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    Guest
    It's Episode 38 of your <i>West Coast Soccer</i> podcast, our regular look at what's been happening with Vancouver Whitecaps, and football in BC, Canada and throughout North America.
    Our guest this week is <b>Steven Sandor</b>, editor of <a href="http://www.the11.ca" target="_blank"><b>the11.ca</b></a> and your go to guy for everything you could possibly want to know about FC Edmonton.
    Lots of talk about the Eddies, as they prepare for their Voyageurs Cup clash with Vancouver next week, and the NASL.
    There's also your regular dose of Whitecaps chat, as we pick over the bones of the draw with Real Salt Lake and discuss just what kind of a challenge FU Dallas will pose to the Caps this weekend. Can Vancouver expect to take anything from the game or will the FUDs be flopping everywhere?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Have a listen.
    You can listen to this week's podcast (and the previous ones) on iTunes <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/westcoastsoccerweekly/id491781299" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a> or download it for your later listening delight <a href="http://westcoastsoccerweekly.podbean.com/" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a> or have a listen on one of the players below:
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    Guest

    Vancouver Whitecaps v FC Dallas Preview

    By Guest, in AFTN,

    KEY PLAYERS
    Attacking
    Due to injuries it looks as though Darren Mattocks will return to the starting lineup, where he has been missing for the first two weeks. The sophomore was expected to have a breakthrough season after being so dangerous in the preseason. Unfortunately Mattocks has struggled so far this year and will need to show more on the pitch before he drops further down the depth chart.
    With offensive threats like Ferreira, Cooper and Perez it is Jackson who has been the most dangerous for Dallas. He has scored twice, set up two goals and leads the team with 17 shots. The Brazilian takes on opponents 1v1 with pace and is capable of winning a majority of those battles with his skill.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Defence
    There has been concern that due to less than stellar play, compared to his first two seasons, Alain Rochat may be close to being replaced by Harvey on the left side. His passing isn't as accurate as it has been and there may be a lack of chemistry with Brad Rusin who replaced Jay DeMerit.
    While George John gets more accolades because of his potential EPL transfer talk, it has been Matt Hedges who has been a vital cog in the backline of FC Dallas. The 2012 Superdraft 1st round pick is solid defensively, especially in the air, and can contribute on set pieces, scoring three goals last season in 23 starts as a rookie.
    WHO'S ON FORM
    After a decent debut against San Jose, Russell Teibert broke out with a stellar performance against RSL that earned him man of the match honours. He drove the ball forward and made some penetrating passes that created opportunities for his teammates. Now that the standard has been set, Teibert will need to continue his high level of play especially with others behind him looking for a spot in the eleven.
    It is not often that a defensive midfielder is a team’s hottest player but Andrew Jacobsen who, along with Michel, has shut down the opposition midfield by clogging up the middle of the park. The defensive midfielder is also a threat at other end of the pitch where he has scored two goals and is second on the club in shots attempted.
    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, Russell Teibert; Daigo Kobayashi, Darren Mattocks, Camilo
    FC Dallas (4-2-3-1)
    R to L- Raul Fernandez; Zach Lloyd, George John, Matt Hedges, Jair Benitez;Andrew Jacobson, Michel; Jackson, David Ferreira, Kenny Cooper; Blas Perez
    INJURED/MISSING
    Vancouver Whitecaps -
    OUT: DF Jay DeMerit (Achilles), FW Kenny Miller (hamstring), FW Corey Hertzog (concussion symptoms)
    FC Dallas -
    OUT: Ugo Ihemelu (concussion), Peter Luccin (knee), Walker Zimmerman (groin) Stephen Keel (quad)
    QUESTIONABLE: Ramon Nunez (knee), Jair Benitez (hamstring)
    2013 RECORD
    Vancouver Whitecaps:
    2W-2D-2L-8P
    5th in Western Conference
    Last Match: 1-1 Draw vs Real Salt Lake
    FC Dallas:
    5W-1D-1L-16P
    1st in Western Conference
    Last Match: 1-0 Win vs LA Galaxy
    OVERVIEW
    After a quick trip back home, Vancouver Whitecaps go back on the road as they face the Western Conference leaders FC Dallas. The two clubs battled it out for the final spot in last season’s playoff run, with Vancouver barely able to outlast a late run by Dallas.
    Despite playing two games at home, the Caps were unable to win the season series losing twice out of three matches. Overall Dallas has held the advantage as well, winning four the five games played between the two since 2011.
    Once again there should be minor changes to the lineup that drew RSL at home with Joe Cannon in net in front a backline of Y.P. Lee, Andy O’Brien, Brad Rusin, and Alain Rochat. There is a slim chance that Jordan Harvey may get his first start on the left side especially after his performance against RSL in the reserve match and Rochat’s struggles.
    The midfield will once again see Nigel Reo-Coker and Russell Teibert, with the third spot going to Jun Marques Davidson. With Kenny Miller still on the mend and Corey Hertzog getting a knock in training, Darren Mattocks should return to the starting eleven, with Daigo Kobayashi and Camilo on his sides.
    While it may be a surprise to many that Dallas are leading the West, if you take into account the way they finished last season, along with the fact that David Ferreira has had more time to recover from his serious ankle injury from two years ago, maybe it shouldn’t be that shocking. The selling of Brek Shea, who was rumored to be a locker room issue, and the addition of Kenny Cooper seems to have helped as well.
    With Cooper’s ability to play as midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 Dallas have the ability to fluidly move from that formation into a 4-4-2 which could pose a problem for the Caps. Of course the conditions will also pose a problem for the Whitecaps but they have experienced the Texas heat with their trip to Houston earlier in the season.
    The Texas club has quite a bit of Latin flavor and has been labeled, fairly or unfairly, as a team that will dive in order to get a call. It has made them one of the most hated teams, outside traditional rivals, amongst Vancouver supporters. Earlier in the week Reo Coker jokingly shared his thoughts on the reputation FC Dallas has acquired, quipping <i>"I'll make sure if they go down, they go down for a good reason."</i>
    The Whitecaps on their part have reduced the number of fouls they commit compared to last season. If they can play a patient and intelligent game then the Caps can negate that 'advantage' for the Hoops.
    One of the main factors that has seen Dallas be so successful this season is their ability to close down the middle the pitch in front of their goal. The Whitecaps best chance for success in this game is to play wide and stretch the backline with diagonal runs by the attackers.
    Considering their recent history it won’t be easy for the Whitecaps to come out of Texas with a result. However if they can play a disciplined and patient game for a full 90 minutes there is an opportunity for something positive to come out of the trip.
    <p>
    Guest

    About that manager search...

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    I hope I was being trolled.
    Yesterday, I received a disturbing message from a Canadian soccer observer. The topic was the vacant manager position with the Canadian men’s team.
    The messenger told me not to expect an announcement until late in the year, but that there was a big push for a candidate that would be occupied until then.
    Intriguing, I thought. Maybe someone involved at the club level somewhere. Hopefully, this meant that the CSA was doing its best to get the best candidate possible.
    Then my messenger gave me the name.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Sean Fleming.
    For those unaware, Fleming is the current u17 manager. He’s successful. Twice in three years the Canadian u17s have qualified for a World Cup.
    That success was held up as the reason why there was a push for Fleming. After all, Dale Mitchell was successful at a youth level and went on to great success at the senior level too.
    Wait, that’s not right.
    Now, before you march upon Metcalfe Street, I should be clear. The message came from a fan that had heard something from someone who had heard something from his or her mother’s cleaning lady. This isn’t stop the presses stuff.
    Regardless of the source, the suggestion did give me pause. After all, hiring a u17 manager, on the cheap, who has no senior experience, screams CSA. Would anyone really be all that surprised if it happened?
    Actually, I would be. As much as I understand the mistrust of many regarding the CSA, I have confidence that there has been a cultural change within the organization that will prevent small thinking. We can safely put our Sack the CSA t-shirts back into the closet.
    (As an aside, this is not meant as a dig on Fleming. He’s just not qualified yet to manager a senior international team. He should be retained as the u17 manager since he clearly understands that age group).
    Another reason why people are getting worried is that there has been very little information about the manager search. Although the CSA told us they would be taking their time with the hiring, many are getting scared that no news means another internal hire.
    There has also been rumours circulating that the CSA has ignored the resumes of several candidates that would be known to fans – candidates that would excite fans.
    One needs to always keep those rumours in perspective. There are a lot of people in Canadian soccer circles that like to make the CSA look bad and will spread false rumours to do so – their motivations aren’t always that pure.
    The bottom line is this: There has been a great deal of interest in the job, with many applications from all over the world, and, although this summer’s Gold Cup now does offer a path to the 2017 Confederation Cup (the 2013 and 2015 Gold Cup winners will play a playoff for the berth), there still isn’t any pressing need for the CSA to make the hire.
    Don’t expect a huge name (who would pay for it), but also don’t expect the same old, same old. The CSA understands the need to make the right choice here and will do the right thing.
    I think.
    Guest
    Playing Episode 4 of <i>"There's Still Time"</i> can be your foreplay to this weekend's Whitecaps action.
    We look back on the draw against Real Salt Lake and ahead to the upcoming double header against current Western Conference leaders, Dallas.
    As we all know, there's some in the Dallas camp that go down at the slightest breeze. How hard is it for the Whitecaps to play against a team like that and can they do anything to prevent losing out to a conned ref? We ask <b>Nigel Reo-Coker</b> and <b>Martin Rennie</b> for their thoughts.
    And there’s still time this week for Steve Pandher and myself to take a look back at the "Hot Topics" of this week's MLS action, such as should men wearing hairbands be casting aspersions about people's sexuality? Also we let you know what Provincial Cup games you should be getting yourselves out to this weekend.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    You can listen to this week's podcast on iTunes <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/aftn/id628306235" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>.
    We've also just launched our new iPhone app, so you can now add our podcast to your phone as an app. Visit the podcast's mobile site <a href="http://aftn.podbean.com/mobile/'>http://aftn.podbean.com/mobile/" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a> and then at the bottom of the screen just click the "Quick Launch" icon and the podcast will be added to your home screen and appear as an app. We'll be launching an Android app very shortly as well.
    Or download it for your later listening delight <a href="http://aftn.podbean.com/" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>.
    Or you could just listen on one of the players below!
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    Guest

    Emotional Ramblings: (r)evolution

    By Guest, in AFTN,

    There are those who are brilliant tactical observers that can instantly identify the fine nuances of the beautiful game. There are others who are brilliant analytical minds, painstakingly crunching statistics and determining probabilities for every roll of the ball. There are those who grew up living, breathing, and being football for as long as they could stand on their own.
    And then there are people like me. The supporter. I will yell and scream and question every decision. I’ll criticize players, coaches, and formations every week, as if my curriculum vitae would even begin stand up to Martin Rennie’s. I’m very rarely right. But I’ll bark, and I’ll cheer, and I’ll cry, week after week, and no matter the pain, frustration, or joy, I’ll come clamouring back for more.
    And if you ask me, something is evolving.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The tacticians, the statisticians, and the graduates all had their say at why 2012 went sour. Creativity, chemistry, or a regression to the mean were the likely culprits.
    But for me, the supporter, it didn’t matter. What mattered is that not only did the club I love enter a tailspin, it felt that the soul was ripped out. Even in the inaugural season, in a season of record setting ineptitude, it felt that the bunch of losers in Blue & White were <i>our bunch of losers</i>.
    And then reinforcements were brought in. Signings we were excited about and players we liked. The slag was cast aside and our bunch of losers would no longer be losers, and we would feel even better about it because we were with them when they were at the bottom.
    But something happened. The players I felt like I knew were gone and near the end of the season I felt like I was cheering on a kit, not a competitor. I still showed up every week and barked, and cheered, and cried (and truth be told there was far more barking and crying than cheering,) but I didn’t feel like I was there for my friends, or my heroes, just there for the club.
    I suppose there’s nothing wrong with that, as in the end, players will come and go but the club is why we show. But there is something far more visceral when you truly and honestly admire those given the honour of wearing the kit.
    I think I forgot what it was like. That spark behind everyone’s eye as Hassli loaded up with his big left boot or that growing murmur that overtook the crowd when Chiumiento danced on the ball. Much of it had to do with the love affair with the fans off the pitch, I’m sure. But whatever it was, it had escaped me, and likely most other supporters, for quite some time.
    Now a mere six games in, the season is still in its infancy, something is evolving.
    I’m truly beginning to admire my team again.
    Kenny Miller has turned from overpaid whipping boy to the most expensive loveable underdog in MLS history. Andy O’Brien has overcome personal struggles to be a calm and omnipresent figure, and has further earned reverence with his blunt approach to certain yellow haired vermin from the Bay area. YP Lee and Alain Rochat continue to be their consistent and classy selves, and even Nigel Reo-Coker, who comes with a bit of a history, appears to be settling in. Daigo has brought some of the flair back, and there are countless young players who all appear to just need that last little push before they burst the doors down.
    Not to mention one Russell Teibert, better known as Canadian Soccer Jesus, has cracked the starting eleven and doesn’t appear to be willing to give any slack.
    Perhaps it’s just the optimism that a new season can bring, but I find myself even more eager to walk down Robson Street lately.
    At the end of the match versus Salt Lake, I found myself confused. I was frustrated for dropping points, disappointed in the lack of finishing, but I was encouraged for dominating what has historically been a very strong team. More importantly, though, I was proud of the players. I was elated for Teibert for earning his first of many man of the match performances in his professional career, I was pleased with Reo-Coker’s bullish forays forward, and I was proud that hard working young guys like Hertzog and Manneh were able to get meaningful minutes and successfully contribute.
    I’m not sure where this feeling went, why it went, or why it’s come back, but it’s nice to once again not only be cheering for the kit but also the player who wears it.
    I really don’t know if it will translate to points, or if it’s just one of those human experience things, but it has reminded me of why I fell in love with football in the first place.
    And damn, it’s good to be back.
    <p>
    Guest

    MLS Musings - Week Seven

    By Guest, in AFTN,

    We're nothing if not topical here on AFTN, so here's our weekly look at the best and worst of Week 7 of MLS action, now that Week 8 is underway!
    It's later this week, as it's taken us this long to actually get the time to watch all the games with everything else that we've been up to, so we're going to skip the Fantasy Football stats seeing as how the next round is already underway
    Why even bother doing it now? Well it's more for easy reference for our own records and end of season awards.
    So what did week 7 of the 2013 season throw up for us?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <b><u>Games This Week:</u></b>
    It was certainly a week of talking points, controversy, drama and action. We're never ones to shy away from superlatives!
    VANCOUVER and REAL SALT LAKE kicked off the weekend with an entertaining game at BC Place, that was more of a case of two points dropped for the Whitecaps as opposed to a point gained from their late equaliser. Still chances being created. Still failure to take them. Them's the things that prove costly as the season goes on if they're not remedied quickly. Finding that remedy is a whole other matter of course. Surprising that the Caps are actually still in the playoff places after everything shook out over the weekend. Albeit it on goal difference, with spots 5 to 8 tighter than a gnat's chuff. Eight points off the top spot now though, with two very important back to back games now coming up with the Conference leaders. If things go well, set up nicely. If they don't we're looking at a huge gap with Dallas.
    The other early Saturday kick off with Canadian interest, between PHILADELPHIA and TORONTO, wasn't exactly a game to set the heather alight at times, even though it got pretty physical and chippy at other times. Nine yellows, including a doubler for a sending off. Nice! Amazing there was only one red card with the way the game was going and the ref seemed to be on a sponsored booking spree. Joe Bendik was outstanding for Toronto and kept them in the game when their attack had been basically negated. Then out of the blue, it's some more poor defending from the opposition, some more fantastic opportunistic awareness from Robert Earnshaw and Toronto are suddenly in the lead. Every aspect of that goal was what you want to see from your main striker and what the Whitecaps could certainly do with right now. At the other end, it was also another case of same old, same old, as Toronto conceded another late goal and lost the win. Philly had a perfectly good goal ruled out before they eventually hit an equaliser that was the least their play deserved. Still don't know what to make of Toronto this season. Philly just don't impress me at all and I'm surprised they're above the teams that they are right now in the East.
    For SEATTLE, having teams above you is pretty much their shtick for this season. If less is more, then Seattle have a lot. Still winless. Still hopeless. And recently goalless They're the gift that keeps giving this year. They really should have got that elusive first win on Saturday against NEW ENGLAND. They were dominating most of that match and creating chance after chance. The only thing that would have made it better would have been if the Revolution had staged a late smash and grab job and left with all three points. Still, the Sounders adrift by six at the bottom is good enough! It's been crazy how many teams are creating many chances this season but failing to capitalise on them. I didn't pay too much attention to those stats in previous seasons, but it just feels so much more this time around.
    Two struggling Eastern giants met as DC played host to NEW YORK. Once again the Red Bulls were inspired by Thierry Henry. Are they really a one man team that their recent play has suggested? Jamison Olave has been big for them so far this season too and they both got themselves on the scoresheet again. Either way, they've now moved into the playoff spots and five points off the top, without having really done much so far this season. DC were piss poor upon my first reflections, but looking at the stats, it was a fairly even game, just one in which it didn't actually feel DC were a threat in. Whichever team lost this, the pressure was going to mount on them further and that's now DC, who now slump to the bottom of the East and only Seattle are keeping them from being the worst in MLS. Not the way many of us saw United going this season. They just seem to struggle to get in to some games, but have been playing some nice football in others, but without the reward. You get the feeling that the East is going to see a mass logjam at some point in the next few weeks, so there's still a lot of hope for DC if they can string some results together. Interestingly no bookings in what has been a feisty affair in the past.
    Vancouver's next opponents, DALLAS headed back home to Texas to face LOS ANGELES in an action packed encounter, with all the headlines made for the wrong reasons. This was perhaps the first real test of Dallas' playoff credentials so far this season and they came through it with maximum points, following a 1-0 victory, and are starting to look the real deal. As we saw with the Whitecaps last season, early points in the bag are very welcome but not necessarily a marker of what will lie in store for the whole season. You just can't see that same kind of collapse or midseason meddling from the Texans though and they were deserved winners in the end in this one. Baldomero Toledo made two horrible penalty decisions, won by players going down dramatically and peddling their unsavoury wares from the empire of embellishment. I can't actually blame him for this, as his view and the actions of the players going down made it very difficult for him. It was nice to see neither of them converted. There is fairness in life! George John's winning goal showed an aerial threat that the Caps will really have to be aware of this weekend. As for the whole bottle incident, what can you say? What kind of lowlife throws a bottle on the pitch in the first place, never mind at his own player? Scummers. MLS should have deducted ten points off them. Obviously this isn't coming from any biased position around the Whitecaps needs in the standings. Ahem.
    Snow all dealt with, Sunday finally saw the game played between MONTREAL and COLUMBUS, ending in a 1-1 draw. Entertaining at times. Yawn inducing at others. Montreal are still setting the pace at the top of East and should have had all three points. Marco di Vaio had another excellent game for the Impact and was unfortunate only to come away with the one goal. He's one on of the players who has impressed me most so far this season. His goal was a lovely strike and Columbus' equaliser was even better. Two great finishes and Columbus will have been happy to come away from Montreal with a point. There's not going to be too many teams come away from there this year with much better.
    HOUSTON kept their unbeaten home streak going with a hard fought 2-1 victory over CHICAGO. The Fire did ok and weren't blown away, but the Dynamo were fairly comfortable with their win from the highlights I watched. Why was there no English commentary of the game, only Spanish, on MLS Live? What the fuck is all that about?
    The weekend wrapped up with "Gordongate". A Gordon gate is probably one which has a sign on it that says "this is neither an entrance nor an exit". So basically a waste of space. How can we be talking about another cock up from the hairbanded halfwit that cost his team points? the PORTLAND - SAN JOSE game was robust to say the least and I'm looking forward to part two next weekend. As soon as you saw blood on Mikael Sylvestre's mouth, the ref had no option but to send Gordon off. Lovely free kick from Will Johnson to win it, but Jon Busch has to take some of the blame for it as he was too far over to begin with. San Jose are turning into a bunch of goons more than goonies and whiny little cry babies too. Portland inexplicably move up to third in the West following the great unwashed's back to back wins.
    The Western Conference almost looks upside down at the moment. Five teams on eight points and just two points separating seven teams. Crazily tight. Any team going on a good run or a bad run could have a really telling effect on the overall outcome right now.
    <b><u>Outfield Player of the Week:</u></b>
    Houston's BRAD DAVIS seems to be the choice of many for his one goal and one assist and it's hard to argue against that really. He covered a hell of a lot of area going up and down that left wing too and made 44 successful passes
    <b><u>Goalkeeper of the Week:</u></b>
    Nick Rimando was immense for Real Salt Lake against Vancouver. With a string of top saves, you could almost say that he single handedly cost the Whitecaps the win, but the Caps inability to finish their chances was equally as responsible. He came up big every time his team needed him to in open play and showed the important role the veteran plays for his side. He's one of those players who can win games on his own and Saturday was one of those performances. If it hadn't have been for a harsh penalty against RSL, he would certainly have done that.
    All that said, Toronto's JOE BEDNIK had an even more outstanding game and takes our award this week. A nice double save in the first half, a brilliant acrobatic tip over in the second, a point saving stop on a one on one in the closing seconds and a host more were in there amongst a massive nine stops. He can't have played many, if any, better games in his career.
    <b><u>Goal of the Week:</u></b>
    A bit of a close run thing this week. Both the goals in the Montreal-Columbus game were excellent and Chris Rolfe's finish for Chicago was nice too. Will Johnson's match winning free kick for Portland was a beaut but I feel that the goalkeeper gave him too much room.
    I loved Dominic Oduro's strike, especially with him bringing the ball down with one foot and burying it with the other. I went back and forth between this winning and Real Salt Lake sub OLMES GARCIA's sweet sweet strike, that gave his team the lead with what was his first ever MLS goal.
    Garcia was eventually our winner with my tipping point just being the build up and the fact it started deep in the RSL half. You could see from the celebration what it meant for him and it gave Joe Cannon no chance. It was pretty much perfection, apart from it being against the Whitecaps.
    <center>

    </center><b><u>Save of the Week:</u></b>
    Joe Cannon's stoppage time tip over of Nat Borchers' header was important and saved a point but it wasn't too spectacular or extraordinary. Just crucial! Bill Hamid's point blank stop from Tim Cahill was nice, but not sure how much he knew about it.
    Toronto's JOE BENDIK's acrobatic save to keep out Jack McInerney's second half header was fantastic. It was a great header, that looked goalbound all the way but Bendik did so well to get up into the corner and tip it over.
    (WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1686254/mls_2013-04-13-171954.640hq.mp4)
    <b><u>Fuds of the Week:</u></b>
    I know we could just rename this the "Alan Gordon Award" but we're going for a more collective effort this week, so it has to be the many fuds of PHILADELPHIA. Seriously? You start a "USA. USA" chant for a game against TFC for a little bit of pushing and shoving in the middle of the pitch? Asswads.
    <b><u>Dive of the Week:</u></b>
    You hate to do it when it's one of your own, but YP LEE's flop in the box towards the end of the first half of Vancouver's draw with Salt Lake was horrible. There may have been a slight, a very slight, clip on the veteran, but it was nowhere near enough to make him go down and embellish it the way he did. Uncharacteristic of the player, but disappointing to see none the less.
    <b><u>Tackle of the Week:</u></b>
    An unconventional tackle to say the least from Chivas' BOBBY BURLING. Been watching too much Wrestlemania obviously. It was on ex Cap Atiba Harris too, so not quite sure why he thought he'd be any danger!
    (WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1686816/mls_2013-04-13-233316.640hq.mp4)
    <b><u>Stat Attack:</u></b>
    After Week 7 - 58 games
    <b>Total goals in week</b> - 13 (119 this season)
    <b>Average goals per game</b> - 1.44 (2.05 ave this season)
    <b>Highest scoring team</b> - Houston and New York (2 goals each)
    <b>Goals scored by feet</b> - 9
    <b>Goals by headers</b> - 3
    <b>Goals scored by other body parts!</b> - 1
    <b>Goals inside box</b> - 9
    <b>Goals inside six yard box</b> - 3
    <b>Goals outside box</b> - 4
    <b>Penalties awarded</b> - 5, only two scored (15 this season)
    <b>Clean sheets</b> - 6 (31 this season)
    <b>Unbeaten teams</b> - 0
    <b>Winless teams</b> - 1 (Seattle Sounders)
    <b>Biggest win this season</b> - LA 4-0 v Chicago (2/3/13)
    <b>Sending offs</b> - 3 (7 this season)
    <b>Bookings</b> - 29 (169 this season)
    <b>Total attendance this week</b> - 178,020 (1,030,313 total for season)
    <b>Average attendance this week</b> - 19,780 (17,764 average for season)
    <b>Highest attendance this week</b> - 38,323 Seattle v New England
    <b>Highest attendance this season</b> - 40,150 Seattle v Portland (16/3/13)
    <b>Lowest attendance this week</b> - 8,219 Chivas v Colorado
    <b>Lowest attendance this season</b> - 7,121 Chivas v Columbus (2/3/13)
    <p>
    Guest
    Montreal drops from the top spot in the Eastern Conference ahead of the Canadian Amway Championship tie with Toronto following a 1-1 score against Columbus.
    We revisit the decision process leading to the game's postponment with CP's Marc Tougas.
    Patrick Leduc explains the challenges of the Impact's current schedule with lots of time between matches leading to a crazy schedule with six games in 17 days leading into May.
    Jonathan Tannenwald (Philly.com) discusses the potential repercussion of NBC's TV deal with the English Premier League on MLS broadcasts in the U.S.
    Philippe Dos Santos talks about the huge difference between qualifying for the World Cup and playing the World Cup following Canada's qualificaton for this fall's U17 FIFA World Cup.
    Our correspondent Francois Marquette is live from Frankfurt and met with Impact SuperDraft pick Paolo Del Piccolo and Canadian international Olivier Occean current playing with Eintracht.
    We conclude the show in Paris to talk about the new buzz around the French baby boomers favourites, St. Etienne surging back in front of the scene with a quarter final appearance in the Coupe de France, a spot in the final of this Saturday's French League Cup and battling for a European spot next season in Ligue 1 action.
    All this and more on this week's show.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]Click here to listen (47 minutes): SoccerPlus - April 18, 2013
    Guest
    This is a strange position to be in.
    A Canadian team has just had its forward progress in a tournament halted by a Central American opponent, in a game that featured a loud and rowdy hometown crowd. But there was no blowout, no simulation shenanigans, no major controversies... plus, the lights stayed on in the stadium!
    All in all, Panama probably deserved the victory on Wednesday night, in the semifinals of the CONCACAF U17 Championship. That's to take nothing away from a spirited effort by the young Canadians -- but in front of a raucous audience, the Panamanians dictated the pace for large swathes of the contest.
    Still, Canada got what it came for at this tournament: A berth in this year's U17 World Cup. All that's left to do is contest the third-place match against H.. Hon.. ugh. Some country that starts with an "H".
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Before we get too downtrodden by considering Canada's recent history against that "H" country, let's momentarily distract ourselves with some ephemeral spurts of positivity. Marco Bustos filled Canadian hearts with hope against Panama, continuing his strong play by potting his first goal, a well-taken header off a looping cross very early in the first half. The Canadian attack continued to show some sparks of creativity, while the defence maintained a bend-but-don't-break approach... until, eventually, things broke.
    My CSN colleagues Rycroft and Rollins have spelled out, in their own ways, why it's not especially worthwhile to base your emotional well-being on the fortunes of a group of teenagers. They're right, of course. Even if this group is able to pull off a famous result over in the UAE this autumn at the World Cup, the realities of the Canadian youth pipeline and player development system will be largely unchanged.
    Watching the second half against Panama, a goal by the home side seemed inevitable. Then again, that seems to be the case whenever a Canadian men's team is playing. Canada just always seems vulnerable to victimization by a quick hit from the opponent, and what it ultimately comes down to is something very simple: Canada's opponents, more often than not, look a lot more comfortable with a soccer ball at their feet than the Canadian players do.
    That's not to say Canadians can't be composed, or have moments of sheer brilliance. They can, and do -- and even some of the kids on this U17 squad have shown themselves capable of those flashes. But you simply can't compare those fleeting displays to the reality that kids in Mexico, and Central America, and many places in the Caribbean -- the countries that Canada needs to be competitive with -- grow up with soccer balls at their feet and the freedom to do whatever they'd like with it.
    Canada is full value for its qualification in this year's U17 World Cup, by the way -- so let's not take anything away from this group of youngsters. And the fact that the USA was bounced in the quarterfinals -- missing out on the U17WC for the first time ever -- is a sign that in a weird tournament like this, in a weird confederation like this, seemingly anything is possible.
    As I said last week, let's not go overboard in either direction; this team's resilient performances do not mean they are the saviours of the senior national team, nor does a loss against Panama mean the team's members are write-offs. There are plenty of fascinating stories to be told in the careers of the kids who've been assembled under the Canadian banner -- and as it so happens, many of the next chapters of those stories will be written as the players represent local clubs.
    But all in all, this is a result that can't really cause any of us to get too up or too down, everything considered. A strange position to be in, indeed.
    Now, as for that third-place game against a familiar opponent... well, that's a different proposition altogether.
    Guest
    Editors Note: Paul Varian was a member of the team who presented the Ontario Professional Development League proposal to Ontario Soccer this past weekend. Canadian Soccer News wanted to share a perspective from those who are trying to transform soccer in this province.
    By: Paul Varian
    Eight. One.
    It tightens our jaws, clenches our fists, narrows our eyes. Our nation was humiliated and it still hurts.
    When I go overseas to international soccer conferences, the first thing people say to me is, "Oh yeah, you lost 8-1 to Honduras didn't you?'
    It's embarrassing to this day. A senior Canadian soccer coach echoed the same sentiment to me over the weekend.
    Following that dreadful result for Canada's men's team against Honduras in last year's World Cup qualifier, there was much chat. So much hope had been built for Canadian soccer. People vented. Heads were requested from bodies. But among the anger, there were intelligent discussions about the future of Canadian soccer.
    And these debates all arrived at the same place. Youth soccer was the key to it all and our current system was broken.
    'We have to get it right', we all said. 'We have to change', we all agreed. But nobody really knew how.
    On Saturday, the Ontario Soccer Association took a major step in fixing Canadian youth soccer with the unveiling of its much anticipated Ontario Player Development League (OPDL).
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Presented to its clubs and members at its Soccer 2013 annual conference, the new high performance youth soccer league demands high standards (technical, facilities and organisational) of its participating clubs, higher than ever seen in the country before.
    And guess what general sports columnists everywhere - there are scores and standings.
    The governing body for soccer in Ontario has been criticized by competitive hard-liners for removing scores and standings from leagues for kids aged 11 and younger. But there's no risk of that with this latest initiative.

    "LTPD isn't just about recreational fun," explains OSA Chief Technical Officer Alex Chiet. "That is its focus in early ages. But at older age groups, LTPD brings athlete development for our top athletes to a very different level."
    OPDL focuses solely on Ontario's top players from aged 12 and older. There's nothing in this league about recreational play. Instead, it enforces tough standards on clubs who hope to join it and only focuses on the province's top 1.5% playing elite.
    Youth soccer leagues to date have operated the same way for many years. Teams are promoted or relegated to determine who's in and out. There are no player development requirements, outside of what the clubs choose to do themselves. Coaches don't need qualifications with any formal assessment (so anyone can acquire them). Just show up on time and play your games. That's pretty much all the leagues require. This may be fine for recreational fun. But for our top youngsters, it's nowhere near good enough. And many say it's a big reason for 8-1.
    OPDL is much different.
    There's no promotion or relegation. Indeed, teams can't enter this league, per se. Only clubs can. And to do so, they must meet technical criteria that drive training levels to that of professional soccer club academies.
    Coaches must be professional and highly qualified. Off-field sport science and sport medicine is mandatory. Year-round, intensive training is a base requirement and actively enforced. You must train and commit like a pro. But in return, you'll be coached by pros. It makes sense. After all, these kids are aiming to be pros.
    The league is long, 28 weeks from April to November. And the competition is tough - the best playing against the best, under the constant watchful eye of scouts and provincial/national team coaches.
    OPDL kicks off in April 2014 with the U-13 age group, and adds an age group every year through 2019. This spring, OSA clubs will be deciding whether or not the new league is for them. If they like it, they'll be applying for licenses over the summer through a Request-For-Proposal process, with the successful league entrants being announced this Fall.

    "We rely on our provincial bodies to constantly raise the bar in the development of their top youth players," explains Victor Montagliani, President of the Canadian Soccer Association. "This in turn allows our national teams programs to identify and develop the best athletes out there. The Ontario Soccer Association is to be commended for the leadership it is showing in announcing the new Ontario Player Development League."
    There no doubt it's a tough step up and vastly different from what Ontario soccer is used to at the elite level. Training will be frequent and intense. Travel and cost commitments will be arduous.
    This makes the league controversial to some, particularly those who struggle with the high cost of competitive sport in Canada. But top players and coaches welcome it as a huge step in the creation of a development environment for our top young players that has been desperately lacking and long overdue.
    The further up the pole your climb, the harder it gets to hang on. If players can't handle it here, they'll never make it as a pro.
    Importantly, there are already signs the high standards OPDL demands are improving the Ontario club system. With minimum National-B level qualified coaches required by the league, clubs are taking coach development more seriously. Until now, coach development was often driven by the coach. Enrollment in higher coaching courses was low. But the announcement of OPDL coaching standards has caused an unprecedented spike in enrollment in high end coaching courses in Ontario, as clubs move to prepare their coaches for 2014. Coaches who will be paid, moving competitive soccer coaching from an amateur pass-time to legitimate profession.
    These are steps beneath the surface that may not be immediately apparent on the soccer fields around Ontario. OPDL's impact on high performance soccer in Canada will not be instantaneous. Two World Cups will pass before the league is fully built out.
    But the advent of OPDL is monumental on the long term and mold-breaking in bringing the sport here to a fundamental new level.

    The correct end-to-end framework for the development of players in Ontario is in place. Very young kids will now play solely to enjoy themselves. There'll be a focus on skills development at key development years. And competition training and serious match play will be introduced in older age groups, when the players are ready.
    Experienced coaches have been preaching this in frustrated chat rooms for years. It is finally here.
    Now, with over 350,000 people playing the game in Ontario, it is a matter of time. With the right system in place, top players will start emerging through the Ontario youth system, into professional clubs and the national team. With the player volumes involved, talent will come through Ontario. It is a statistical certainty.
    The difference between yesterday and tomorrow?
    We now have a system to capture that talent. To identify our best. To give them the opportunity to unleash their potential. To fuel their talent and passion that earns the right to wear our beloved red jersey.
    We can make them part of future 8-1's. But not like 2012. This time, Canada will be the eight. And never again the one.
    ----
    If you'd like to learn more about OPDL here are some resources for you.
    Introduction to the OPDL
    How to apply to join OPDL
    ----
    Paul Varian is Principal of Capitis Consulting, a sports management consultancy based in Ontario. He was previously Chief Administrative Officer of Oakville Soccer Club in Canada, the largest soccer club in North America, President & CEO of Sport BC in the period building up to and during the Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and was Chief Executive of the Irish (Field) Hockey Association from 2004 to 2007.
    Guest
    Before we get going let’s give some credit. The genesis of this post is from work done by Benjamin Massey of the Maple Leaf Forever blog.
    For those that don’t know, Massey is a former CSN writer and infamous provocateur in Canadian soccer circles.
    He also has a thing for numbers and it is that ability that we are using as a jumping off point to discuss the future of Stefan Frei.
    Frei, God help him, has not been blessed with a great deal of good luck. After breaking his leg in training last year, he went and broke his nose less than a half into his first preseason game back. Then, while recovering, he lost his job to an in-form Joe Bendik.
    So, he sits on the bench drawing a really good (by MLS standards) salary while Bendik blocks shots and worries about making next month’s rent.
    In the harsh world of MLS, where salary cap considerations need to be made, an open debate is underway about whether it makes sense to waste cap room on a back-up keeper. Yes, depth is important, but so is actually creating goal scoring opportunities that don’t originate from deep within the bowels of Robert Earnshaw. To do that you might need to spend more money and getting rid of Frei would give you just that.
    The question then becomes ‘how much is a starting keeper worth in MLS.’ After all, if you ship Frei out and hand Bendik the job then you’re probably going to have to give him a raise at some point.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    To find an answer to this we turn to Ben’s numbers. He’s looked at Save Percentage and compared all keepers that have played a significant amount of minutes since 2008. Save Percentage isn’t the be all, end all (distribution is also an important part of the keeper’s role, as is the difficult to define characteristic of “leadership”), but it does speak to the very essence of a keeper’s job – stopping the ball from going into the net.
    Limiting our look to keepers that played 2,000 minutes in either 2011 or 2012:
    There were 21 keepers that played at least 2,000 minutes in either the 2011 or 2012 season. We have defined these 21 players as starters. Using the two year save percentage numbers, we have determined how many saves each keeper would be expected to make per 1,000 shots against.
    From that number we have defined what the average starting keeper would be expected to make (by taking the median number). The number was 679. That allows us to determine how much better or worse a keeper is than the average MLS starting keeper. That is expressed in percentage form (We call it our Value of Replacement Player number -- a player with a 105% VORP number would be 5% better than the average starting keeper).
    It will be easier to understand this by looking at the numbers.
    [TABLE=width: 500]
    [TR]
    [TD]Name[/TD]
    [TD]Saves per 1,000 shots[/TD]
    [TD]VORP[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Kasey Keller[/TD]
    [TD]758[/TD]
    [TD]112%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Andy Gruenbaum[/TD]
    [TD]746[/TD]
    [TD]110%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Bill Hamid[/TD]
    [TD]726[/TD]
    [TD]107%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Sean Johnson[/TD]
    [TD]713[/TD]
    [TD]105%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Jimmy Neilsen[/TD]
    [TD]712[/TD]
    [TD]104%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Nick Rimando[/TD]
    [TD]712[/TD]
    [TD]104%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Tally Hall[/TD]
    [TD]690[/TD]
    [TD]102%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Troy Perkins[/TD]
    [TD]685[/TD]
    [TD]101%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Stefan Frei[/TD]
    [TD]683[/TD]
    [TD]100.5%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]William Hesmer[/TD]
    [TD]681[/TD]
    [TD]100.2%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Josh Saunders[/TD]
    [TD]677[/TD]
    [TD]99.7%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Dan Kennedy[/TD]
    [TD]677[/TD]
    [TD]99.7%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Kevin Hartman[/TD]
    [TD]672[/TD]
    [TD]99%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Jon Busch[/TD]
    [TD]671[/TD]
    [TD]99%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Zac MacMath[/TD]
    [TD]669[/TD]
    [TD]98%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Joe Cannon[/TD]
    [TD]669[/TD]
    [TD]98%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Matt Reis[/TD]
    [TD]660[/TD]
    [TD]97%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Matt Pickens[/TD]
    [TD]658[/TD]
    [TD]97%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Milos Kocic[/TD]
    [TD]635[/TD]
    [TD]94%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Faryd Mondragon[/TD]
    [TD]620[/TD]
    [TD]91%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Donovan Ricketts[/TD]
    [TD]608[/TD]
    [TD]90%[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [/TABLE]
    From here we now look at salary.
    By determining the median salary of the 21 players we came up with the Expected Salary of the Average Starting Keeper. That number was $175,000 (again, the median figure). Then using the VORP number we can determine the expected salary of each keeper and then compare it to what their actual salary is.
    That allows us to qualify keepers as either over or under paid in cold, black and white terms.
    [TABLE=width: 500]
    [TR]
    [TD]Name[/TD]
    [TD]Actual salary[/TD]
    [TD]Expected salary[/TD]
    [TD]+/-[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Mondragon[/TD]
    [TD]$396,666.67[/TD]
    [TD]$159,250[/TD]
    [TD]+ $237,416.67[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Keller[/TD]
    [TD]$250,000[/TD]
    [TD]$196,000[/TD]
    [TD]+ $54,000[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Ricketts[/TD]
    [TD]$275,000[/TD]
    [TD]$157,500[/TD]
    [TD]+ $117,500[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Neisen[/TD]
    [TD]$220,000[/TD]
    [TD]$182,000[/TD]
    [TD]+ $38,000[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Hartman[/TD]
    [TD]$185,000[/TD]
    [TD]$173,250[/TD]
    [TD]+ $11,750[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Pickens[/TD]
    [TD]$181,038[/TD]
    [TD]$169,700[/TD]
    [TD]+ $11,338[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Perkins[/TD]
    [TD]$181,038[/TD]
    [TD]$176,750[/TD]
    [TD]+ $4,250[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Hesmer[/TD]
    [TD]$181,000[/TD]
    [TD]$175,350[/TD]
    [TD]+ $5,650[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Rimando[/TD]
    [TD]$178,250[/TD]
    [TD]$187,000[/TD]
    [TD]- $8,750[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Cannon[/TD]
    [TD]$175,666.67[/TD]
    [TD]$171,500[/TD]
    [TD]+ $4,166.67[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Kennedy[/TD]
    [TD]$175,000[/TD]
    [TD]$174,480[/TD]
    [TD]- $520[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Frei[/TD]
    [TD]$175,000[/TD]
    [TD]$175,875[/TD]
    [TD]- $875[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Busch[/TD]
    [TD]$166,337.33[/TD]
    [TD]$173,250[/TD]
    [TD]- $6,912.67[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Reis[/TD]
    [TD]$159,666.67[/TD]
    [TD]$169,750[/TD]
    [TD]- $10,083.33[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]MacMath[/TD]
    [TD]$135,000[/TD]
    [TD]$171,500[/TD]
    [TD]- $36,500[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Hall[/TD]
    [TD]$129,375[/TD]
    [TD]$178,500[/TD]
    [TD]- $49,125[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Johnson[/TD]
    [TD]$123,000[/TD]
    [TD]$183,750[/TD]
    [TD]- $60,750[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Hamid[/TD]
    [TD]$84,750[/TD]
    [TD]$187,250[/TD]
    [TD]- $102,500[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Gruenebaum[/TD]
    [TD]$78,666.67[/TD]
    [TD]$192,500[/TD]
    [TD]- $113,833.33[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Saunders[/TD]
    [TD]$77,678[/TD]
    [TD]$174,480[/TD]
    [TD]- $96,802[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Kocic[/TD]
    [TD]$44,100[/TD]
    [TD]$164,500[/TD]
    [TD]- $120,400[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [/TABLE]
    One thing that immediately jumps out at you is that, by large, MLS teams likely overpay keepers. It would seem that the best value is found in getting a keeper that doesn't lose you games, rather than try and find one that you think can win you games (since the latter doesn't seem possible).
    Finally, to address the opening point of the article we looked at Joe Bendik. With the giant caveat of the fact that the sample size is too small, here’s what we came up with.
    [TABLE=width: 500]
    [TR]
    [TD]Name[/TD]
    [TD]Saves per 1,000 shots[/TD]
    [TD]VORP[/TD]
    [TD]Actual salary[/TD]
    [TD]Expected salary[/TD]
    [TD]+/-[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [TR]
    [TD]Joe Bendik[/TD]
    [TD]689[/TD]
    [TD]101%[/TD]
    [TD]$44,000[/TD]
    [TD]$176,750[/TD]
    [TD]-$132,700[/TD]
    [/TR]
    [/TABLE]
    Again SMALL SAMPLE SIZE, but based on the numbers so far Bendik is the best value in the league. However, as stated, if he does get handed the starting job he's going to ask for more money. It's up to Kevin Payne to ensure that the club does not get blinded by numbers that, objectively, are very close to average.
    Guest
    The CSL announced today that it was moving its 2013 start date back to May 3, while it waits for a decision from Sport Resolution in the ongoing dispute involving the CSA. A decision is expected by Apr. 21.
    The CSL release states that there will be 12 teams heading into this year, including new addition Burlington SC. It also confirmed what CSN had reported previously - that Brantford, Mississauga, Toronto, Montreal and Windsor had left the CSL fold. There was no mention of SC Toronto's status, which CSN has also reported is leaving the CSL.
    After revealing the latest last week, SC Toronto recently removed the pro-team page from its website.
    CSN will continue to update as this story develops.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest

    MLS Week in Review - Round 7

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    The seventh weekend of MLS got a little crazy – a flurry of yellow cards, a smattering of reds, penalty kicks – most of which were missed, late drama, and ties, lots of ties; not to mention the bottle-throwing and slur incidents, which have no place in the game.
    Nine matches were played; four ended in draws – only one scoreless. Twenty-nine yellow cards were flashed, including nine in the Philadelphia-Toronto match alone, two of those were second yellows leading to a red, and there was also a straight red to Los Angeles’ Leonardo.
    Five times the referee pointed to the spot, but only twice were the attempts converted.
    Four matches were decided in the final ten minutes of play – including one in stoppage time.
    All to culminate in a late, barn-storming clash between Portland and San Jose before a boisterous Timber’s Army with a slight drizzle to elevate the emotion – as if it required the boost.
    And, they do it again next weekend in San Jose.
    Before the results, the goal of the round.
    Though goals were scarce – fifteen spread over nine matches – there were some excellent candidates: Olmes Garcia’s blast for Salt Lake in Vancouver, George John’s dramatic last-minute header in front of actual fans in Dallas, Marco Di Vaio’s laser from outside the box for Montreal, Dominic Oduro’s equally – if not more so – stunning low-probability reply, and the textbook shimmy wide, cross, and header from Houston’s Brad Davis and Will Bruin.
    Each worthy of recognition in their own right, but pride of place goes to the final goal of the weekend – Portland’s Will Johnson and his seventy-eighth minute free-kick to win the match, settling a fractious contest, to earn Portland a second consecutive victory. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The Timbers had bossed the match; not allowing the potent San Jose offense - now restocked with healthy returnees – to gain much of a foothold, but had not yet converted that advantage to a goal.
    Ramiro Corrales, MLS’ lone-remaining ’96-er, slid into a challenge on Kalif Alhassan in the middle of the pitch, a few yards above the arc. He got a slice of the ball, but took out the attacker in the process prompting the referee to award the free-kick.
    Johnson stepped up, having practiced all week in response to coach Caleb Porter, confirming his responsibility on such situations.
    There he stood, barely moving, sizing up the situation as the referee corralled the wall into position.
    With a leisurely, if somewhat short run-up, Johnson struck the ball sweetly with his right-foot, curling his effort over the wall and towards the inside of the near-post, rotating away from the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Jon Busch.
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    The game-winning free-kick set the chainsaw revving and sent the hordes of green-clad fans into raptures.
    After the match Caleb Porter revealed the following: “I texted him today, and I had a weird feeling that he was going to hit a free-kick. I texted him a few things and I said, ‘Why don’t you smack a free-kick goal today.’ And when he hit it, I couldn’t believe it.”
    A stroke of witchcraft? A bit of gafferly prescience? Who cares? Goal of the round honours in the least.
    Results in Brief
    Philadelphia 1 – Toronto 1
    Two of the league’s top-scorers traded goals in a rhythm-less affair at scenic PPL Park in Chester, Pennsylvania.
    Robert Earnshaw nabbed his fifth, latching onto an Ashtone Morgan ball behind the centre-backs, who stalled as Justin Braun retreated innocently from an offside position. The Welsh hit-man evaded the recovering pressure of Jeff Parke and lifted a left-footed finish over the on-rushing Zac MacMath to open the scoring.
    Toronto, down a man – with Morgan shown a second yellow for an apparent elbow on Sheanon Wiliiams - saw late heroics in a third-straight match when Jack McInerney nabbed his fourth with a simple tap-in at the back-post after a long Williams throw-in from the left was worked across the box to the unmanned side.
    Neither manager was pleased with the draw, nor the performance of the referee who went card-happy in the second half. Ryan Nelsen will be concerned with the resurfacing of TFC’s late game troubles, while Philly’s John Hackworth can bemoan a jaw-dropping performance from the opposition keeper, Joe Bendik, who single-handedly earned his side a point.
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    Seattle 0 – New England 0
    The Sounders returned to league play after a disappointing exit from the Champions League midweek and could not back up coach Sigi Schmid’s guarantee of a win with the full three points against New England.
    Shalrie Joseph made his MLS debut for the home side against his former employers and Sair Sene returned from ACL injury as a second half sub, but neither could affect the outcome of the match.
    Starting a ninth different lineup in as many games, Seattle created chances, but could not find a finish - shorn of striking duo Eddie Johnson and Obafemi Martins. New England’s goal drought approaches four-hundred minutes having not scored since opening day, though their study defense – best in the league with two goals-allowed – has kept them relevant.
    Perhaps it was fitting that on a week where both clubs entered with heavy-hearts – Seattle due to CONCACAF play and New England, more so, in concern for Kevin Alston whose diagnosed leukemia was announced earlier in the week – a score-less draw was the result.
    Schmid’s side remains mired at the bottom of the Western Conference as the sole winless MLS club; while Jay Heaps faces the task of lifting his team’s spirits and finding some goals – they have one after five matches.
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    Vancouver 1 – Salt Lake 1
    Vancouver were spared any blushes on their return home after a three-game road trip when Camilo’s eighty-fourth minute penalty erased Salt Lake’s lead.
    Nat Borchers, who slipped on the slick artificial BC Place turf, was adjudged to have handled the ball on which he fell and the Brazilian calmly stroked the equalizer to keeper, Nick Rimando’s right, having sent him guessing the other way.
    Colombian Olmes Garcia had put the Salties in front twenty minutes into the second frame with a well-place effort from the left-corner of the eighteen-yard box, curling a shot beyond the reach of Joe Cannon in goal.
    Martin Rennie should count himself lucky to have rescued a point, while Jason Kreis continues to face the struggle of rebuilding his side on the go.
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    DC 0 – New York 2
    The second of three Atlantic Cup contests ended with New York ignoring their previous road troubles – five of their first seven matches played away from home - and dominating their rivals handily at RFK Stadium.
    Thierry Henry struck the first, collecting a dish on the left after a penetrative run from Dax McCarty and unleashing a well-placed shot across the keeper that bounced unkindly to evade the diving Bill Hamid inside the first half-hour. Jamison Olave doubled the lead shortly thereafter, bundling home a short-corner routine from Juninho, flicked on by Brandon Barklage for his team-leading third of the season.
    DC once more looked toothless as their goal-scoring woes – only two through six matches – sees them inhabit the lower reaches of the East.
    Post-match, United’s Ben Olsen stated a desire to “fix something” going on to say, “I don’t know if we have to look within the league, I don’t know if we’ve got to make a trade. It’s stuff we’ve got to figure out.” Long-time rival – and friend – Mike Petke will be pleased their first road win – a dominating one at that.
    Highlights can be found here. Their embedded absence will be rectified as soon as possible.
    Dallas 1 – Los Angeles 0
    Schellas Hyndman’s Dallas required more late-drama – it was the tenth goal scored in the final fifteen minutes of their matches this season – to continue their surprising dominance and hold onto the top spot in the race for the Supporter’s Shield.
    Each side wasted a penalty kick – Kenny Cooper was denied by Carlo Cudicini, low to the keeper’s right, after Leonardo was dismissed for denying a goal scoring opportunity in the box, haranguing Blas Perez who got in front of him on a long ball and the ritually-inspired Landon Donovan saw his effort parried by Raul Fernandez, who dove adroitly to his left – in the second half, before a corner kick in the waning moments turned up a winner.
    Michel delivered an in-swinging right-sided corner with his precious left-boot that Eric Hassli won at the near-post. Hassli’s header struck the underside of the bar, bouncing nicely for George John to attack hungrily at the far-post, powering his attempt in off the same underside of the bar.
    John was rewarded by the teeming Dallas crowd – yes that is correct – by a beer bottle to the head requiring stitches.
    Bruce Arena’s side, freshly eliminated from regional play, will bemoan the late concession; Hyndman’s will take heart from their never say die – unless in Toronto – attitude.
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    Chivas 0 – Colorado 1
    Chivas’ impressive start to the season suffered a set-back at home to the insolent Rapids, who despite a lengthy injury list won a second consecutive match.
    Rookie Deshorn Brown scored the lone goal of the night, stroking a seventh minute penalty kick to the right of goalkeeper Dan Kennedy after Eric Avila had fouled him in the box.
    Los Ameri-Goats were handed a golden chance to level the score before half-time with a penalty of their own, when homegrown Colorado defender, Shane O’Neill, making the start ahead of available-from-suspension captain Drew Moor, brought down Jose Correa in the box, only for Correa effort to keep rising and strike the bar.
    Showing none of the attacking, devil-may-care attitude that has served them well, El Chelis had this to say of his side post-match: “I lick my wounds; we were crap” and acknowledged the upcoming series of road matches – three of the next four – thusly: “We know the road ahead of us is a tough road, but it’s the only road we have.”
    Oscar Pareja’s side kept a second-straight clean-sheet, backstopped by previously unknown Clint Irwin, who has now faced penalty kicks in his first four matches, to continue their dominance over Chivas – last losing in 2009, winning seven of their last nine meetings and the last four in Los Angeles.
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    Montreal 1 – Columbus 1
    Rescheduled from Saturday due to a late-season snow storm, Montreal opened Stade Saputo a day later than originally planned. With coach Marco Schallibaum banished from the touchlines for the water incident in Kansas City, Mauro Biello handled the side, including the fit-again Alessandro Nesta.
    A quiet first half gave way to an eventful second as Marco Di Vaio netted his third, collecting a miss-hit volley from Sanna Nyassi and placing a low shot from outside the box into the bottom left corner of the goal past Andy Gruenebaum.
    Dominic Oduro refrained his goal-scoring feats from last weekend hitting a hopeful, tight-angled attempt - from the left-side of the box this time around – across Troy Perkins and in high at the far-post to level the score and stretch his side’s unbeaten streak to four matches.
    Robert Warzycha can thank the Ghanaian for a second-straight come from behind draw, but will worry about their lack of scoring threat with Federico Higuain and Jairo Arrieta yet to catch fire as they did last season. Schallibaum will return from his forced-absence feeling aggrieved at dropping two points at home.
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    Houston 2 – Chicago 1
    Houston extended their record-breaking home form in cheeky fashion with long-time contributor Brad Davis finding the winner with a hopeful ball from the right in the final ten minutes of play.
    Davis had crafted the opener, pushing past Wells Thompson on the left before delivering an inviting cross to Will Bruin on the edge of the six, before defensive hesitation gifted the Fire an equalizer. Lazy defending from a harmless throw-in allowed Chris Rolfe time and space to lash a loose ball in the box high into the goal.
    The eighty-first minute winner was likely intended to be a cross, but snuck through a maze of players untouched, rooting Sean Johnson to his line and nestling in at the far-post.
    Dominic Kinnear’s Dynamo have now surpassed Salt Lake’s undefeated home streak in all competitions – thirty-five – and tied their MLS record – twenty-nine; Frank Klopas’ Fire could not follow up their first win of the season against New York with any points, but should take heart in at least offering a challenge at BBVA Compass Stadium.
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    Portland 1 – San Jose 0
    The final match of the round, late on Sunday evening, featured a wonderfully atmospheric and competitive fixture that provided plenty of talking points.
    San Jose started all three of their attacking weapons – Chris Wondolowski, Alan Gordon and Steven Lenhart – for the first time this season after combining for fifty goals in 2012, but could not get a hold of the ball as Portland’s terribly-titled ‘Porterball’ passed rings around them.
    Frustration mounted in a physical contest, marred by a slur, before Gordon picked up a second yellow card for an elbow that drew blood from Timbers’ centre-back, Mikael Silvestre.
    Will Johnson nabbed goal of the round compliments with his picturesque free-kick – and will figure highly in player of the round voting – as the side he captains ran out to a second-straight win, having taken their first of the season – and Porter’s first in MLS – the previous round.
    It is clear that Porter’s Portland will be a force at home; the crux will be to show that same ability and effort on the road. Frank Yallop will feel hard done by with the result, but can seek redemption immediately, as his San Jose welcome Portland to Buck Shaw Stadium next weekend for a must-see match.
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    Canadian Content
    Will Johnson drove his side to victory with another tenacious ninety minutes in Portland Green, earning man of the match, CSN’s goal of the round – and likely a few other – plaudits. His partnership with Diego Chara at the base of the Timbers’ midfield is becoming one of the most impressive central duos in the league, as they become more attune to each other’s games, alternately moving forward and covering, as situation dictates.
    The statistics – completing forty-eight of sixty-one passes, contributing nine recoveries, winning three tackles, etc. – do not properly describe the night he had. He battled with Alan Gordon and Sam Cronin all night long, tussling for physical control of the centre of the park. He barked at the referee, sticking up for his teammates when Cronin cleaned out Darlington Nagbe and when Gordon elbowed Silvestre – leading to bookings for both.
    Gordon’s vitriol was directed at Will, who appeared to count out the number of games his attacker’s suspension would be on his fingers held aloft – one, two, three – and was the driving force of Caleb Porter’s impressive re-invention of Portland; all that and his gorgeous free-kick.
    Russell Teibert started a second consecutive match for Vancouver and put in his first full match in MLS. He played a wondrous through-ball for YP Lee, squeezing it between two defenders to set up an early chance for the Korean – though it was parried by Nick Rimando. He ran over a free-kick that Camilo struck off the woodwork and sent in a dangerous corner kick that troubled Salt Lake.
    It was his ball for Kekuta Manneh that eventually led to the game-saving penalty kick.
    He did well on the ball, completing thirty-two of forty-four passes – including three key passes, those which lead to shots or chances, and tracked back to perform his defensive duties, but was caught in possession seventeen times.
    He had this to say afterwards: “It feels great. I’m happy to be playing in front of the home fans. A lot of time last year I was sitting in the stands only wishing I could be down on the field. It’s a good feeling and I’m really happy. There’s definitely going to be nerves, but it’s about how you channel those nerves in the right direction. If you use them in a positive way, nerves can be good. As the game went on, I was more and more comfortable.”
    Drawing this from Martin Rennie: “I think Russell is coming on really well. I think with our young players, we put them in the best opportunity to succeed, we don’t throw them in before they are ready. We feel they are ready and we want to give them a chance.”
    “Russell performed very well today, he covered a lot of ground, he marked out well against the defenders, and he also broke forward, his touch was good, his pass was excellent. And overall, he’s one of a number of players who played well today.”
    Earlier in the week he earned praise from Nigel Reo-Coker: “That kid is a fantastic kid. I spend a lot of time with him on and off the field. The enthusiasm he has, the ability he has, is fantastic. I’d put my career on it – Russell could go and play in Europe. He’s that good. I believe in him that much.
    “His ability is fantastic and I try and help him – he’s always looking to improve his game. He’s a great footballer and when he comes into the midfield he brings a new dimension to us. He’s got the ability to dribble and get past players and make openings happen.
    Dejan Jakovic maintained his starting position in the DC back-line and admirably battled with Tim Cahill all night long. He did very well positionally to box Cahill away from a Thierry Henry cross that could have been dangerous and later cut out another Henry crossing attempt bound for the Australian, sending the ball out for a corner and forcing Henry to shake his head disapprovingly, in the Gallic manner.
    He completed an impressive fifty-one of fifty-four passes, and contributed twelve recoveries, five interceptions, and four clearances, though his side could must little offensively against New York.
    Nana Attakora replaced Ty Harden at centre-back, alongside Victor Bernardez, in the sixty-third minute, as Portland was pressing for a goal. He contributed a strong block on Ryan Johnson, snuffing out a chance, then another sliding challenge to cut out a cross bound for the Jamaican.
    Attakora also blocked a cross-field Chara ball bidding that danger away, before providing Chris Wondolowski with one of his best chances of the night by flicking a long Dan Gargan throw onto the striker, who could only head it straight at the keeper.
    Karl Ouimette made a third-straight start for Montreal, this time, on short notice after Matteo Ferrari pulled out in warm-ups; paired with Alessandro Nesta in the central defense. He completed forty-six of fifty-two passes, preferring to play conservatively and struggling with balls sent forward; adding fourteen clearances, nine interceptions and four recoveries, while conceding two corners.
    He lost Josh Williams on a corner kick that could have proved costly and drew susequent groans from Nesta, but did well to anticipate a ball into space behind the left-back for Dominic Oduro, remaining goal-side and forcing the speedster to retreat back.
    He later took a knock from the elbow of Jairo Arrieta, but sprung back to his feet quickly, like a good Canadian.
    Patrice Bernier had a quiet match by his high standards. Tasked with shutting down the threat of Federico Higuain, he was very defensive and unadventurous throughout the match. He still completed a respectable sixty-nine of eighty-seven passes, made ten recoveries, five interceptions, and three clearances.
    He also won two fouls, but was tackled for a loss of possession twenty times, as Montreal struggled to harness a plan-B against the defensively sturdy Columbus. Studying his passes it was evident that the Impact were attempting more flank play than they have previously, leading to fewer of those surging runs and through-balls up the middle at which Bernier excels.
    Ashtone Morgan returned to the starting eleven for Toronto FC replacing the injured Richard Eckersley. He did well, but looked rusty, launching an early cross over the target at the first chance to get forward. He was involved in a heavy collision with Danny Cruz that saw the Union wide midfielder booked and endured a nice battle with his opponent for much of the match.
    He still struggled in possession, completing only nine of twenty-one passes and was too often caught in possession. He did, however, assist on Earnshaw’s goal, sending a probing ball forward. Though he was booked for a handball when turned by Cruz and was then sent off for a second yellow – somewhat harshly – for an elbow on Sheanon Wiliiams in the eighty-eighth minute.
    Dwayne De Rosario came on to start second half in place of Rafael, resuming his tenure as a second-striker/attacking midfielder for DC United. He sent a sneaky, low free-kick under the wall, causing one of the only spots of bother to New York in the second half. He later ran over a free-kick as a decoy in a clever routine, only to see Chris Pontius lace it just over the bar.
    He completed seventeen of twenty-four passes, laid on a through-ball and several layoffs, as is his wont. But again struggled with conceding possession, tackled for a loss twelve times and having three unsuccessful dribbles, while winning only one foul against his former side.
    It was one of his quieter nights against a previous employer.
    He had this to say after the match when asked about the missing attack: “Obviously, we’ve had a few games like this with no goals. It questions your confidence, but we have to continue, keep our heads up and play with confidence. It’s my job as a captain, as a leader, to continue to instill that in these guys and continue to say, ‘Listen, we have goal-scorers. We just have to keep believing in ourselves and believing in what we’re doing and stay together because like I said, it’s still a long season… we have to start getting those results, especially at home.”
    Kyle Porter had a brief cameo, replacing Daniel Woolard in the eighty-third minute, he worked hard, covered ground, won three tackles and a header, but could not cause any significant trouble.
    Porter & De Rosario nearly linked up with a low Porter cross from the right to the near-post, but the flag went up on De Rosario as Jamison Olave acutely cut out the ball.
    Jonathan Osorio was a second half sub for Toronto replacing Luis Silva in the seventy-third to shore up the midfield as TFC braced to weather the storm ahead by goal, unsuccessfully.
    Maxime Tissot made his debut for Montreal, replacing Marco Di Vaio in the eighty-eighth minute of play, becoming the second homegrown signing to see the pitch for the Impact. He completed all four of his passes in a brief cameo appearance.
    Kyle Bekker and Wandrille Lefevre were on the bench for Toronto and Montreal, respectively.
    Toronto duo, Terry Dunfield - left knee sprain - and Emery Welshman - right ankle sprain – were listed as OUT on the injury report.
    Overheard
    Alan Gordon’s slur will be one of the major talking points from the weekend. San Jose proactively released this statement immediately after the match (3:08 AM)
    “I sincerely apologize for what I said in our game tonight. Although I said it in the heat of the moment, that language has no place in our game. That is not my character, but there is still no excuse for saying what I said. I made a mistake and I accept full responsibility for my actions.”
    Expect a suspension to be forthcoming.
    George John, the victim of the bottle-throwing incident in Dallas, like the dude that he is, released this tweet:
    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>5 staples to fix the gash and 3pts later, all is well. Love the support! Maybe next time buy me the beer instead of throwing it at me.</p>— George John (@GdoubleJohn) <a href="https://twitter.com/GdoubleJohn/status/323279551444688896">April 14, 2013</a></blockquote>
    <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
    See It Live (We’re Seeing It Live)
    Chivas’ Edgar Mejia tried to steal a few yards on a free-kick by kicking away the foam spot placed by the referee, earning himself a stern look from the official.
    There was a banner hanging lonely at one end of the Dynamo’s stadium for Tally’s Whackers, a little known supporter’s group. A small group no doubt, but the size of the support matters not when backed by such wit.
    Montreal’s bizarre free-kick routine with Hassoun Camara and Jeb Brovsky attempting to screen Columbus’ keeper Gruenebaum by standing right in front of him before retreating prior to the ball being kicked – the attempt did not make it past the wall.
    Rodney Wallace’s “Get Well Soon KA” shirt displayed after Portland scored for Kevin Alston was a redeeming facet of a weekend that displayed some of the darker sides of the game.
    Upcoming Fixtures
    Both Seattle and Los Angeles saw their CONCACAF Champions League campaigns cut down in Mexico, falling to Santos Laguna and Monterrey, 2-1 and 3-1 on aggregate respectively, despite strong performances away (1-1 and 1-0 again respectively) to their opposition midweek.
    Doomed by poor performances in the home legs, thus, disappointingly, ends another year of MLS attempting to break the Mexican monopoly on regional glory and a spot at the FIFA Club World Cup.
    Wednesday: New York-Kansas City. Saturday: Toronto-Houston; Colorado-Seattle; New York-New England; Dallas-Vancouver; Chicago-Columbus; Salt Lake-Chivas; Los Angeles-Kansas City. Sunday: DC-Philadelphia; San Jose-Portland.
    Parting Thoughts
    A few questions to ponder and discuss:
    What must MLS do to catch up to their Mexican oppressors in the Champions League? Raise the salary cap? Increase roster sizes? Change the calendar? Or all of the above?
    Will Seattle ever win? How do the masses of fans react if the poor start continues? And how much credit does Sigi Schmid have in the bank? Or are the critics answered in Colorado?
    Can Clint Irwin continue his impressive run? And will Joe Bendik be called upon again to spare Toronto’s blushes? How does double duty affect New York and San Jose next week? Can DC find their scoring boots? And how will the return fixture between San Jose and Portland play out? Expect fireworks.
    Finally, Darren O’Dea’s post-match comments in Philadelphia insinuated that Toronto, as a Canadian team, were often given short shrift south of the border in an American league? Was this paranoia or is there something to the theory?
    The season continues to build and round eight begins on Wednesday; what lies in store?
    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
    Canada has already reached its #1 goal at the CONCACAF U17 championships, earning a trip to this autumn's FIFA U17 World Cup, with a 4-2 victory over Jamaica on Saturday night.
    And while the boys have had 48 hours to
    , head coach Sean Fleming says it's right back to work for the team, as they prepare for the CONCACAF semifinal against the host side, Panama, on Wednesday night."Two years ago, we did make it to the final (of the CONCACAF championship) and we lost in extra time to the U.S.," Fleming told the media on Monday. "We want to win our confederation championship."
    Canada did defeat Panama in the semifinals of the 2011 tournament. But with some home-team gamesmanship already underway and a big, hostile crowd expected at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City, Fleming knows getting back to the final won't be easy.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    For one, Canada is moving from the artificial turf of the Estadio Agustin Sanchez (where they've played their first three games of the competition) to the natural grass in Panama City -- but Fleming says he's not expecting the team to be given time to train on the surface. (In fairness, he said this could simply be a logistical issue -- but perhaps he was just being diplomatic).
    Of course, we all remember the pre-game shenanigans the last time Canada played down in Panama City, when the senior national team headed there for World Cup qualifying last summer. Fireworks, a street party and loud music blared late into the night outside the Canadian team's hotel. Then, of course, we had the in-game delay caused by malfunctioning lights and the probably-intentional injury to Dwayne DeRosario, perpetrated by a Panamanian opponent.
    So, yeah, plenty to think about for Fleming and the boys.
    "Honestly, we're just going to go prepare for the 90 minutes of football and that's what we have to focus on," said Fleming. "We're going to do our best as a staff to keep minimal distractions for the kids."
    In a way, entering such a hostile environment could actually be a good thing for the Canadian kids -- for those who eventually make their way to the senior national team, enduring adverse conditions in Central American countries will be crucial if Canada ever hopes to return to the senior men's World Cup.
    That's what Fleming stressed on Monday: The victory over Jamaica has earned this team at least four high-quality, high-pressure international matches this year, which are vital in their development and conducive to achieving their "main goal" of one day playing for the senior side.
    It's especially important given the lingering difficulties around assembling and evaluating a side at this age group.
    "We have to get (more) opportunities for these younger players. The 18-19-year-old age is still a difficult age for these kids to find spots," said Fleming. "I still think we have to somehow better prepare them to play in MLS... We have to find those good competitive environments for the kids so they can continue to develop."
    Still, the environments available have produced two consecutive groups that have qualified for the U17 World Cup, after a 16-year Canadian absence from the tournament. For those successes, both on Fleming's watch, the coach praised "two great groups of kids that have bought into our philosophy".
    "The credit is to the professional academes, and also the provincial programs and clubs," he said. "Everything across the country is getting better."
    Some members of that 2011 squad have gone on to sign pro contracts with Canadian clubs -- Maxime Crepeau, Quillan Roberts, Bryce Alderson, Sadi Jalali -- while others are establishing themselves on the other side of the pond -- among them, Samuel Piette, Keven Aleman and Luca Gasparotto.
    As for the 2013 group, we've seen some strong attacking play from the likes of Jordan Hamilton, Hanson Boakai, Marco Bustos and Andrew Gordon -- indeed, this team has certainly shown some flashes of style.
    "We have some individual quality in the attacking phase of the game that allows us to ask some big questions of teams," said Fleming. "They have an opportunity to go out and be artists on the field. ...
    It's a reflection of the changing philosophy of people not to focus on results (at younger ages), and to allow these players to develop."
    What's that? The coach of a Canadian youth national team that's just qualified for its second straight FIFA World Cup, alluding to the fact that long-term player development can help produce more of the sorts of players that have helped his team have lots of recent success? Gee, maybe there's something to it, eh?
    But whatever's gotten the players to where they are now, and wherever their careers may take them, they are now faced with the opportunity to earn massive and irreplicable experience on the international stage -- not just at the World Cup in the UAE, but in Wednesday's big matchup against Panama.
    "There's some character within the group," said Fleming. "There's a great leadership group."
    That character will be put to the test... but whatever the result, the team can look ahead to its second straight World Cup appearance, and the chance to do something no Canadian team has ever done before: Earn a victory at the FIFA U17 World Cup.
    "To go to one World Cup is a dream," said Fleming. "To be going to two is hard to describe..."
    This group of players will get to live out that dream as teenagers. But will they one day get a chance to appear in a second World Cup, wearing their Canadian colours?
    That, as always, is the hope.
    Panama v. Canada will be live on Sportsnet World on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET.
    Guest
    [ATTACH=CONFIG]3022[/ATTACH]Late again. So many games to watch, so little time. Damn you life and work for getting in the way.
    Anyway, Week 10 has kicked off tonight but we still wanted to run this, so here's our latest 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 9 of the 2013 season throw up for us?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <b><u>Games This Week:</u></b>
    It was nice for the three Canadian sides to kick the week off and nicer still for Toronto to give us some more last ditch laughs.
    You certainly don't want to leave TORONTO games early. They did nothing for about 80 minutes, then snatched a great equaliser after some horrible goalkeeping by Luis Robles, only for NEW YORK to snatch it at the death with TFC giving up another late goal and this time a winner. Toronto certainly looked a poorer side than they have done in recent weeks, but Tim Cahill and Thierry Henry just made the Red Bulls tick. Henry's brilliant dummy on the first goal was the move of the match. The reserve side in the Voyageurs Cup on Wednesday put in a more gutsy performance for TFC, albeit against a reserve Montreal side, but if they can do it again this week, it may raise a few selection issues for Ryan Nelson.
    MONTREAL kept their charge in the east on course with a comprehensive win over CHICAGO. It was another game light on thrills and excitement at times, but the Impact did what they needed to do and when they got around to doing it, it was in some style. Jeff Larentowicz's sending off was harsh and wrong. Clearly not the last man stopping a goalscoring opportunity and I think he went because the ref thought it was a penalty. Did it change the end result? You can't possibly know but the gut feeling was no. The win leapfrogged the Impact back to the top of the East. Everyone's waiting for their bad spell and for tiredness to hit the oldies, but at the moment there doesn't seem to be any sign that either of those will happen.
    The diving DALLAS roadshow hit VANCOUVER as we all know by now. They flipped, they flopped, they dripped, they dropped. Between that and the Caps comeback, a lot of heat and attention was taken of another decidedly dodgy defensive performance from Vancouver. Not to mention the continuing inability to take their chances. DALLAS didn't look world beaters and the way the Caps fought back should give a bit of a boost and clues to the other Western teams as to what they need to do against them.
    There was an entertaining game in NEW ENGLAND where the Revs hosted the Union. A very comfortable 2-0 win for New England over PHILADELPHIA. As comprehensive a win as a two goal one can be. Both of the Revs goals came from well worked moves and they played some nice passing football all game. As I've been saying, I haven't seen much to impress me from Philly for most of this season, but have liked how the Revs have been playing and their league position belies the football they've been producing. Bit confused as to why they have a few random people sitting in amongst the tarped off areas behind one of the goals. Looks bizarre.
    COLUMBUS's game against DC was explosive before kick off, or at least their scoreboard was. Not what you see everyday. Pity it wasn't the Fire that were the visitors. Would have been best away fans tifo ever. It was also a bit fiery during the ninety, with seven bookings dished out by a card happy Sorin Stoica. I did like the yellow he gave to Agustin Viana for timewasting though. Viana went down, went off injured, looked like he needed to be subbed, came back on, immediately went back to the deck and got booked. Would like to have seen how Stoica dealt with Dallas on Saturday. As for the game, Columbus were very good at taking their chances. They only had seven shots the whole game, three of them were on target and they won 3-0. DC suffered a case of Vancouvering (new meaning being that they created lots of chances but failed to take them). A staggering 21 attempts at goal from the visitors and nothing to show for it. Therein lies the reason that this talented team are currently sitting bottom of the whole of MLS. I've enjoyed watching them this season and they should be much higher up the table than they are. Imagine DC playing Vancouver right now. We could be looking at over 50 chances in a game and it ending 0-0.
    The KANSAS CITY - PORTLAND game was one of those matches that you want to sit people down to watch that either don't like football or don't rate MLS. What a cracker. Game of the week and you couldn't have really argued with the end result however it ended up. As it turned out it was the Timbers that got the points in a five goal thriller that saw our Cascadian rivals fight back twice in the first half then take the decisive lead in the second. KC had their chances to not only tie the game but enough of them to go on and win it. It was one of those games that we may look back on and cite as the turning point in Portland's season. Sadly for the Whitecaps, the Timbers have got over their early growing pains and are starting to look like a very cohesive and dangerous unit. This was a huge win for them. Going to a place like KC and coming away with all three points will give them so much confidence and they look like another team that are set to leave Vancouver behind.
    The more teams that do that, the less likely that the playoff will look for Vancouver and this weekend will see what could be a turning point match for them as they head to SALT LAKE. RSL are coming off the back of a 2-0 defeat to a much weakened LOS ANGELES at the weekend. In saying that, it's hard to refer to them as weakened when the young talent they have can put in a performance like this. Two goals up in the first 14 minutes and you started to think it was going to be a rout. RSL got back into the game and pressed hard towards the end and suffered from Mattocksitis with their chances.
    Saturday rounded of with a surprisingly entertaining game between CHIVAS and SAN JOSE. Chivas were woeful in the first half, then came out all guns blazing for the second and made it fun to watch. More points dropped by San Jose, who will feel gutted that they didn't come away from Carson with all three points. They played some nice football but couldn't get the job done. It's becoming a regular occurrence for them this season. Chivas' defending for the first goal was horrible. Very Vancouveresque. There was a horrible tackle in the second half when Steven Lenhart left his foot in twice on Mario de Luna. All accidental of course, with no booking, but you just felt he knew what he was doing. The Goats may not have many fans but kudos to the ones they do have. I loved their player tifo behind the goal. Didn't look fantastic close up, but from a distance was very smart.
    The final game of the week came on Sunday as HOUSTON continued their undefeated home streak, this time against COLORADO. Now 36 and counting but they were made to work very hard for it, coming from behind and coming away with a draw. Jamie Smith had hit the post at 1-0 to the Rapids, but the Dynamo also hit the bar twice. A draw was probably a fair result in the end but coming away with a point was big for Colorado and, of course, bad for Vancouver.
    So the week's games leave Vancouver still sitting in 7th but starting to fall of the top three places more with each passing week. For now, it's just that 5th spot that matters and Real Salt Lake hold that for now, making this coming weekend's game all the more important for both sides.
    <b><u>Outfield Player of the Week:</u></b>
    Hard to look past two goal hero Tim Cahill, but we are! New England's Whitecap reject, LEE NGUYEN, had a stand out game. One goal, one assist and a lot of important leg work for the Revs, including 37 successful passes, one more than Cahill!
    <b><u>Goalkeeper of the Week:</u></b>
    He didn't have a lot to do, only four saves in total, but what he did have to do he did very well indeed. So take a bow New England Rev keeper BOBBY SHUTTLEWORTH. He kept a clean sheet and was strong under some late Philly pressure, but his early stop on a one on one break by Danny Cruz could have changed the course of the whole game.
    <b><u>Goal of the Week:</u></b>
    Regular readers will know that I love a good build up to a goal more than just a spectacular strike when it comes to this category. If you can have both, then perfection. ANDRES ROMERO's opener for Montreal had all I could ask for really. The move started with a Chicago goal kick then 36 seconds and eight Montreal passes later (including it being back to the Impact keeper), Romero got the ball, took it into the box, gave himself room then curled a beauty into the postage stamp corner. Very nice. Very nice indeed.
    <center>

    </center><b><u>Save of the Week:</u></b>
    There were a few nice acrobatic stops this week from Clint Irwin, Donovan Ricketts and Brian Rowe, but we mentioned it above but BOBBY SHUTTLEWORTH's stop on Danny Cruz early into the Revs-Union game probably changed the whole course of the match.
    It looked like Cruz was all set to round the keeper and tuck the ball into an empty net, but Shuttleworth got a vital hand to it to guide it away and allow the Revs defence to recover and close down the opportunities. If Cruz had given Philly that early lead, they would have played a different game and we'll never know if the Revs would have gotten themselves back in to it, but it would have been a struggle. Not acrobatic. Not dramatic. Just vital and shockingly not even nominated for the official 'goal of the week' award.
    (WATCH: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1705882/mls_2013-04-27-195222.640hq.mp4)
    <b><u>Funniest Moment of the Week:</u></b>
    Towards the end of the game in Kansas City, one of the ball boys threw the ball back at Portland keeper Donovan Ricketts and it smacked him straight in the face. They made up and shook hands after the incident unfortunately, but I really hope it was deliberate. There's a few players in MLS I'd love to see smacked in the face by a ball.
    (WATCH at 7 seconds mark: http://p.mlssoccer.com/SAu5a/video/1706132/mls_2013-04-27-223232.640hq.mp4
    <b><u>The Come On Ref Moment of the Week:</u></b>
    Sticking with the KC-Portland game, with the game in stoppage time and KC pushing for the equaliser, Portland keeper Ricketts held on to the ball for 14 seconds before kicking it up the field. I know people hated the call against the Canadian girls in the Olympics for the six second rule, but I really wish it was called more and consistently. Really pisses me off that it isn't - unless of course it's my team that's doing the timewasting!
    <b><u>Cock Up of the Week:</u></b>
    There's a couple of dodgy keepers in MLS right now and New York's LUIS ROBLES came up with a howler for New York that let Toronto tie the match up. If you come out that far (almost outside the box) to get the ball, you have to get the bloody thing.
    <center>

    </center><b><u>Stat Attack:</u></b>
    After Week 9 - 77 games
    <b>Total goals in week</b> - 27 (168 this season)
    <b>Average goals per game</b> - 3 (2.18 ave this season)
    <b>Highest scoring team</b> - Columbus and Portland (3)
    <b>Biggest win this season</b> - LA 4-0 v Chicago (2/3/13)
    <b>Goals scored by feet</b> - 20
    <b>Goals by headers</b> - 6
    <b>Goals scored by other body parts!</b> - 1
    <b>Goals inside box</b> - 26
    <b>Goals inside six yard box</b> - 6
    <b>Goals outside box</b> - 1
    <b>Penalties awarded</b> - 1, scored (17 this season)
    <b>Clean sheets</b> - 4 (41 this season)
    <b>Sending offs</b> - 3 (13 this season)
    <b>Bookings</b> - 28 (229 this season)
    <b>Total attendance this week</b> - 159,634 (1.339,184 total for season)
    <b>Average attendance this week</b> - 17,737 (17,392 average for season)
    <b>Highest attendance this week</b> - 20,186 Kansas City v Portland
    <b>Highest attendance this season</b> - 40,150 Seattle v Portland (16/3/13)
    <b>Lowest attendance this week</b> - 9,732 Chivas v San Jose
    <b>Lowest attendance this season</b> - 7,121 Chivas v Columbus (2/3/13)
    I know we haven't done the fantasy football stats for a few weeks but they will definitely return next week since we have a lot more time on our hands and will get this out before the next round has started!
    <p>
    Guest
    When I was growing up, we'd routinely collect the neighbourhood kids for games of road hockey on weekends. One of them was a Portuguese kid named Tobias, about five years younger than me. He'd bring his stick and plenty of enthusiasm -- but at around 4 p.m. on any given Saturday or Sunday, his broom-toting mom would beckon him back to the house with shrill calls of "Tobias!... Tobias!"
    It was too late for lunch and too early for dinner... quite frankly, none of us really understood why he was being ripped away from our games at 4 p.m. with such regularity. But we'd come to expect it. Check your watch. It's getting close to 4 p.m. Time for what we all know is coming.
    "Tobias!.... Tobias!"
    Every once in a while, she'd fail to emerge at the expected time. We'd take this as a positive sign. Maybe she'd finally calmed down. Maybe he'd actually be able to stick around for full games. Hell, maybe she'd fallen down the stairs and we wouldn't have to hear that shriek anymore (hey, kids are assholes, what can I say?)
    But soon enough, there she'd be, twice as loud -- as if to compensate for her delinquency -- with the cry we all knew was going to come. Why, oh why, did we think she'd ever stop? We would need to always keep an eye on our watches at 4 p.m., even if she missed a week here and there. We'd never truly be rid of her interference, no matter how our games were going, or how old we got.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    I tell this story for two reasons. One, as an attempt to take everyone's minds off of another catastrophic, points-dropping, last-minute concession by Toronto FC. And two, as a way of reminding us all that the occasional hiccup should not make us forget certain inalienable truths about the universe: Tobias's mom will always call him back in the house at a strange time. And Toronto FC will always, always, always make things terrifying at the ends of games.
    Now, on this occasion, many TFC fans will take solace (if "solace" is used as a synonym for "pint-glass-shattering rage") in the fact that the team's collapse was not entirely of their own making: The late, quasi-inexplicable sending-off of fullback Ashtone Morgan left the team disheveled and short-handed and, depending on how much credit you're willing to give them, may have been a direct cause of Jack McInerney's injury-time equalizer for Philadelphia.
    That was, as anyone who saw the game can attest, just one of many maddening decisions on the day by the man in the middle, who seemed intent on asserting himself when it came to every ticky-tack foul committed throughout the course of the match, but seemingly turned a semi-blind eye to a few apparent acts of egregious aggression committed by the Union.
    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Great effort <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23TFClive">#TFClive</a>. Stunned at the refereeing. Several deliberate elbows behind the play completely unpenalized. Shocking.</p>— iamdavidmiller (@iamdavidmiller) <a href="
    ">April 13, 2013</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
    I mean, c'mon, when a guy who made his name as a politician is coming out in such forceful terms, you know something goofy has gone down. (Even though Miller always was a Union kinda guy...)
    At the end of the day, both teams earned a point... in the same way that a homeless dude "earns" the loonie a guilty parent tells their child to plop into a dirt-encrusted baseball cap. No, this wasn't a pretty one by any stretch of the imagination. But while the nature of TFC's non-win was as cruel as the seemingly five million other occasions on which Toronto has played with fans' hearts into the dying minutes of the match, a full three points likely would have flattered the boys in red.
    That's not to say there weren't high points: Robert Earnshaw once again proved why he's full value for his front-flip celebration, with a tidy finish after a well-timed run (and a clever bit of non-interference by a probably-offside Justin Braun, combined with a good non-call by the assistant referee). Joe Bendik stood on his head and fully earned man of the match honours, with several incredible saves (including robbing the Union of a potential winner late in injury time) that will make it very difficult for head coach Ryan Nelsen to hand the reins back to erstwhile #1 keeper Stefan Frei.
    Ryan Richter, forced into his first action for TFC as an early substitute following an injury to Darel Russell, looked solid at fullback and showed off a dangerous long throw-in of the sort Toronto hasn't seen since Adrian Serioux left the team. Gale Agbossoumonde also did his part filling in for Danny Califf at centreback, alongside Darren O'Dea -- a welcome sight for Nelsen, who'll have some interesting decisions to make in terms of next week's starting back four (depending on the extent of Russell's injury, we could see Logan Emory or Doneil Henry earn their first minutes for TFC this season).
    But, as usual, there were causes for concern as well. TFC managed only two shots on goal (one of which was Earnshaw's goal, a play that caught nearly everyone by surprise) and didn't earn a single corner kick over 90 minutes. The team was applying some good pressure and won plenty of battles in the midfield -- but those victories nearly always led to quick or immediate turnovers. Despite trying out Braun as a second striker alongside Earnshaw, TFC still found itself struggling to make that final pass and create dangerous scoring opportunities (by the end, TFC had held less than 37% of the possession).
    So, here the Reds sit, with six points from six games... and a fanbase likely participating in one (or, in a bit of cognitive dissonance only long-time TFC fans can successfully pull off, both) of the following activities:

    bemoaning the fact that it could have very easily been 10 points, if not for the late concessions against Philly and Los Angeles
    happily shrugging "hey, that's six points better than last year at this time! Progress!"

    Both of those are a little bit dangerous. The first, because if you're still thinking about what might have been when it comes to points TFC could have earned, you're surely on the verge of driving yourself batty. And the second, because it's not especially helpful to use the worst start in the history of the league as a benchmark of any sort.
    That being said, clearly there is some progress (it'd be nearly impossible for there not to be). Clearly there is some depth on this team (relative to previous years) and clearly they are attempting to establish some sort of a rhythm, even if the final product isn't there yet. Ugly as it may have been, a point earned is a point earned -- and a point on the road isn't something that TFC fans can really take for granted now, or ever.
    And as for the late-game collapses?
    Well, it's potentially instructive to know that one week, Tobias never came out to play road hockey. We knocked on his door, no answer. The next week, same thing. Turns out, he moved away without telling any of us. Something we'd come to expect after years and years of the same... all of a sudden, without explanation, it stopped.
    So, hey. There's always hope.
    .
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