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    SoccerPlus - Weekly Commentary Show

    By Guest, in SoccerPlus,

    Not enough goals scored, too many goals allowed this week in Canadian soccer.
    Fred Lord (TVA), Mathias Van Halst (MLSsoccer.com) & Marc Tougas (PC) analyze Montreal's 0-2 loss in Columbus as well as Canada's Olympic Qualifying run in the US. Our regular correspondent Jonathan Tannenwald (Philly.com) and Lisa Erickson (CenterLineSoccer.com) wrap up Week 3 in MLS and we talk about the incendiary comments from PSG's sporting director Leonardo on the weakness of French football as well as Claudio Ranieri's firing with our Paris-based colleague Cedric Ferreira (France 24).
    All this and more on this week's show.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Click here to listen to it.
    You can also subscribe to our show via iTunes.
    Guest
    "Unbelievable, the way it happens time in and time out for this Canadian team."
    -- Gerry Dobson, June 21, 2007


    No matter how many times you get kicked in the face (figuratively or literally), it never really becomes much easier to deal with. If anything, the whole ordeal develops a sickly sense of familiarity that borders on outright masochism.
    So when Canada conceded late to relinquish their lead against an underwhelming Cuban side on Monday night, fans surely were transported back to their unhappy place, overtaken by visions of last summer's Gold Cup, or maybe even the infamous 2007 semifinal that spawned the on-air outburst quoted above.
    Yes, such heartbreaking endings are hardly unprecedented for Canadian sides. But then, there's another unlikely turn of events that also has plenty of established precedent over the course of the century thus far.
    Getting a result against Mexico.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Barring some borderline-unfathomable results on Tuesday, Canada's second-place showing earns (term used loosely) them a semifinal date against the powerful Mexicans, with an Olympic berth on the line. Knowing that a victory against Cuba would have seen them avoid Mexico makes the collapse all the more painful, for players and supporters alike.
    But if we're going to be dwelling on the immediate past for the sake of self-flagellation, why not also turn to the medium-term past for some inspiration?

    February 20, 2000: Richard Hastings picks the best time possible to score the only goal of his 12-year national-team career, finishing off a Canadian counterattack with the extra-time winner that sends Canada into the Gold Cup semifinals, en route to what would eventually be a tournament victory. Canada 2, Mexico 1 (a.e.t.)
    March 12, 2008: An early goal from Will Johnson is enough for Canada to nab a point in Olympic qualifying (hey, the same tournament we're going through right now!) -- and the result ultimately helps knocks Mexico out of contention for a 2008 Olympic spot. Canada 1, Mexico 1
    October 15, 2008: Mexico desperately needs points to keep its World Cup qualifying campaign alive in a third-round "group of death", but goals from Ali Gerba and Tomasz Radzinski are enough to keep El Tri sweating for a few more weeks. Canada 2, Mexico 2

    Canada's improbable and inspiring victory over the U.S. was enough to make people forget that, all along, our path to the London Games was almost certain to go through Mexico. Of course, the presumption was that Canada would likely come second to the U.S., not El Salvador. But then, who could have seen their preposterous, last-second goal on Monday night coming? (Not Sean Johnson, obviously. Zing.)
    And hey, y'know who came first in Canada's group four years ago in this same tournament? Guatemala. Yeah, figure that one out. It's CONCACAF, folks. The regional duopoly notwithstanding, there are still plenty of oddball results to be had.
    There are tactical analyses to be done over how Canada managed to cough it up against a team that, as has been said, was sitting at a -10 goal differential coming in. But, gee, who knows, maybe the fact that they were playing their third game in five days, with two of their strikers unavailable (Babayele Sodade due to injury, Randy Edwini-Bonsu due to suspension) had something to do with their performance, and inability to put the game away. Just my guess.
    Perhaps this article should be more morose. Perhaps we're supposed to be convinced that the result against the U.S. was just an anomaly, and that this is the same-old, same-old Canada -- and besides, look at how the U.S. turned out. We can't get too excited about having beaten them, can we? When we can't even beat the damned Cubans?
    But then, this has all been done before. Canada's always going to be an underdog. Canada's always going to somehow churn out surprising results, either on the positive or negative side. Sometimes, those results will only come two days apart. Now, though, we are exactly where we thought we'd be (though we took a more circuitous route than originally imagined).
    One game, one chance. Canada vs. Mexico (probably). Are the Mexicans talented? Yep. Will they have plenty of rowdy fans in attendance? Yep. Are they expected to win? Yep. Will the game be an extremely challenging one for the young Canadian squad? Yep.
    But surely by now we've all been reminded of the old cliche: They don't play the game on paper. This team has surprised us before; who's to say they won't do it again? Canada's gotten results against Mexico before; who's to say it won't happen again?
    And if none of that gives you any consolation, if you're still obsessing over what may have been against Cuba, and worrying about what might be against Mexico, then I offer this one, possibly-redemptive piece of indisputable information.
    This Canadian team will get closer to the 2012 Olympic Games than Teal Bunbury did.
    .
    Guest
    Tonight, we're joined by AFTN editor Michael McColl to talk about Vancouver's strong start, if a Voyageurs Cup run is in Martin Rennie's priorities and how the Whitecaps have seen a revival from their backline.
    We'll also talk about what Toronto can do to turn around its fortunes, what awaits them versus Santos Laguna on Wednesday and, of course, Canada's pair of bi-polar performances at the Olympic qualifiers as well as a shocking finish to the American game.
    The archived show is now up.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Our next show is Friday.
    <embed src="http://itscalledfootball.podhoster.com/FlowPlayerLight.swf?config={embedded:true,videoFile:%27http://itscalledfootball.podhoster.com/download/2540/30516/mar262012final.mp3%27,initialScale:%27scale%27,controlBarBackgroundColor:%270x778899%27,autoBuffering:false,loop:false,autoPlay:false}" width="400" height="25" scale="fit" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>
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    Guest
    A young Whitecaps Reserves side kicked off their 2012 MLS season with a fantastic, and hard earned point, against Seattle Sounders at UBC's Thunderbird Stadium this morning.
    The game finished 1-1, thanks to Carlyle Mitchell's equalising bullet header in the final seconds of stoppage time, after Alex Caskey had opened the scoring for the visitors in the 72nd minute.
    For the Whitecaps, the experience and developmental opportunity for the players was more important than the result.
    With injured players Michael Nanchoff, Atiba Harris and Darren Mattocks not quite ready for game action, the Caps took the opportunity to see how a number of their younger players would cope against more senior opposition.
    Pretty good as it turned out.
    The Sounders fielded a strong side, with a lot of MLS experience, including three players who saw Champions League action against Santos this month, along with a reality TV flop.
    The Whitecaps went with a youthful squad, playing most of the second half with four Residency prospects, including U16 player Sam Adekugbe, who came on for Jordan Harvey at half time. Five Residency players saw game action, with Ben Fisk and Yassin Essa playing in the midfield from the start.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Michael Boxall earned my 'Man of the Match' plaudits today, but there were also good turns by Brad Knighton, Greg Klazura and all of the Residency guys.
    Having seen Mitchell's goal today, and some strikes he's been banging in at training, I do think he's being wasted at centre half and there could be a real development opportunity to see him in a more attacking role.
    Omar Salgado and Long Tan were the Caps strikers today and both had a poor game. Salgado may have whipped in the cross for the tying goal, but that was about all he did. There was simply no understanding, or seemingly communication, between the front two today and they were playing far too far apart from each other for a lot of the game.
    Seattle had most of the possession and edged shots on goal 4-3, but the young Caps determined play deserved to see them get something out of the game.
    Whitecaps assistant manager Paul Ritchie, who took charge of the side today along with Carl Robinson, felt that the Whitecaps had done enough to warrant getting something out of the game, telling reporters after the match:
    <i>"It just continues the whole philosophy we're trying to install in the Club. Trying not to lose anything, and if we can start at this level, and younger, then it prepares the younger ones, especially, for when they get that opportunity to play in the first team."</i>
    As we've said before, we find the MLS Reserve League a missed opportunity on many different levels and especially when it comes to the number of games and the timing of them.
    This is a great chance for fans to see the fringe players in action, the rehabbers, the youth products who need tested against more adult opposition, trialists that the clubs want to have a look at. For many fans, it may also be the only chance that some will have of seeing the Whitecaps live, either individually or as a family, although not with 11am kick offs.
    These games provide great PR opportunities for the MLS clubs, especially those in crowded sporting markets, to show how fans can feel part of their team in a way that NFL and NHL fans will just never be able to. Being a football fan is a special feeling indeed, as we all already know.
    It makes no sense to me to have the League as it is. Either fully commit to a near full season of games, with weekend double header opportunities galore, or why even have it at all, when it looks like nothing more than an afterthought and a pain in the ass for MLS?
    For fans of all clubs, especially the travelling ones, it makes the whole weekend an event if there is a game on the Sunday and not a Monday, when most will have headed home.
    Even more importantly, these games are the only real competitive opportunities for the depth and young players to try and impress the coaching staff in meaningful matches. You can't have the same impression on the coach in training alone.
    These guys need more than ten games to continue their development. MLS needs a longer Reserve League season to try and add depth to the League as a whole and try and get more homegrown players into the League, instead of teams just turning to Europe and South America for their talent.
    Martin Rennie felt that he didn't have the players on the bench on Saturday that he needed to make an impact against DC. How else can these players fully reach that level than with developing through competitive action?
    When you have a squad of younger players, like the Caps do, they need more games to develop and try and earn a shot in the first team reckoning or the very least, prove their worth.
    Talking to Paul Ritchie after the game today, he feels the same way:
    <i>"For sure. I think that's something we're going to have to address this year as an organisation, to give an environment for these kids to go and play, and the players who don't play in the first team on a Saturday.
    Ten games throughout a season isn't enough. I know we have the PDL through the summer, which is more geared towards the younger ones, but we've got a lot of pros there who might be coming back from injury or not playing. They need to be playing, cos as soon as you lose one or two players out of your first team with injury, you need to make sure that these players are fit and ready to come in and contribute.
    So we do need to find games and I think with Jake, and his connections in college, we will have games, but not at this standard. We need more and it's something we've got to look into, to try and get as many games as possible."</i>
    At least the Whitecaps are looking at moving in the right direction with this. Let's hope that MLS can see sense and do the same.
    If Major League Soccer really does have aspirations of being one of the world's top leagues in ten years time, then sorting out a proper development league for the fringe and younger players surely has to be one of the major places to start.
    <p>
    Guest
    Let’s be clear – the United States is still a generation ahead of Canada when it comes to the state of the game. The 1994 World Cup propelled that country’s development to the point where they are the clear No 2 country in CONCACAF.
    The arrival of MLS in 1996 finally gave the American’s a place to channel young talent, while the failure of the CSL to stick here made for a bleak decade of spinning wheels.
    However, MLS only went so far – largely because the Americans only took it so far. Our friends to the south remain hopelessly addicted to doing things their way. Forget that soccer development techniques have been perfected elsewhere, the United States seems hell-bent on finding its own, unique path.
    Sheer size allows Americans to trick themselves into thinking they can do it. The country is so big and there are so many players out there that some are bound to stick. If you throw enough mud at a wall some of it will stick and some of it will even look like art.
    A lot will hit the ground though – its potential forever lost.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]It’s a better situation than Canada, and most of CONCACAF, but it can only get you so far. To take the next step, the Americans need to harness more of their unlimited potential. It’s unclear if they will ever do it.
    Canada has nowhere near the potential. To even compete in CONCACAF it is imperative that we harness every last bit of what we have. And, for the first time since the late 1970s, we are starting to come close.
    As we saw on Saturday night we are closing the gap on the Americans. The 2-0 win over the much heralded USA Olympic Team In Waiting was the second time in three years that a Canadian youth team has stunned the Yanks in a competitive game.
    Ironically, we are doing it by taking full advantage of the system they set up for themselves. The MLS academy initiative should be the tipping point that allows the USA to finally break into the world’s elite, but so far it’s proving to be more effective for Canada.
    Americans remain obsessed with college soccer. Even though they have this wonderful system set-up now, they are not utilizing it. Normally impressive MLS management teams talk nonsense about protecting their academy player’s NCAA eligibility. Meanwhile the Canadian clubs just get on with the business of producing professional soccer players.
    Recent Canadian youth teams have featured focused, confident players that act like professionals. The US, meanwhile, is still giving it the ole’ college try. Hell, they even hired a college coach to manage the U23s. That coach had his ass handed to him by a CSA old boy Saturday.
    The American players are more athletic and more famous, but the Canadian players are footballers now – or, at least, becoming much closer to being so. With a majority coming from the two biggest academies – TFC and Vancouver – our youth are even starting to benefit from familiarity. It’s a model the Latin American teams have used for a generation to punch above their weight class.
    The USA will always be big and the will always be in he mix, but until they get over their NCAA obsession they will never reach their potential. Since they don’t seem close to ready to shift that focus it says here that they won’t reach their potential anytime soon.
    It also says that for the first time in more than 30 years the Canadian potential is on a greater upward trajectory than the USA. The Americans are still better now, but by 2018 and beyond all bets are off.
    Guest

    Sober Second Thoughts: Wait, what?

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    It’s important to not read too much into a single result. So, a few caveats about the 2-0 win by the Canadian U23s yesterday:
    Actually, I’ve got nothing. Canada does not beat the US and it especially doesn’t beat them in the US. Yet, here we are. In the space of two days the young Canucks completely turned around a dismal performance against El Salvador to put up a famous victory.
    So screw the caveats. Celebrate. This was not a fluke result. Canada was the better team on the night in all aspects of the game. They deserve to be in control of their destiny and you should feel free to start to openly dream of having two teams at the Olympics.
    That would be amazing, wouldn’t it?
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]There is still work to be done, but that dream has never been closer to happening than it is right now. Beat Cuba – and they will beat Cuba. A good u16 club team might be able to beat Cuba – and they likely win the group. Win the group and you avoid Mexico. Avoid Mexico and you get a match-up with tough, but beatable, Honduras.
    That game would be the most important played by a Canadian men’s team in 20-years.
    It’s enough to make you dizzy.
    As for the game last night, it was a case of a better prepared, better managed and, to borrow the old sports cliché, hungrier side. Another cliché is that of the arrogant American getting his comeuppance. In the case of this particular team there might be some truth to that.
    Pre-game talk by the Americans centered around how badly they would win the game. American coach Caleb Porter didn’t appear to take Canada seriously, not adjusting his tactics, nor, apparently, scouting them – he was shocked that Canada lined up in a 4-3-2-1, the default formation of the entire national team system.
    It doesn’t take much digging to find some brazen predictions by the Americans about the strength of their team – there is a particularly good podcast by Zarek Valentin and Perry Kitchen that is unintentionally hilarious in hindsight.
    On the USSF website Porter is quoted talking about how inevitable US victory will be.
    “As I've told you guys from the beginning, I'm the U-23 coach, you're the U-23 players, at the end of the tournament we will be the Olympic team. Guys, we will, we will be in London.”
    It’s probably bad form to poke fun at the Yanks. Then again it’s so rare that we have a chance.
    So, enjoy. Even allow yourself to consider the possibility of Teal Bunbury watching Canada play in the Olympics – on his television from his Kansas City home.
    Guest
    If you'd offered pretty much everyone involved with the Caps seven points out of the first three games this season, we'd have bitten your hand off.
    It took us nine games to reach that mark last season.
    That said, we weren't sitting too far away on four points from our first three games last year, and we all know how that ended up.
    The points on the board are great. The performances, not so much.
    With one game left to be played this MLS weekend, Vancouver Whitecaps not only sit proudly on top of the Western Conference, but the whole of Major League Soccer.
    "Tell everyone you know, that we're top of the League and you're no", as we say in Scotland.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Last night's performance in the 0-0 draw against DC United though left me feeling like we'd lost. Football's a funny old game Saint (my old time quote for this month).
    Ruined by expectations!
    And of course football fans are hard buggers to please.
    You can read my match report of the game over on <a href="http://www.prostamerika.com/2012/03/24/whitecaps-keep-third-clean-sheet/60421" target="_blank">Prost Amerika</a>. An unselfish pass here, a different offside decision there and we could have been talking about the Caps being three for three. A slower Joe Cannon or less alert Davide Chiumiento and we could have been talking about our first loss. A draw was certainly the fairest result for the fare that was on offer from both sides.
    Three games of the Renniesance in, but realistically we can't really read too much into anything that's happened so far in 2012. It's still far too early days, but what has become clear in the last two games is that the Caps aren't firing on all cylinders yet and a lot of improvement is needed in certain areas of the park if the team is to make a serious playoff push this term.
    If we can get points in the bag whilst playing badly, then that's fantastic and will really help. This simply will not last though, as other teams find their groove as the season goes on.
    We need to find <i>our</i> groove and we need to find it pretty quickly.
    I'd much rather be sitting on seven points of course than Montreal's one or Toronto's big fat zero.
    The positives from last night first.
    Another clean sheet. Three in a row and the defence looks pretty solid. The injury to Alain Rochat is worrying, but Jordan Harvey is capable cover, if maybe not the same attacking threat on that flank. Y-P Lee had another great game and the partnership between Jay DeMerit and Martin Bonjour is getting better every game.
    Joe Cannon was a beast between the sticks and once again earned us some points, well, one in this case.
    And that's where the plaudits end.
    Very few of the other players earned pass marks last night.
    The midfield creativity and ultimate depth there is already starting to be a worry and July can't come quick enough for Barry Robson to appear.
    I thought Matt Watson did well again. Jun Marques Davidson, I didn't really notice. Maybe that's a good thing for your defensive midfielder, or maybe I just wasn't paying attention and focussing too much attention at the other end of the park.
    Davide Chiumiento had a good game tracking back defensively and his header off the line in the second half contributed to us earning a point. Offensively, he was missing.
    The problem we have with flair players like Davide and Camilo is that they never seem to do the easy thing. They hold on to the ball a little bit too long, Camilo especially, and there's always a back heel or clever flick when the simpler ball could have been better. They look great when we're winning of course and I could watch them all day.
    I find it hard to knock Camilo for last night. He was easily our most creative attacker and the only player that looked like providing the spark we needed to break the deadlock.
    Yes, he tried to do too much himself. Yes, there was that moment in the break after the goal-line clearance that he selfishly kept the ball and ran out of space, when he could have played in Eric Hassli, who was in acres of room. Hassli was pissed.
    But, Hassli wasn't on form last night himself, especially after he picked up his first half booking and lost any aggressiveness.
    Eric Hassli's MLS goal drought increased to 13 games and 853 minutes. He hasn't found the net in the League since his brace against Chicago on August 7th and has officially registered just two assists in that time, one against Seattle in September and one in this season's home opener against Montreal.
    Now as much as I love Eric to bits, this isn't the production we need to have from our top striker, never mind a high earning DP. Sure he's working very hard in other areas of the park, but he's ultimately a striker and all his hard work elsewhere isn't contributing to goals.
    Still not exactly panic stations, but it is becoming a concern.
    He's not alone. Our star studded attack just hasn't gelled yet.
    Sebastien Le Toux was just not in the game and should have been taken off with a good 20 minutes or so to go. I would have liked to have seen Long Tan get a run at the DC defence, who performed resolutely it has to be said.
    The lack of earlier substitutions by Martin Rennie was worrying, but he explained why he felt this was the route to take in his post-match presser:
    <i>"The thing is, today is a classic example. We don't have Atiba, we don't have Etienne, we don't have Darren Mattocks. So there's three guys that can come on and really impact a game like that. Make a difference in a game like that and change up what we're doing.
    Those guys should be back for us soon and I think they'll make a difference. Even if it's not starting, and coming on, you can change the game and we didn't really have enough options to change the game today."</i>
    So with who was available, we can take it that he didn't really have the faith in them to get the job done. The question then, is what role these guys can actually play at the club? I think Tan could certainly have added some pace to the attack, which was badly missing.
    There is no doubt that the bench was weak, and you had Michael Nanchoff out injured and Russell Teibert doing Canada proud. Once we have all these guys fully fit and back, then we'll know what kind of squad we have. Then we can judge.
    And if we can keep picking up points until they are, then that's no bad thing.
    Some of the fringe players will have a chance to show Martin Rennie what they could add to the current team in tomorrow's reserve game against Seattle. The line up is going to be a mix of second and third stringers and some Residency guys like Ben Fisk.
    Two away games are next up for the Caps, including what should be a tough one against a winless, and no doubt very hungry, Philadelphia Union, followed by San Jose.
    These are two teams that will punish a lack of offensive fluency or midfield dominance.
    Last week's Whitecaps training was very low key, very light hearted. I think we're going to see a different management team this coming week and the players that aren't performing need that kick in the right direction, because if they keep underperforming, when the squad is back at full strength, there's going to be a number of guys that want to come in and take their jobs.
    For Whitecaps fans, that can only be good.
    'Mon the Caps
    <center>********************</center>
    <b>AFTN 3-2-1 :</b>
    3 points - JOE CANNON (a beast between the sticks and another 'Save of the Week' contender)
    2 points - YOUNG-PYO LEE (can't fault the guy so far this season)
    1 point - JAY DEMERIT (won the official 'Man of the Match' award. Was solid, but certainly not the top performer on the night)
    <p>
    Guest
    It was a forgettable day at the park. A home opener like no other – it lacked the anticipation or excitement of past years – and a result utterly, utterly forgettable.
    What does one say about a game like yesterday? Nothing original comes to mind.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]The back-line is a disaster without Torsten Frings.
    Ty Harden is good for at least one OH-MY-GOD-WHAT-IS-HE-DOING moment a game.
    Maybe we were too quick to proclaim the starting keeper's job to Milos Kocic – not that it much matters now.
    Oh, and the back-line is a disaster. Period.
    It seems as though Toronto’s season is going to be about trying to outscore opponents and when they don’t take advantage of the chances they create there could be some ugly results. It’s early, of course, and there is still time to sort things out, but the hope that the L.A. result brought is gone. It’s all dread now.
    An anecdote: At the end of the game I was standing in line for the washroom. Suddenly a fan leaving recognizes me and walks towards me with an angry look on his face.
    “I don’t want to read anything positive on your site about this,” he spat out before continuing.
    He won’t.
    Was it 3-0 bad? Well, at the risk of being too literal, yes – they allowed three goals and scored none. So, it was 3-0 bad. There were moments when they created going forward and maybe they deserved more, but that really doesn’t mean much. They lost. Badly. It simply isn’t good enough.
    But, you don’t need me to tell you that. The amount of empty seats at the final whistle, and the boos that could be heard from those that remained, already did.
    Guest
    Read that headline over again. It's not often you're going to get to read something like that.
    Yes, Saturday was one glorious day for the game in this country. Rarely do we get to indulge in such events. And such indulgence also leads to indulgence of other sorts... hence, this entry will be brief. Surely my CSN colleagues will provide further, more salient insight in the hours ahead.
    But, really, when it comes down to it, I'm a supporter of Canadian soccer. So let's cut right to the chase: I feel fucking awesome right now. You probably do too. And y'know what? We deserve it. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The women's national team's 2-1 victory over Brazil was a mildly unexpected but still highly notable result. Christine Sinclair scored, which should shock you if you're the sort that gets surpised at seeing that big shiny thing on the horizon every morning. She then scored again, which is slightly more surprising, until you remember that there's a decent chance that she's actually some sort of human-cyborg hybrid, enginereed for the purposes of scoring goals and modelling broken-nose masks.
    The victory over the fourth-ranked Brazilians is a wonderful momentum boost for Big Red as they look ahead (medium-term) to the Olympics and (short-term) to a friendly against Sweden, the world's fifth-ranked squad.
    Yes, the ladies have already booked their spot in the London Games, but the hopes for the men's team looked tenuous at best after an unconvincing (to put it mildly) 0-0 draw against El Salvador on Thursday.
    Then Saturday night happened.
    Here are some more words you're unlikely to read very often: Canada beat the United States 2-0, and was absolutely full value for the victory. No bullshit flukey goals. No dubious sending off for the U.S. that gave Canada the numerical advantage (though to call Randy Edwini-Bonsu's sending-off "dubious" would be putting it mildly -- "unadulterated horse shit" would be nearer the mark).
    This was a team that was hungry, focused and aggressive, but also disciplined. They stayed defensively strong. They kept their tactics in play after taking the lead. They continued to press the favoured Americans, in their own backyard (Nashville, to be precise). They were so comprehensive in agitating their Yank opponents that the hometown crowd took to raucous booing and garbage tossing whenever standout goalkeeper Michal Misiewicz got his hands on the ball.
    This was, without hyperbole, the most complete and gratifying performance by a Canadian team that I have ever witnessed.
    And it couldn't have come at a better time. A victory against Cuba on Monday (Cuba, by the way, has lost twice and has a -10 goal differential thus far) will likely clinch the top spot in the group for Canada. That would set up a winner-gets-a-spot-in-the-Olympics showdown next Saturday night against the runner-up in Group B, which at this point is likely to be... oh crap.
    Honduras.
    Yes, those bloody Hondurans.
    But let's not get ahead of ourselves. It's a glorious night. Let the future unfold as it will.
    Suffice to say, after the events of Saturday night, Canada's Olympics hopes -- as it relates to the game of soccer -- got a pretty massive boost. Could the women's team bring home a medal? Could the men's team qualify for the first time since 1984?
    We'll get an even clearer idea on both of those fronts next Saturday.
    But for now, let's celebrate a rare day of unadulterated triumph for our teams and our nation.
    .
    Guest
    Vancouver Whitecaps are running their inaugural Boys' College Showcase at Newton Athletic Park in Surrey this weekend.
    With 65 games scheduled over the three days, the Whitecaps Residency teams took centre stage today and were left unbeaten at the end of it all, with some great performances on display for around 30 educational establishments in attendance from across Canada and the US, and even Ghana.
    The Whitecaps U14 side kicked off proceedings this morning with a 2-1 win against Surrey United U-15 of the EA SPORTS BC Soccer Premier League.
    That set the stage nicely for the U18's and U16's, and their USSDA match ups against strong California side De Anza Force.
    The Caps U18's made it five wins out of five on BC soil, with a hard fought 3-2 victory over a Force side, whose first half performance belied their status at Western Conference leaders.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Vancouver took the lead in the 24th minute when Yassin Essa danced up the right wing and centred perfectly for Spencer DeBoice to hit it high into the net from four yards out.
    De Anza came out like a different team in the second half and took the game to Vancouver, their pace troubling the Caps defence and leading to two quick goals after some sloppy defending.
    To the Caps credit they showed their metal and Ben Fisk led the comeback.
    After skinning a defender in the 70th minute, Fisk's cross was turned into his own net by a Force defender for 2-2. Then with eight minutes remaining, Fisk scored the winner after burying a Wesley Cain cross to the back post, aided by a goal-line fumble by the Force keeper.
    It was a good win and the guys are still looking good for securing a July playoff spot.
    The Caps U16 have also really come on to a game of late and are now unbeaten in five matches after a 2-2 draw this afternoon against a De Anza side who are just above them in the Western standings.
    I haven't seen a lot of the U16's this season but was very impressed by their play today. What a difference to the team I saw down in Tukwila against Seattle in December.
    The pace of the game was fantastic, with some great touches and skill, and the Caps looked so much the better side in the first half, taking the lead with a 30th minute Brody Huitema penalty and doubling their lead with a second half strike from Matthew Chow.
    De Anza fought back and scored midway through the second half, before levelling with a controversial penalty with just four minutes remaining.
    The Caps will feel hard done by, but they have some rising stars in the team, perhaps none more so than the mightily impressive Brody Huitema.
    It will be interesting to see which of the Residency players may have caught the eye of the scouts in attendance today. Two of the Caps U18 guys have already committed to playing for Simon Fraser University Clan in the next NCAA season.
    Both Residency sides are back in USSDA action in Surrey next Saturday, with a double header against another Californian side, Pateadores.
    With the Caps away in Philadelphia, PVR the game, get yourselves along to Newton Athletic Park and #SupportTheFuture.
    <p>
    Guest

    Frei suffers break

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    The news on Stefan Frei is out and it's not good.
    The Swiss keeper broke his fibula yesterday. An MRI is scheduled for next week.
    At that time, TFC will know the full extent of the injury. However, the typical healing time for such an injury is eight to 10 weeks.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Guest

    Supporters Aim To Show Racism The Red Card

    By Guest, in AFTN,

    This month, <a href="http://www.soccersupporters.org/" target="_blank">Independent Supporters Council (ISC)</a> members from across the United States and Canada will take a stance against racism.
    Supporters' groups the length and breadth of North America are backing the initiative and will be planning their own displays of support for the anti-racism campaign, including Vancouver's Southsiders and Toronto's Red Patch Boys.
    Prior to the kickoff at Saturday's Whitecaps match against DC United, the Southsiders will be distributing red cards to those in sections 248-254 of BC Place. After the national anthem, the Southsiders will raise red cards to show unity against racism in football around world and here in Canada.
    The hope is that fans in other sections will bring their own red cards if they do not sit in one of those areas and raise and hold them in the air until kick off, to 'Show Racism The Red Card'.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Toronto's Red Patch Boys are believed to be planning their own show of support for the initiative at next Saturday's match against Columbus and DC United's Screaming Eagles plan to have a banner of support at BC Place tomorrow.
    Now, racism may not be rife in Major League Soccer I hear you say. True, but sadly, as in all walks of life, it exists.
    You just had to witness one drunken idiot at the Caps-Montreal game who was shouting racial abuse at players on both teams and there were incidents at Caps games last season as well. These aren't Whitecaps fans. These are mindless, usually very drunken, idiots and anyone who sees such action should report the offender(s) to security immediately.
    Football in North America has a dynamic and rich history that is multiracial, and embraces the strength that comes with its diversity. The history of the sport here is unique from other parts of the world, in that a philosophy of inclusiveness has always been apparent in all of its aspects, including players, supporters, and management.
    The Whitecaps alone have players and management representing all six governing continental football bodies around the world and 21 nationalities.
    As football continues to grow in the North American continent, it is imperative that each of us takes responsibility in ensuring the diverse heritage and culture of the sport continues.
    There are many recent examples in Europe, and some in the United States, where racism has reared its ugly head. A quick search of Twitter following Fabrice Muamba's collapse last Saturday showed that to be sadly true.
    Some have said that the initiative is somewhat of an empty gesture and such things do little to stamp out racism from the sport and everyday life, or attaches unwanted stigma on the sport here when none exists. Others say what's the point? It's not going to change anything.
    In the grand scheme of things it doesn't, and yes, maybe it is a little hollow in some places, but standing back and not saying anything about the worldwide problem is even worse. It is our duty to let the racists know that we may not be able to change what they think, but we won't be letting them share their views at the football.
    The Southsiders and the ISC have found a very willing and supportive partner for their plans in the Vancouver Whitecaps, and Major League Soccer are on board with the whole idea.
    The Caps have been fantastic at backing the initiative at short notice.
    They plan to have the lights of BC Place turn red during the red card display tomorrow and the huge stadium screen will focus on the Southsiders section, along with pre-match announcements, which have already begun with their pre-match emailings today.
    The players were also only too keen to get involved and posed for promotional pictures at today's training to raise awareness of the idea.
    Coverage of the initiative has been great in the Vancouver media, with radion and TV stations picking up on it and pieces were featured in The Province, Vancouver Sun and my own column in the <a href=" http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/blog/post/1132380--away-from-the-numbers-southsiders-show-racism-the-red-card" target="_blank">Metro</a> ( part of which I've rehashed in this article as I feel it's important to get the message out to as wide and varied a readership as possible).
    Whether you feel racism is a problem in the sport here or not, I for one, am glad that the ISC have come up with what I'm sure will now end up being an annual show of unity.
    Here at AFTN, we've been involved in anti-racism campaigns for a long time and it takes me back to similar initiatives back in the UK in the 90's.
    Upon hearing about the Southsiders and ISC campaign, I dug out some old printed copies of AFTN from our fanzine days.
    In Issue 28 (our summer 1994 issue!) we gave away a free fanzine insert produced by the Football Supporters' Association in the UK.
    Called "The United Colours of Football - Let's Kick Racism Out of Football", the 16 page fanzine contained articles, cartoons and humour to drum home the anti-racism message. It was meant to be a one-off. It never could be, and it became an annual feature, given away by fanzines like ourselves up and down the land, and handed out at football grounds around the UK.
    We actually took some copies of that issue of AFTN ('United' fanzine included) over to the US with us that summer when we took in some games in Detroit during the World Cup. Obviously we were ahead of our time in getting the anti-racism message across to future MLS fans!
    So if you're heading down to BC Place on Saturday, or another MLS stadium this month, bring along your own red cards or head to the Southsiders section and grab any spare cards. No matter where you're sitting in the stadium, stand loud, stand proud and let everyone know that you want to give racism the red card.
    I want to end with quoting the last paragraph from that first ever FSA anti-racism fanzine, as it's still as relevant today, as it was then:
    "Football is our game. All of ours. You can do something about it, and it doesn't mean joining a political organisation. Those who would like to use it as a vehicle for their sick, bigoted views need to be told - 'change your ways or get out'. Kick racism out of football."
    <i>[*** You can find more Whitecaps photos from Harry Jay <a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/15478831%40N06/collections/72157629653902077/" target="_blank">HERE</a> and from Vosie Photography <a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/vosie/sets/" target="_blank">HERE</a> and thanks to both of them for letting us use their pictures from today's Caps training ***]</i>
    <p>
    Guest
    <b>KEY PLAYERS :</b>
    ATTACKING
    While he has yet to score a goal this season through two matches, <b>Eric Hassli</b> is still contributing in other aspects of the game. The big Frenchman is working hard defensively and has started to develop some chances in the box with an improved aerial attack.
    After a season which earned him the MLS MVP and a new contract, </b>Dwayne DeRosario</b> and DC United are hoping for a similar performance this year. The Canadian international normally starts as a withdrawn striker/attacking midfielder but will often roam around the pitch which makes him even more dangerous.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    DEFENSE
    After scoring the winner last week, as well as his first goal as a Whitecap, Captain <b>Jay DeMerit</b> is proving to be the leader management was hoping for when they signed him. He has performed some physical and timely tackles, yet has been disciplined enough to avoid any cautions.
    Brought in to provide leadership on the backline <b>Emiliano Dudar</b> made his debut coming on for the injured Canadian Dejan Jakovic last week. The Argentine central defender is a veteran of the Swiss League and has knowledge of Hassli’s game which will be an advantage for DCU.
    <b>WHO'S ON FORM :</b>
    During the offseason <b>Joe Cannon</b> stated on more than one occasion that he was healthy and would be in form for the 2012 season. The veteran has been involved in two clean sheets, earning himself a MLS Save of the Week honour and should see another start despite a thigh injury.
    Difficult to say a goalkeeper who allows three goals is playing well, but if not for <b>Joe Willis</b> it would have been an even more lopsided score against the Galaxy. Willis is only making his fifth career start but earned a shutout in his debut last year against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
    <b>2012 RECORD :</b>
    Vancouver:
    2W-0D-0L
    3rd in Western Conference
    Last Match: 1-0 Win at Chivas USA
    DC United:
    0W-0D-2L
    8th in Western Conference
    Last Match: 3-1 Loss at LA Galaxy
    <b>PROJECTED LINE-UPS :</b>

    <b>INJURIES/MISSING :</b>
    Vancouver:
    Out - FW Etienne Barbara (groin strain), MF John Thorrington (quad strain), MF Michael Nanchoff (heel contusion), FW Darren Mattocks (shoulder), MF Bryce Alderson (international duty); MF Russell Teibert (international duty)
    Questionable - FW Atiba Harris (knee pain), MF Gershon Koffie (ankle), GK Brian Sylvestre (knee)
    DC United:
    Out - DF Ethan White (knee), MF Kurt Morsink (foot), DF Dejan Jakovic (groin), MF Lance Rozeboom (knee), GK Bill Hamid (international duty), MF Perry Kitchen (international duty), MF Andy Najar (international duty)
    <b>GAME PREDICTION :</b>
    The Whitecaps look to continue their hot start and extend their two game winning streak against DC United. After what was deemed by most an “ugly” win against Chivas USA, the Caps are looking to improve their attack while they maintain their strong defensive play which has yet to concede a goal this season.
    Their opponents from DC have struggled this season losing to preseason favourites Sporting Kansas City and LA Galaxy. They will be missing three key starters due to Olympic Qualifying , as goalkeeper Bill Hamid and midfielder Perry Kitchen are with the U.S. while Andy Najar is with Honduras. In addition to those players missing, DC United will be without Canadian international Dejan Jakovic due to injury and has yet to start either of their designated players this year to lack of fitness.
    For the Whitecaps there will be little change to the starting eleven from the first two victories as Joe Cannon looks to have recovered enough to make his third start in as many games. In front of him the Caps will most likely have the same backline as DeMerit and Bonjour will partner in the middle with Lee and Rochat out wide. Hassli starts once again up top as he once again will play in front of Le Toux, Camilo and Chiumiento. The one question will be who starts alongside Davidson as the other holding midfielder as Rennie will have to choose between Koffie, who started week 1, or Watson, last week’s starter.
    Unlike last week, the Whitecaps will have to face players who are legitimate threats to score at any time on the pitch. Last year’s MLS MVP Dwayne DeRosario has yet to register a goal or an assist, but has always been a thorn in the Caps side. The fullbacks will sure be under fire as they must deal with the pace of Danny Cruz on the right side and Chris Pontius on the left. The central defense will have to either deal with Maicon Santos, who always seems to score against Vancouver, or their Albanian DP Hamdi Salihi.
    When transitioning on the attack, the Whitecaps will need to improve their initial passing from deep in their third. They’re also hoping to have an improved game from Le Toux, who struggled against Chivas which seemed to affect the entire side. Another factor will be how much the fullbacks are involved in the attack, as both Lee and Rochat struggled at times with their service into the box.
    The Caps need to take advantage of their opponents missing multiple starters in order to claim their third win of the season. Another victory will be significant considering it took the Caps until the first week of August to record their third win last season.
    <b>Predicted Score: Whitecaps 3 DC United 1</b>
    <p>
    Guest
    Today, we're joined by San Jose head coach Frank Yallop to talk about what they're hoping to get in a trade for Nana Attakora, how he has managed to maintain his long run as head coach there and what he makes of Toronto's lineup.
    We'll also talk about Canada's nervous start to Olympic qualifying, why a Montreal reporter got the shaft at an Impact practice and discuss how serious Stefan Frei's injury could be.
    The archived show is now up.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Our next show is Monday.
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    Guest

    Frei injured at practice

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Toronto FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei injured his left leg in a training game today.
    TFC asked all media to halt recording while he was tended to on the pitch. The game resumed at the other end of the field while trainers worked on the Swiss keeper.
    Frei appeared to get his cleats caught on the pitch when sliding for a save. He let out a loud scream before crumpling to the ground.
    TFC's training staff applied an air cast on the keeper before he helped off the pitch. Reports indicate he has now been taken to hospital for further examination.
    CSN will have more on this story as it develops
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
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