teibert in the last two games has seen the Brazilian look like a constant threat to score.
    After being called out by his coach Mauro Rosales is looking to return to his regular form and be a threat and the main playmaker for the Sounders. The right sided midfielder has burned the Whitecaps in the previous matches with a goal and two assists in four starts against Vancouver. With a lack of scoring depth on the roster currently the Caps should expect the Argentine to slide inside from time to time.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Defence
    With the trade of Rochat, Jordan Harvey becomes the full time starter at left back where he brings more athleticism and pace to the position. Against Seattle he will need to use those attributes to limit the space Rosales gets, which will slow down his ability to whip crosses into the box. Any mistakes by Harvey and the questions of the trade will be sounded immediately by the media and supporters.
    No one really expected academy player and MLS rookie DeAndre Yedlin would have started every match but one for the Sounders. The homegrown player has held his own in the defensive third and been a threat going forward which will force the Caps to be wary of getting caught up on the left side of the pitch.
    WHO’S ON FORM
    There is little doubt that the Whitecaps have missed Kenny Miller while he recovered from his hamstring injury. They have won every game he has started and the Scot has scored three times in four appearances with two of them being game winners. Of players with a minimum 300 minutes of playing time, Miller ranks 2nd in MLS for goals per 90 minutes.
    After bringing veteran keeper Hahnemann in from Europe, Michael Gspurning hasn’t given Sigi Schmid a reason to start him. In his last eight starts the Austrian keeper has picked up eight cleansheets which have placed him at third in the MLS. Since the beginning of the season he has only allowed more than one goal in four games which has kept Sounders in most matches.
    PROJECTED LINEUP

    Vancouver Whitecaps (4-3-3) R to L- Brad Knighton; Lee Young-Pyo, Andy O’Brien, Johnny Leveron, Jordan Harvey; Jun Marques Davidson, Nigel Reo-Coker, Daigo Kobayashi; Russell Teibert, Kenny Miller, Camilo
    Seattle Sounders (4-4-2) Michael Gspurning; DeAndre Yedlin, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Djimi Traore, Leo Gonzalez; Mauro Rosales, Andy Rose, Servando Carrasco, Alex Caskey; Lamar Neagle, Obafemi Martins
    2013 RECORD
    Vancouver Whitecaps:
    4W-4D-4L-16P
    7th in Western Conference
    Last Match: 2-1 Win at New York Red Bulls
    Seattle Sounders:
    5W-3D-4L-18P
    6th in Eastern Conference
    Last Match: 2-0 Win at Chivas USA
    OVERVIEW
    After going through a week that included major disappointment and surprise elation, Vancouver Whitecaps renew their I-5 rivalry with Seattle Sounders. Their first road win of the season against New York took some of the sting out of the loss to Montreal in the Voyageurs Cup but what would really help would be a win against a Cascadian opponent.
    The Caps will return to a more conventional lineup after piecing together a starting eleven this past weekend due to needed rest, injury and suspension. Getting his third straight start in goal Brad Knighton is slowly establishing himself as a number one keeper. In front of him he will have Andy O’Brien and Johnny Leveron continuing their partnership with Lee Young-Pyo returning to the starting eleven and Jordan Harvey assuming the role as the regular left back.
    At holding midfield Jun Marques Davidson should start and will welcome back both Nigel Reo-Coker (suspension) and Daigo Kobayashi (injury) to the other two spots. Up top the chemistry of Kenny Miller, Camilo and Russell Teibert seems to be clicking over the last two matches and they have looked dangerous attacking the final third.
    It was a slow start for the Sounders this season as they only picked up one point in their first four games which included dropping the opener at home to Montreal. However since then Seattle have shown the form that had them as preseason Western Conference favourites losing only once in their last eight.
    Surprisingly as a normally dangerous attacking team, Seattle seems to be winning defensively and they are currently the 3rd best club in MLS in goals against. In the seven of the eight in which they have picked points they have allowed 4 tallies and have had 5 cleansheets.
    Despite being on this streak, this may be the most vulnerable the Sounders have been against the Caps due to the high proportion of players missing due injury, international duty or suspension. The Sounders will be missing four players from starting spots in addition to two players who would have been able to replace those starters.
    Nowhere on the pitch are missing players more prevalent than at midfield positions where only Mauro Rosales would be considered a first choice. Because of this situation, the Sounders may drop one of their strikers into a deeper position in order to help out and they may play a 4-5-1 instead of their traditional 4-4-2.
    The Whitecaps will need to take advantage of this deficiency of their opponents and establish their tempo by controlling the midfield. On paper Sigi Schmid doesn’t have any players that can match with the likes of Nigel Reo-Coker and Daigo Kobayashi.
    Other than the central midfield the left side of the pitch for the Caps is the most intriguing of the matchups in the game where Harvey takes over at left back for the traded Rochat. Expect the Caps to cheat a little and slide an extra player into the vicinity of Rosales to negate his crossing and playmaking ability.
    Whatever players are missing, the Whitecaps will have to bring their top game in order to beat Seattle in front of 50,000+ supporters. After beating New York with a depleted roster the Caps should have a solid understanding of how hungry depth players can be when it comes proving themselves on the pitch.
    The Sounders have built a solid depth with their runs in the U.S. Open Cup and CONCACAF Champion League so the visitors cannot take them lightly and think three points are a given. However a victory could set them up on a solid run for the month of June and will continue to help heal the wounds from last week.
    <p>
    Guest
    Canadian Soccer News has learned that the Canadian Soccer Association has given the Quebec Soccer Federation until Monday to reverse its stance on banning the use turbans by their players, or face punishment.
    The source within the QSF confirmed that the Quebec Federation has received the demand from the CSA on the matter and is now considering their next step.
    The QSF source would not reveal what the threats could mean for provincial soccer in Quebec but did confirm that the CSA was furious over the debacle, especially considering this is not the example Canadian soccer wanted to set ahead of hosting the Women's World Cup in 2015.
    CSA sources declined to comment on their handling of the matter but one did curiously note that it was strange that Montreal Impact owner Joey Saputo had not taken steps to distance himself from the QSF's handling of the issue.
    Earlier today, FIFA confirmed that their stance on the use of turbans in soccer games was already established and that the QSF must defer to the CSA on the matter.
    Last night, CSN called for immediate resignation of Quebec Soccer Federation president and CSA board member, Martial Prudhomme, after he violated several CSA board of director ethical codes and put himself in a clear case of conflict of interest by allowing the QSF to uphold the ban.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest
    The statement almost begs for a laugh track.
    Don Garber bursts through the door and into the upscale Brooklyn loft where an English man, Spanish woman and German couple are being entertained by an old Italian man.
    Puzzled, they look at the over eager Garber – his sawker jersey neatly pressed and tucked into his skinny fit American Eagle jeans.
    What do you want, the old man says to Garber.
    Garber pauses, looks around and thrusts his chest out.
    “One day,” he says excitedly, “One day I’m going to make it! I’m going be sitting with you right here in this loft! Just you wait and see!”
    With that Garber skips out, tripping through the door, before going downstairs to set up a lemonade stand on the corner.

    (Canned laughter)
    Or, Garber walks up to a microphone and says “MLS’ stated goal of being one of the best leagues in the world by 2022.”
    (Real laughter)
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]It seems absurd. MLS, the plucky little, parity-driven, franchise focused, single entity soap opera that we all know and love standing toe to toe with the Bundesliga, La Liga, Premiership and Serie A.
    The salary cap is $2.95-million!?
    There is a team called Real Salt Lake that has nothing to do with the Spanish royal family!?
    Toronto FC plays in the league!?
    How can Garber keep a straight face when he says that when MLS isn’t even the best league in North America right now? Hell, it’s, at best, the third most popular league in the countries it operates in (I’d say third in Canada behind England and Italy; fourth in US behind Mexico, England and Italy).
    There is no way that MLS can be one of the best league’s in the world in 9-years.
    Or, is there?
    When you step back and critically look at the situation the statement doesn’t look completely insane (just a little crazy). The truth is the lure of America and the untapped potential of the North American market will always be attractive to those in the game’s traditional markets.
    It’s because of that pull that MLS is the only league outside of Europe that could possibly rise up and take a place in the conversation.
    Language issues and past corruption problems make Asia an unlikely place for an emergent league. South America’s economy makes it unlikely that Brazil or Argentina will move up from there current standing.
    In fact, when people look at MLS’ goal they often dismiss it as being impossible because they can’t imagine how the league would erode Europe’s strength. It won’t (until it is on equal standing). It very well might erode the big South American leagues.
    A careful evaluation of MLS’ moves suggests that they are trying to position themselves to be the biggest league in the Americas. The money difference is less pronounced so there might be an opportunity there.
    Still, the money is the biggest issue. How could they possibly compete with a $2.95-million salary cap. The answer is they can’t. However, it’s also, likely, that they won’t.
    The current CBA is due to expire after the 2014 season. There is another thing about 2014.
    It’s the last year that NYC FC won’t be in the league.
    Manchester City’s big spending and a split of $100-million comes into the league for 2015.
    It’s likely that the training wheels come off then too.
    Then no one will be laughing.
    Guest
    The Friends of Soccer organization broke the news this morning.
    FIFA has confirmed, through email, that the use of turbans in soccer is allowed. And confirmed that the QSF lies under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Soccer Association who has already ruled on the matter.
    The email was obtained by Toronto resident Raghav Sandhu.
    Please go visit the FOS site for the full story. Also, read our latest, on why the president of the Quebec Soccer Association and CSA board member Martial Prudhomme must step down immediately.
    We have re-printed the correspondance between FIFA and Sandhu to ensure this latest development spreads to the appropriate people.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    ———- Forwarded message ———-
    From: Contact (FIFA) <contact@fifa.org>
    Date: Thu, Jun 6, 2013 at 5:54 AM
    Subject: RE: Banning of Religious Headgear in Quebec, Canada
    To: Raghav Sandhu <***********@********.*****>
    Dear Sir or Madam,
    Under law 4 of the laws of the game it is stated that any equipment apart from the basic equipment shall be examined by the referee and be considered as not dangerous to be allowed on the field. Link
    FIFA lifted the ban of wearing hijabs or turbans, as well as the Canadian Soccer association did. Therefore, as the Quebec Football Federation lies under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Soccer Association, please contact
    them directly in this regard: Link
    Thank you for your understanding and interest.
    Kind regards,
    *****
    Communications & Public Affairs Division
    FIFA – Fédération Internationale de Football Association
    www.FIFA.com
    —–Original Message—–
    From: feedback@fifa.com; on behalf of *********@******.***; [mailto:
    feedback@fifa.com]
    Sent: Mittwoch, 5. Juni 2013 01:28
    To: Contact (FIFA)
    Subject: Banning of Religious Headgear in Quebec, Canada
    Name: Raghav Sandhu
    Email: *************@********.***
    Dear FIFA,
    My name is Raghav and I am a Canadian who has come to hear of the recent ruling of the Quebec Soccer Federation to not allow Turbans to be worn during kids’ soccer games in the region. I am very appalled with this ruling as soccer or football is a sport that promotes diversity and tolerance. Banning religious headgear such as the turban go to show that not everyone is welcome when it comes to being part of the Global Football Family. A spokesperson from the Quebec Soccer Federation has stated that “they can play in their backyards” in regards to wearing Turbans. The federation has also asked individuals to take the problem to FIFA. Please direct me to someone I can talk to about this issue.
    Yours Truly,
    Raghav Sandhu
    Guest
    Stories like this are what make me miss Ben Knight’s reporting.
    For whatever you thought of Ben, his work on the CSA reform and shining a light under the boulder of its bureaucracy really was unparalleled. He had a way of framing the debate, or seeing through the fog of opinion, and putting a finer point on issues that were often too complicated for even the keenest observers.
    I also think he really took pleasure – even if it was just a little - in taking down those CSA bureaucrats who either stood in the way of moving our game forward or embodied the buffoon behaviour that we have come abhor.
    And no behaviour has been more buffoonish than what has come out of the Quebec Soccer Association this week.
    In case you missed it, here is the latest. The Quebec Soccer Association (QSF) has decided that it is, in their words, going to abide by FIFA law and continue to uphold a ban on turbans.
    On their teleconference call the QSF claimed that the Sikh headwear were a safety issue but when questioned on how many injuries said headwear had caused in the past, they couldn’t name a single one. The incident has drawn international headlines and today, the Canadian Soccer Association finally responded with some pretty direct threats aimed at the provincial body.
    “As an unequivocal majority of our membership agrees with our approach and has safe instituted it within their respective soccer communities, we expect the Quebec Soccer Federation to do the same,” said Victor Montagliani, President of the Canadian Soccer Association.
    That’s the first step and it re-asserts the CSA’s position on the matter during this firestorm but it doesn’t go far enough.
    The QSF president Martial Prudhomme, who is also a member of the CSA board of directors, must immediately step down from his board position. And if he has any desire to spare the QSF any further embarrassment, he should step down from the president’s post as well.
    Here is why:
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Canadian Soccer News has obtained the letter that the CSA sent to the provincial presidents and executive directors in April. In it outlines the the CSA's intent to allow the use of turbans.
    CSN has also obtained the packet that was distributed to the CSA board of directors, which once again, clearly outlines how they approved the use of turbans and headwear at the March meeting. It goes into great detail to show the kind and type that it is approved.
    It is that exact kind and type that the QSF is now saying it is upholding a ban on.
    Prudhomme knows this.
    In fact, as a CSA board of directors member, he voted on it. The CSA board approved it. And yet, here we have a provincial body once again ignoring the will of the national governing body because it suits their own warped interests.
    Moreover, in Prudhomme, we have a case of a CSA board member in a clear cut violation of conflict of interest rules.
    It was those kinds of conflict of interest that Ben Knight railed against back in the CSA reform days. If you don’t recall, as part of the CSA reform package, provincial directors were to be banned from sitting on the board of the CSA. The whole intent, in such a move, was to eliminate the petty infighting that had been seen for years – the kind of regional self-interest that brought the CSA to its knees in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
    Unfortunately, the reformers were forced to make certain concessions when they initially pushed through their governance package. One of those concessions was that, for the next three years (starting in 2011), provincial directors could remain on the CSA board of directors and still hold their positions of power at the provincial level. Providing they abided by all the rules and regulations that the new governance package brought in.
    I’ll give you one guess which province was the loudest voice in rejecting the move to fully push the provinces out? Yes, Quebec. I’d offer you another guess which provincial leader is now the first of the lot to put himself in a clear conflict of interest, but you’re already hip to the game.
    If you look deeper, you can see that Prudhomme and the QSF have done themselves no favours by trying to play the Good Son role, claiming they’re just following Father FIFA’s rules. A key element to all of this is that the QSF isn't really a direct member of FIFA. The CSA is the direct FIFA member and the QSF is a member of the CSA.
    The CSA has sent out a clear directive, based on their interpretation of FIFA's rules, which say to explicitly allow headscarves, but FIFA isn't as clear as it relates to turbans and other head gear that Sikhs often wear.
    Simply put, the QSF should be following the CSA lead, which allows for both, and not claiming to be following the rules of an organization that they are technically not a member of.

    Beyond that though, Prudhomme has breached his fiduciary duty to the CSA as a director.
    Here are three requirements he has broke under the CSA board of director Accountability Code by allowing the QSF to uphold the ban.
    • is accountable to the CSA’s membership and abides by its decisions and directives.
    • maintains the trust and support of the CSA’s membership;
    • ensures that the CSA operates within applicable laws and regulations;
    Here is another he has broken under Planning
    • develops, approves, and ensures the implementation of strategic plans, determines priorities, and monitors performance against plans
    Another under Board Governance and Development
    • approves of and updates other CSA policies, including those pertaining to risk management, conflict of interest, and harassment
    And another under External Relations
    • develops policies regarding the protection and enhancement of the CSA’s image and reputation.
    Oh, and he broke pretty much every rule under the Board Meeting Code of Conduct
    • Each Director shall conduct himself/herself in Board meetings with a view to furthering the general interests of the CSA and not the interests of individual and group stakeholders.
    • Each Director shall respect confidentiality of Board business and Board deliberations
    • Each Director shall support the majority decisions of the Board and speak with a unified voice to the membership and the community.
    • Each Director shall conduct himself/herself in Board meetings in a manner exhibiting courtesy, goodwill, objectivity, frankness, openness to new ideas, constructiveness, independent-mindedness, restraint, effective communication, a willingness to compromise, and respect for others.
    • Each Director shall ensure that the discussion of business occurs at the Board table and not outside the Board room between meetings.
    • Each Director shall adhere to the conflict of interest requirements as they relate to Board meetings.
    If you’d like to go through it yourself, please do. There are about 20 others in there that he’s broken with his actions that I haven’t listed.
    For that, and the fact that he has thoroughly embarrassed the CSA and brought the game into disrepute, he should step down from the CSA board immediately.
    If he won't leave, the CSA board should force him out. Full stop.
    As for what he should do with the his role as president at the Quebec Soccer Association, well that’s more a matter that's up for debate. The QSF governance standards aren’t nearly as robust. Afterall, their ‘mission’ for Quebec Soccer is still under construction
    But, disregarding their thin layer of laws, you would think this kind of negative attention would be bad for business. It has to reflect poorly on the QSF, no? The QSF president is still responsible for upholding that, yes?
    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Wearing a turban shouldn't stop you from playing soccer or participating fully in any other activity. The <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23QSF">#QSF</a> must drop its ban now.</p>— Justin Trudeau, MP (@JustinTrudeau) <a href="
    ">June 4, 2013</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Well, as it is with buffoons, they’re more apt to stumble around the room, knocking over everyone and everything as they struggle to keep it together, instead of quietly and respectfully seeing themselves out. So, the best, and simplest way to deal with a buffoon, when you encounter one, is to toss them out on their ass immediately and be done with it - before they have another chance to embarrass everyone around them.
    Guest
    And so we bid adieu to Tommy Soehn’s Swiss Trinity. Oh, we knew this day was coming, ever since Davide Chiumiento was sold back to Zurich, and Eric Hassli unceremoniously exiled to Toronto. But it still came as something of a shock.
    DC United has agreed to take on the 30-year old Alain Rochat and his $190,000 salary in exchange for their second round selection in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, as well as a conditional pick in 2016.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    It was 1,028 days ago that Vancouver first said salut to Alain Rochat. Of course, it was 1,028 days ago that we said adieu to him as well, as we immediately loaned him back to Zurich.
    During his two and a half years in Vancouver, he took to the field a total of 77 times, scoring five goals, directly assisting on two more, while earning fifteen yellow cards, and having spent 6,615 minutes on the pitch.
    To put it another way, Alain Rochat spent 4 days, 14 hours, and 15 minutes in direct competitive service to Vancouver. And although he will be missed, one cannot help but wonder if this is but a prelude to a bigger move.
    "Alain has been an outstanding professional during his tenure in Vancouver," said Whitecaps FC head coach Martin Rennie. "It is never easy making player personnel moves but when considering all the factors, this is the best move for the club and it is the right time to go in a different direction. We are thankful for the contributions Alain has made to this club and city, and wish him and his family nothing but the best in DC"
    Currently, the Whitecaps have 26 active MLS players under contract. Bryce Alderson and Carlyle Mitchell are on season long loans, and Jay DeMerit has been injured since the opening minutes of the season.
    My understanding of MLS rules is that we are currently permitted ten international players by MLS’ definitions, and have filled all but one. Should another player be on the way, my money says that he’ll be from outside North America.
    But before we get too far ahead of ourselves in analysing the ramifications of this move, we should remember the contributions of Alain Rochat, some of which are captured in the photo gallery below.
    Au revoir, mon ami.
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    </center>
    <p>
    Guest

    Toronto gets a consolation prize

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    As consolation prizes go, it’s really not all that bad.
    Lost in the fall-out to Shush-Gate on Sunday was the CSA’s announcement of the four cities that will play host to the 2014 FIFA u-20 women’s tournament. The event acts as a trial event for the big show in 2015, but is also the biggest girls youth tournament in the world.
    The for cities that will be a part of the festival are Edmonton, Montréal, Moncton and…
    Toronto!
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Yes, the nation’s biggest centre is going to be part of the 2014/15 party after all.
    As Ben wrote earlier, Toronto dropped the ball when it came to not getting on board for the World Cup in 2015. And, it’s only Toronto’s fault. It didn’t apply and the CSA could hardly bend he rules to get them in.
    So, it was a happy surprise that the city will be a part of 2014.
    Now, before the conspiracy nuts get worked up, let’s be clear. Toronto is only part of this because Ottawa won’t be ready. The CSA wanted part of the u20s in Ontario and Lansdowne Live won’t be ready until 2015.
    So, Toronto it is. Although, the CSA made it clear that many from the Ottawa organizing committee will be running the show in Toronto to give them a trial run for the World Cup.
    Torontonians that are upset that the city won’t be a part of 2015 should make sure they support this tournament. Although the u20 event is clearly lesser, it’s always been part of the overall package that Canada won the right to host. The city embraced the u20 men in 2007, they should do the same for the women in 2014.
    As for the other three choices, they make a lot of sense. Edmonton and Montreal offer the biggest venues so you can bet that they will probably host the final and opening game. Moncton is new to this and needed the practice (it’s also the type of centre that will not look down its nose at this event – if I have my druthers I play all three of Canada’s games there as you can bet the crowd will be engaged and excited).
    The CSA stressed that no one was excluded from taking part in the event. These were the only cities that expressed an interest, so it wasn’t a case of rejecting Vancouver and Winnipeg.
    Guest
    Last week, Duane and I made the trip to the Toronto FC facility at Downsview Park to attend one of the training sessions for the Canadian Women's National Team. The promise was that we could take pictures for the first 15 minutes of the practice and there would be opportunities for interviews upon completion of the practice.
    We watched as the women walked from the field house to the furthest pitch in groups, like friends reuniting with smiles and light conversation. There was an obvious comfort level between them, with the shared success the team has had under John Herdman.
    There were a couple of groups that formed during the initial warmups, with some of the more senior players going to far side of the pitch, while the younger players also stayed together, starting to build their own chemistry.
    I would have liked to stay longer and seen how they interacted with each other in this environment, without the TV cameras, the national broadcasts and the pressure of 20,000+ fans. The moments away from that spotlight are where the bonds are built, where mistakes are allowed to be made and the pressure is more self directed in an attempt to improve.
    We only have a few more years of the current team leadership before they leave the game, there is the World Cup, followed by the Olympics, these will be the final laps for many senior members of this team before they pass the torch.
    I hope that the team building chemistry takes hold with the younger members of this team and they also find a way to be an inspiration to the future members of this team, because in a country that has had very limited success in the soccer world, these women have given all of us a reason to cheer.
    You can see those photos after the jump
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <param name="movie" value="http://www.photoshelter.com/swf/CSlideShow.swf?feedSRC=http%3A//photohazard.photoshelter.com/gallery/Canadian-Women-National-Team-Training-May-29-2013/G00001H8DrWHcTfY%3Ffeed%3Djson"></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="bgColor" value="#AAAAAA"></param><param name="flashvars" value="target=_self&f_l=t&f_fscr=t&f_tb=f&f_bb=f&f_bbl=f&f_fss=f&f_2up=t&f_crp=f&f_wm=t&f_s2f=t&f_emb=t&f_cap=f&f_sln=t&imgT=casc&cred=iptc&trans=xfade&f_link=t&f_smooth=f&f_mtrx=t&tbs=5000&f_ap=t&f_up=f&btype=old&bcolor=%23CCCCCC"></param><!--[if !IE]><!--><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.photoshelter.com/swf/CSlideShow.swf?feedSRC=http%3A//photohazard.photoshelter.com/gallery/Canadian-Women-National-Team-Training-May-29-2013/G00001H8DrWHcTfY%3Ffeed%3Djson" width="475" height="400" ><param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="bgColor" value="#AAAAAA"></param><param name="flashvars" value="target=_self&f_l=t&f_fscr=t&f_tb=f&f_bb=f&f_bbl=f&f_fss=f&f_2up=t&f_crp=f&f_wm=t&f_s2f=t&f_emb=t&f_cap=f&f_sln=t&imgT=casc&cred=iptc&trans=xfade&f_link=t&f_smooth=f&f_mtrx=t&tbs=5000&f_ap=t&f_up=f&btype=old&bcolor=%23CCCCCC"></param><!--<![endif]--><a href="http://photohazard.photoshelter.com/gallery/Canadian-Women-National-Team-Training-May-29-2013/G00001H8DrWHcTfY'>http://photohazard.photoshelter.com/gallery/Canadian-Women-National-Team-Training-May-29-2013/G00001H8DrWHcTfY"><img src="http://www.photoshelter.com/gal-kimg-get/G00001H8DrWHcTfY/s/475/400" alt="" /></a><!--[if !IE]><!--></object><!--<![endif]--></object><br><a href="http://photohazard.photoshelter.com/gallery/Canadian-Women-National-Team-Training-May-29-2013/G00001H8DrWHcTfY'>http://photohazard.photoshelter.com/gallery/Canadian-Women-National-Team-Training-May-29-2013/G00001H8DrWHcTfY">Canadian Women National Team - Training - May 29, 2013</a> - Images by <a href="http://photohazard.photoshelter.com">Chris Hazard</a>
    Guest

    TFC president speaks

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Yesterday Toronto FC season seat holders received a video message from MLSE president Tim Leiweke. You can view it below the jump.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]


    On the surface he doesn't say much. After a week AT MLSE, that focused on the Raptors and a month that saw a Leafs playoff appearance, TFC has not received a great deal of attention in interviews that Leiweke has done since his hiring.
    This was a way for him to speak direct to Reds' fans without having to answer questions about Italian basketball players first. He gave us some standard lines about understanding how bad it's become and told us how much he loves MLS.
    Of the latter point there is likely no doubt. Throughout his time in LA, Leiweke did have his hands all over the Galaxy.
    Unfortunately, it's not clear whether he knows how to build a MLS winner or whether he knows how to hire someone to build one. His strategy at L.A. seemed entirely focused on signing big name DPs. Although he eventually got his championships, they came after some early post-Beckham struggles.
    Significantly, they came after he hired Bruce Arena to manage the team.
    In the video, Leiweke is once again telling us he's focused on signing big names, as if that's the cure all. Doing so might help with attendance - briefly - but it's unclear whether it will bring winning to BMO Field without also having the best soccer minds on the front lines.
    He didn't hire Kevin Payne. For now, we'll leave it at that.
    Guest
    That's a pretty nice picture above. Chris Hazard does good work.
    In it, hundreds of crisp, Voyageur flags flying in the south end of BMO field. There too, a sprinkling of Support Local Soccer flags - brought from those who were there when this new wave of national team interest began a few summers ago. If you look up at the top, you can see the man in the red suit looking over it all - aka Jamie McLeod, the person largely behind the national team's growing supporters culture.
    That being, specifically on this day, a sea of red in a sold out Toronto stadium, tuned into every play like it was the Olympic semi-finals.
    All of it is framed in that photo by an advertisement for the World Cup 2015.
    That's where the bottom drops out.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Toronto, of course, will not be there in 2015 when Canada hosts the Women's World Cup. The Canadian Soccer Association instead went with Moncton, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver. Toronto, according to the CSA, didn't even apply. It's pretty hard for a governing body to include you when you didn't bother to apply. As for the selections they made - some good choices, some great, some very meh - they will undoubtedly put on a fantastic display of what soccer support in Canada is suppose to be.
    This is not a column on why Toronto should be in - any rational, thinking person can look beyond regional differences and see it would be a benefit, in terms of ensuring home support. Instead it's a column about how someone in Toronto colossally fucked up this fantastic opportunity to bring a world class tournament to Toronto.
    Let me take you back.
    Around the time that applications were being accepted by the CSA, a rumour began to float in Toronto soccer circles that the Centre of the Universe would not be applying. The story, as it went then, was that Tourism Toronto had signed away the city's exclusivity rights to the Pan AM games in 2009, when they bid for and won the 2015 Games. That was accurate, to a point. The Pan AM games, like the IOC, requires the host city to ensure that they don't undertake any other events during the time that the Games are on.
    Teddy Katz, the Director of Media Relations and Chief Spokesperson for Toronto 2015, recently filled me in on the specific rules.
    A week prior or following the event.
    Some quick facts:
    The Toronto Pan AM Games will take place July 10 - July 26, 2015.
    The Toronto ParaPan Games August 7 - August 14, 2015.
    The Women's World Cup 2015 will take place June 6 to July 5, 2015.
    The original bid tabled by Toronto 2015, pegged the cost at $2.4 billion, the highest ever for a Pan AM Games. With the province and feds covering 70 per cent of the cost, that still puts Toronto on the hook for about $720 million.
    Host cities in the 2015 Women's World Cup, who have varying level of soccer infrastructure, estimated the cost of hosting at $12-$35 million per city.
    In 2011, ESPN hosted the Pan AM games. It drew an overall rating of 2.0.
    In the same year, ESPN broadcast the Women's World Cup. The Women's World Cup final set a record at the time, as the most watched soccer game ever on the channel, drawing 13.5 million viewers.
    So, forget for a second that Toronto could have hosted just a group stage and it would have been a month out from the Pan AMs.
    Forget for another second Toronto could have just hosted a round of 16 (June 20), a quarter final (June 26) or even a semi-final game (June 30) and it still would have been well within the terms of the Pan AM exclusivity agreement.
    Realize that, Tourism Toronto, in its infinite wisdom, decided to pass up the gift of hosting two major international competitions - one that will cost significantly more and deliver significantly less, another that will cost next to nothing and already has a built in audience and established returns - all over the small matter of 48 hours.
    Nothing in the exclusivity agreement would have prevented them from hosting anything but the very final game.
    And yet, passing up that kind of oppurtunity, in a city that is struggling to reduce its spending, while trying to attract more tourism dollars, made sense?
    Now that is quite the picture.

    Guest
    It's been quite the week in Toronto for Canadian-born-but-not-currently-representing-Canada professional soccer players, huh?
    First we had the Sydney Leroux hullabaloo, about which far too many thoughts have already been shared. Then we had QPR's David "Junior" Hoilett, born in a Toronto suburb exactly 23 years ago* but still mum on whether he'll ever represent his home and native land in international play, training with TFC -- facilitated by his ex-QPR teammate and current Reds head coach Ryan Nelsen.
    For Canadian soccer fans, the past few days have just reinforced the nagging feeling that the sport exists merely as an elaborate effort by malicious soccer gods to troll us in every heartbreaking way possible. I mean, come on, to go through this and this and this over the course of just a few years... how do you deal with that?
    Or, more specific to this case, how do you deal with Junior Hoilett?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    One way to react is the way friend-of-Canadian-soccer Sid Seixeiro did on Sportsnet radio on Tuesday, calling Hoilett's simultaneous training in TFC and non-commitment to Canada "absolutely disgusting" and going on to say: "That guy's basically laughing in everyone's face ... That is insulting, that is disgusting, and unless (Hoilett) has an announcement either way (about his international allegiance), he needs to shut the hell up, walk off that field and stop being cute with (the media)."
    On the other hand, you could -- as some Canadian fans did a long time ago -- brush off any news about Hoilett altogether, based on the assumption that he's never going to play for Canada anyway, and is therefore unworthy of our time, effort and attention.
    I, as with most others, fall somewhere in the middle.
    Hoilett could walk onto the Canadian roster tomorrow -- and I mean that both in terms of his FIFA eligibility and his talent relative to the current national-team player pool. And while his playing time has dipped severely in the last 12 months (and he's endured relegation from the Premier League for the second straight year), there is no question he could be of assistance to Canada right now.
    But here's the thing. He isn't.
    He's 23 years old. He's been eligible to play for Canada for 23 years. And he's never done it. After this summer, Canada's next chance to cap-tie players (which is the only sort of meaningful appearance Hoilett could make for the national team) won't come until 2015. Hoilett will be 25 by then. Who knows where he'll be playing. Who knows what impact he'll be making.
    If Hoilett suddenly felt a burst of patriotism after training at the TFC grounds this week, and decided to beg Tony Fonseca for a spot on this year's Gold Cup roster, would I -- as a fan -- accept that?
    Yes. In a heartbeat.
    Much as we may moan about the way players toy around with our emotions (none more so than the odious Jonathan de Guzman -- an ongoing act of trolling in which his brother Julian was largely complicit), the reality in Junior's case is that he hasn't really ever talked publicly about his international playing career.
    Remember -- and I make this point at every possible opportunity -- every player's individual circumstances are different. Junior is not Jono, he's not Hargreaves, he's not Leroux or Bunbury or the Bosnian goalkeeper. He is his own man, with his own decision to make.
    Has he dropped hints he'd play for Canada, only to refuse call-ups? Nope. Has he given plenty of interviews in which he gave Canadian supporters false hope, only to dash it later? Nope.
    All he's done all along is speak about his desire to establish his club career before making a decision about his international career. Training in the off-season is a pretty good way to show commitment to your club career, I'd say -- and it just so happened that an old teammate has access to the facilities in his hometown. What a bonus!
    Now, should Junior have known what kind of reaction this would spark? Yes. Should Nelsen have done a bit of research? Yes. But do we know (and I don't mean just guessing, I mean know) that Junior was doing it just to be the latest Canadian-born player to rip our hearts out in a cruel manner?
    No. We don't. His motivations have been difficult to gauge ever since he came into the spotlight, and nothing's changed.
    We can't visit the sins of other "Canadians" onto Hoilett simply because it's a convenient narrative.
    There is every possibility that Hoilett really does intend to represent Canada at some point -- and as I said, while I know there's nowhere near consensus on the issue, I'll be among the first to welcome him aboard.
    There is also every possibility that he has no plans to ever represent Canada, instead spurning us for Jamaica or forgoing international duty altogether and that this training stint is just the latest serrated blade to be jammed into the hearts of footie lovers in this country.
    For now, my approach is as follows: I'm done with Hoilett news. I'm done worrying about him, I'm done thinking about him, and I'm done musing over whether the next Canada roster we see will finally be the one with his name in it. Good luck to him in his club career, but until the day he puts his skills to good use for the Canadian national team, his exploits will be of no greater significance to me than those of any other non-Canadian player.**
    Everyone is welcome to take their own approaches, of course. Be outraged. Be indifferent. Be happy or sad or confused. It's your choice. Until the day comes that he makes up his mind, he'll always be a lightning rod for controversy in Canadian soccer circles.
    But whatever you decide to be, be sure of one thing...
    If the day ever comes that Hoilett plays an international game on Canadian soil for a team that isn't Canada... well... it'll make the reaction Sydney Leroux got seem positively quaint by comparison.***
    * It's actually his birthday today, June 5 (or so says Wikipedia). So, happy birthday Junior! Or, if you're just screwing around with us, then, uh, bad birthday Junior!
    ** Yes, I recognize the irony of writing a big, long post to express the fact that I no longer care about the guy who is the subject of the post. But whatever; I wrote it, you read it, damage is done.
    *** And no, to those of who who've found this site in the last 48 hours as a result of the Leroux controversy, that doesn't mean racist language. That shit is never OK, no matter who's involved.
    Guest
    It’s been a long time since TFC blew the lead on Saturday. Four days, in fact.
    You must have been some drunk, Duane, my trolls are likely saying. You’re just sober now?
    I didn’t have a drop to drink Saturday. No, I haven’t given up the beer (or the gin, or the…I’ve said too much). It’s just that The Reds make me feel bad enough without having to add a hangover to my Sunday morning.
    So, the double entendre that is this column’s name is lacking in accuracy this week. It’s just been lacking the last few.
    Why?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Because I’ve written every damn word I can possibly write on this bloody team.
    I’ve blindly supported and I’ve chastised. I’ve called for action and I’ve called for patience.
    I’ve been angry and (rarely) ecstatic. Bitter and hopeful. Funny (or, at least trying to be) and deadly serious.
    And around and around and around it goes. The same damn Groundhog Day story line repeats itself game after game after game after…
    What would you have me say? What would you say? I can barely bring myself to think about TFC let alone write about them.
    But, I have to. I have to because someone does and, increasingly, no one is. I have to because I can’t walk away.
    And, if you’re reading this, neither can you.
    So here we are. What now?
    Seriously, what now?
    Guest
    An extension to Canadian Soccer News’ MLS Week in Review, this article provides a closer look at the performances of the Canadian Players who saw the pitch this week.
    Jonathan Osorio, Patrice Bernier, and Russell Teibert claim the top three spots this week, with Doneil Henry grabbing attention of the negative sort for his first half dismissal after a pair of yellow cards.
    Find out what they did to deserve recognition and who else earned their keep this week. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Jonathan Osorio
    Having made his debut for Canada on Tuesday against Costa Rica, Osorio finally made his second start for Toronto FC – his twelfth appearance this season – in their 1-1 draw with Philadelphia, a response from the coach for single-handedly breathing life into a stagnant side and impressing in the second half against New England last week.
    Stationed on the right-side of the midfield – he was on the left against the Revolution – he showed excellently, combining well with Ryan Richter giving Philadelphia’s young – and out of position – left-back, Ray Gaddis more trouble than he would have liked.
    From the flank he would on occasion move in-field to combine with Luis Silva. The two came together to create a chance for Robert Earnshaw, when Silva dummied Osorio’s pass after a couple of space making exchanges – the striker could only find the side-netting.
    Later a one-two with Bobby Convey on the right corner of the box allowed Jonathan in on goal, but his shot from a tight angle was denied – he had another blocked.
    The Toronto-native completed 36 of 45 passes and won a pair of fouls, conceding possession eleven times. Defensively, he made six recoveries, two clearances and a block.
    The real meat of the performance was his third goal in MLS getting on the end of an inviting cross from Jeremy Brockie.
    Richter forced a turnover on the right touch-line, poking the ball towards Jeremy Hall who laid it towards the end-line for the peeling run of the New Zealand international. Brockie took a look before whipping a right-footed cross into the middle where Osorio, feinting slightly to the near-post made a yard of space behind the defender and got on the end for diving headed finish.
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KqHoniwzELw?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    A pair of video interviews from TFC TV: post-match talking about his goal and another from earlier in the week reflecting on the Canada match.
    Patrice Bernier
    Bernier, started and completed a fourth-consecutive league match for the Impact in their important 1-2 win away to Kansas City on Saturday. The win sees Montreal hop over New York into first place in the East and cap off a good week that saw them lift the Voyageurs Cup on away goals - a 2-2 in Vancouver on Wednesday.
    Regardless of how one feels about the Impact, it was a pleasure to see Bernier hoist that trophy.
    Partnered with Collen Warner in a defensive-minded 4-2-3-1, shielding the back-line from any additional exposure against the high-octane Sporting attack, Bernier was not on the ball in the run of play as much as one would expect, though his pass selection was still impeccable – completing 24 of 28.
    He let the younger legs of Warner do much of the chasing, preferring to stay sound positionally and be wherever he was needed most.
    That said he was involved in both goals, each of which came from his service on free-kicks, though neither directly.
    The first, from the left end-line after Felipe had been cleaned out by Ike Opara, was half-cleared to Sanna Nyassi at the top of the box – his low strike found the bottom corner of the goal through a crowd.
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hJvHxt1Le18?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    The second was a deep free-kick lofted into the middle, which – again - was not properly cleared, eventually falling kindly to Warner who finished. Bernier was right in the midst of the hearty celebrations, congratulating a well-liked teammate who has found minutes sparse this season.
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/y6NrDmtxZGk?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    That leadership was again on display when Alessandro Nesta got in the face of Claudio Bieler – Bernier is the first one there to prevent further confrontation – and his coolness under pressure, in the crucible of the cauldron’s blue hell, is evidenced by the look he gives the referee when the red card comes out.
    The Brossard-native got stuck in on the tackle – winning three and losing two – made six recoveries, three interceptions and committed four fouls, winning one.
    Those four fouls bring his season tally up to twenty, indicating a shrewd ability to break up play without raising the ire of the officials – he was not booked on Saturday and only has one yellow card this season. Keep that in mind for when Doneil Henry’s night is discussed shortly.
    He was caught up-field on one occasion that nearly proved costly, when Kei Kamara found space where Bernier should have been for a stoppage-time attempt that blazed wide of the post.
    Russell Teibert
    Teibert made his second-straight start – his sixth of the season – in Vancouver’s impressive 1-2 win in New York – their first away win of the season – to rebound from another gut-wrenching failure in the Voyageurs Cup midweek – he played that entire match, as well.
    Stationed on the right-side of the midfield, he put in a good defensive shift against New York’s left-back Roy Miller – tracking back, winning a tackle, making nine recoveries, two interceptions, and a single clearance - but it was in attack that he really impacted the match.
    It was his corner kick that eventually led to Jordan Harvey’s thunderous strike.
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zMbpeGnxigc?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    And he provided the service - a lovely cross from the right - that Kenny Miller converted into the winner.
    Jun Marques Davidson lifted a wonderful ball over the back-line for Teibert to collect; Miller (New York’s Roy) gave Teibert far too much time and space to measure a cross once he had switched to his favoured left foot. Miller (Vancouver’s Kenny) displayed his cunning to slip in front of Kosuke Kimura and head in the winner.
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/j9p64357DlQ?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    It was Teibert first assist of the season and the only cross of five on the night that was successful.
    Minutes earlier he had a chance to score himself, cutting in-field onto his left to lash an effort from distance that fizzed wide of the far left-post.
    He was guilty of a shocking miss at the death, though he was off-balance - the pass was a little behind him - and should have gotten a corner, as keeper, Luis Robles, did appear to deflect it slightly.
    The Niagara Falls-native was much better on the ball, completing 21 of 28 passes, and conceded possession only eleven times.
    His post-match interview discusses the character required in a tough match, as well as the miss, and he was a guest of the Pitch Pass podcast earlier in the week – he does not lack for confidence, if the hair did not give that away.
    Kyle Porter
    Porter made his seventh-consecutive start for DC United in their 2-0 loss to Chicago at Toyota Park on Sunday having played the 90 minutes of regulation in their Tuesday night US Open Cup win over Richmond.
    From the right-side of midfield – though he and Chris Pontius switched freely – Porter put in another shift for DC, as they struggle with a long winless streak of eleven matches.
    The Toronto-native nearly provided a goal, when his right-sided out-swinging corner kick was met by rookie centre-back, Conor Shanosky, but the effort went agonizingly over the bar.
    He needs to be better on the ball, completing just 19 of 29 passes and three of nine crosses, while conceding possession 16 times – a strong run into the box came to nothing when he let the ball roll away from him.
    All three shots that he took were blocked – including one brought about by a fast break between him and Dwayne De Rosario; he did well to close down an over-hit pass and turn towards goal, making space for a shot, but could not get it past the defender.
    But Porter worked very hard on the defensive side of the ball - part of why he has made a place for himself in Ben Olsen’s starting eleven - making four recoveries, two interceptions, winning two tackles and a pair of fouls, while conceding an equal amount.
    He was replaced in the 79th minute by Rafael, the young Brazilian attacker.

    Dwayne De Rosario
    A week removed from a controversial spell on the bench, De Rosario was back in the starting eleven – his eighth of the season, alongside – or, more accurately, slightly behind – Carlos Ruiz in attack.
    He was involved in the midweek Open Cup victory against Richmond, a former club of his, playing the entire 120 minutes and converting a spot kick – DC won 2-4 in the shootout after a scoreless match.
    The Scarborough-native was better on the ball than he had been for much of the season, completing 21 of 27 passes and showed a glimpse of his capability when he found a pocket of space, picked up his head, and cracked an effort from thirty yards off the crossbar - it was his only shot of the match.
    He made one clearance and one recovery, winning two fouls, though he still lost possession eleven times before being subbed off for John Thorrington in the 57th minute.
    Doneil Henry
    Fresh off an impressive match for Canada midweek, Henry made his fourth-straight start at the left centre-back position for Toronto in their draw with Philly.
    Perhaps a little too fired up, Henry picked up a booking in the 27th minute after swatting the ball released by Zac MacMath – in the process of taking a goal-kick – into the back of the net and then getting involved in a shoving match for which they both could have been sent off there and then.
    Fourteen minutes later, after a long think from the referee, Henry was given his marching orders for a second bookable offense – chopping down Danny Cruz at the top of the TFC box. It was a touch harsh; as it was only his second foul of the game, but he should take a page out of the Bernier handbook, study the art of fouling when necessary without drawing attention to oneself.
    The Brampton-native, who seems to grow in stature with every match, was again excellent on the ball, completing 15 of 18 passes; he is especially adept at winning headers – four – and directing the ball towards a teammate to retain possession.
    He made one clearance and one recovery, won a tackle and lost another, before seeing the first MLS red card of his young career.

    Ashtone Morgan
    Morgan returned to the pitch for Toronto – making his seventh appearance, following a month on the bench - at the start of the second half, replacing Luis Silva, as TFC restructured their back-line after Henry’s dismissal.
    An impressive match for the National Team in Edmonton – and a break from the monotony of TFC – did him well. He looked a little bit more comfortable in a defense-first role than he had earlier in the season and made a crucial interruption on Jack McInerney after Conor Casey had headed a ball into the striker’s path.
    A pair of interceptions, one each of recoveries, clearances, blocks and blocked crosses, while conceding a single foul, isn’t great, but it’s an improvement.
    The Toronto-native must improve his passing – five of ten completed – and still conceded possession five times, though usually from punts up-field rather than being stripped.
    He was interviewed on TFC TV after his spell with Canada.
    The Rest
    Quillan Roberts and Wandrille Lefevre were on the benches for Toronto and Montreal, respectively.
    Nana Attakora missed yet another match due to concussion-like symptoms – he was listed as OUT – but reports last week indicated he hoped to return in time for San Jose’s June 15 match at Colorado.
    Dejan Jakovic missed a second-straight DC United match – third if the Open Cup is included – with what is now being called a left adductor strain – he was listed as QUESTIONABLE.
    Will Johnson and the Portland Timbers had a bye this weekend, but he put in a full 90 in their US Open Cup match on Wednesday in a 5-1 win at home over Wilmington Hammerheads – great name.
    Each week James takes a look at the contributions of Canadians in the league and the league as a whole.
    You can follow James on twitter @grawsee or read more of his writing at Partially Obstructed View
    Guest
    In the interest of accuracy and clarity the full statement from Sydney Leroux regarding her allegations of racism is below. It is unedited.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    My comment: Key in that statement are a few things:
    1) - It goes without saying that, no matter the opinion of Leroux's decision or character, she does not deserve to be the victim of racial abuse. At all. Ever. There are idiots everywhere, including Canada, and it is imperative that each and everyone of us work to expose the idiots and to ensure that they never poison the atmosphere of national team games.
    That said...
    2) - "(The Tweet) wasn't in response to anything from yesterday's match at BMO Field."
    That's pretty clear. Leroux is not claiming that she heard racist chants at the game in Toronto. Unfortunately, the way she worded the original Tweet made it seem as if she was referring to the Toronto game (it's just bad writing to make reference to an event that happened, while making an allegation of something that happened 18-months ago. You are asking the reader to read your mind).
    There are still a great deal of people that are insisting that racist chants occurred during the game.
    3) In her statement she does not make reference to "chanting," but rather to things written to her via social media platforms. This is a very important distinction that many fans of Leroux seem to want to ignore.
    As stated above, one racist voice is too many, but there is a considerable difference between a crowd chanting something (it involves a coordinated effort and would be clearly audible to all that were around it) and one individual saying something stupid.
    To use a local example, it was never fair of Toronto FC fans to label the fans of the Columbus Crew as racists based on the video that surfaced a few years ago that showed one individual in their supporter's section using a racist term. It would have been fair if several people joined in and no one in the crowd stopped them, however. In her Tweet yesterday, Leroux appeared to claim that happened in Toronto (and her follow-ups are unclear as to whether she's claiming it happened in Vancouver).
    Words matter and by using the word "chant" Leroux has implied something of which there is no evidence of having happened (in Vancouver, nor in Toronto). Whether she intended it or not, Leroux said that Canadian supporters either wilfully engaged in racist chanting, or were complicit to it.
    Both are serious allegations that should not have been dealt with so flippantly.
    4) - Nowhere in that statement are the words "I'm sorry." Many, I suspect, will react negatively to the suggestion that she should apologize for anything — she's the victim, after all, they will say. And, when it comes to defending herself against against racist abuse she absolutely should not apologize.
    However, that doesn't excuse her making libelous statements against a large group of people — statements that even she now admits are not true. Leroux has more than 90,500 followers on Twitter. A good majority of those followers have not read her clarification, and, based on my Twitter interactions from yesterday, are fully convinced Canadian soccer fans are knuckle dragging racists.
    A simple: "I'm sorry if I caused any confusion. I did not want to imply I heard racist chants yesterday. Most fans agree that we need to #stopracism" would have done wonders (yes, that's less than 140 characters) and would have been a message that all fans of the game, whether Canadian or American, would have embraced.
    Lastly, and it pains me to have to write this, all of this has NOTHING TO DO WITH EITHER HER DECISION TO PLAY FOR THE UNITED STATES, NOR HER GOAL CELEBRATION SUNDAY.
    It is entirely based on her actions yesterday morning, when she made a Tweet (in her own words) in the heat of the moment that made a very serious allegation of racism in Canadian stadiums.
    If you are reading this and are still convinced that I, and all that disagree with how she handled herself yesterday, are just "haters" then you are viewing this entirely through a partisan perspective and there is little point engaging you. Feel free to comment below; you'll be ignored.
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