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    Guest
    It's just about time for the kinda-sorta "rematch"!
    USA women's national team head coach Tom Sermanni has released the roster of 21 players who'll travel to Toronto for training ahead of the friendly on June 2 -- of which 18 will make the game day roster.
    And while 11 of the 14 players who took part in last summer's epic Olympic semifinal will be part of that squad -- including Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan and Brett Lawrie's ex-girlfriend -- there will be some very notable exceptions, including Hope Solo (injury) and Megan Rapinoe (club commitments).
    Still, this is an American squad that comes into town with a whole lot of depth and a ridiculously one-sided all-time record against Canada (44 wins in 52 matches) -- so any thoughts of Canada being on a clear path to an upset should be immediately put aside.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The USA, after all, has played 15 matches since the Olympics and lost... let's check here... oh yeah, none of them, despite using a largely experimental lineup in a few. Among those newcomers is Christen Press, 24, who's racked up her first seven U.S. senior caps in 2013 and has tallied... let's count here... six goals.
    And she'll probably be the Americans' fourth choice striker on June 2. Crap.
    Now, this isn't meant to be doom and gloom. And none of this is news to anyone who's followed the women's games for any length of time, or with any degree of depth. The Americans are good. They've pretty much always been good. They're #1 in the world, and they have been for a large share of the time that FIFA's had world rankings for women's soccer.
    This is, maybe, an attempt to put things in perspective. Even without their first-choice goalkeeper and the woman who scored a brace in that Olympic semifinal, the USA is a very, very strong team. The Olympic semifinal was remarkable not just because it was a thrilling game, but because a Canadian win would have truly run against the momentum of history between these two teams (another case in point: the last two matches on Canadian soil have both ended in 4-0 wins for the Yanks).
    We still don't know what Canada's lineup will be, but we will on Wednesday. From all indications, it'll be more or less a cut-and-paste of the roster from that Olympic semifinal, with maybe a few spots carved out for promising youngsters (defender Kadeisha Buchanan and striker Adriana Leon would be the most likely, from where I sit).
    Of course, that would be the same team that authored that thrilling semifinal (and a rather spirited one-goal loss in Utah just prior to their departure for London). So, who knows, perhaps those familiar faces will be able to cook up some more magic in front of what should be a loud and one-sided crowd at BMO Field.
    We know now that the Americans are taking this match seriously.
    But then, so are we.
    .
    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.
    Kyle Porter and Will Johnson claim the top two spots this week, while the third will be left unmanned, rather than shoehorning in some undeserving soul.
    That’s not to belittle the contributions of the other candidates, more a recognition that none did anything to particularly distinguish themselves from the pack this week.
    Find out what Porter and Johnson did to deserve recognition, as well as who else earned their keep this week. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Kyle Porter
    Porter’s DC picked up their first point in over two months on Sunday with a 1-1 draw at RFK Stadium against Sporting KC.
    Prior to the match, he was the focus of a feature interview at dcunited.com, which contained a portent of things to come, he said, “I’m still getting used to the league and everything. I think as time goes on, there are only positives. I think the more experience, the better I’ll be.”
    Making his fifth-straight start, again on the right-side of midfield, and coming off a first assist of the season (his touch on the Dwayne De Rosario free-kick in Dallas was a late addition to the score-sheet) Porter scored his first goal of the season.
    Stretching his right-boot to get a touch on a left-sided Chris Pontius cross to the back-post, Porter redirected the ball neatly back across the scrambling Jimmy Nielsen in goal, who could only watch, off-balance, as the rolled beyond his reach and over the goal.
    It was an alert run by Porter, spotting Pontius shaping for the cross and eluding the marking of KC left-back Seth Sinovic.
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zu0H99_qRn4?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    He nearly added another on his second attempt of the match, after De Rosario had slid him in down the right, forcing a fine kick save out of Nielsen – his specialty – and earning the Canadian a pat on the head and a few words from the veteran keeper.
    Porter did well to track the attacking threat of Sinovic all match, once forcing a turnover with a solid body check and was later clattered over by Josh Gardner to earn his side a free-kick. He conceded two fouls, one after a giveaway, which led to a dangerous Sporting set-piece.
    The Toronto-native displayed some wonderful footwork to jink between Claudio Bieler and Sinovic under pressure on the touchline.
    Kyle made one very important clearance after a corner kick – one of four – but fluffed another later that harmlessly squirreled back to Bill Hamid in goal; adding three interceptions and a pair of recoveries to his defensive contributions.
    He was the one who kept Ike Opara onside for that controversially disallowed goal, having remained on the ground deep in his own box after a sliding challenge.
    His passing was subpar – completing only eleven of 31 – and lost possession a whopping 24 times; two aspects of his game that must get better. But seldom did his mistakes prove costly and those figures may be more indicative of his isolation on the flank with DC struggling to create.
    Post-match Ben Olsen said, “We asked a lot of Kyle this week.* It’s one of those things where you’re new and you get into the game or in a team and you have a couple of games.* You have some moments and you do okay.* You can either go down or move it up a little bit.* We asked him to step it up and start producing, whether it was assists or goals and don’t be okay with just being a starter now.* Get good minutes, push yourself and get your name out there.* I’m glad he did that today.* Chris [Pontius] put a wonderful ball to the back post.* The better soccer players we can get on the field, the better we’re going to be going forward.”
    And Porter, when asked about scoring his first MLS goal, said, “It felt great.* I double-checked the linesman to make sure he didn’t call it back.* It was good – a big confidence booster.”
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wwBM2TiEehk?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    Will Johnson
    Johnson’s Portland Timbers drew 2-2 with Pacific Northwest rivals, Vancouver at BC Place on Saturday.
    Making his twelfth-consecutive start at the base of the midfield, he continued an ironman streak of 1080 minutes - every minute possible for the club so far.
    Having set a new career high in goals last week, he went a step further, adding his fifth and a second assist of the season – now one shy of equalizing his career best in that offensive category, as well.
    It was his second from the penalty spot, though he did earn the chance himself, when he cut in from the left-side of the box on YP Lee and his right-footed shot was adjudged to have struck the arm of Andy O’Brien in the Vancouver box.
    Johnson stepped up a took the chance with his right, sending Brad Knighton in goal the wrong way and finishing low to the keeper’s right.
    He then shushed the hostile pro-Vancouver crowd.
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aNjpoRl5kSw?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    The goal made amends for the foul he conceded earlier at the edge of the box that led to Camilo’s opening free-kick strike and saw Johnson pick up his second yellow card of the season – it was his only foul of the match.
    His assist came minutes after the Timbers had been reduced to ten, when a hopeful long ball was controlled – possibly; well, probably – by the arms of Jose Valencia,
    .The Toronto-native complete an impressive 50 of 60 passes and was a little more attacking than he had been in recent weeks, taking four shots – one on, one off, and two blocked – as well as winning a pair of fouls.
    Prior to the match he was featured, alongside midfield partner Diego Chara, in an article at MLSsoccer.com and post-match his villainy – the quieting of the crowd – was discussed in a brief piece at The Oregonian.
    Dwayne De Rosario
    De Rosario started his fifth-consecutive match in DC’s draw with Kansas City.
    Aside from setting up Porter’s second chance described above, he created a chance that could have led to a penalty kick when a hopeful poke at the top of the box skimmed the hip of centre-back Matt Besler and may have possibly gotten a piece of his hand – it was most likely just that no call was made.
    Both his recorded shot were off-target, including a header in first half stoppage-time from a right-sided Chris Korb cross. His attempt to put the ball back against the grain after leaping in front of the much bigger Opara, was agonizingly wide – it was his best chance of the match.
    Prior to the match, De Rosario – and Dejan Jakovic – discussed the side’s troubles in a Washington Times article, and after the match, when asked if he was getting the ball in the right spots, went on to say, “No.* Again, that’s why I said my neck was hurting from looking at the ball going over my head all the time.* They have big boys in the back, and we are obviously playing to their strengths.”
    He was quick to sing the praises of all the young players, “It’s good; I think all of the guys that were asked to step in did a great job.* It was a lot to ask them in such a short time.* Some of the guys just came from Richmond and now they are playing against one of the top teams in the MLS.* I thought they did very well, and I’m happy for Kyle to get his first goal of the season. Hopefully it will build his confidence and everyone’s confidence with that result.”
    The point raised regarding where he is getting the ball is an interesting one and probably a key factor in DC struggles.
    Dwayne has been playing his usual attacking midfield/second striker role, but without Branko Boskovic (allowed to leave), Pontius, and Nick DeLeon (to injury) and Ben Olsen opting to field two more defensive-minded midfielders behind him, De Rosario has been forced to drop deeper and deeper to get on the ball, which limits his effectiveness.
    Indicative of this is how seldom he has been flagged for offside this season – four in eight appearances – after tallying 79 in 59 appearances over the previous two seasons.
    The Scarborough-native was tidy in his passing – completing nineteen of 27 – and only lost possession sixteen times, which is not bad for him.
    He was offside once and won a single foul, making five recoveries and one each of interceptions and clearances.
    Dejan Jakovic
    Jakovic started his seventh-straight match for DC United, an ironman streak of his own on the go, having missed only one match, when on international duty for Canada back in March.
    Olsen has been tinkering with his lineup, given the long losing streak, and as mentioned last week, the fact that all three Canadians have remained fixtures is indicative of their importance to the team.
    Perhaps more so with Jakovic, as defensive miscues have been responsible for many of their failings, and despite a certain consistency, Dejan has not been completely guilt free.
    The Croatian-born centre-back had some shaky moments – an awkward one-two with Perry Kitchen that eventually got them out of trouble, a sloppy ball from the back that led to a turnover and a Graham Zusi shot, and a couple of poor touches – but on the whole he was more positive than negative.
    He won six headers, including a dominant one to dispatch a dangerous Besler throw-in, a weapon that has caused so many others difficulties. His reading of the game is superb, making nine interceptions, one in particular off a heavy touch from Jacob Peterson that spurred a DC attack, adding nine recoveries and five clearances.
    Jakovic’s pass completion was a little low – nineteen of 29 – as a result of him trying to stretch the play from his left centre-back slot with long balls that seldom worked; he did play a lovely through-ball for Lionard Pajoy that nearly led to a chance, but Opara won the race.
    He was beat by Opara’s run that led to Ethan White’s own-goal and gave away far too many corner kicks – four – to a dangerous KC side, but most were when DC was under severe pressure in the final fifteen minutes of the match.
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mnIueRo9WTA?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    Russell Teibert
    Teibert did not have a bad match by any means in Vancouver’s draw with Portland, he just did very little of note – it was always going to be difficult to follow up his two-goal performance of the week before, especially having worked very hard in a full match midweek in Montreal in the Voyageurs Cup.
    Making his fifth start of the season – and sixth appearance – he was bound to have trouble against the pressing of Portland with two wide-ranging defensive-minded midfielders from his inverted right-wing status.
    Attempting to cut in and play on his stronger foot would inevitably bring him towards the pressure and the likes of Will Johnson and Diego Chara, limiting his effectiveness.
    He did well in possession - completing twenty of 29 passes – turning over fourteen times throughout the match, and tried to get wide, finding success on three of nine crosses, winning two fouls and conceding one.
    Of note, his one foul was on fellow countryman, Johnson, when Teibert blocked off a run in an attempt to apply pressure as Johnson strode up-field.
    The Niagara Falls-native had a pair of shots – one on and one blocked – made four recoveries and 2 interceptions; he was the left-footed option standing over the set-piece that Camilo knocked in for the opening goal.
    Doneil Henry
    Henry had a tough afternoon for Toronto, as they lost a fourth-straight match, 0-1 to Columbus on Saturday.
    Paired with a new centre-back partner, Steven Caldwell, Henry was tasked with marking the speedy Dominic Oduro, and had his hands full.
    The Brampton-native switched off for a second when most thought Justin Braun had been fouled and that moment allowed Federico Higuain to feed a ball in-between the defense and Oduro to blaze goal-ward, leaving Doneil struggling to recover.
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    Oduro’s goal would stand as the winner.
    Henry was also caught earlier in the match stepping up to Eddie Gaven in the midfield for an aerial challenge that never transpired, allowing Higuain to ghost behind for a dipping shot from distance that struck the crossbar.
    He won seven headers in the match, battling at the offensive end with the big Brazilian, Glauber, and was, for a second week running, very tidy in his passing, completing 25 of 35.
    He was guilty of a poor giveaway that allowed Oduro to steal in and flash a shot wide of the far-post.
    The young centre-back won three of four tackles, made five clearances and two recoveries, as well as a block and an interception; conceding two fouls in the process.
    Jonathan Osorio
    Osorio came on in the 57th minute replacing Jeremy Hall in TFC’s match against Columbus.
    Making a tenth-straight appearance, all but one from the bench, Osorio has been one of coach, Ryan Nelsen’s go-to guys off the bench this season.
    His versatility, the ability to shore up the midfield and contribute going forward, has made him a valuable piece of the side, when Nelsen decides they need a bit more attacking verve from one of their defensive midfield positions.
    The Toronto-native played a lovely ball over the top for Robert Earnshaw just minutes after entering the fray, but Earnshaw’s attempt was blocked.
    Usually exceptional in his passing, he struggled completing only eight of fifteen, conceding possession nine times, while winning and conceding a foul each way.
    The Rest
    Ashtone Morgan was on the bench for Toronto FC, while Nana Attakora again missed San Jose’s match – a 1-1 draw with Colorado – still dealing with concussion-like symptoms.
    Columbus’ Drew Beckie, was mentioned as a possible starter in muted talks for the league match given the injury to Chad Marshall, and Toronto’s trio of Morgan, Kyle Bekker, and Emery Welshman took to the BMO Field pitch for the reserve match, as did Osorio and a handful of academy prospects.
    Guest

    Team 20: New York City FC

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    It's official. As we wrote about earlier, Manchester City has partnered with MLS and, surprisingly, the New York Yankees to buy the 20th league team. The club is to be called New York City FC.
    The move completes Don Garber's long-time dream of adding a second team in the New York market. He reiterated how important a second New York area team was for the league's long-term plans. "This was part of our original business plan in 1996," Garber said.
    Pointing to the early days of the Chivas v Galaxy rivalry, Garber said that he envisioned all of MLS, including the Red Bulls, to draw strength from NYCFC.
    "We will work (with the Red Bulls) to make sure the rivalry will be very valuable and exciting to all," Garber added.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Although the league did not confirm the expansion fee, Garber said that if "you do your research" you can find how much will be paid. The widely reported fee is $100-million USD.
    One of the most consistent criticisms of the deal is that it fails to consider the past failures of MLS's last cross-branding exercise, Chivas USA. Garber spoke of the Chivas USA experience.
    "It's clear that (Chivas USA) had a particular vision...it hasn't worked as planned...maybe it was an execution issue."
    Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano stressed that he and the club was thinking locally.
    "This opportunity is not about Manchester City, it's about New York, " the former Barcelona FC General Manager said.
    Soriano said that there would be "obvious synergies" between NYCFC and MCFC but that they would be separate clubs.
    There might be shared sponsorships, scouting and even some players, but they would be two separate clubs.
    "This will happen -- naturally, organically -- but this is not the purpose (of NYCFC)," Soriano said.
    Soriano stressed that the purchase of NYCFC "had nothing to do with Financial Fair Play (rules)."
    The club will stat play in 2015 and may play its first season at Yankee Stadium. The details of the stadium project have yet to be finalized. The rumoured Queen's stadium is still a possibility, as is an entirely new project.
    "The important thing is that we listen to people," Soriano said. "We want the stadium to be part of the community."
    NYCFC will name its first front office employee at a press conference in New York City tomorrow.
    Guest
    Simeon Jackson will be looking for a new club after Norwich City released the Canadian striker today.
    In the end, the move up to the Premiership may have been a step too far for Jackson, after he had a solid few years in the lower tiers.
    Jackson scored 26 goals in 86 appearances for Norwich, including the goal that saw the Canaries promoted two years ago.
    Another Canadian will likely be looking for a new club after being transfer listed today. Stevenage is looking to sell Marcus Haber. The club expects him to play at a higher level.
    Also placed on the transfer list by Stevenage was former TFC defender Andy Iro.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest
    Our weekly, sometimes offbeat, look at the best and worst of the week's MLS action. We took your suggestions on board and either embedded videos of our best/worst selections or included links. So what did week 12 of the 2013 season throw up for us?
    <b><u>Games This Week:</u></b>
    Ten games played this week. Montreal had yet another bye week, Toronto lost again and Vancouver got a draw that felt like a loss and leaves them looking up still at most of the rest of the west.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The week started off with just one midweek match and LOS ANGELES bounced back from their defeat by Vancouver to thrash PHILADELPHIA 4-1 away from home. Well, on paper it looked a thrashing. In reality, the Union went down to an early goal then fought back superbly and had the better of the match before the Galaxy turned up the heat in the second half of the second half. Landon Donovan had his best game of the season so far, with one goal and two assists, but Philly will wonder how they managed to let this one get away from them so much. This game and the Vancouver one certainly showed that LA can be played against and look quite ordinary at times, despite all the talent they have.
    With Montreal having yet another bye week (what is that all about?), Canada's other two teams kicked off the first two games in Saturday's action.
    TORONTO were first up, showing once again that no matter what players they bring in, they're still struggling to find a winning formula. Nice to have some constant in our MLS lives. COLUMBUS grabbed the only goal of the game in their first half, with a lovely finish from Dominic Oduro. It could have all been so different for Toronto moments before that had Justin Braun not missed a great chance in front of goal. Of course, it could also have been a lot different before even that if the Crew hadn't crashed two previous efforts off the woodwork.
    VANCOUVER were still left looking for their first Cascadia Cup win in MLS, with a 2-2 draw at home to PORTLAND, in a game blighted by dives and handballs. Better than a defeat for the Caps of course, but if it hadn't have been for what felt like the single handed exertions of Camilo, it could have been. Lots more to read about this elsewhere on AFTN.
    PHILADELPHIA had their second home game of the week when CHICAGO came to town. The Union got their second win over the Fire in eight days, thanks to an early strike from Jack McInerney. It was a pretty uneventful game. Chicago really weren't at the races and actually looked slightly better when they pushed late on with ten men.
    Another all eastern clash was next up, with HOUSTON trying to start their unbeaten home streak all over again against NEW ENGLAND. It's still stuck at none, as the Dynamo home fortress no longer seems so impenetrable. Back to back home defeats now for Houston, who must be wondering what's happening and will need to pick up their road form to make up for it. The Revs were worth the win. A double sending off in the first half in this one. New England's Dmitry Imbongo can feel a little hard done to, after seeing red for hands to the face of Bobby Boswell who had just landed a cheap headbutt on him.
    The match of the weekend came at the Clink. It's always nice to see DALLAS taken apart. Well, nearly always. Not so much when it's SEATTLE doing the dismantling. And that's how it looked for the first 40 minutes, with the Sounders running rampant. They should have been more up but then towards the end of the half the Conference leaders showed they weren't out of the game just yet. Then amazingly they got themselves right back in it, with two goals to tie it all up before Seattle turned it on once again and ran out comfortable 4-2 winners. Dallas flopped, whined and Blas Perez saw red for an elbow. You know, their usual shtick. Two teams that make me want to puke, but they did serve up a cracker. Dallas dropping points at the moment can only be good for Vancouver. Seattle picking up three though, not so much.
    Saturday rounded off with another unlikeable team, SAN JOSE, who hosted a COLORADO side that have quietly gone about their business and picked up some good points recently. And they got another at Buck Shaw, with a 1-1 draw. A great result for Vancouver from a playoff perspective, but more concerning is the fact that Colorado looked really good and dominated a lot of the game, taking the lead, hitting the woodwork twice and being denied by Jon Busch on several other occasions. San Jose continue to look a shadow of last season's side and were fortunate to come away from this one with even a point.
    Sunday kicked off with a tasty looking game between NEW YORK and the visiting LOS ANGELES. Wasn't as tasty as we'd hoped but an entertaining enough game, with LA dropping all three points despite being the better side for the majority of the game. The Galaxy played the better football, had their chances, but it was the Red Bulls that nicked it at the death through Tim Cahill. Not a great road trip for the MLS champs and keeping the Western playoff places looking pretty tight. The win gives New York sole leadership of the East. You wouldn't think they were doing considering the amount of empty seats visible despite the reported 25,219 attendance.
    An all Western clash was next up as hapless DC hosted rampant KC. And the home team finally had some luck on their side, getting away with a point in a game which Kansas City dominated and had enough chances to be out of sight. KC had the ball in the net and wrongly ruled for offside, before going ahead on an own goal. But former Whitecaps Residency player sneaked in to grab his first MLS goal and bring DC back in to it. You were just waiting for the KC winner, as they mounted wave after wave of attacks, but the just couldn't find the breakthrough. Maybe this fortuitous draw will stop the rut in DC. Unlikely though!
    Talking of currently hapless teams, CHIVAS went down 4-1 to a SALT LAKE side that took full advantage of the Goats' three man defence playing so high up the pitch, getting past them and beating the offside trap time and again. Chivas had a lot of chances themselves but in the end it was another loss and another shitty crowd. The banner behind the goal demanding to keep Chivas in LA was hilarious. I wouldn't even keep them in MLS. Close the franchise down then promote a worthy D2/3 club with an infrastructure and support already in place.
    So after Week 12, Vancouver sit second bottom of the West, with the 14th best record in all of MLS. Only three points of a playoff spot, with a game in hand mind you. The Western Conference remains tighter than my mate John, and that's pretty tight. The Caps can't afford to be dropped too much but with a bye week, then two very tough away games in New York and Seattle, it's hard not to see that happening right now.
    <b><u>Outfield Player of the Week:</u></b>
    New York's Jamison Olave put in a strong defensive performance and played a pivotal role in their clean sheet against LA, with some vital last ditch tackles.
    Love him or loathe him, LANDON DONOVAN is a quality player. Thankfully the Caps never got a Landycakes in full flow at BC Place. Philadelphia did four days later and he turned in his best performance of his short season so far, with one goal and two assists in the midweek game, and it could have been more. Didn't have the most spectacular second game against New York, but worked hard. In the two games he had 5 shots and 75 successful passes.
    <b><u>Goalkeeper of the Week:</u></b>
    New York's Luis Robles was solid and kept a clean sheet, but there were two good goalkeeping performances in the San Jose - Colorado game. The Rapids' Clint Irwin had a couple of nice stops, but the Earthquake's JON BUSCH had a string of important stops to actually keep his San Jose side in the game time and again.
    <b><u>Goal of the Week:</u></b>
    Michel's goal straight from a corner for Dallas was nice, especially coming against Seattle, but it wasn't really meant.
    For me, it was between two free kicks. Camilo Sanvezzo's free kick for Vancouver against Portland was of world class quality, albeit earned very softly. My winner though goes to San Jose's MARVIN CHAVEZ. His free kick against Colorado was struck superbly and moved in the air, giving Rapids' keeper Clint Irwin no chance. Lovely celebration too.
    <center>

    </center><b><u>Miss of the Week:</u></b>
    Toronto's JUSTIN BRAUN channelled his best inner Darren Mattocks to miss a vital first half sitter for TFC at home to Columbus. The fact that the Crew scored the only goal of the game moments later, made it all the funnier!
    (WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1734128/mls_2013-05-18-175328.640hq.mp4
    <b><u>Save of the Week:</u></b>
    He may have ended up picking the ball out of the net four times, including one off his face, but ZAC MACMATH had a hand in stopping the time being five past Philly. Literally. His one handed stop on Landon Donovan was excellent, after it looked like it was a certain goal. He made himself big, despite being on the deck, and turned the danger away.
    (WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1730456/mls_2013-05-15-205956.640hq.mp4)
    <b><u>Celebration of the Week:</u></b>
    I love to see players celebrating with the fans, even if FIFA don't and want to book players for doing that. Sharing the passion on both sides of the spectrum is a joy to see, as long as it's not your team on the other end of things. Loved San Jose's MARVIN CHAVEZ rocking the Casbah and getting right in there with the fans. You can see it in the goal of the week video above.
    <b><u>Dive/Embellishment of the Week:</u></b>
    There's no doubt that Vancouver's Camilo probably takes the overall 'diver of the week' crown, but for the most ridiculous and embarrassing embellishment of the week goes to Colorado's DREW MOOR. As the long ball is played in, Moor and Wondo go for it. The San Jose striker makes no real contact with Moor whatsoever (his shoulder slightly brushes his face) but the Colorado defender goes down clutching his face. This frees Wondo and results in his Rapids' teammate Shane O'Neill bringing him down and seeing red. It could only have been worse if the Earthquakes then buried the free kick, but thankfully they didn't.
    (WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1734660/mls_2013-05-19-004200.640hq.mp4)
    <b><u>Stat Attack:</u></b>
    After Week 12 - 110 games
    <b>Total goals in week</b> - 29 (255 this season)
    <b>Average goals per game</b> - 2.9 (2.32 ave this season)
    <b>Highest scoring team</b> - Los Angeles, Seattle and Kansas City (4 goals)
    <b>Biggest win this season</b> - 4-0 LA v Chicago (2/3/13) / KC v Chivas (5/5/13) / Houston at DC (8/5/13) / Seattle v San Jose (11/5/13)
    <b>Goals scored by feet</b> - 21
    <b>Goals by headers</b> - 7
    <b>Goals scored by other body parts!</b> - 1
    <b>Goals inside box</b> - 23
    <b>Goals inside six yard box</b> - 8
    <b>Goals outside box</b> - 6
    <b>Penalties awarded</b> - 1, scored (23 this season)
    <b>Clean sheets</b> - 4 (59 this season)
    <b>Sending offs</b> - 6 (24 this season)
    <b>Bookings</b> - 37 (332 this season)
    <b>Total attendance this week</b> - 192,206 (1,989,704 total for season)
    <b>Average attendance this week</b> - 19,220 (17,261 average for season)
    <b>Highest attendance this week</b> - 38,979 Seattle v Dallas
    <b>Highest attendance this season</b> - 40,150 Seattle v Portland (16/3/13)
    <b>Lowest attendance this week</b> - 8,125 Chivas v Real Salt Lake
    <b>Lowest attendance this season</b> - 7,121 Chivas v Columbus (2/3/13)
    <b><u>Fantasy Football Highs and Lows (after Week 12):</u></b>
    This is mainly my attempt to keep my interest in the competition going beyond the first few weeks this season, which has been my downfall in the past!
    <b>Highest Scoring Goalkeeper</b> - Luis Robles (NY - 71 points)
    <b>Week's Highest Scoring Goalkeeper</b> - Andy Gruenebaum (CLB) / Zac MacMath (PHI) (both 9 points)
    <b>Highest Scoring Defender</b> - Aurelien Collin (KC - 94 points)
    <b>Week's Highest Scoring Defender</b> - Sheanon Williams (PHI - 13 points)
    <b>Highest Scoring Midfielder</b> - Graham Zusi (KC - 89 points)
    <b>Week's Highest Scoring Midfielder</b> - Landon Donovan (LA - 19 points)
    <b>Highest Scoring Forward</b> - Jack McInerney (PHI - 61 points)
    <b>Week's Highest Scoring Forward</b> - Robbie Keane (LA - 16 points)
    <b>Overall Highest Scoring Club</b> - Sporting Kansas City (746 points)
    <b>Overall Lowest Scoring Club</b> - Chivas USA (390 points)
    <b>Week's Highest Scoring Club</b> - Los Angeles Galaxy (103 points)
    <b>Week's Lowest Scoring Club</b> - Houston Dynamo (26 points)
    <b>Highest Scoring Club Defence (inc GK)</b> - Sporting Kansas City (407 points)
    <b>Lowest Scoring Club Defence (inc GK)</b> - Chicago Fire (155 points)
    <b>Highest Scoring Club Midfield</b> - New York Red Bulls (307 points)
    <b>Lowest Scoring Club Midfield</b> - Columbus Crew (123 points)
    <b>Highest Scoring Club Forwards</b> - San Jose Earthquakes (150 points)
    <b>Lowest Scoring Club Forwards</b> - Chivas (32 points - after Agudelo transfer)
    <p>
    Guest

    MLS Week in Review – Round 12

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    The twelfth round of MLS took place this holiday weekend and what a weekend it was; a lone midweek fixture followed by nine matches through Saturday and Sunday culminating in 29 goals – three own-goals and one from the spot, the return of the red card – five plus a second yellow to Chicago’s Well Thompson, resulting in three draws and four away wins, including a pair of 1-4 results.
    The regular goal-scorers – Jack McInerney, Tim Cahill, Will Johnson, Dominic Oduro, Diego Fagundez, and Seattle’s trio of Eddie Johnson, Lamar Neagle, and Obafemi Martins - keep on scoring, while some old familiar faces contributed unexpectedly – Ned Grabavoy with a brace and Nathan Sturgis – and a handful of firsts for players just rounding into form – Kyle Porter, Joao Plata, Martin Chavez, and Robbie Findley (who should have had more, but wastefulness is what it is).
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    There is an old saying that events even out over the course of the season; while that sentiment is debatable, DC saw a touch of karma when Kansas City’s Ike Opara had a goal incorrectly ruled offside after United had a pair of goals – both against Columbus – controversially ruled out in earlier rounds.
    Before the results, the goal of the round nominees:
    There were some beauties this weekend.
    There was slick passing - in the return LA’s deadly passing counterattacks and New England’s wonderful first goal from Fagundez.
    There was some stunning free-kickery – Chavez and Camilo – as well as an Olimpico, a goal straight from a corner kick, courtesy of Dallas’ Michel.
    And more than a handful of dangerous crosses into the box leading to headed goals of a wonderful variety.
    It is in that spirit that Kyle Porter’s goal – yes, a bit of a homer pick – takes the honours this round, not just from the craftsmanship and finish, but for what it meant to a struggling DC United side.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Opara’s disallowed finish spared DC blushes in the first half, but only delayed the inevitable – DC falling behind after 60 minutes thanks to an own-goal from Ethan White, after Opara had missed making contact with a Graham Zusi corner kick and the service slammed in off the head of the DC defender.
    But instead of letting heads drop and allowing the cruel twist of fate - and a losing streak – to hamper their efforts, DC redoubled their efforts and rebounded.
    Nick DeLeon battled hard in the deep corner of the left-side the pitch to recover a loose ball and played it back to Chris Pontius – who returned to the lineup after an injury induced spell on the sidelines.
    Pontius took a touch to settle the ball onto his right-foot and curled a deliciously inviting ball to the back-post.
    Porter, alert to the possibilities, made a run off the back-shoulder of KC left-back Seth Sinovic, pouncing on the opportunity.
    Sinovic was in decent position, ball-side, but not goal-side, and scrambling. Porter’s stretching right-leg got there first, touching the ball low across the keeper, Jimmy Nielsen, for his first goal in MLS.
    The goal – and the draw it led to – ended DC’s club record losing streak at seven matches and stopped their winless streak – eight – from tying another hallmark of shame. United collect their first point in over two months of league play, stretching back to March 16th when they drew 0-0 with New York.
    That lone point, though a small victory, could be just what the club needs to turn around their season.
    Porter has been a fine addition to the side; his play has deserved a goal and the recognition that comes with it.
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    Results in Brief
    Philadelphia 1 – Los Angeles 4
    The return of Robbie Keane spurred Landon Donovan to a three-point night – a goal and two assists – and snapped a two-game losing streak for the defending champions with a powerful second-half display.
    Zac MacMath flubbed a corner kick in the third minute, whiffing on a swatted clearing attempt before the ball struck him in the face and bounded in off the bar. Amobi Okugo leveled for Philly twenty minutes later with a free header from a long Sheanon Williams throw – the third such goal for the Union this season.
    But the second half was LA’s, taking advantage of Philadelphia pushing forward to hit on the counter - firstly through some slick passing on the right that allowed Donovan to slide in Keane for a low finish across the keeper, then from Hector Jimenez who finished similarly after Donovan had found him in space on the right with the defenders sucked in-field, before Donovan himself rounded out the result on an 87th minute counterattack when Keane charged down the left, drew the defenders towards him and slipped to Donovan on the right to grace past the keeper and finish into the open net.
    John Hackworth must address his side’s inability to secure points at home with an eye to Saturday’s meeting with Chicago and limit those hurtful defensive miscues; while Bruce Arena’s Galaxy can head into their Sunday match in New York confidently, if a little worn from the travel and short rest.
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    Toronto 0 – Columbus 1
    Toronto managed to avoid another late-game collapse, but it mattered not; the damage had already been done. Much has been made of their frailty in the final fifteen minutes, but the close of the first half has been equally troublesome.
    Dominic Oduro’s goal in 42nd minute was the fifth allowed by TFC in the final third of the opening frame – added to the seven at the end of the match a full twelve of their sixteen goals against have come in the waning moments of a half.
    Credit must go to Federico Higuain, whose alert play - when most had slowed after a possible foul on Justin Braun by Tyson Wahl – put a weighted through-ball into the path of Oduro, who outpaced Doneil Henry for a right-footed side-boot poke past Joe Bendik in net for the game’s only goal.
    Higuain was in form that day, twice hitting the woodwork from distance, and was destined to have a role in snapping Columbus’ two game-losing and scoreless streaks.
    Ryan Nelsen, despite new arrivals, was left shaking his head at the repeated failure of his Toronto side to display the character required to turn losses into wins, while stretching a winless run to nine matches and losing streak to four; Robert Warzycha’s crew continued their domination over Trillium rivals, having won nine and drawn seven of their seventeen all-time meetings.
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    Vancouver 2 – Portland 2
    The second Cascadia Cup match of the season ended much as the first had, all level, after Portland dug deep to draw in the final 84th minute – against Seattle during Rivalry Week in was a 90th minute equalizer for the Timbers.
    Vancouver took the lead through Camilo - a sumptuous free-kick beyond the reach of the wall and Donovan Ricketts in the 24th. Will Johnson equalized seven minutes into the second half from the spot after Andy O’Brien was adjudged to have blocked a shot from the Canadian with his arm. Camilo then turned provider to tee up Gershon Koffie two minutes on for a thunderous effort from the top of the box, before Futty Danso was harshly dismissed for a tangle with the troublesome Brazilian in the 81st.
    But Caleb Porter’s Timbers simply do not quit, down a man and a goal, Johnson (Will, not Ryan) sent a hopeful punt into the box from the centre-circle in the 84th. Jose ‘Trencito’ Valencia, the little train himself, showed a bit of class – and potentially a bit of handball – when he beat Brad Rusin in the air, collected the delivery, confidently evaded O’Brien and rolled a finish cheekily past Brad Knighton in goal to tie the match and maintain their impressive ten-match unbeaten run.
    Martin Rennie’s bizarre Voyageur’s Cup lineup midweek was in part designed to advance their chances of taking a first win against Pacific Northwest rivals – which it did not - and could yet come back to haunt given Montreal’s strength and discipline on the road. Can anyone stop Porter’s Portland?
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    Philadelphia 1 – Chicago 0
    Hackworth’s Union rebounded from their midweek hammering to snap that home winless run at three in the back-end of their protracted home-and-home series against Chicago.
    No surprise that their lone goal came from red-hot striker, Jack McInerney – his league-leading eighth of the season – who, as he did in their meeting last weekend, got on the end of a wonderful delivery from Sebastian Le Toux to doom the fire to a third-straight shut-out loss.
    For Le Toux, who has been relegated to the bench given the strong partnership between McInerney and Conor Casey, to collect his fourth assist of the season and tie the long-jam on that number for the league-lead, is a measure of his usefulness to the side.
    While Hackworth will be pleased with their effort, his opposite, Chicago coach, Frank Klopas, must address the Fire’s deficiencies at both ends of the pitch having scored a mere six goals through ten matches and conceded sixteen without the aid of veteran German defender, Arne Friedrich, who continues to struggle with a nagging hamstring issue.
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    Houston 0 – New England 2
    Broken walls don’t mend easily, as Houston found out on Saturday, by following up the home loss against Kansas City that ended their momentous streak with another, losing consecutive matches at home for the first time since 2010.
    A fractious match that saw Bobby Boswell and Dimitry Imbongo dismissed for an ugly clash – a head-butt from the former that saw the latter throw him to the ground in response – came to life six minutes into the second half when some excellent passing from the reconstituted Revolution played in Diego Fagundez for his third goal in their last five matches.
    Lee Nguyen and Juan Agudelo, making his debut for the club, were involved in the build-up, but it was a clever one-two with Clyde Simms and a slicing, juking run from Fagundez that carved open the second-choice Houston back-line - with Boswell off and Taylor subbed due to injury.
    Agudelo and Nguyen combined to craft the second as well, with a clever back heel of a Nguyen pass into the path of Chris Tierney stretching the defense and a follow up shot from Agudelo caroming off the head of Ricardo Clark to trickle over the line before Eric Brunner could clear.
    Externally cool Dominic Kinnear will rage behind closed doors at the sloppiness and lack of response from his Dynamo; Jay Heaps will beam with pride as his high-pressure game-plan and revolving attack has sprung to life in recent matches, even if results have been hard to come by.
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    Seattle 4 – Dallas 2
    This match had it all and will live long in the memory of spectators and pundits alike.
    An early candidate for Match of the Season saw Seattle surge ahead with two first half goals from Johnson and Neagle – both on quick breaks, with an Ossie Alonso header playing Johnson behind the back-line and a Brad Evans through-ball doing the same for Neagle - before the ever-important Michel set up Kenny Cooper for an unmarked header from one of his patented left-footed free-kicks, before placing one in himself, straight from a corner kick – the old Olimpico – with Cooper repaying the favour by hampering the ability of Michael Gspurning to attack the ball.
    Undeterred, Johnson nabbed his brace within a minute of the score being leveled – with Shalrie Joseph playing into Neagle, who turned Matt Hedges easily and slipped to Johnson darting across the box to round the keeper and slot high into the net.
    Blas Perez was controversially dismissed for an apparent elbow on Leo Gonzalez that left the left-back bloodied before Obafemi Martins nabbed a clincher in the 83rd – with a low finish from a squared Evans ball, after Johnson’s header from a Neagle cross was parried – for his third goal in five appearances.
    Sigi Schmid’s resurgent Sounders, having struggled with dual duty in the Champions League and MLS early in the season, are now unbeaten in six, having won three straight – including back-to-back four-goal outputs. Schellas Hyndman’s Dallas saw their unbeaten run snuffed out at nine games and their lead at the top of the table – both in the West and the Supporter’s Shield race - diminished.
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    San Jose 1 – Colorado 1
    The final tilt of Saturday night, running concurrently with the Seattle-Dallas affair, pitted the limping Earthquakes against the sturdy Rapids.
    The opening goal in the 26th minute – for Colorado – came from an unexpected source, Nathan Sturgis.
    The proto-typical MLS journeyman – formerly of Toronto FC, for a spell, amongst others – playing with the seventh team of his eight-year career, scored his first goal since 2010 with a deft touch at the near-post from a right-sided Martin Rivero corner kick.
    Marvin Chavez, available after his suspension for elbowing Logan Emory was reduced from two matches to one, leveled the score in the 78th with a knuckling left-footed free-kick that resulted in goalkeeping sensation, Clint Irwin’s look of befuddled exasperation at how it dipped and swerved in flight.
    Homegrown centre-back – and US youth international - Shane O’Neill, who stepped up admirably to perform in the midst of the Rapids injury crisis, was sent off for a last-man, denial of a goal-scoring opportunity foul on Chris Wondolowski in the final minute of regulation, but San Jose could not capitalize on the minute (small, time-wise) advantage.
    Frank Yallop’s San Jose have struggled – with fitness and suspension – to show the form that served them well last season and must now brace for a hectic spell with six of their next seven matches on the road. Oscar Pareja’s Colorado continue to impress, despite the adversity that has pock-marked their lineup, and are now unbeaten in four – with four wins in their last seven matches.
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    New York 1 – Los Angeles 0
    Another high-profile match that appeared destined to be a damp-squib until Tim Cahill leapt in the 91st minute to apply a little Aussie-bred, English to a Juninho free-kick.
    A clash of the money-laden titans, East-meets-West, the Cup Final the league desperately wants - whatever moniker best applies; whenever the two premier clubs of MLS get together the potential for action is usually stifled by the occasion.
    Dour is too harsh a word, perhaps hard-fought or tight would be better, but up until stoppage time one had the impression that a scoreless draw was on the cards.
    LA, tired from their travels and midweek exertion, were caught napping by New York’s trio of big-named talent: Juninho, the dead-ball maestro with the delivery – a curling, left-sided free-kick towards the back-post; Thierry Henry, fairly impeding the marking of Omar Gonzalez just enough so that Cahill could leap and flick a back-header in at the death – his fourth in the last five matches.
    Mike Petke’s Red Bull stretch their unbeaten run to six, extending their lead in top spot in the East, while Bruce Arena’s Galaxy lose for the third time in their last four outings.
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    DC 1 – Kansas City 1
    A touch of controversy, as described above, when Ike Opara’s goal was incorrectly ruled offside was enough good fortune to see a DC United side, mired in a long seven-match losing streak, pick up their first point in ages against one of the class sides in MLS.
    Opara’s chalked off strike was, in part, amended by his role in Ethan White’s 60th minute own-goal – with the big centre-back’s soaring leap blocking the view of the DC defender paving the way for the Zusi corner kick to bounce off his head and past Bill Hamid in goal.
    DC heads, shaken by the own-goal, including the fit-again Chris Pontius, did not drop. Instead they dug deep and found an equalizer five minutes later, with Kyle Porter scoring his first in MLS – and earning goal of the round plaudits in this review.
    Yes, there were nervous signs in the final twenty minutes with KC attacking in waves in search of a just winner, but Hamid and United held firm to snap that losing streak and – hopefully – begin to turn their dreadful season.
    Ben Olsen will take heart in the point and look to build upon it next week in an equally tough fixture against Portland; Peter Vermes will lament the injustice publicly, but will privately be concerned by his side’s lack of finish against the league’s bottom-dwellers, having previously lost to Toronto and drawn with Chicago and New England.
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    Chivas 1 – Salt Lake 4
    The final match of the round late on Sunday evening was over before it really began with Ned Grabavoy – of all folks; continuing a there with his first since 2010 – grabbing the opening goal in fourth minute of play, after a scuffed Javier Morales shot fell kindly to him on the left with an unobstructed path to goal.
    The second half began in a similar fashion, with the diminutive Joao Plata scoring his first of the season three minutes after the restart when Kyle Beckerman’s header played him down the left for a tidy finish over the sliding Dan Kennedy in goal.
    Jorge Villafana drew one back for the Ameri-Goats with a looping header across the keeper from the back-post after Edgar Mejia floated a ball from the right end-line, but Salt Lake continued to attack in number, decimating Chivas’ suicidal, high back-line with Robbie Findley and Grabavoy adding a further goals to round out the scoring.
    For El Chelis’ herd it was a fifth loss in their last six matches, following a promising – if shocking – start to the season with extended stumbles. Jason Kreis, on the other hand, has seen his since win three of their last four to leapfrog Portland into second place in the West behind Dallas.
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    CanCon
    As usual, the extended look at Canadian performances this week will be up midday tomorrow (Tuesday) – featuring goals from Porter and Johnson, who went on to shush the hostile Vancouver crowd after scoring from the spot and a Drew Beckie sighting in Toronto, if only in the reserves.
    Overheard
    When asked about his NBA-inspired pick on Gonzalez, Thierry Henry responded “I watched the Knicks game, I tried to pick up some stuff from the guys on TV. If you look at the replay, I don’t touch him. I just stand by him and when he turns, he runs into me then Tim gets a couple of steps to be ahead of the game.”
    While Ben Olsen, in response to his side ending their streak of woe, responded bluntly, “It beats losing.”
    See It Live
    Chivas Goalkeeper Dan Kennedy took a free-kick against Salt Lake in the latest curveball from the mind of El Chelis, perhaps in the hope of some Jose Luis Chilavert-style magic. It nearly ended in tragedy with Kennedy forced to hustle back when his attempt did not clear the wall.
    Ike Opara’s incredulous reaction when his goal was called offside was an entertaining bit of tantruming, while the abuse suffered by the corner flag after New York scored – Cahill’s boxing routine followed by a swift Juninho kick – left it sagging sadly for the duration of the match.
    Upcoming Fixtures
    Saturday: DC-Portland; Montreal-Philadelphia; New England-Toronto; Dallas-San Jose; Colorado-Chivas; Salt Lake-Chicago. Sunday: Kansas City-Houston; New York-Columbus; Los Angeles-Seattle
    Parting Thoughts
    A few questions to ponder and discuss:
    New faces, same result for Toronto, against a depleted Columbus no less, is the late-goal thing a mental problem or a formational one? And is it solely the curse of TFC or MLS in general?
    Montreal’s bye week leads into an important stretch as they look to hold off the challenge of Philadelphia next weekend before the second leg of the Voyageurs Cup in Vancouver on Wednesday next and a trip to Kansas City the following weekend. Can they handle the pressure or are they due for a fall? Will their defensive injury concerns have benefitted from an extended break?
    Vancouver is off until next week’s Voyageurs Cup Final; will the rest serve them well or will Rennie’s lineup tinkering come back to haunt?
    Was that lucky point enough to kick-start DC’s floundering season? Will Dallas fall back to earth after a humbling loss in Seattle? Can San Jose do on the road that which they have struggled to do at home, namely win? And how long before Seattle is back near the top of the West, where they belong? Is there another trio in the league as threatening as the Johnson-Neagle-Martins triumvirate?
    Is New England for real? Or was Houston easy pickings, shaken by the loss at home? How good will the rematch between the Dynamo and Sporting be on Sunday? Can New York – and Tim Cahill – continue their good form?
    And will Los Angeles rebound from a disappointing few weeks against the dangerous Sounders in Sunday night’s marquee fixture?
    So many questions, so much intrigue a mere third – or so – of the way through the season. Enjoy the matches.
    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
    Canadian Soccer News has learned that the Canadian Soccer Association has arranged to meet face to face with the Quebec Soccer Federation over their ban on turbans.
    A Quebec Soccer source confirmed that members of QSF would fly out to Ottawa on Wednesday night to meet with the national governing body, in hopes of finding a resolution to their suspension.
    As CSN first reported last night, and FIFA confirmed this morning, FIFA has "authorized the wearing of male head covers in all areas and on all levels of the Canadian football community."
    This comes after the QSF voted earlier this week to uphold their ban, which prevents youth players from wearing turbans on the field. The CSA responded later in the day by re-asserting their position and outlining several reasons for the suspension.
    At this point, with both camps firmly entrenched in their position and with it clear that the matter has become severely distorted – through issues like politics, religion and even pride – perhaps the biggest question is: who will be at the table when the two groups meet on Wednesday?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    On the CSA side, it will certainly be General Secretary Peter Montopoli and President Victor Montagliani. Montagliani has been the point man for much of the CSA’s communications so far and he represents the soccer side of the CSA. And Montopoli, who is traditionally quiet publicly but influential in private, is the man who leads all their business operations. They will both be keen to ensure that the CSA is not seen as weak on their first real test since governance reform was enacted, but neither is the type to cut off the nose to spite the face. Having said that, don't expect much movement, if any, from the CSA.
    Who will attend on the QSF side is not as clear, and realistically, far more important.
    With an issue like the turban ban, which has unfortunately become about much more than preventing children from playing soccer, who is leading the QSF next week will likely determine how long this stare down continues.
    One thing that has become clear: Quebec president Martial Prud'homme is a lame duck president. When he was elected, he ran on a platform of allowing districts to vote how they want and it largely was what took him from relative obscurity to election.
    Past president Dino Madonis was not the kind of man to rule by consensus and his hard nose approach to management, while it earned him respect, also had districts looking for an alternative to the Montreal centric approach by the end.
    But now, with it being suggested that Prud'homme not only offered no advice or guidance before their original ban and their vote to re-assert it, one has to wonder what good it would do bringing him to the table.
    His district, Lac Saint Louie – the richest in the province and one of its most successful — is also home to the community with the most number of Sikh players. His lack of influence is not only affecting those who wear turbans — but, as a district that more often than not sends teams to the national championships — he is affecting those who do not wear them as well.
    If he is not able to create consensus among his province where he has direct interests involved, what point is there in having him sit down to try and negotiate a settlement?
    In the leadership absence created by Prud'homme, QSF general manager Brigitte Frot has filled the power vacuum.
    You’ll remember her from such quotes as, “They can play in their backyard. But not with official referees, not in the official rules of soccer. They have no choice,” and her assertions that turbans were a safety issue – but without an ounce of evidence of there ever having been an incident involving a turban.
    She has barely moved off her statements and her reputation for not being the most conciliatory of people preceeds her. If she attends at all is also a question. She was away for nearly a year fighting to overcome a bout of cancer and it has been suggested that she has not being dealing well with the stress this has brought on her.
    Her assistant GM Patrick Esparbès would be a good stand in. He has a depth of leadership experience as the former general manager of Québec Judo and is not bogged down by the political allegiances of the past.
    But while his reputation for being clear headed would go a long way to resolving a dispute, which has long since spiraled out of control, what this situation needs is a composed hand to navigate the intricacies of an often complicated Quebec-CSA relationship.
    That person should be Dino Madonis. Love him or hate him, Madonis still remains one of the most influential people in Quebec soccer in the last 20 years.
    And while he may have officially stepped away from Quebec Soccer Federation, he is far from gone and has very much continued to have a say in the way that Quebec Soccer is run. Many suspect that it was him who called Joey Saputo, on behalf of the QSF, to ask the Impact president to speak up in support of finding a resolution.
    In addition, an already established, even somewhat cordial, relationship with Madonis and the CSA’s Montagliani makes him an ideal candidate to assist it mediating this conflict to conclusion
    Which, given the recent news out of FIFA, is less about turban wearing players rejoining the Quebec fields (that's clearly going to happen now), and more about ensuring that the QSF is able to save face from what can only be described as one, long PR disaster.
    Guest
    These are the images and emotions from Toronto FC's 1-0 loss to Columbus. All photos are courtesy of Chris Hazard at Hazard Gallery.
    You can purchase these and other photos here.
    I feel like some people are still licking their wounds from this one....
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]







    Guest
    <b>[updated 9.30pm with post game reaction from both dressing rooms]</b>
    <u><b>Report:</b></u>
    May was highlighted to be a month of firsts for Vancouver Whitecaps. The goals were clear. To achieve their first win over LA Galaxy, to win their first ever Voyageurs Cup and to beat one of their Cascadian rivals in MLS action for the first time.
    Despite two wonderstrikes from Camilo Sanvezzo and Gershon Koffie, Vancouver are still searching for that elusive derby win, with Portland coming away with a share of the spoils thanks to a Will Johnson penalty and a controversial late equaliser for the ten man Timbers by Jose Valencia.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    It’s becoming a standard line that we can insert into the match reports every week at the moment, but once again, it was all change for Martin Rennie. Five changes to the starting line up from last week’s win over Los Angeles, and three from the midweek draw with Montreal, albeit some others playing in different positions.
    The most significant changes were Brad Knighton coming in as the starting keeper for his first MLS game of the season; Alain Rochat dropping to the bench, despite playing excellently in a left midfield role in Montreal; and out of form striker Darren Mattocks also losing his place, his late goal last week not being enough to save him.
    The biggest surprise addition was former Timbers U23 player Erik Hurtado coming in for the start, despite not even being on the bench in some of the recent games. The thinking appearing to be that he would be really up for it against his former club.
    After a fairly quiet and uneventful opening minutes, it nearly paid off nine minutes in when Hurtado cut inside and fired off a shot into the side netting.
    Gershon Koffie fired over seconds later, before Russell Teibert hit an easy shot to Donovan Ricketts in the 12th minute, as the Caps enjoyed a spell of possession.
    Portland came closest to breaking the deadlock so far in the 15th minute.
    Brad Rusin let a high ball from Ryan Johnson go over him to Diego Valeri on the byeline. The Argentinean fired a shot off which Knighton spilled into the path of Rodney Wallace in the six yard box, but a foot in from Rusin and a falling lunge from Jordan Harvey somehow managed to conspire to just turn the loose ball out for a corner.
    It was a close escape for Vancouver and they had another one in the 21st minute when Ryan Johnson got the ball from Wallace, hit the byeline and sent a dangerous ball across the face of the goal which Valeri was just inches away from getting on the end of.
    The Whitecaps responded with a Camilo free kick that wasn’t too far away, whizzing past the left hand post. This was a warning to Portland which they didn’t heed and Camilo put the Caps one up in the 24th minute from a stunning free kick into the postage stamp corner, after Will Johnson had brought the wee Brazilian down on the edge of the box.
    Camilo seemed to go down very easily but he made the most of his opportunity and gave Vancouver their first ever lead over Portland in MLS action.
    Portland had a great chance to tie things up on the half hour mark, when Wallace got on the end of a pinpoint Valeri cross and rose unchallenged but his bullet header was straight at Knighton, who did well to hold on.
    This was to prove to be the last goalmouth action of the half and the Whitecaps went in to the break with a rare halftime lead. The big question now was could they hold on to it?
    Camilo was looking the Whitecaps only real attacking danger and he continued that moments into the second half, firing a long range shot on goal, which Ricketts spilled around the post for a corner.
    Portland started to threaten and Ryan Johnson was inches away from getting on to a near post cross in the 51st minute. The Timbers kept the pressure on and won a penalty when the ball was played into the box and hit the arm of Andy O’Brien. Will Johnson stepped up to drill home the spot kick and the game was all tied up once again.
    Vancouver’s response was swift and they were back in the lead two minutes later.
    The ball came to Camilo in the box and he did well to hold off the attentions of Andrew Jean-Baptiste and Diego Chara to feed the ball back to Koffie in the d and the Ghanaian curled a beauty past Ricketts and into the Timbers net to restore the Caps advantage.
    Nigel Reo-Coker picked up a booking for the Caps just past the hour mark, which will now rule him out of the New York game in June, and Will Johnson fired the free kick wide right
    Portland pushed for the equaliser but were only able to get long range efforts in, all of which went wide.
    The Timbers were reduced to ten men in the 81st minute. Reo-Coker played a long ball forward and as Camilo and Mamadou ‘Futty’ Danso chased it down, the Caps striker went to ground easily in the tussle and referee Matthew Foerster immediately pulled out a red card for the Portland defender.
    The sending off proved not to be too much of an immediate disadvantage for the Timbers and they went up the pitch and tied things up once again in the 84th minute.
    A long ball forward to Jose Valencia looked like it was controlled by the Colombian’s arm. None of the officials thought so and the substitute showed some great footwork in the box to get past the Whitecaps defenders and coolly slot it home past Knighton.
    The goal shocked the Caps support and brought anger from the Vancouver bench.
    Both sides could only muster up half chances for the remainder of the game and the match finished to a chorus of boos echoing around most of BC Place.
    Although it was a heartbreaking end for the Caps, Portland were worthy of a point in the game and controlled possession for much of the game.
    Vancouver had very little attack, with Camilo the only consistent danger to Portland.
    The Caps now enter an eleven day break before facing Montreal in the second leg of the Voyageurs Cup.
    The disappointment of the draw will hang around for a few days, but in reality Vancouver did well to come away with anything from one of the most in form teams in MLS right now.
    FINAL SCORE: Vancouver Whitecaps 2 - 2 Portland Timbers
    ATT: 19,823
    VANCOUVER: Brad Knighton; Young-Pyo Lee, Andy O’Brien, Brad Rusin, Jordan Harvey; Jun Marques Davidson (Darren Mattocks 88), Nigel Reo-Coker, Gershon Koffie (Matt Watson 71), Russell Teibert; Erik Hurtado (Alain Rochat 83), Camilo Sanvezzo [subs Not Used: Joe Cannon, Carlyle Mitchell, Corey Hertzog, Tommy Heinemann]
    PORTLAND: Donovan Ricketts; Michael Harrington, Jack Jewsbury (Jose Valencia 77), Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Mamadou Danso; Will Johnson, Diego Valeri, Diego Chara; Darlington Nagbe (Kalif Alhassan 34), Ryan Johnson (Frederic Piquionne 62), Rodney Wallace [subs Not Used: Jake Gleeson, Sal Zizzo, Ben Zemanski, Pa Modou Kah]
    <p>
    <b><u>Vancouver Reaction:</u></b>
    <b>Martin Rennie on the match:</b>
    "First half I thought Portland played quite well. Camilo scored a fantastic goal, put us in a great position. In the second half I was disappointed in the decision for the penalty because Andy's hand is by his side and there's not a lot he can do. The same thing happened in the first half on Futty Danso and no foul or infringement was given. I felt that that was a bit harsh but the response was excellent."
    "Most of the things regarding today are positive. Our players have put in a hard shift for a long number of days."
    "Today we did enough to win and I'm disappointed just like I'm sure everyone is."
    <b>Brad Rusin on the match:</b>
    "It's frustrating being in here with the tie. It feels like a loss.
    I think we played a great game. I think we played well enough to win. It came down to one play at the end and we were a bit unfortunate."
    <b>Camilo on dropping points at home:</b>
    "Now we have to go away and take points because they came here and took a point. We have to go away and take points too."
    <b>Camilo on his free kick goal:</b>
    "All week I have been training and today I think I strike a very good ball."
    <b>Martin Rennie on Portland's sending off:</b>
    "I thought their red card was harsh. Probably not a red card. I felt that moment was a big turning point in the game. We could have dealt with that better. We should have seen that game out. That's disappointing."
    "Sometimes when the other team goes down a man it doesn't necessarily help you because you can have that subconscious relax a little bit and the goal came right after that and I think we could have handled that better."
    <b>Martin Rennie on Portland's equalising goal:</b>
    "I thought it was a handball."
    <b>Brad Knighton on Portland's equalising goal:</b>
    "I thought I was the only one allowed to use my hands in the box."
    <b>Brad Rusin on Portland's equalising goal:</b>
    "I take full responsibility for the second goal.
    "At the end of the day, I got to do better. We can't blame the referees."
    <b>Martin Rennie on Brad Knighton starting over Joe Cannon:</b>
    "I felt that the way Portland pressed that we needed to be able to clear the ball and get real distance on it and I think Brad is very good at that and I also think he played very well against Montreal and deserved the chance to play in this game."
    <b><u>Portland Reaction:</u></b>
    <b>Caleb Portland on the game and Portland's performance:</b>
    "We dominated possession but our overall, maybe, sharpness could have been a notch better. We made a few mistakes, a bit flat in periods, but in the end we come back, down a goal, down a man, to get a point and we stopped Vancouver from getting three points and making up ground on us."
    <b>Will Johnson on the game:</b>
    "After you score a goal, that's usually when you're most vulnerable. We've talked about it, We have to be ready. When we score a goal, make sure we don't give it back right away and unfortunately we did. I think looking back you have to give them credit. Those were two very, very good goals."
    <b>Will Johnson on getting a result in Vancouver:</b>
    "These Western Conference games, there's always so much on the line. Every game matters so much when you're battling for playoff positions. I'll take a road result anywhere.
    Coming up to Vancouver, it's always nice to get a result up here. They don't seem to like me very much up here, so it feels good."
    <b>Jack Jewsbury on the game:</b>
    "We wanted to go after them right off the opening whistle and it didn't really happen the way we planned. That was more disappointing. The way we didn't keep the ball the way we would have liked. At the end of the day, to go down a goal, down a man, to get out of here with a point the group feels pretty good."
    <b>Donovan Ricketts on the game:</b>
    "On a day like this where we can't get anything going we have to be happy or we cry and then we talk."
    "The positive is we didn't play our best soccer and we didn't lose, so that's a positive, and we keep on fighting."
    <b>Will Johnson on Portland fighting back to get draw:</b>
    "We didn't feel that we played particularly well. Even if we were playing well, any time you're down a man, you're down a goal, you're on the road, there's ten minutes to go, you don't like your chances. But you don't give up. You fight. You try. Because we have a thousand fans up in the stands that expect nothing less, our coaching staff, everybody back home watching in Portland."
    We recognise that we've got to fight, even if it doesn't look like there's any chance. If the task looks impossible, we don't give up. We fight and that's what you do. That's the bare minimum requirement to play on this team."
    <b>Caleb Porter on Portland fighting back twice:</b>
    "I thought we responded well. We dug deep. It's not the first time we've done this. That's why I'm real proud of this group because we have a pretty special aura in our team right now where we just never quit. We find ways to get results and this is the fifth or sixth time that we've done that.
    "We've come back from being down one goal, two goals, several times. We pulled a result out in Seattle in basically the 90th minute, we came back from two goals down against New York, we came back from two goals down in the second half against Colorado. Against Kansas City we came from behind twice to get that result and win 3-2."
    <b>Caleb Porter on Portland's team spirit:</b>
    "We really just have a mental toughness and a spirit in this group. That's probably the most exciting thing about this team, that we have that kind of that winning fibre as I call it. Once you have that, you're really have a lot of confidence that your team is going to grind out results and we want to be a team at the end of the season that's going to be in the mix.
    "As much as we'll play good football and we have some good, talented individual players, we also have a great team spirit and a great chemistry and, like I said, a mental toughness that I think will really carry us through."
    <b>Will Johnson on Portland's team spirit:</b>
    "It comes from top to bottom. It comes from our coaching staff, from our fans, they expect high things. It comes from guys holding each other accountable. You have a good, honest locker room. Nobody's looking to cheat. If you do, you're going to get talked to and told about it. There's a collective group of guys. The leaders in the team, the coaching staff and our fans that holds each other accountable and that's important."
    <b>Caleb Porter on Portland still being unbeaten on the road:</b>
    "I go into every game thinking we can win. Yet I understand we're not going to win every game. We've not gone in any game thinking we're going to lose. We've gone in every game thinking we're going to win. I really don't change my approach home or away whatsoever."
    <b>Jack Jewsbury on Portland still being unbeaten on the road:</b>
    "The reality is it's tough to go on the road in this league and get results. It's a good feeling but we know we got another tough test the next couple of weeks. We got three on the road now. Next up is DC and we look to go there and get three points."
    <b>Donovan Ricketts on refereeing:</b>
    (laughs) "I have nothing to say. Nothing."
    <b>Will Johnson on sending off:</b>
    "Referee's decision. I just went up to the referee and said 'are you a 100% sure' and he said absolutely, no question about it and I said ok, if you're a 100% sure, you're a 100% sure. But I'm hearing other people weren't 100% sure, so it's one of those things. It happens. There's a question on our second goal as well, so referee's decisions are better left up to the referee so you just get on with the game and control what you can control.
    <b>Will Johnson on giving away the free kick for Camilo's goal:</b>
    "It wasn't a great play. He wasn't looking to shoot or try to do anything, he's looking for the foul. I'll have to see it again but a player of my experience should know better. To know that he's looking for a foul because he's deadly on free kicks. I take my hat off to him, that's a world class free kick."
    <b>Caleb Porter on Will Johnson:</b>
    "Will Johnson was like he is every game, to be honest with you. Chara and Johnson are just dynamos in midfield and battlers and fighters and scrappers and they can play a bit too. He's a great leader, good captain and he's a guy that puts his shift in every single game."
    <p>
    Guest
    Eight to five. If success in football were measured in numbers of head coaches Toronto FC would be leading the Columbus Crew by a baseball score. (Granted, being TFC, they’d surely find a way to lose in the bottom of the ninth to a walk-off grand slam – “Tobiiiiaaaasss!” - but that’s another story!)
    Since Robert Warzycha succeeded Sigi Schmid in 2009 for a second spell in charge, after the Crew’s league and MLS Cup double of 2008, Toronto FC has managed to burn through six of the seven men tasked with leading them in that same time. Carver, Cummins, Preki, Dasovic, Winter, Mariner, and now Nelsen; as of Saturday evening, Warzycha will have faced all of them.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    It hasn’t all been sunshine and roses in Columbus either. Warzycha took over the strongest team in the league in 2009 and while he was successful in securing a second consecutive Supporter’s Shield title the Crew are yet to win a playoff series under his direction. Last season they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and Warzycha has taken a fair share of derision, over tactics and selection, from a faction of Crew fans over nearly his entire time in charge.
    Through it all the Crew’s ownership has stuck with him. Some might call that a lack of ambition and others pure stubbornness. Certainly, in Toronto, the cries for regime change and accusations of malfeasance from ownership would have been more pronounced. On the whole however it’s hard to argue that the Crew haven’t benefitted from the stability and, since TFC’s inception, they have never finished behind the club from the north shore of Lake Ontario. Even poor Crew teams have been better than their Toronto competitors.
    Of course, Toronto FC doesn’t just turnover coaches. They, like Columbus, like all teams in global football, turnover players as well.
    Just the Reds manage to do it at a record setting pace.
    Since the days of Mo Johnston trading what felt like half of TFC’s picks in their original expansion draft before they’d had 24 hours as a Red the most regular constant at Toronto FC has been the revolving door of playing staff. Even when leadership has had periods that begin to approach, in the universe inhabited by Toronto, something like stability the player carousel has never stopped turning. Aron Winter took the cake on that score when he managed to play 38 different players in league games in 2011 all to hone his squad for a 1W-0D-9L start to 2012.
    The excuse that each new head coach needed the opportunity to shape the squad into one that he was comfortable with might have been valid at one point but, getting closer to a decade of churn with each passing season, it should be apparent that eventually someone will have to largely make do with what they’ve been given.
    Whether or not Ryan Nelsen and Kevin Payne accept that premise is another question. A little of it started before and a lot would have undoubtedly happened regardless but, mired in an eight game league winless run and a four game losing streak, the preference for a chop-and-change approach to management has once again reared its head.
    Julio Cesar never made the field and Aston Bennett and Taylor Morgan never made an impression. Scottish defender Steven Caldwell and Kiwi forward Jamie Brockie have been brought in on loan while negotiations with Tal Ben Haim allegedly continue. Bobby Convey has joined the squad and seems to have made Hogan Ephraim’s loan superfluous. Matias Laba, set to make his home debut, was a signature signing with an eye to the future yet both Payne and Nelsen continue to drop hints of more big summer signings to come. Max Urruti might be the one who got away but talk of another forward or creative player continues ahead of Robert Earnshaw’s deal expiring and possibly not being extended.
    So the Reds who take the field late Saturday afternoon will already be a quite different team from the one that started play in March, earning the team’s only league win to date, at the Rogers Centre. Almost certainly another new combination in the back, another familiar constant of TFC’s season if not existence, will be tried.
    Yet, for all that, Columbus is more than vulnerable. Coming off a home loss to the Colorado Rapids they’ve caught the injury bug and the absence of their veteran defender Chad Marshall, lost to a hamstring strain, could be vital. Regular starters Danny O’Rourke and Agustin Vianna are also both unlikely to be available to Warzycha as they are currently listed on the official MLS Injury Report while Costa Rican forward Jairo Arrieta has been suspended by the MLS Disciplinary Committee after punching the Rapids’ Drew Moor in the Crew’s last match.
    Toronto FC has never had much luck in beating the Columbus Crew and has never completed the task at BMO Field in front their own supporters. If the Reds can remember each others’ names, keep Federico Higuain from feeding Dominic Oduro, and find some offense to test a makeshift Columbus back line there’s no reason they couldn’t change that record.
    If they’re successful hopefully they savour the history and the moment because, most likely, most of them won’t be around the next time it happens.
    Guest
    KEY PLAYERS
    Attacking
    The Whitecaps gave Camilo the midweek match against Montreal off which makes him one of the most rested attackers available for selection. He may start on the left side but expect the Brazilian to slide into the middle at certain points of the match. So far this season Camilo leads the team in shots and shots on target despite playing limited minutes as he has averaged about 45 minutes per appearance.
    Having been more of a role player with RSL everyone expected Will Johnson to come in and provide leadership while making the Timbers a tougher team to play against. Very few in the MLS world had an idea that the Canadian international would be tied in the team lead for goals with four. The more matches Johnson has played under Porter’s system the more confidence he has in the attack.
    Defence
    With Leveron suspended expect Brad Rusin to get back into the lineup where he will resume his partnership with O’Brien. Before his appearance against Montreal at holding mid, Rusin had not played for almost three weeks. The defender will most likely be matched up against Ryan Johnson, formerly of TFC, whose pace may pose problems for the Caps.
    Since returning to the starting eleven, Mamadou Danso has helped improve the defense of the Timbers. In his six starts Portland has allowed four goals, including three cleansheets, as opposed to the eight goals allowed in the five games he was unavailable. With the Timbers lacking depth on the backline they will need ‘Futty’ to continue to play great defense and be a threat on attacking set pieces.
    WHO’S ON FORM
    Except for one minute, Andy O’Brien has played every minute for the Whitecaps this season and is coming off a game where he kept Di Vaio off the scoresheet. In addition to that the Irish international kept the entire team organized as they picked up only their second cleansheet against MLS competition.
    After several matches where he was still getting comfortable to MLS, Diego Valeri has firmly established himself as one of best attacking midfielders in the league. In his last five starts the Argentine has two goals to go along with the four assists that put him at the top of the MLS leaders in the playmaking category.
    PROJECTED LINEUP

    Vancouver Whitecaps (4-3-3)
    R to L- Joe Cannon; Y.P. Lee, Andy O’Brien, Brad Rusin, Alain Rochat; Jun Marques Davidson, Nigel Reo-Coker, Gershon Koffie; Russell Teibert, Corey Hertzog, Camilo Sanvezzo
    Portland Timbers (4-3-3)
    R to L Donovan Ricketts; Jack Jewsbury, Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Mamadou Danso, Michael Harrington; Diego Valeri, Diego Chara, Will Johnson; Darlington Nagbe, Ryan Johnson, Rodney Wallace
    2013 RECORD
    Vancouver Whitecaps:
    3W-3D-4L-12P
    7th in Western Conference
    Last Match: 0-0 Draw at Montreal Impact (ACC)
    Portland Timbers:
    4W-6D-1L-18P
    2nd in Western Conference
    Last Match: 3-0 Win vs Chivas USA
    OVERVIEW
    The 2013 Cascadia season opens for the Whitecaps this Saturday as they take on Portland Timbers at BC Place. Vancouver is hoping for a change of fortune this season as they have yet to win the Cascadia Cup, let alone beat one of their rivals, since entering MLS and haven’t lifted the Cup since 2008.
    There should be a more conventional starting eleven compared to the one that played in Montreal in the midweek match. The keeper spot will most likely return to Joe Cannon and he will have Andy O’Brien and Brad Rusin partner up in the middle with Johnny Leveron receiving a suspension. While there is no doubt that Y.P. Lee will start at right back, since he didn’t play on Wednesday, the left side could go to either Jordan Harvey or the incumbent Alain Rochat.
    Nigel Reo-Coker returns to a midfield position after playing right back, while Jun Marques Davidson returns to the lineup to join Gershon Koffie in the midfield. Another rested player, Camilo, will play opposite Russell Teibert on the wing with Corey Hertzog in with a chance of being the target striker for a tired looking Darren Mattocks.
    One of the bigger questions coming into the match will be the approach Martin Rennie takes into this game when it comes to tactics. Will he play a patient game and look to score on the counter or does he play on the front foot and attack from the opening whistle.
    If there is one weakness defensively for the Timbers it is the right side where they have a rookie and converted midfielder on the backline, while the players in front of them aren’t considered of the defensive variety. This could be where the Whitecaps could attack with Camilo and Rochat combining with Koffie to push the ball forward.
    The Timbers come into this match as one of the top teams in MLS as they have gone unbeaten in nine (4W, 5D). During that streak the club has a number of impressive results on the road picking up points in Dallas, Seattle, San Jose and winning in Kansas City.
    The scoring for this season for Portland has been spread out over their five main attackers with four goals by the two Johnsons and three by Valeri, Nagbe and Wallace. In previous seasons the Timbers would get contributions from their backline on set pieces but that has yet to happen this year.
    Defensively the visitors have injury issues with Silvestre and Horst injured and have had to use Jewsbury as one of their fullbacks. In recent games they have been rescued a number of times by the goalkeeping of Donovan Ricketts.
    The Whitecaps will not be able to have a turf advantage as their opponents play on a similar surface and shouldn’t be affected like previous teams have. Portland also has the advantage of playing rested the entire week while the Caps traveled out east to play Montreal.
    Vancouver are coming off their first victory over the LA Galaxy last week and are looking for a repeat against the Timbers, who they haven’t beaten in five games since entering MLS together in 2011. Their last win against Portland came in the 2010 Division 2 playoffs when the Caps eliminated them from the playoffs.
    <p>
    Guest

    The inescapable David Beckham

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    I have stood within 3-feet of David Beckham on two separate occasions.
    The first was in 2008, two days before the MLS All-Star game in Toronto. I had been riding my bicycle around BMO Field the afternoon prior to the TFC v Montreal Impact Voyageurs Cup decider, which would take place that evening. As I rode around the corner, I saw a bus pull up to the stadium. Thinking it was the Impact, and this being before I had launched The 24th Minute (and thus didn’t have to pretend to be at least somewhat objective), I quickly road to the bus in the hopes that I could give the USL side the gears ahead of that night’s game.
    Imagine my surprise then when two giant men leapt in front of my bike, one of which firmly putting his hands on my chest. It was clear that both would look forward to picking my teeth up off the ground if I made one wrong move.
    Confused I looked at the players stepping off the bus. There, with a half raised eyebrow and bored look on his face, stood one of the most famous men on the planet. Suddenly, the attention of Johnny and Joey Andro made sense.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Trying to appear above it all, I spat out “I’m here to see Mauro Biello, not him,” before slowly backing away.
    Of course I wasn’t above it all. I offer no apologies when I tell you that I ran straight to the pre-game bar to tell everyone that was willing to listen that I came within feet of Becks.
    The second time I stood close to his fame was in 2011. This time, I was there in an official capacity as a writer for MLSSoccer.com. I spent most of the time leading up to the press conference text messaging with a girl who I may or may not have been trying to impress by telling her where I was and what I was doing (I’ll allow you the reader to decide whether I was successful).
    In a moment that will surprise few people that know me, I was also nearly tackled by security that day when I tried to crash the LA Galaxy’s breakfast buffet.
    By the time Beckham made his appearance there were close to 100 journalists stuffed into a tiny room desperately trying to shove their microphones and tape recorders into his face. I don’t actually recall much of what he said (I do, however, remember that he had a 2-week beard growing and was wearing a Galaxy toque, despite it being a billion degrees outside).
    I also recall the reporter for E! asking him a question about a Pepsi commercial he was in and how the Galaxy PR staff swooped in and chastised the women for doing her job (Only soccer questions was the demand placed on us for being allowed to be in the presence of celebrity). Beckham, for his part, smiled and answered the question without much concern. The only thing hurt in the exchange was the reputation of the flack, who looked like a humourless bully.
    Although I didn’t think much of it at the time, Beckham did say in the scrum that he was “thinking of” staying with the Galaxy for another contract (he did). I wrote what he said and didn’t think anything of it until later that night when my editor wrote me to tell me that the piece had received more than half a million pageviews. Apparently this was a scoop.
    What was also apparent, and what is illustrated by all of the above anecdotes, is that Beckham was never just about football. This isn’t a revelation, but it bears repeating here. Beckahm’s celebrity was so large that it reached every corner of the globe, even a (football) outpost like Toronto.
    So, his retirement is news. Even here. His affect of the game is measurable even in Canada.
    Yes, he was overrated as a player, even in his prime. That’s not to say that he was a bad player. It’s not even to suggest that he wasn’t very good at times. It’s only to point out the obvious fact that he was never close to being the best in the world and that his celebrity did not match his performance.
    To keep the analogies local: On the pitch he was Doug Gilmour. Off the pitch, Justin Bieber.
    Love him or hate him you could not ignore him. And, even if you don’t want to admit it, you’re probably going to miss him.
    Guest

    Dear Friend

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Dear friend,
    Based on the further explicit investment information about your sports club from my research i wish to give you a very exclusive opportunity.
    I am Prince Peter J. Vermes, the eldest son of Prince Robb Heinemann current finance minister of Sporting, the player-rich sultanate on the Gulf of Kansas City. I save your time by not amplifying my extended royal family history, which has already been disseminated by the international media during the controversial dispute that erupted between my father and his tepbrother, the sultan of Major League Soccerball Sheik Donald Garber of the Board of Governors.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    As you may know from the international media,The sultan had accused my father of financial mismanagement and impropriety of us not playing most excellent players and government owned StongLife investment company to be declared bankrupt during his tenure in the office. However my father was kept under house arrest, his bank account and private properties including a crude state-of-the-art-stadium were later confiscated by the sultanate to avoid further prosecution from the sultan and his security operatives, but before I could do that I was placed under house arrest by the sultan and not have access to phone but I have a palm V hand -held computer from which I am sending you this mail. Some of the guard here are still loyal to me, so they would be my contact with you if there is any documents I need to send to you to enable you have access to this incredible player and invest it for me.
    Before my in-castration, I went ahead to dispatch the “former Reading winger” Bobby Convey into the custody of different private Banks and trust company's for safe keeping abroad. The player where hidden and kept in the following countries, : in Canada, France, Spain, Holland andin London. Firstly, you will be required to travel to London to claim the player there before prceeding to other countries.
    I seek your good assistance to invest this player into a profitable soccerball team in your country to facilitate future survival for my family abroad. After due deliberation with my aids we decides to offer an incredible deal where we get next to nothing and you get said incredible player to carry out this assignment.
    All it will take will be an expenditure from your side, I will advice you not to worry about it because you will be reimburse any amount you may spend in future points in Major League Soccerball as to enable this transaction get to it's final dream, for while you will pay all expenses you will be part of the beneficiary of any awesome moves made by this player, to add to that, I will like to let to your understand that all this is not part of your financial compensation that will be given to you.
    During this dispensation Please I count on your absolute confidentiality, transparency and trust while looking forward to your prompt reply towards a swift conclusion of this transaction. Many thanks and blessing remains with you.
    Finally, your compensation will be the everlasting approval of the most magnificent and honorified fans of your imminentable sportsball club.
    Thanks.
    Prince Peter.J. Vermes
    ----------
    More seriously, when a deal is too good to be true a good rule to follow is that it normally is. At the very least it’s prudent to be suspicious and engage a greater level of scrutiny.
    Bobby Convey has been a very good football player in the past; even in the recent past. Maybe the special circumstances of MLS’ budget and roster system are making Sporting KC dump a player they’d rather keep. Maybe there’s no other team in the league with a very specific and desperate need for a starting calibre left midfielder.
    But keep this in mind: Peter Vermes didn’t pick up the phone and only call Kevin Payne. Good management does their due diligence and tests the market to find out what they’re likely to get in return. As a consequence, logically, it’s likely that any other MLS team could have acquired Bobby Convey simply by offering more than a 1st round Supplemental Draft pick (ie. a third round pick). KC themselves were willing to part with him for that little and that no other team was willing to improve on TFC’s offer should, at the very least, be telling.
    That’s not to say that the trade won’t be a success for Toronto. Maybe it will; maybe it won’t. TFC has a specific need and Convey addresses that positionally. He is an experienced MLS player who has been around the block yet is still young enough to stick around if things work out.
    But the next time you get an email from a Prince Peter maybe it’d be best to slow down and consider why the offer seems so good.
    Guest

    MLS Musings - Week 11

    By Guest, in AFTN,

    Kind of pointless perhaps doing our weekly look at the best and worst of the week's MLS action so late and after the next week has begun, but we'd all but finished it and just couldn't get the time to watch the last two games!
    We made it in the end and got this far, so we may as well run the piece and if anyone else is interested apart from me for the stats, then great! So what did week 11 of the 2013 season throw up for us?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <b><u>Games This Week:</u></b>
    The busiest week of the new season so far. 15 games in total, with many teams playing twice and rounding off with the 100th game of the year.
    The week's action kicked off on Wednesday with poor DC United. A 4-0 thumping from HOUSTON and although the Dynamo went in two goals up at the half, it was two going on ten. Will Bruin was outstanding for Houston, with two goals and two assists in the rout. DC really got it together for the second half though and did everything but score. They had efforts cleared off the line, one of which looked to have crossed, a penalty given just outside the box and they forced 15 corner kicks and had 13 attempts on goal. When your luck's not in, it's really not in in this league. Firmly rooted at the bottom of the East, they look a hopeless cause despite playing some nice football. It's the horrible football, sloppy defending and constantly having to chase the game, thus leaving gaps, that's killing them. If they're not careful they're going to be playing in front of an empty stadium. Oh, wait.....
    The action continued in an entertaining match between NEW YORK and MONTREAL, which was a great advert for MLS on the one hand and a great advert for not adding a second New York team on the other. What was with all those empty seats for a top of the Conference clash? I know Montreal, like all the Canadian teams, won't be seen as a huge draw in many US markets, but this was a visiting team that were playing some lovely football and, as mentioned, a battle of two of the top form teams in the Eastern Conference, if not in all of MLS right now. Montreal were disappointing for most of the match and seemed happy to try and get away with just a point if they could. New York deserved the win and Thierry Henry once again ran the show, with a spectacular second goal in the process. It was strange leaving Marco di Vaio on the bench, but when he came on, boy did he make a difference for the Impact. What a player he still is. That's what the Whitecaps need up front. An experienced goalscorer, who still has it, and not just a pile of young, inexperienced talent. He could have single handedly grabbed an unlikely point for Montreal with a spectacular stoppage time display.
    The first Western team to hit the pitch was the Caps conquerors from last weekend, as SALT LAKE headed east to NEW ENGLAND. It was a horrible result for Vancouver. It was kind of a horrible game to watch in general for the most part. RSL became the new Dick Turpins of MLS, with a smash and grab raid and three undeserved points. It could, and should, have been so much different. RSL again looked poor, but the Revs did what the Caps couldn't and scored against them. The salty ones obviously listened to Nigel Reo-Coker's comments at their patch last week and didn't play soft on the road. Quite a physical performance from them. The ref was quite weak for this one, but not as weak as Saer Sene's horrible stoppage time spot kick, which was easily saved and was a sickener for Vancouver in the playoff race.
    But if that was sickener, SEATTLE's last gasp win in KANSAS CITY was far worse. It was as much unexpected as it was horrible and KC should have had this game well won before Djimi Traore put the ball away in the 94th minute. Looking at is with a neutrals hat on, it was a fighting performance from the Sounders who will garner great heart from the result. With my Whitecaps hat on, it meant that Seattle now draw level on points with Vancouver, making the Caps basically bottom of the West.
    The great unwashed went to Conference leaders DALLAS and came away with a point. Always good when two of your rivals drop points, but like Salt Lake, PORTLAND stage something of a smash and grab. DALLAS will definitely see this as two points dropped, but it's hard to feel sorry for them as they once again hit the deck at every opportunity. Eric Hassli certainly seems to fit in well there, giving him a chance to do his trademark sitting on his ass and waving his arms about bit. Not a wonderful game in general. Portland keep their record of taking at least a point from every MLS away game this season. Next stop? Vancouver. Woo-hoo!
    The midweek action rounded off with another trademark performance, this time from TORONTO as they lost another late goal to go down in SAN JOSE, with the Earthquakes getting their usual late winner. TFC had done well to hold off the homes side's pressure and take the lead, putting in one of those away performances that Vancouver seem incapable of. Then it all went wrong, but they at least made San Jose work for three points and another horrible result for the Caps.
    Not sure how many times I can use the word horrible in this review but that's basically what all the midweek results were from a Vancouver point of view. And what was with the crappy crowds? Was there some kind of boycott with these midweek matches we didn't get the memo about? An average of 11,468 for the six games, helped by KC drawing 18,602 against Seattle. Dire stuff from DC, New England and Dallas though.
    The weekend's action kicked off in CHICAGO, where PHILADELPHIA came to visit. Why do NBC continue to pick games with little appeal and why did TSN2 decide to show it of all games? The home side had their chances but Philly snatched the points, aided by some good saves from Zac MacMath. Not much more to say about it!
    The other early start was a whole different matter. MONTREAL showed their pedigree by coming back twice to beat SALT LAKE in a five goal thriller in front of a surprisingly low crowd at Stade Saputo. It was looking bad news for Vancouver with RSL looking highly likely to come away with a point, but the Impact were excellent and never gave up. I liked RSL's attitude on the road, but it was an ominous warning for Vancouver for the V's Cup final on Wednesday.
    Two Western teams battled it out in SEATTLE and it was a resurgent Sounders who continued their fine recent form with a comprehensive victory over a poor looking SAN JOSE side. This was the kind of game we've been waiting for Vancouver to have. One where everything just seems to click in to place and the goals go in. A one off or a signal that a Seattle to be reckoned with are back in the mix? Sadly I fear the latter.
    VANCOUVER of course did have a kind of coming of age game themselves. Beating LOS ANGELES for the first time was excellent, but it wasn't done in anywhere near the kind of fashion that Seattle had on show. It may be an old cliché but football certainly is a game of inches. If Omar Gonzalez puts his header away just past the hour mark, then we could be looking at a whole different mood in the rain city right now. It was a great all round performance but may just be one which kick-starts a few on the team, with the key being just how they now build upon it.
    It was the Col derby as Umbus hosted Orado, in a pretty unexciting game. COLORADO scored early and then COLUMBUS seemed to be camped in their half for most of the remainder of the game, yet never really looked much like getting back in to it. The Rapids winning by two never really looked on the cards, but that's how it worked out, making Vancouver's win all the more crucial, as those around them are getting points in and worryingly many are doing so on the road.
    From the Col derby to the New one, with NEW YORK heading north to take on NEW ENGLAND. Again, not the best. Two goals in a minute woke the game up before it quickly went back to sleep again. After all the other action this week, I just found this game disappointing. Even the condensed highlights on MLS Live were too long for this one!
    Saturday rounded off with bottom of the pile DC unsurprisingly losing out to MLS leading DALLAS. The Double D's (Diving Douches) kept their good form going and continue to set the pace that the Caps and the rest of the west are struggling to keep pace with. We've been going on about DC's bad luck this season and it was more of the same as they hit the post and then Dallas went up the pitch and took the lead. A nice DeRo free kick got them back in to it before the half but there was only going to be one winner in the second and although it was a scrambled goal that did it, it was a deserved Dallas win. Eric Hassli made his first start of the season, having an assist on the first goal, continuing his trend for picking up bookings and not too much else.
    Sunday started with more depressing news for the Caps. PORTLAND are still looking good. They got back to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over CHIVAS, who have gone to pot after their great start. It was one way traffic and Portland ran out very comfortable winners, although they made hard work of getting the ball in the net, which could be some consolation for Vancouver for the meeting on Saturday. Chivas looked very poor. Shame the Caps had to meet them when they did.
    The week rounded off with a monumental match between HOUSTON and KANSAS CITY. Not only was it the 100th game of the MLS season to date, it also brought to an end Houston’s impressive unbeaten home streak after 36 games. There may have only been one goal in the game but it was an entertaining, and somewhat feisty affair. A nice little rivalry has been build up between the two teams in the last couple of playoff games and that will only be even bigger after the Dynamo losing their home record to KC now. I love KC’s Aurelien Collin. He brings so much passion to his performances and a lot of skill. I’d love to see Vancouver make a play for him. He’s only on $250,000. Try and tempt him with some DeMerit style cash and see what happens.
    So a busy week is over and we’re all set to crank it up once again. Vancouver’s win was vital with what was going on around them. Half the points of the Conference leaders though. Chivas look like they’ve fallen away. I expect Colorado to do the same soon. That leaves the Caps battling with six others for the five playoff spots and you have to feel right now that we’re just not strong enough to win that battle, whatever a win over LA may have done for the team’s confidence.
    <b><u>Outfield Player of the Week:</u></b>
    A few really stellar candidates this week. You have to look at Thierry Henry obviously for his two goal performance for New York on the Wednesday.
    Houston's WILL BRUIN had a fantastic midweek game himself and a solid, if unspectacular, Saturday one. In the midweek clash with DC he scored twice and had two assists in the Dynamo's rout. Six shots on goal in total in the two games, but he mostly gets the nod for his midweek performance.
    <b><u>Goalkeeper of the Week:</u></b>
    MICHAEL GSPURNING wasn’t the most overworked of keepers, just six in total, but he kept two vital clean sheets to help his Seattle Sounders team continue their recent good form and move up the table.
    <b><u>Goal of the Week:</u></b>
    I think it would have taken a monumental Eric Hassli v Seattle style effort to stop New York's THIERRY HENRY from winning the award this week. A beautiful bicycle kick from the Frenchman, which when I first saw it I thought was just a hit and hope. When you watch his head on the replay though he knows exactly what he was doing and positioned himself perfectly. A true masterclass from a great striker. Oh for one of those in Vancouver right now. The commentators were saying 'goal of the season' and 'goal of the decade'. I say, steady homers. Nowhere near being the latter.
    <center>

    </center><b><u>Save of the Week:</u></b>
    He may have let in four, but Bill Hamid also came up big to keep out Giles Barnes with an excellent one handed save at his near post, but the best save of the week came later in that DC-Houston match, but this time from a Dynamo player.
    Our first non goalkeeper to win the award this season is Houston's KOFI SARKODIE for his fantastic double goal-line stop from DeRo. It was hard to pick the superlative for his efforts, and yes, maybe his second block was over the line, but it was a great piece of defending none the less and officially no goal was conceded. It was a huge turning point in the match two, with a goal pulling the home side back to within one.
    (WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1720520/mls_2013-05-08-203320.640hq.mp4)
    <b><u>Funniest Moment of the Week:</u></b>
    Funniest moment of the week came form the KC-Seattle game when Sounders sub keeper Marcus Hahneman was sent off from the bench in the first half for dissent. Should probably change his name to Hahaneman. Not rip-roaringly funny but anything bad affecting Seattle makes me chuckle and takes my mind off the Whitecaps woes. Sadly I was deprived of seeing of my favourite things in football and an outfield player having to go in goal due to starting goalkeeper injury.
    (WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1720624/mls_2013-05-08-212024.640hq.mp4)
    <b><u>Cock Up of the Week:</u></b>
    Goes to MLS itself for scheduling some horribly attended midweek encounters. Five of the six games mustered just 50,208 between them, for an average of 10,041 and Chivas weren’t even one of them. A few biggies later on in the week, including Seattle’s usual monster one, brought the League average up but just papers over some cracks that some teams just can’t draw crowds for the less fashionable teams who visit.
    <b><u>Fud of the Week:</u></b>
    The Portland ballboy who wouldn’t give the ball back to Chivas’ Mario de Luna. This just annoyed me so much. Way more than De Luna pushing him. If he was going to get suspended he should have made it worthwhile. You're there to do a job, not to try and be a dick. Hopefully the Timbers get rid of him. He’s not the victim here!
    (WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1725464/mls_2013-05-12-190104.640hq.mp4)
    <b><u>Tackle of the Week:</u></b>
    If you can trip him or pull his jersey to stop him getting away from you, what's your next alternative? Houston's ANDREW DRIVER had the answer and no, it wasn't biting. Driver decided to hold on to Kyle Porter's leg, setting up much hilarity as the former Whitecap tried to wriggle free in the middle of the pitch.
    (WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1720472/mls_2013-05-08-195912.640hq.mp4)
    <b><u>Stat Attack:</u></b>
    After Week 11 - 100 games
    <b>Total goals in week</b> - 41 (226 this season)
    <b>Average goals per game</b> - 2.73 (2.26 ave this season)
    <b>Highest scoring team</b> - Houston and Seattle (4 goals)
    <b>Biggest win this season</b> - 4-0 LA v Chicago (2/3/13) / KC v Chivas (5/5/13) / Houston at DC (8/5/13) / Seattle v San Jose (11/5/13)
    <b>Goals scored by feet</b> - 37
    <b>Goals by headers</b> - 2
    <b>Goals scored by other body parts!</b> - 2
    <b>Goals inside box</b> - 37
    <b>Goals inside six yard box</b> - 8
    <b>Goals outside box</b> - 4
    <b>Penalties awarded</b> - 2, one scored (22 this season)
    <b>Clean sheets</b> - 7 (55 this season)
    <b>Sending offs</b> - 1 (18 this season)
    <b>Bookings</b> - 45 (295 this season)
    <b>Total attendance this week</b> - 237,182 (1,706,498 total for season)
    <b>Average attendance this week</b> - 15,812 (17,065 average for season)
    <b>Highest attendance this week</b> - 38,880 Seattle v San Jose
    <b>Highest attendance this season</b> - 40,150 Seattle v Portland (16/3/13)
    <b>Lowest attendance this week</b> - 8,040 New England v Portland
    <b>Lowest attendance this season</b> - 7,121 Chivas v Columbus (2/3/13)
    <p>
    Guest

    Miller named interim #CanMNT coach

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Colin Miller has been appointed as the Interim Head Coach for Canada’s upcoming friendly against Costa Rica at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.
    Miller, the head coach of FC Edmonton, most recently lead the team during a January session. During that stretch Canada lost to Denmark drew the USA 0-0 in Houston.
    For now, it seems the CSA is content using interim head coaches as they look for the right man to lead the squad full-time.
    Do you think they need to make a hire before an off-year Gold Cup? Or do they need to have someone in place to lead regardless?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
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