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    Guest
    Watch the excitingly confusing night in Miami as CONCACAF stumbled its way into the 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League Group Phase Draw. Find out where the Montreal Impact and the four American MLS clubs end up after this lopsided event.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
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    Guest
    So, yeah, this happened...
    And naturally, I spent a good part of my day getting into social-media interactions with folks on both sides of the border about what happened or didn't happen, the nature of Leroux's in-game and post-game response to the crowd's reaction to her, and so on. And while there are different ways this whole situation can be looked at, depending on where you're coming at it from, let's make one thing absolutely, unequivocally clear.
    The Canadian soccer supporters community does not condone racist abuse or behaviour directed at players or anyone else, regardless of the circumstances. Anybody engaging in this type of behaviour is representing themselves alone, not the Voyageurs or any other group, and should be banned from Canadian supporters sections.
    Now then, to parse through the nuance of a tweet that Leroux probably spent 15 seconds devising and writing, and hasn't thought about since...
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Much of the confusion (and anger, on this side of the border) came from Leroux's usage of the word "chants". That word, to me, suggests a coordinated effort by a large group of fans. And while -- as was pointed out to me by one American fan -- you could call one person yelling the same thing over and over a "chant", in this context, the connotation of Leroux's word choice is clear, whether it was her intention or not.
    That is why I, and some others who've worked extensively to help build the soccer supporters culture in this city and country, instantly jumped in with reactions.
    I'm not naive or deluded enough to think that Canada is free of racists or racism. Like every other jurisdiction on this planet, Canada contains its share of bigots, extremists and all sorts of other morons that make the rest of us look bad by association. And soccer stadia are no different. I don't doubt for a second that the possibility exists that Leroux has encountered racially-tinged abuse from Canadians, either in-person or via social media.
    And I'm also not going to suggest that she should simply laugh it off or ignore it, because she shouldn't. Nobody should have to endure racism, sexism, homophobia or any of the other sorts of closed-minded weapons of the intellectually stunted. So if Leroux, or any player, does encounter treatment of that sort, they're perfectly within their rights to bring it to the attention of their nation's governing body, or whatever other authorities might be in a position to potentially intervene.
    At the same time, it's incumbent upon supporters within Canada -- and supporters of all teams -- to weed out these elements within their ranks, if they exist. To be perfectly clear, though, I was positioned in the first few rows of section 113 at BMO Field on Sunday evening, the area from which the most unsavoury chants of the evening would have originated. And I can say with 100% certainty that I heard no one using language that could be deemed racist.
    Canadian fans sitting elsewhere in the stadium have said the same thing. Some Americans decided to alert me to the fact that Canadian fans were booing Leroux at every touch of the ball, chanting "traitor!" and "Judas!" among other things. But none of these examples constitute racist behaviour, and no one has produced any proof whatsoever of any sort of racist behaviour.
    And come on. The idea that a racist chant could ever catch on at a soccer game in Toronto is beyond laughable. Again, there is no doubt that Toronto contains plenty of individuals who hold less-than-progressive opinions on race relations. But the idea that the proudly multicultural fanbase of a proudly multicultural team would ever tolerate (never mind initiate) a racially-tinged chant at an opponent (no matter who they are) is so fundamentally preposterous that anyone seriously making the assertion is doing nothing but proving their own cluelessness about what Toronto and Canada stand for.
    As one Canadian fan remarked on the Voyageurs' Facebook page: "I would think that someone engaging in racist behaviour would get their asses whooped in our stands."
    He's probably right.
    As it turns out, though, Leroux was never suggesting coordinated chants on Sunday. The US Soccer Federation has come out to clarify that the "racial slurs" Leroux claims to have endured did not occur on Sunday at BMO Field. Thanks to the instantaneous social-media world, though, many have already gotten it in their heads that racist chants did take place that night -- which is not something that even Sydney Leroux is claiming.
    We have yet to receive clarification about what, exactly, she would have been referring to, though Jason de Vos received word that it may have to do with an incident or incidents during the Olympic qualifying tournament held in Vancouver last year. The idea that a racist chant could ever catch on at BC Place is as ridiculous as the idea that it could catch on at BMO Field. But there's the possibility, as there would be in Toronto, that individual morons could have spewed racially-charged at hatred at Leroux.
    If that's the case, here's hoping the individuals are identified and dealt with appropriately.
    The lesson from this story -- which will have completely blown over in 48 hours, such is the nature of the instant-news world -- is simply a reminder that both athletes and supporters' groups have important responsibilities in the fight to eradicate racism from the stands at soccer games.
    Supporters groups must take all available actions to identify and ostracize any within their ranks that would use a sporting event as a pretext to lob racist language at other people. And athletes must exercise caution when making claims of racist abuse, so that resources can be allocated to investigating legitimate cases without unnecessarily tarring the reputations of those who didn't (and wouldn't) engage in such behaviour.
    In the end, this is likely a case of Leroux slightly miswording her tweet, and the hyper-charged social-media environment taking the ball and running with it. There is absolutely no evidence of any coordinated racist behaviour at BMO Field on Sunday (or at BC Place last January), nor is it even remotely likely that any will emerge.
    But if there are any individuals who, ostensibly acting as impassioned Canadian soccer fans, have racially abused Leroux or any other player in any way, be it in-person or online, let me make one thing absolutely clear: You are not one of us. You do not speak for us. And if I'm personally ever in a position to ensure you're punished for that stupidity, I won't hesitate in taking that opportunity.
    I hope and trust that the overwhelming majority of my fellow Canadian supporters feel the same way, no matter what their opinions about Sydney Leroux as a player or person might be.
    .
    Guest

    MLS Week in Review – Round 14

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    The fourteenth round of MLS was played over the weekend - its nine matches provided 26 goals – two from the spot and a trio of own-goals, saw 31 bookings and four red cards – two straight and two accumulative – resulting in three draws and three away wins to cap off a busy week of both domestic and international action nicely.
    With national team games, the Voyageurs Cup finale, the US Open Cup and the sacking – by mutual consent of course - of Chivas USA’s bombastic El Chelis, one could be forgiven for missing some of the action, but fret not, this review will help with anything that may have slipped through the cracks.
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    The surprise of the round has to be New England’s 5-0 drubbing of defending champions, Los Angeles Galaxy, days removed from their shock exit of the Open Cup, away to NASL side, Carolina RailHawks, 2-0 at WakeMed Soccer Park.
    Bruce Arena decided not to make the trip, staying with the first-team and sending the usual reserve staff headed by Curt Onalfo - and a largely reserve side – to the cup fixture.
    Arena had complained vociferously about his side being one of the few forced – by the drawing of lots and flipping of coins – to travel across the continent for the match and may secretly be alright with having fallen at the first hurdle for the second-straight season – another loss to those same RailHawks in Cary, North Carolina last May.
    LA has been inconsistent to say the least this season, alternating resounding wins with crushing losses. Shorn of Robbie Keane and Omar Gonzalez, both away on national team duty, they were always likely to struggle, but in truth, the story of this latest debacle is Jay Heaps’ revolution in New England.
    Before the results, the goal of the round:
    Plenty of contenders spread around the league: Jonathan Osorio and Kenny Miller’s headers were both delightful convergences of crossing and movement; Jordan Harvey’s left-footed volley screamed into the back of goal – atoning ever-so slightly for his poor miss at the death against Montreal in the Voyageurs Cup; Houston’s Warren Creavalle has quietly become quite the goal-scorer, tallying his third of the season with a leaping redirection against Columbus and Lamar Neagle’s ball to free Obafemi Martins for the opener against Chivas was simply wonderful.
    Speaking of Chivas, Mario de Luna’s spectacular own-goal, a disastrous crossing of wires between himself and keeper, Dan Kennedy, was worthy of note – though declaring it goal of the weekend would be cruel to long-suffering Ameri-Goats fans.
    In the end it comes down to two sides, Salt Lake and New England.
    All three of the Lakers goals were wonderful passages of movement and interplay, Ned Grabavoy’s in particular, brought about by a perfectly executed dummy from Joao Plata – who has really found a home in the mountains – was a close second.
    But top billing goes to the Revs, and their starlet, Diego Fagundez.
    Starting deep on the right, Fagundez receives the ball on the touch-line near half, skips past one defender on the outside before moving in-field.
    Skipping past nibbles from various LA defenders, he eludes several half-tackles before pausing, just long enough to freeze the back-line and play-in Juan Agudelo on the left.
    The pass is slightly over-hit, forcing Agudelo into the corner. For most teams the play would fizzle out there, but not this spritely New England side.
    Agudelo chases it down, plays back to Fagundez – now stationed on the left touch-line. He heads towards goal, plays a nice, slightly delayed one-two with Kelyn Rowe, receiving the return pass goal-side of Meyer to calmly stroke a right-footed finish past Carlo Cudicini in goal.
    Lovely
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    Results in Brief
    Toronto 1 – Philadelphia 1
    It appeared the curse was to end, but Jack McInerney made TFC pay once more with a second stoppage-time equalizer against Toronto – having down the same in the previous meeting under similar circumstances - sparing Philadelphia blushes and handing the home side another bitter conclusion.
    Toronto began brightly, moving the ball well if rarely threatening the goal. A scuffle between Doneil Henry and Zac MacMath led to Henry’s dismissal shortly before half-time when he was shown a second yellow card for lunging in on Danny Cruz at the top of the Toronto box.
    Down a man, TFC took the lead when Jeremy Hall laid a ball down the right for Jeremy Brockie to swing into the middle where it was met by Jonathan Osorio with a resounding header.
    The pressure mounted as the clock ticked down. An odd, pre-planned substitution saw the return of Danny Koevermans, but robbed Toronto of their high-pressing first defender. McInerney made them pay, back-pedaling to find space where a half-cleared Sheanon Williams long throw fell on the left for a low shot to the bottom far-corner.
    Ryan Nelsen’s charges are now winless in eleven league fixtures, though they snapped a five-match losing slide, but should take some heart from the performance, if not the result. John Hackworth’s Union will gladly take the point and brace for another midweek fixture in the midst of a busy spell.
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    New York 1 – Vancouver 2
    The Whitecaps rebounded from a disappointing midweek draw at home against Montreal - that saw them once more finish second in the chase to be Canada’s top club – picking up their first road win of the season and handing New York their first loss in nearly two months.
    Right-back, Greg Klazura, making his first start of the season, was unlucky to see a left-sided Jonny Steele cross rebound off his outstretched boot and nestle past Brad Knighton in the Vancouver goal to open the scoring shortly after half-time.
    But the Whitecaps stormed back, with left-back Jordan Harvey erasing the advantage with a thunderous volley after a poor Eric Alexander clearance seven minutes later, and fit-again Kenny Miller capped off the night with a brilliant bit of movement to elude Kosuke Kimura and get on the end of a Russell Teibert right-sided cross in the 83rd minute.
    The questionable dismissal of centre-back Jamison Olave for a soft second booking made the task somewhat easier, though the ball played into space for Teibert by the oft-criticized Jun Marques Davidson was worthy of a winner and Russell and Miller ensued it was so.
    Martin Rennie, reportedly under pressure for having failed to secure the Canadian Championship, will rightly be proud of the response from his side, while Mike Petke’s New York have some time to lick their wounds with an international break before returning for an Open Cup fixture scheduled for June 12th.
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    Columbus 1 – Houston 1
    Columbus returned from a successful away trip – four of six points – but needed a 69th minute penalty kick from Federico Higuain to prevent a third successive loss in front of the home fans.
    Warren Creavalle opened the scoring for Houston with a flying redirection of a Kofi Sarkodie right-sided cross in the 31st minute.
    Higuain responded, beginning the play that led to the equalizer by threading a ball through the legs of a defender to Matias Sanchez, who found homegrown full-back on the right-side of the box. The rookie, playing in his first match, was tripped up by Andrew Driver and Higuain did not mess around, smashing his spot kick high into the goal down the middle.
    Robert Warzycha’s Crew lost midfielder Eddie Gaven to a season-ending knee injury after a reportedly innocuous challenge midweek, but continue their domination of Houston, who have not won in the series since 2008. Dominic Kinnear’s Dynamo meanwhile are mired in a four-match winless streak since seeing their long home unbeaten run rudely ended by Kansas City.
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    Kansas City 1 – Montreal 2
    The feud between these two clubs continues to elevate to new heights. One may recall on their last visit to Sporting Park, Montreal coach, Marco Schallibaum was ejected for splashing water – whether advertently or not – on the fourth official.
    Schallibaum was again shown to the stands, while his side endured a weak penalty call and a red card to Alessandro Nesta – he responded after a bit of conniving nastiness from Claudio Bieler, who stamped (if lightly) on his hands as the Italian veteran lay on the ground.
    Bieler, who battled with Nesta all night, earned the penalty in first half stoppage-time when a hand from the sagacious centre-back on his shoulder was enough to drag the striker down just inside the box – he duly dispatched it himself.
    Sanna Nyassi responded two minutes into the second frame with a scorching half-volley from the top of the box after a failed clearance – by Bieler - before Collen Warner made good use of another defending fail six minutes later, when Ike Opara missed his hoof and Warner adroitly slotted the scrambled play across Jimmy Nielsen for the winner.
    CORRECTION: It wasn't Opara - he was out of position - Peterson Joseph was the one who flubbed the clearance. Apologies.
    Peter Vermes’ fury, as will be expanded upon shortly, knows no bounds, more so given his side is now winless in three and failed to make up any ground on New York, while letting Montreal inch further ahead at the top of the East. Schallibaum’s Impact are lurching from strength to strength with an impressive away record trailing their unbeaten home form only slightly.
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    Colorado 2 – Dallas 2
    A furious ten minute spell from the 56th onward saw all four goals scored, with Colorado twice taking the lead only for Dallas to respond in kind.
    Atiba Harris scored his third and fourth of the season – a header from a long Marvell Wynne right-sided throw-in and a right-footer on the end of a hopeful headed pass from Chris Klute at the right-post – but Blas Perez answered both times, taking his tally up to five on the season – a pair of right-footed shots from increasing distances; first, after a Michel ball was cleared by Harris but hit Wynne and fell to the Dallas striker at the top of the box and then collecting a long Jackson ball on his chest before placing a second attempt low into the bottom left-corner of the goal.
    Oscar Pareja’s Rapids stretch their unbeaten run to six matches, and got some good injury news this week, with players returning to training and fears of a serious injury to Martin Rivero allayed, while Schellas Hyndman’s Dallas has seen their lead atop the league and the West dwindle to a mere two and four points respectively after three draws and a loss in their last six matches.
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    Salt Lake 3 – San Jose 0
    Matches last 90 minutes, but Salt Lake needed only 38 to assert their dominance over a struggling San Jose side.
    Javier Morales opened the scoring in the 16th minute, pouncing on a Robbie Findley rebound after playing the speedy American down the right for a shot. The two were again involved in the second 17 minutes later with Findley finding Morales wide right and the Argentine sending a low ball into the box, which was cleverly dummied by Joao Plata to an unmarked Ned Grabavoy who dinked his finish high into the net.
    Findley himself added a third in the 38th collecting a blocked Plata cut-back on the right-side of the box and curling a right-footer into the far side-netting.
    Jason Kreis’ Salt Lake has surged up the table in recent weeks – four wins in their last six – and now sit within four points of the previously unreachable Dallas; Frank Yallop’s San Jose were shutout for the third time in their last four matches, have just one win in their last eleven fixtures, and sit above only Chivas at the bottom of the Western Conference on fifteen points from as many games.
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    Chivas 0 – Seattle 2
    A coaching change and a switch to a back-four were not enough to see Chivas end their long losing and winless streaks as they fell once more to Seattle.
    Obafemi Martins scored his fourth for the club, when a deft Lamar Neagle touch played him down the left-channel where he finished expertly over Dan Kennedy. Mario de Luna’s bizarre own-goal doubled the lead and the Ameri-goats rarely threatened.
    It was not all smooth sailing for Sigi Schmid’s Sounders, they lost Oswaldo Alonso to a leg injury after a mere 21 minutes and Martins was shown a harsh red card when referee Ricardo Salazar deemed his attempt to disentangle himself from Carlos Alvarez as a kick to the face and dismissed him posthaste.
    Interim Chivas boss, director of soccer, Francisco Palencia - keeping the seat warm for the incoming Jose Luis Real - could not halt a fifth-consecutive loss that extends their current winless run to eight matches, nor inspire the side to a goal, falling to a seventh shutout of the season – they have only scored three goals since their last win at the end of March.
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    New England 5 – Los Angeles 0
    A rampant Revolution ran roughshod over the Galaxy, stripped of two of their brightest stars, in the surprise result of the round, on goals from five different scorers: Sair Sene, Lee Nguyen, Chad Barrett, Diego Fagundez and Kelyn Rowe – the latter two each adding a pair of assists, handed LA their worst loss since 2002.
    Sene opened the scoring in the 33rd minute cutting in from the right and playing a one-two with Fagundez before placing a low left-footed shot in off the inside of the far-post. Nguyen controversially doubled the lead in the 71st after some confusion over a referee’s decision allowed Fagundez to catch LA napping with a quick free kick to Nguyen, who caught Galaxy keeper, Carlo Cudicini off-balance at the short-side.
    Fagundez, for a fourth consecutive match, scored himself in the 87th, nabbing goal of the round honours, before Barrett – a right-footer after Rowe found him unmarked on the left – and Rowe – bending a right-footer around a defender to the near-post after moving in from the right and receiving a neat lay-off from Barrett – added goals in the 91st and 94th minutes respectively piling onto the Galaxy’s misery.
    Jay Heaps’s New England has now scored ten goals in their last two matches – a 1-5 win at Rochester midweek in the US Open Cup – and fourteen in their last four, including a three-game winning streak in the league to leap into playoff contention in the East. Bruce Arena’s LA have yet to find the level of consistency normally associated with champions.
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    Chicago 2 – DC 0
    Recently-acquired striker Mike Magee made it two goals in two matches for Chicago. Having joined the club in exchange for the rights to Robbie Rogers last Friday, Magee debuted in the Open Cup and scored, then doubled his contribution with a late clincher on Sunday evening.
    Chicago took the lead early with a stroke of fortune, when Jeff Larentowicz touched on a Joel Lindpere free-kick, which nicked off Nick DeLeon and looped high into the top, left-corner of the goal.
    DC boss, Ben Olsen has tried everything to get his side clicking, starting both Dwayne De Rosario and Carlos Ruiz together in attack a week after some quickly-quashed controversy mused that he thought them too slow to play together – DC had zero shots on target against Chicago. One player, Marcos Sanchez was released midweek and further changes are afoot lest results turn.
    Chicago’s Frank Klopas shook up his club with a pair of acquisitions recently – centre-back Bakary Soumare and forward Magee – which have thus far made a difference, the Fire are unbeaten in two matches – a win and a draw. It is their first such streak of the season.
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    CanCon
    As usual the extended look at the Canadian contributions to the league this weekend will be up tomorrow (Tuesday) some time midday.
    Overheard
    Shep Messing on the New York broadcast said that Kenny Miller has been useless for a year and a half – that’s a bit harsh, he only arrived midseason and has been impressive this year – when not injured of course.
    There was some horrible pronunciation this weekend – despite each club including a pronunciation outline in the game guides to avoid such atrocities – Kobaya-shea? Ya-pick-ka-no?
    The Chicago Fire game was broadcast in Spanish again, brilliant - GOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLL, del Fire!
    See It Live
    Blas Perez’s bull-horn celebration with fingers adorned to the side of his head after scoring is something, not sure if a new thing or a continuation of an old one, but surely there is some sort of story there.
    The Kansas City-Montreal rivalry deepens.
    It began last season when the Impact earned a surprise victory, their first on the road, with a defensive-display at Sporting Park. It elevated when, in their first meeting of this season, Montreal coach, Marco Schallibaum was dismissed for reportedly getting water on the fourth official, and now this later chapter, with various reports of harsh words and clashes between Peter Vermes and the Montreal staff.
    Two emotionally charged groups, vying for the top of the Eastern Conference; then next meet on July 27th in Montreal, should be tasty.
    It will be interesting to see how the Disciplinary Committee approaches the Nesta red card situation - he was clearly provoked by a – mild – stamp from Bieler, does the Argentine face any retribution from the head office?
    Chad Barrett has cut a frustrated figure with his lack of playing time this season, he let that out with his celebration after scoring on Sunday, holding nothing back against his former employers.
    Upcoming Fixtures
    This next week sees a solitary midweek fixture, followed by a sparse weekend schedule of only four matches due to FIFA dates for World Cup Qualifiers.
    Wednesday: Philadelphia-Columbus. Saturday: New England-DC; Chicago-Portland; Salt Lake-Los Angeles; Seattle-Vancouver.
    Parting Thoughts
    A few questions to ponder and discuss:
    Any issues with the red cards dished out this weekend? Warranted or not? Should Henry and MacMath both have been sent off for their initial clash? Did the referee force himself into unbalancing the game harshly with that moment of leniency? Was Nesta’s harsh or should Bieler have gone too? What about Olave’s - a little soft, no? Did the ref forget he had already booked him? Then there is Martins, which is highly debatable? Are any overturned?
    Vancouver finally wins on the road and now brace for a tricky away trip to Cascadia rivals, Seattle, on Saturday. Does that win – and the memory of a crushing loss in the Voyageurs Cup – spur them on, or was the win in New York an aberration?
    And Montreal, newly-crowned Canadian Champions, can they fight on two fronts with both league and cup commitments? Holding down first in the East, challenging for the Supporter’s Shield and travelling great distances for continental skirmishes in far-flung destinations?
    How good was the second leg of the Voyageurs Cup Final? Enjoyable, no?
    New England can stretch their run with a home fixture against DC? Just how good is this Fagundez kid and how long before he is overhyped and ruined? That said he is Uruguayan – having attended an youth camp last season - and not American, so he should be fine.
    Portland returns from a bye week – and a thorough win in the Open Cup – on Saturday against the reformulated Chicago, did the rest do them good? Or is Chicago – with new centre-back and striker – going to start being relevant?
    Aside from the Cascadia match, Salt Lake-LA is the headline fixture in the upcoming truncated weekend, does LA rebound or does Salt Lake make up further ground on Dallas?
    With El Chelis gone, any thoughts on his brief tenure in the league? What does the future holds of the black sheep of the MLS flock?
    Assuming most readers are Canadians, can one bear to watch any of the CONCACAF Hexagonal qualifying fixtures, or is the back firmly turned with Canada’s elimination?
    Until next weekend.
    Each week James takes a look at the league as a whole.
    You can follow James on twitter @grawsee or read more of his writing at Partially Obstructed View
    Guest
    For today's friendly, I wanted to have a separate selection of pictures with a focus away from the play on the pitch. A big part of the gameday experience is the crowd at the stadium, the players sharing moments as friends and seeing them let their guard down and smile after the battle on the pitch has been completed.
    I went into the game today with an intent to spend a little time going through the stands (I will be making screen backgrounds in the next few days) and focusing on the team in the time between entering the stadium and the match starting. After the game many of the players stayed on the field (after going around the stadium) and stretched, chatted and enjoyed the time as teammates before they went on their separate ways to their club teams.
    Cleats were tossed into the crowd, conversations with the people in the stands from a distance and behaviour that is so rarely seen by the athletes that play before 20k+ people.Here are a few, I will be adding more images tomorrow, with pictures from a training session earlier in the week, as well as actual gameplay.
    Thanks to everyone that was at the stadium, you should be proud of the energy level you helped to create in the stadium and also on the pitch.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]












    Slideshow
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    Guest
    On the last two occasions the USA women's national team visited Canada, prior to Sunday night, they left with convincing 4-0 victories. So by that standard, the three-goal margin in Sunday's much-hyped "Rematch" could actually be considered progress.
    In reality, though, it was a reminder of why the USA sits where it sits, as the #1-ranked team in the world -- they've got skill, they've got depth, and when they get scoring chances, they are clinical.
    The final result may have been a bit of a shock to those who were watching the second women's soccer game of their lives (after last summer's Olympic semifinal, of course), but this "rematch" was actually the Americans' 45th victory in 53 all-time meetings with Canada.
    That being said, the raucous, sold-out (and we're talking a legit BMO Field sellout, not one of those "announced" sellouts) crowd, and even some of the players, were clearly buying into the rivalry/"rematch" narrative, which helped make the game compelling even when the final result wasn't in question.
    So, where do we go from here?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The actual answer is "right back into the thick of things", with a friendly against the #2-ranked Germans later this month. But that's not what you meant, is it? You want to know what lessons we can take from this game. Of course.
    Well, clearly the biggest revelation on the Canadian side was teenage centreback Kadeisha Buchanan. Not even a part of the senior team set-up until this year (though she featured at the U17 Women's World Cup in 2012), she's shown the sort of instincts and composure that earned her not just a spot in this game, but a starting role. And while she showed her age and relative inexperience at times, she also did plenty of work to shore up the backline and keep the always-dangerous Abby Wambach at bay on multiple occasions.
    There's your big Canadian story of the day. You want something to take away from the game, take that.
    Beyond Buchanan, there weren't any especially big surprises from the Canadian side. Desiree Scott put in another invaluable shift of work. A couple of other Canadian youngsters (Tiffany Cameron, Danica Wu) got a run-out. Christine Sinclair and Kaylyn Kyle sent the squeals in the stands into overdrive every time they touched the ball. Melissa Tancredi, though her heart was surely in it, often looked like a player who hasn't been in a competitive match (or training session) in 10 months.
    But yeah, Canada is who we thought they were. A team that put together a remarkable performance in the Olympic semi-final last summer but who, on most days, are not quite at the same level as the Americans. That's not meant as an insult, by any means -- as I said, the USA is #1 in the world for a reason.
    But it's a reminder of what head coach John Herdman has said on multiple occasions: While the bronze medal was a great achievement and a deserved reward for an amazing tournament, it's a not a laurel that can be rested upon indefinitely. With the Women's World Cup on our soil in just two years' time, Canada needs to show that it has the ability to stay strong and retain its relevance in an ever-expanding and ever-evolving global landscape of women's soccer.
    Anyway, yeah, that's my synopsis of the game. Nothing of any great interest happened beyond that, right? I'm not missing any controversial moments or incidents that could drum up strong opinions on both sides of the... oh, right, that.
    Or should I say... oh, right, her.
    Sigh. Alright, let's limber up a bit here before getting this one. *cracks knuckles*
    What you first have to understand about the core of the south end at BMO Field on Sunday night is that it comprises a group of long-suffering Canadian soccer fans. They're not only fans of the women's national team, they're fans of the men's team. A men's national team that has been burned time and time and time again by players defecting to the greener pastures of other international opportunities.
    Never, prior to Sunday night, did those Toronto-based fans have an opportunity to see one of those defectors play for their adopted country, against Canada, on Canadian soil. So you can understand that a certain amount of pent-up frustration and anger -- frustration and anger that extended far beyond the individual actions and decisions of one Ms. Sydney Leroux -- was set to be unleashed.
    Now, if you thought Canadian fans would do anything other than boo a Canadian-born player who chose to play for the United States, sorry, but you're either naive or an idiot. And if you believe that female professional athletes are intrinsically immune from the sort of criticism or fan reaction that a male athlete would encounter in the same circumstances -- well then, you and I see "gender equality" in much different ways.
    International soccer is international soccer. Actions have consequences. And anyone who would automatically begrudge sports fans for booing an athlete who they perceive as a turncoat clearly doesn't understand the passion involved in sports fandom, and therefore forfeits their right to have their opinion considered in this context. (Thankfully, the fact you're reading CSN in the first place is a good indicator that you don't fall into this group, so by all means, read on.)
    That being said...
    Were some of the chants being directed at Leroux over the line? That's a matter of personal opinion, of course, and I'm not entirely sure what the TV microphones did or didn't pick up. But suffice to say that I consciously chose not to participate in some of them. If you've followed my writing or tweeting for any amount of time, you've just gotten a decent idea of what levels of inappropriateness are at play.
    Of course, Canadian fans were always poking a sleeping bear with that one. It's as if the folks in the south end -- probably still literally and figuratively hungover from another catastrophic last-minute collapse by Toronto FC at BMO Field the previous day -- had forgotten that hubris is a dangerous thing for a constituency with a record as checkered as that of Canadian soccer fans. So, of course, of course Leroux was always going to spit in our eye with a goal. Would the soccer gods let it be any other way?
    And then, in what some are characterizing as a shocking, tasteless, classless, unprecedented show of disrespect, she... put her finger to her mouth to "shush" the crowd, and showed off the crest on her jersey.
    Oh. Really. That's it?
    For some of the moral outrage being expressed on social media, you'd have thought she flipped the crowd off, or swore at the ball kids, or maybe literally spat in our eyes.
    No, she did something that we've seen players do countless times before. Heck, I still get giddy thinking about Christine Sinclair shushing the crowd in Mexico a few years back during World Cup qualifying.
    "But, but, but," people have said on social media, though not in these exact words, "Sinclair wasn't born in Mexico, and didn't play for the Mexican youth team. So this is different!"
    Well, sure. Every case is different. Every player is different. Sydney Leroux isn't Owen Hargreaves, or Jonathan de Guzman, or Teal Bunbury, or that Bosnian goalkeeper, but I'm pretty sure a lot of the vitriol that went into the chants directed her way on Sunday night was -- at least a little bit -- an attempt by Canadian fans to finally put a real-life name and face to the sense of loss and disappointment they've felt about all of the deserters over the years.
    So with the weight of the accumulated hostility toward a half-dozen players lumped on her shoulders, is giving the crowd a "shushing" sign really the worst thing Leroux could have done?
    Look, if she wants to live in a manufactured universe where she was born in Los Angeles, California, and where her story is a marvelous fairy tale that only "haters" could possibly take umbrage with, then no amount of booing or crude chanting is going to shake her from it.
    Doesn't mean we shouldn't do it, though. Because THAT is what rivalries are really all about. Those visceral crowd reactions. Those unscripted moments. Those heroes and villains that rile up legitimate passions within the audience, whether they're long-time devotees or complete newcomers.
    For what it's worth, the south-end crowd at BMO Field also unleashed a couple of rather sophisticated rounds of "fuck you Wambach!" aimed at, of course, the soon-to-be all-time leading scorer in women's soccer history. And Wambach, for her part, looked up at the supporters with an incredulous "are you guys serious?" snicker and a sarcastic round of applause.
    In the end, what we witnessed was, indisputably, the largest pro-Canada crowd ever assembled for a soccer game at BMO Field, and surely among the largest ever for a men's or women's match. And while the unique mix of drunken hardcores, youth players, soccer-loving families and general sports fans didn't get the fairy-tale ending (or even a goal) that we so desperately wanted, we got an experience... and the chance to say a ridiculously-belated thanks to the women's national team for the scintillating ride they took us on last summer.
    And to those attending their first Canadian national-team game... well, they got a good idea of what it's like to be a day-in, day-out supporter of Canadian soccer. It's rarely glamorous, and not especially rewarding -- which is what makes the Olympic bronze all the more special.
    But as that victory recedes further into the background, we're still left with the question: Where do we go from here?
    The answer, still: To Germany. The sentimentality is done. The anti-Leroux catharsis is done (for now). The celebration tour (such as it is) is done. Now time for Herdman and the troops to get back to the hard work of ensuring that the success in London wasn't a one-off anomaly.
    And, hey, it was only 3-0 against the Americans this time. So, like I said... progress, right?
    .
    Guest
    Roald Dahl couldn't have written a better tale of the unexpected in New Jersey tonight with a heavily depleted Vancouver Whitecaps side stunning the Eastern Conference leading New York Red Bulls 2-1 and bouncing back from Wednesday's Voyageurs Cup heartache in some style.
    Despite going down to an unfortunate Greg Klazura own goal at the start of the second half, Vancouver fought back with two excellent goals from Jordan Harvey and Kenny Miller, missed some chances to kill the game off against a ten man New York side and survived a scare in the dying second to come home with the three points.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The Whitecaps haven't fielded the same starting eleven for consecutive games this season and they didn't have their problems to seek for this one, with a squad depleted from injury, suspension, international duty and fatigue.
    The result was a makeshift line-up in defence and midfield, with several fringe players getting the chance to impress the management and try and make a claim for a starting spot or at least more MLS minutes. With a result like this, they certainly made a case.
    Of all those players, Greg Klazura had the biggest opportunity, finally making his Major League Soccer debut to replace a rested Young-Pyo Lee in the right back slot. He didn't look out of place, but it was certainly an eventful debut.
    With Klazura on the right and Jordan Harvey coming in at left back, the unfamiliar backline was going to be heavily tested by a potent New York attack led by Thierry Henry.
    If they needed any indication of what may lie in store they got it as early as the fourth minute, with Henry easily getting behind the Caps defence and on the better side of Andy O'Brien but he hit a week attempt straight at Brad Knighton in the Caps' goal.
    On the road, with a weakened side and playing in very hot conditions, many expected the Whitecaps to be over-run but they had some of the better play in the early stages, taking the game to the Red Bulls, with Camilo Sanvezzo and Kenny Miller both having shots that went wide.
    New York soon started to take over and dominate the possession, as you would expect from a home side high on confidence and Juninho came close to breaking the deadlock in the 21st minute when he hit a dangerous dipping shot that went narrowly over.
    There was very little of note for the rest of the half with the home side continuing to boss possession, ending it 72%-28% in their favour, but really doing very little threatening with it.
    After some more pressure and some trademark Whitecaps sloppy giveaways, the Red Bulls finally found their breakthrough six minutes into the second half.
    Henry was given time on the edge of the box and played a perfect ball out to Jonny Steele and with the luck of the Irish, the former Whitecap saw his cross hit off the foot of debutant Klazura, giving Knighton no chance as it flew into the net.
    Worse was to come for Klazura who went down with cramp and had to be replaced by Young-Pyo Lee.
    Just when it was looking like everything that could go wrong for the Whitecaps was going to go wrong, the visitors remarkably found themselves level in the 58th minute.
    Lee overhit a cross into the box but Eric Alexander's weak header fell straight to Jordan Harvey and the defender blasted the ball into the roof of the net giving Luis Robles no chance and his first action of the night.
    New York had a couple of half chances that came to nothing before Camilo nearly shocked the home crowd when he made the most of a giveaway and curled a low shot goalbound and forcing Robles into a save.
    The Whitecaps got a huge break in the 75th minute when Jamison Olave saw red for a second booking following a clumsy challenge on Kenny Miller.
    The tide turned in the Whitecaps favour with Camilo heading a corner over and then Russell Teibert had a long range effort that flew wide.
    And Teibert had a part to play in giving the Whitecaps an unexpected, but winning, advantage in the 83rd minute, sending a perfect cross into the box for Kenny Miller to rise and head home a bullet from eight yards out.
    Red Bulls Arena was stunned into silence and it was a nearly a third for the Caps in the 88th minute when Daigo Kobayashi pounced on a giveaway and played in his fellow sub Kekuta Manneh, but Robles got a vital hand as the young Gambian tried to put the ball over him and into the net.
    With the game in stoppage time Teibert should have put the game beyond doubt when Miller unselfishly squared the ball to the open Canadian, but his first touch let him down and when he recovered he blasted high and over from ten yards out.
    Vancouver were nearly made to pay for that miss in the 95th minute when Henry got the better of O'Brien in the air and his header played in Peguy Luyindula. With time and space, he hit a weak effort straight at Knighton when he should have done so much better.
    It was a huge let off for the Whitecaps and when the final whistle came seconds later it was another moment in Vancouver's season that swung on one play. For once, it swung in their favour.
    There's a lot of hyperbole in football but this result really was a huge one for the Whitecaps and for an under pressure Martin Rennie.
    They were outplayed and outpossessed for most of the match, with a depleted squad, but they showed a lot of fight and spirit that has been lacking for a lot of this year. They also showed great grit and determination to fight back from their midweek loss to Montreal. On top of all this they also got the monkey of their back of no away wins this season. A pretty good day at the office all round.
    June is a vital month for the Whitecaps' MLS hopes and aspirations. Some more performances like this one and we could be heading into the summer with more on our minds than simply playing catch up.
    FINAL SCORE: New York Red Bulls 1 - 2 Vancouver Whitecaps
    ATT: 19,969
    NEW YORK: Luis Robles; Kosuke Kimura, Markus Holgersson, Jamison Olave, Roy Miller; Eric Alexander (Lloyd Sam 72), Juninho, Dax McCarty, Jonny Steele (Heath Pearce 78); Fabian Espindola (Peguy Luyindula 70), Thierry Henry [subs Not Used: Ryan Meara, Brandon Barklage, Michael Bustamante, Connor Lade]
    VANCOUVER: Brad Knighton; Greg Klazura (Young-Pyo Lee 57), Andy O'Brien, Johnny Leveron, Jordan Harvey; Jun Marques Davidson, Alain Rochat (Daigo Kobayashi 77), Matt Watson; Russell Teibert, Kenny Miller, Camilo Sanvezzo (Kekuta Manneh 87) [subs Not Used: Joe Cannon, Erik Hurtado, Corey Hertzog, Tommy Heinemann]
    <p>
    Guest
    (This is what "Tobias" means, for those of you who didn't know. I've already done this post here, here, here, and probably some other places too. I'm doing it again because it's the same old garbage, and if this team can't be bothered to play 90 minutes, I can't be bothered to come up with new stuff to write about them. Because there's almost literally nothing left to say about a team that has essentially gone beyond self-parody at this point.)
    When I was growing up, we'd routinely collect the neighbourhood kids for games of road hockey on weekends. One of them was a Portuguese kid named Tobias, about five years younger than me. He'd bring his stick and plenty of enthusiasm -- but at around 4 p.m. on any given Saturday or Sunday, his broom-toting mom would beckon him back to the house with shrill calls of "Tobias!... Tobias!"
    It was too late for lunch and too early for dinner... quite frankly, none of us really understood why he was being ripped away from our games at 4 p.m. with such regularity. But we'd come to expect it. Check your watch. It's getting close to 4 p.m. Time for what we all know is coming.
    "Tobias!.... Tobias!"
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Every once in a while, she'd fail to emerge at the expected time. We'd take this as a positive sign. Maybe she'd finally calmed down. Maybe he'd actually be able to stick around for full games. Hell, maybe she'd fallen down the stairs and we wouldn't have to hear that shriek anymore (hey, kids are assholes, what can I say?)
    But soon enough, there she'd be, twice as loud -- as if to compensate for her delinquency -- with the cry we all knew was going to come. Why, oh why, did we think she'd ever stop? We would need to always keep an eye on our watches at 4 p.m., even if she missed a week here and there. We'd never truly be rid of her interference, no matter how our games were going, or how old we got.
    So yeah, we got a bit of a break there, TFC. A few weeks where all we had to deal with were dull, uninspired losses. Whatever, we're used to those by now. And yeah, there were times Tobias's mom wouldn't call him in at 4 p.m. But of course, before long, there she'd be. Everything would be back to normal.
    That's the terror of complacency.
    I tell this story for two reasons. One, as an attempt to take everyone's minds off of YES, INCOMPREHENSIBLY, YET ANOTHER catastrophic, points-dropping, last-minute concession by Toronto FC. And two, as a way of reminding us all that the occasional hiccup should not make us forget certain inalienable truths about the universe: Tobias's mom will always call him back in the house at a strange time. And Toronto FC will always, always, always make things terrifying at the ends of games. (Although, at this point, how in the hell could we forget it, when the lesson is rammed into our heads every damned week?)
    Anyway, here the Reds sit, with a lot fewer points than they could have. Wanna know why? Oh, probably because of the late concessions against Philly and Los Angeles and Houston and New York and Colorado and yeah, y'know what, what the hell, Philly again.
    Blah blah, one week Tobias moved away. Whatever, read the previous versions if you want the whole scintillating narrative. The long and the short of it is, Toronto FC sucks. In other news, water is wet.
    In the immediate aftermath of the game, I angrily posted on Twitter that the team should just get it over with and fold, and spare us all of this ongoing heartache. If and when I change that stance, I'll let you know.
    Guest
    It’s well known that Toronto FC has never been a particularly good football team. Six seasons of playoffless soccer and now a seventh threatening to go down the tubes before the beginning of summer make that readily apparent.
    While the team’s nearly perpetual road woes are similarly well known, not having won a home game in the league at BMO Field since July 18th, 2012 has thrown another point into stark relief: the team has never been very good at home either. In fact, the only TFC side to win half of their home games in a season was the 2009 team. It’s not a coincidence that they were also the only ones to come within touching distance of the playoffs.
    Fans remember that differently, probably because the losses used to be a little less common, but the point is an important one. Whether it was the plastic pitch, the lively atmosphere, or the uncomfortable probability that the old Toronto teams of Mo Johnston were better than anything the club has assembled since, it used to be possible to head down to BMO Field with a sense of optimism. Too often, however, the Reds would end up coming away with less than full points.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    If you want to make the playoffs in Major League Soccer winning most of your home games is the surest way to do it. In nearly every case, for a team good enough to be serious about the task, a home draw is two points dropped rather than one point gained. Expansion of the league and liberalization of roster constraints has lead to some degree of stratification in MLS it is still very much a league of teams with similar resources where any team can beat any other, particularly at home.
    While five consecutive home losses to begin the 2012 season were certainly the death knell to any lingering notion of “Fortress BMO” Saturday’s opponent, the Philadelphia Union, also played their role in destroying what little mystique home field advantage had in Toronto.
    Even good MLS teams lose home games, sometimes embarrassingly. The Union’s 6 – 2 win in Toronto, almost exactly two years ago, is still the Reds’ worst home loss, in terms of margin and goals conceded, of all time. Bitterness and cynicism had already long been part of the TFC experience but the shambolic nature of that defeat was a new low; for the first time, the sort of humiliation regularly experienced in road games was brought home to Toronto.
    The second year Philadelphia team that handed out that defeat went on to clinch a playoff spot by finishing third in the Eastern Conference in 2011. Interestingly they achieved that even though they only managed to win 7 of 17 home games. On the other hand, they only ever lost once at PPL Park in the league that season.
    The 2013 edition of the Union have already been the only team in the league unlucky enough to drop points at home to Toronto. They’re also coming off a loss in Montreal in a 5 – 3 goalfest that has established the record for their club’s own worst defensive performance. The big-red-playoff-line-in-the-sky is disappearing over the horizon in Toronto but for the Union to stay on the right side of it they’ll be looking to take maximum points home from their visit.
    News in Toronto all week has been centered on another delay in Danny Koevermans' long awaited return and Richard Eskersley’s reaggravation of his hamstring injury. For once, it’s not all bad news on the injury front though as winger Bobby Convey has been removed from the official MLS injury report and should be available for selection on the left side of midfield.
    If the Reds’ sputtering offense can find a way to get going against a Philadelphia defense that has already allowed a nearly league worst 23 goals so far this season it’s not unrealistic to imagine them finally picking up three points at BMO Field again. Management won’t give up on the concept of competing for a playoff spot and for that to be anything more than a mathematical possibility TFC is going to need to win three or four home games in a row. It seems crazy to talk about in the context of a team with one win from their last 26 but starting a run like that sooner rather than later is the sort of thing that could still salvage some meaning from the season and at least start giving fans a reason to be excited when they head out to a home game.
    Even in Toronto, that shouldn't be too much to ask.
    Guest
    KEY PLAYERS
    Attacking
    After returning from a lengthy injury Kenny Miller made his debut against Montreal where he was able to play more than seventy minutes. It is unclear whether he can start on Saturday or if he comes off the bench to provide some attack and high work rate late in the match.
    With Tim Cahill unavailable due to international duty, Thierry Henry will be looked upon in a bigger role to lead the attack. Not only does the designated player lead the club in goals but also has attempted the most shots among Red Bull players.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Defence
    There has been word that Lee will not be playing due to limiting his travel so Greg Klazura might get his first MLS start. There is no doubt that the sophomore player is a threat going forward on the attack but will need to look after his defensive responsibilities.
    While he didn’t begin the season in the starting eleven Markus Holgersson reclaimed his spot from Heath Pearce after a couple of games. In addition to being strong in the air the Swedish defender is playing solid defense and making smart decisions with the ball at his feet.
    WHO’S ON FORM
    In the last two games Camilo Sanvezzo has been the Whitecaps' most dangerous player on the attack. Against Montreal, the Brazilian striker scored on a magnificent free kick from 35 yards out as well as just missing on a couple of close chances.
    After being acquired in the offseason from Real Salt Lake Jamison Olave started the season slowly but has been able to pick up his game lately. Not only has the 2010 MLS Defender of the Year been solid on the backline but has also contributed offensively with four goals.
    PROJECTED LINEUP

    Vancouver Whitecaps (4-3-3) R to L- Brad Knighton; Greg Klazura, Andy O’Brien, Johnny Leveron, Alain Rochat; Jun Marques Davidson, Matt Watson, Russell Teibert; Kekuta Manneh, Kenny Miller, Camilo Sanvezzo
    New York Red Bulls (4-4-2) Luis Robles; Kosuke Kimura, Jamison Olave, Markus Holgersson, Heath Pearce; Eric Alexander, Juninho, Dax McCarty, Johnny Steele; Thierry Henry, Fabian Espindola
    2013 RECORD
    Vancouver Whitecaps:
    3W-4D-4L-13P
    8th in Western Conference
    Last MLS Match: 2-2 Draw vs Portland Timbers
    New York Red Bulls:
    7W-4D-4L-25P
    1st in Eastern Conference
    Last MLS Match: 2-2 Draw vs Columbus Crew
    OVERVIEW
    Vancouver Whitecaps hit the road and return to MLS action to face the Eastern Conference leading New York Red Bulls. A trip is what may be needed for the Caps to clear their head after blowing their chance at the Canadian Championship and Champions League football in the midweek final versus Montreal.
    In three meetings in the MLS the two clubs have yet see either one be victorious in their matchups. A couple of draws were the result in their two games in 2011 while the Red Bulls travelled out west to earn a point last season.
    There will be several changes to the lineup due to injuries and suspensions but the keeper position will remain the same from the last game as Brad Knighton seems to have a grip on the spot. In front of him he will Andy O’Brien and Johnny Leveron as the central partnership while the full backs could be a combination of either Y.P. Lee or Greg Klazura on the right and either Alain Rochat or Jordan Harvey on the left.
    The midfield will have no alternative but to be different with Matt Watson and Russell Teibert joining Jun Marques Davidson, to take over for Gershon Koffie (injured) and Nigel Reo-Coker (suspended). The one guarantee at the attacking positions is that Camilo will start whether it is in the middle or on the left. If healthy then Kenny Miller could be an option for Caps to play alongside Camilo and either Corey Hertzog or Kekuta Manneh.
    The Red Bulls are currently on a seven game unbeaten streak, which has included five wins, taking them to the spot in the East. It is their attack that has been their biggest contributor as they lead the MLS in goal scoring with 22.
    While Henry leads the team with six goals, the scoring has been balanced over eight different players. They also have one of the most explosive pair of strikers with Henry teaming up with Fabian Espindola.
    New York’s defending has been improved over their seven games and they have only allowed six goals over that period compared the eleven allowed in the first eight games. One of the biggest factors is the partnership of Olave and Holgersson in the middle of the backline.
    It will be the wide areas where New York is vulnerable defensively and where the Whitecaps could take advantage when on the attack. The Caps might not play aggressively for this match if Rennie decides to play the conservative tactics for the last few road matches.
    Defensively the Whitecaps need to clean up two aspects of the game into order to have a chance of slowing down the Red Bulls. They will need to defend set pieces better and avoid giving the opposing players so much space in the final third especially since so many of the Red Bulls can score from distance.
    The Caps are still looking for their first win on the road, with only one point from five away matches this season. A win in New York would be an excellent bounce back from their loss on Wednesday and will prevent them from falling back in the West standings.
    Although a victory may look unlikely, the performance will also be important and heavily scrutinised, with more and more questions being asked about the tenure of Martin Rennie as Whitecaps head coach.
    <p>
    Guest
    CONCACAF is the continental governing body of soccer that covers North and Central America, the Caribbean and a handful of countries in South America, for some reason!
    CONCACAF's big biennial showcase tournament is called the Gold Cup! Canada automatically qualifies every time, by virtue of having won the thing in 2000! Sweet!
    And another Gold Cup is gonna happen this summer! In the United States of America! And Canada's gonna have a team in the competition! Yippee!
    Who's going to play for Canada? Well, we don't know. But we know who might! It'll be a roster of 23 players picked from the following group of 35 guys...
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    GK- Haidar Al-Shaïbani | FRA / Nîmes Olympique
    GK- Milan Borjan | TUR / Sivasspor
    GK- Tomer Chencinski | unattached
    GK- Lars Hirschfeld | NOR / Vålerenga Fotball
    GK- Simon Thomas | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    D- Nana Attakora | USA / San Jose Earthquakes
    D- Marcel de Jong | GER / FC Augsburg
    D- David Edgar | ENG / Burnley FC
    D- André Hainault | unattached
    D- Doneil Henry | CAN / Toronto FC
    D- Ashtone Morgan | CAN / Toronto FC
    D- Adam Straith | GER / FC Saarbrücken
    D/M- Nik Ledgerwood | SWE / Hammarby Fotboll
    M- Fraser Aird | SCO / Rangers FC
    M- Keven Aleman | ESP / Real Valladolid
    M- Kyle Bekker | CAN / Toronto FC
    M- Julian de Guzman | unattached
    M- Daniel Haber | unattached
    M- Atiba Hutchinson | unattached
    M- Will Johnson | USA / Portland Timbers
    M- Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
    M- Pedro Pacheco | POR / unattached
    M- Samuel Piette | GER / Fortuna Düsseldorf
    M/F- Dwayne De Rosario | USA / D.C. United
    M/F- Issey Nakajima-Farran | CYP / Alki Larnaca
    M/F - Russell Teibert | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    F- Lucas Cavallini | URU / Club Nacional
    F- Stefan Cebara | SVN / Nogometni Klub Celje
    F- Randy Edwini-Bonsu | unattached
    F- Marcus Haber | ENG / Stevenage FC
    F- Simeon Jackson | unattached
    F- Frank Jonke | FIN / FF Jaro
    F- Kyle Porter | USA / D.C. United
    F- Tosaint Ricketts | NOR / Sandnes Ulf
    Yeah, considering that 12 of these guys are going to be chopped ahead of time, attempting to dissect the roster is kind of pointless. But what the hell, this is the Internet and clearly someone's interested enough to be reading about it (hello, you!) so, some quick and poorly-articulated thoughts on the matter...
    The goalkeeping conundrum. Hirschfeld remains the national team's #1 (though he ain't getting any younger) and since being unearthed a few years back, Borjan has claimed the #2 spot. Behind that... well... things get mighty questionable. Essentially the other three guys will be fighting for the right to be the one who sits on the bench at the Gold Cup. and maybe, if he's lucky, gets to delay the opposing team's throw-in at some point (a la Kenny Stamatopoulos vs. Panama).
    And while goalkeepers have longer shelf lives than out-field players, neither al-Shaibani (29) or Chencinski (28), while new-ish to the national-team setup, are spring chickens. Surely they'll be pressed hard by recently-repatriated 23-year-old Thomas.
    The defence conundrum. So, who are Canada's starting centrebacks in this tournament? Usually the answer to that question is "Kevin McKenna and (fill-in-the-blank)", but with erstwhile captain McKenna reportedly suffering a serious injury (hence his exclusion from the squad) and DC United apparently not interested in relinquishing the services of Dejan Jakovic (since, y'know, MLS keeps right on playing during this tourney), it'll be some combination of the relatively-inexperienced-together quarter of Hainault, Edgar, Attakora and 20-year-old Henry.
    Ah, it's OK, it's not like we're playing against Mexico or anything. Oh crap.
    The requisite "where did that come from?" out-of-left-field selection. It wouldn't be a CanMNT roster selection without at least one. This time it's 18-year-old Fraser Aird of Scarborough, Ont., who signed with Glasgow Rangers two years ago. The pick isn't surprising due to his age or skill level (after all, he's already earned minutes with Rangers' senior side) but because of the fact that he's already represented Scotland (for whom he's eligible through his parents) in UEFA youth competitions.
    Most hardcore Canadian fans could be forgiven for assuming he was yet under lost cause. Yet, here he is.
    Of course, under FIFA's eligibility rules, he isn't yet cap-tied to any nation. But playing for a senior national team in an official FIFA competition does permanently commit a player to that country. And wouldn't you know it, the CONCACAF Gold Cup is an official FIFA competition. What a funny coincidence.
    Speaking of cap-tying... Hardcore Canadian fans could also be forgiven for looking down the list for other promising youngsters that have eligibility for other nations. The two names that pop out are Keven Aleman, a dynamic 19-year-old midfielder who just this week signed his first pro contract with Real Valladolid in Spain, and Randy Edwini-Bonsu, a 23-year-old striker.
    Now, to be perfectly clear, both of them have lots of experience with Canadian youth teams, have answered the call for Canada whenever asked, have showed passion representing the country and have -- in media interviews -- affirmed their commitment to Canada. There is no on-the-record reason to believe that either of them have other international ambitions.
    Still, both of them are the sort of player Canada desperately needs more of (gutsy attackers), and both remain technically eligible for other nations (Costa Rica and Ghana, respectively). So, a lot of Voyageurs will be breathing a lot easier if one or both of them set foot on the pitch for Canada at the Gold Cup.
    Where's Humey? A sentimental pick for myself and many others, I'm sure, but it's kind of a shame not to see Iain Hume on the long roster for Canada. Always a fierce competitor for club and country, he nearly died on the field a few years ago after being cracked in the skull. And in the disastrous 8-1 debacle down in San Pedro Sula, he came on as a substitute, long after the game had been decided, but still brought forth a fire and passion that made him appear to be the only one there who really gave a shit (it was, of course, his curling free kick that prevented Canada from being completely shut out).
    Hume is only 29, so we could very well see him suit up in Canadian red once more. Let's hope so.
    Those are just my quick and poorly-articulated thoughts. What are yours?
    .
    Guest

    Gold Cup roster!!!!

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Canada released its 35-man Gold Cup roster this afternoon.
    It's a mix of old and new.
    What did you expect, really? But are there any surprises that you saw?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    GK- Haidar Al-Shaïbani | FRA / Nîmes Olympique
    GK- Milan Borjan | TUR / Sivasspor
    GK- Tomer Chencinski | unattached
    GK- Lars Hirschfeld | NOR / Vålerenga Fotball
    GK- Simon Thomas | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    D- Nana Attakora | USA / San Jose Earthquakes
    D- Marcel de Jong | GER / FC Augsburg
    D- David Edgar | ENG / Burnley FC
    D- André Hainault | unattached
    D- Doneil Henry | CAN / Toronto FC
    D- Ashtone Morgan | CAN / Toronto FC
    D- Adam Straith | GER / FC Saarbrücken
    D/M- Nik Ledgerwood | SWE / Hammarby Fotboll
    M- Fraser Aird | SCO / Rangers FC
    M- Keven Aleman | ESP / Real Valladolid
    M- Kyle Bekker | CAN / Toronto FC
    M- Julian de Guzman | unattached
    M- Daniel Haber | unattached
    M- Atiba Hutchinson | unattached
    M- Will Johnson | USA / Portland Timbers
    M- Jonathan Osorio | CAN / Toronto FC
    M- Pedro Pacheco | POR / unattached
    M- Samuel Piette | GER / Fortuna Düsseldorf
    M/F- Dwayne De Rosario | USA / D.C. United
    M/F- Issey Nakajima-Farran | CYP / Alki Larnaca
    M/F - Russell Teibert | CAN / Vancouver Whitecaps FC
    F- Lucas Cavallini | URU / Club Nacional
    F- Stefan Cebara | SVN / Nogometni Klub Celje
    F- Randy Edwini-Bonsu | unattached
    F- Marcus Haber | ENG / Stevenage FC
    F- Simeon Jackson | unattached
    F- Frank Jonke | FIN / FF Jaro
    F- Kyle Porter | USA / D.C. United
    F- Tosaint Ricketts | NOR / Sandnes Ulf
    Guest
    Haven't been paying much attention to news surrounding the Rematch?
    Catch up here with our quick reading roundup
    The Americans are taking this match seriously
    Plenty of surprises on Canadian roster
    A pair of late, youthful additions to Canadian roster
    Other things you need to know:
    The pregame party is at Gossip, starting at 1pm . There will be lots of new merch for sale.
    The Gardiner and the DVP will be closed for much of Sunday. Plan accordingly
    There is a chance of afternoon thunderstorms.
    Finally, our last ticket contest is live until 7pm Friday. Get in on the action if you want to win a pair of last minute tickets
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest

    Rematch ticket giveaway #2

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Didn't win a ticket yesterday to the sold out Canada vs USA women's game on Sunday?
    Don't fret. We have one more pair of tickets to giveaway today.
    To understand the terms of the contest, first go here
    Did you go there? If you didn't we can tell.
    Now that you've read the terms, go follow the Voyageurs on Twitter. Then tell them why you think Canada is better than the USA at soccer. Be sure to include @thevoyageurs in your tweet so they can see it. And add the hashtag #ISupportCanWNT. You can enter by tweeting as many times as you like during the allotted hours. Be creative. We will choose the winner after the 7pm ET cut off and contact them through Twitter to tell them how they can pick up their tickets.
    But you already know how you can collect your tickets, because you went here.
    Good luck
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest
    Montreal hosted the French Super Cup game in July 2009 and could host its Italian counterpart, the Italian Super Cup this summer when Serie A champions Juventus faces Coppa Italia holders Lazio.
    The game was originally scheduled for August 10 in Beijing (for a third straight year and the fourth time in the last five seasons), but Juventus’ presence in the inaugural International Champions Cup tournament in the United States until August 7 convinced Italian authorities to look for a different solution.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    “We have to honour the contract for Beijing, but if Juventus, for their own reasons, do not feel able to play in China but elsewhere, we must have the same revenue that we were guaranteed in Beijing,” said Lazio’s president Claudio Lotito to Italian media on Monday.
    “In the USA? We are willing to play there but only with the same income.”
    The New York area was first looked at by the Italian league authories, but the heavy summer football schedule in the Big Apple have apparently convinced them to look north of the border.
    CSN has learned that negotiations are underway with Toronto and Montreal to explore the possibility of holding the game at Rogers Centre or at Olympic Stadium.
    If the project comes to fruition, it would be the seventh time since 1993 that this super cup match is played out of Italy. In 1993, Milan defeated Torino 1-0 before 25,000 fans in Washington and in 2003, Juventus defeated AC Milan on PK with over 54,000 in attendance at Giants Stadium in New York.
    The 2002 game was played in Tripoli, Libya, a 2-1 Juve win over Parma. Current Impact player Marco Di Vaio scored the lone goal for Parma in the loss. In 2009, 2011 and 2012 this preseason battle was fought in Beijing, China.
    Guest
    [ATTACH=CONFIG]3173[/ATTACH]
    One of the hot topics amongst fans at Residency games is always which players do we think can go on and become professional footballers, either with the Whitecaps MLS squad or somewhere else in the world.
    <a href="http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/content.php?3526-Whitecaps-Residency-Ones-To-Watch-The-Top-Three" target="_blank"><u>Last year</u></a> we put together a Top 20 countdown of who we felt were the top prospects in the Whitecaps Residency program and how we would rank them, looking at only the then current U16s and U18s (who had not signed a MLS contract).
    We're going to make this a yearly list and have tweaked it a little this year, bringing you a Top Ten 'Ones To Watch' countdown, along with a special note to those just bubbling under and missing the cut. Part one today takes a look at those players along with those taking the 6 to 10 spots in the countdown.
    The following rankings are a snapshot of where the players are in their development combined with the potential they show to develop into professional footballers.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Because potential is so hard to predict, it is not an even measurable with the player’s current status. Included in this review is an independent coach/scout who has seen the Residency players in action on a number of occasions. We feel there is no reason for any of the lower ranked or unranked players couldn’t develop into future professionals.
    [ATTACH=CONFIG]3170[/ATTACH]
    10 - Sean Melvin
    POS: GK
    HT: 6'4"
    YR: 1994
    HOMETOWN: Victoria, BC
    STATS: 14GP, 14GS, 6CS
    ANALYSIS: Coming into this year Melvin was returning from an injury that cost him the entire 2011-12 season. As he worked his way back this season he has split duties with Nolan Wirth but has also made appearances for the Whitecaps U23 squad in PDL and been a regular at training with the MLS team. The starting keeper for the U18s has excellent length and athletic ability as well as good command of the box on crosses.
    OUTLOOK: Melvin will be graduating this season from the Residency and we have heard he may be heading to the college ranks with North Carolina Tar Heels in NCAA Division 1.
    SCOUT’S TAKE: "Melvin is an excellent keeper prospect who had his development slow down due to an unfortunate injury. He needs to find a place next season where he can play full time and continue to learn the position because he has the athletic ability."
    [ATTACH=CONFIG]3171[/ATTACH]
    9 - Kianz Gonzalez-Froese
    POS: CM
    HT:
    YR: 1996
    HOMETOWN: Brunkilo, MB
    STATS: 16GP, 11GS, 2G
    ANALYSIS: While still eligible for the U16 program Froese started the season one level up with the U18s after playing PDL the year before. It’s been a difficult season for the central midfielder as he has had to deal with injuries and fitness issues that saw miss games and a trip to the U17 World Cup qualifiers in Panama with Canada. Froese is capable of playing as a holding midfielder or an attacking one. He is strong on the ball and has the vision to play both positions.
    OUTLOOK: The Manitoba native should return to Residency where he will be a key player for the U18 team next year.
    SCOUT’S TAKE: "He looked to be on an upswing after the way he burst onto the scene last year but injuries and inconsistency has derailed him. Kianz is still an exciting young player and he has the ability to be one of the best players to come out of the Residency program."
    [ATTACH=CONFIG]3172[/ATTACH]
    8 - Jordan Haynes
    POS: MF/DF
    HT: 5'10"
    YR: 1996
    HOMETOWN: Peterborough, ON
    STATS: 7GP, 3GS, 1G (U18) / 18GP, 17GS, 2G (U16)
    ANALYSIS: Having started the season with the U16 Haynes has also spent time with the U18 playing either the fullback or wing position. He was a vital piece in the U17 Canadian side that qualified for the World Cup and finished third, especially with his goal in 119th minute against Honduras in the third place match. Haynes has pace on the wing and is capable of scoring as well as playing the role of provider from the left side.
    OUTLOOK: He will return next year to be a full time starter on the U18 team where he will most likely play on the wing as a replacement for DeBoice.
    SCOUT’S TAKE: "A quality young player who has really taken a big step forward this season especially with his performances for the national team. The big question for him is what will be his best position. Will he play as a fullback or as an attacking player in the midfield?"
    [ATTACH=CONFIG]3169[/ATTACH]
    7 - Yassin Essa
    POS: MF/ST
    HT: 5'7"
    YR: 1994
    HOMETOWN: Surrey, BC
    STATS: 27GP, 25GS, 18G
    ANALYSIS: In his final season with the Residency, Essa saw himself take a leadership role with a youthful U18 side. During the season he would sometimes move inside to a striker role where he was able to take advantage of his ability to play in tight spaces as well as his finishing ability. Essa continues to show the speed and technical ability that makes him an intriguing prospect for the Whitecaps and has impressed playing PDL so far this season.
    OUTLOOK: It will be highly unlikely that Essa will be going the college route so look for him to go pro either in North America or Europe, with continued development minutes a must.
    SCOUT’S TAKE: "As usual one of the more exciting players on the pitch when you watch the Residency team especially when he takes players on in open space. All Yassin needs to do is improve his consistency and strength so he can continue to grow in his career."
    [ATTACH=CONFIG]3168[/ATTACH]
    6 - Marco Carducci
    POS: GK
    HT: 6'0"
    YR: 1996
    HOMETOWN: Calgary, AB
    STATS: 4GP, 3GS, 2CS (U18) / 17GP, 16GS, 4CS (U16)
    ANALYSIS: The reigning Canadian U17 'player of the year' has spent most the season as the leader of a very young U16 side that struggled this season. Carducci played a couple of games for the U18s earning two clean sheets in three starts as well as captaining the U17 Canadian team to a World Cup berth. He reads the play very well, is a good organizer of the backline and is an excellent shot stopper as he proved in the penalty shootout against Honduras.
    OUTLOOK: Next season should see Carducci move up to the U18 side where he will compete with Nolan Wirth for the number one keeper duties.
    SCOUT’S TAKE: "He’s still very young for a goalkeeper but what he has done so far shows what he is capable of becoming in the future. Very mature for his age and a leader on the pitch it’s difficult to imagine he won’t be a professional keeper."
    Just Missing The Cut:
    [ATTACH=CONFIG]3174[/ATTACH]
    There were a number of players who just missed making the Top Ten list for Whitecaps Residency players this season. Injuries cost Carlos Marquez almost half the season and the striker was limited when he did return but the attacking player will be joining Langara College for a season where he'll look to continue his progress. Calgary native Mitch Piraux was the regular starter at holding mid where he plays a solid game and started contributing late in the season with some timely goals. A very athletic prospect Quinton Duncan is like most defender prospects who needs time to learn the particulars of the position and might be doing next year at an undisclosed NCAA college.
    [Part Two of the countdown, featuring our top five, will be revealed on Saturday, but get an early sneak peak by listening to our latest podcast on Wednesday]
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