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    Aaron Campbell
    THE GOOD
    Laba and Teibert's domination of pitch
    If you where only listening to the game on the radio you wouldn't even have known Robbie Keane was playing. He was invisible all game long. Other than a few touches far away from the goal, he wasn't a factor at all this game.
    Teibert was in his pocket all game long. Didn't give him any breathing room at all. If the ball was heading to Keane, Teibert made sure he was on him and making just enough contact to not get a foul but enough for Keane to be frustrated. At one point Keane went to the ref and started whining about the contact that he was facing all match.
    With all the effort Teibert was putting in stopping Keane it gave Laba the chance to clean up everything else through the middle of the pitch. He was his world class self being tough on tackles and breaking up passes all game.
    These two together are forming a great partnership and moving forward, they will only get better with the more minutes they are to play as a dynamic duo.
    THE AVERAGE
    Quality Finishing
    Another game where the Whitecaps could have easily had double the amount of goals they actually got. If they were firing on all cylinders the game could easily have been three or four-nothing.
    Even with the four game winning streak, this team can still get better. They have weak spots, need a winger and need more from their right-back.
    With the arrival of Cristian Techera this week, this only means more speed, pace and firepower for this exciting to watch Whitecaps team.
    At the current pace this team is on pace for 48 goals this season. That is way below the 55-60 that Carl Robinson has stated he expects out of his side this year.
    THE BAD
    Steven Beitashour's a step too slow
    Game after game we see Beitashour getting caught out of position way too often. He is either too far up the pitch and getting beat over the top, or too far in the middle of the pitch and getting bested too easily down the wing.
    For a player of his salary, and in MLS that matters, he needs to be better. He has struggled a bit ever since he returned from the World Cup playing for Iran.
    With such a dominant performance by the whole team it was easy to notice some off the hiccups that Beitashour had during the game.
    Michael Mccoll
    REPORT (by Steve Pandher):
    They didn’t leave it as late as most have come to expect, but Vancouver Whitecaps won their fourth straight beating the defending MLS Cup Champions LA Galaxy 2-0. It was Kekuta Manneh who opened the scoring with his first while Octavio Rivero collected his fourth of the season and David Ousted earned his third cleansheet.
    It was a dominating first half by the Whitecaps as they controlled the flow of the match and had the advantage in possession. Unfortunately they weren’t able to finish and the best opportunity came from Pedro Morales early on, who spun from his mark inside box but directed the ball right at the keeper.
    The second half started more promising for the Galaxy with a little more possession and an attempt from distance by Juninho.
    It was to be the Whitecaps who struck first in the 56th minute when Kekuta Manneh opened up his account for 2015 to give the Caps the lead. After collecting the ball, Morales made a perfect reverse pass into the path of Manneh who took on Meyer, turning him, before depositing the ball inside the near post.
    The sellout crowd at B.C. Place only needed to wait another ten minutes to see their team double the lead as Octavio Rivero scored his fourth goal in five MLS starts.
    After taking the ball from Rivero, Nicolas Mezquida made it to the byeline where he sent the ball into the six yard area. Jaime Penedo was able to get a hand on it but he sent it right to Rivero who had an easy finish from in close.
    Despite being up by two and seemingly in full control, the Caps continued their attack and tried to get that third. The final ten minutes saw Hurtado, Mattocks and Morales make runs down the wing and attempt to completely kill off the game but found Penedo standing tall.
    They didn’t need that goal as they closed out the Galaxy and ended the night at the top of the table of both the Western Conference and all of MLS. Vancouver will not have much time to enjoy this win as they return to B.C. Place for the their first midweek match against the Columbus Crew on Wednesday, looking to make it five straight wins.
    FINAL SCORE: Vancouver Whitecaps 2 - 0 Los Angeles Galaxy
    ATT: 21,000 (sell out)
    VANCOUVER: David Ousted; Steve Beitashour, Kendall Waston, Pa-Modou Kah, Sam Adekugbe; Russell Teibert, Matías Laba, Nicolas Mezquida (Deybi Flores 82‘), Pedro Morales, Kekuta Manneh (Darren Mattocks 78‘); Octavio Rivero (Erik Hurtado 86‘) [substitutes not used: Paolo Tornaghi, Tim Parker, Jordan Harvey, Robert Earnshaw]
    LOS ANGELES: Jaime Penedo; A.J. DeLaGarza, Omar González, Tommy Meyer (Alan Gordon 78‘), Todd Dunivant (Edson Buddle 64‘); Stefan Ishizaki, Juninho, Mika Väyrynen (Robbie Rogers 40‘), Baggio Husidic; Gyasi Zardes, Robbie Keane [substitutes not used: Brian Rowe, Dan Gargan, Rafael Garcia, Ignacio Maganto]
    MATCH STATS:
    Shots: Vancouver 18 - LA 6
    Shots on Goal: Vancouver 9 - LA 1
    Saves: Vancouver 1 - LA 7
    Fouls: Vancouver 6 - LA 10
    Offsides: Vancouver 3 - LA 1
    Corners: Vancouver 1 - LA 4
    REACTION:
    VANCOUVER WHITECAPS
    CARL ROBINSON
    Thoughts on the match:
    “We scored two goals in the second half. I thought we played very well in the first half without capitalizing on our chances created. We couldn’t hit the target. It was like shooting practice without a goal. The second half we were a little bit more clinical.”
    Big win for the team:
    “It’s one game for us. It’s important that we won because we won last week, and we probably didn’t play as well as we should have or could have. Not from the fault of any of the guys. They don’t go out there and try to perform badly, but that happens sometimes. Their levels aren’t what they should be, and I asked them for a response today. After 45 minutes and it was nil-nil, I was a little bit worried because we were playing well, but it’s about winning. We managed to get two goals against the best team. Say what you want, they are the best team. They prove it year in and year out. They have some of the best players. It was a good result for us, but it was one game. We’ll enjoy it tonight because tomorrow it’s gone. We have a big game on Wednesday.”
    Thoughts on stopping Keane and Zardes:
    “You can’t give good players space. I spoke all week about Robbie especially, how smart he is at getting into pockets. He can destroy teams on his own, and we wanted to make sure that didn’t happen. We did a lot of work with Mati and Rusty, and I thought both of them were absolutely fantastic. They were great with their tactical understanding. If you limit their space and time, and don’t allow them to get shots, we’ll have a chance to win the game.”
    Thoughts on Kekuta Manneh:
    “I told Kekuta he had done very well in the first half without hitting the target. I told him in the second half that he needed to stay positive and hit the target, and he did so it was a good performance. I think he has shown over the past couple of weeks glimpses of it, but for 70-odd minutes he was outstanding today.”
    Thoughts on bringing in Deybi Flores:
    “Warm-up players were excellent today. I think we deserve the three points. It was probably Mezquida’s best game for the club. The way he drifted. The way he found pockets of space. He set-up the second goal with a little bit of magic, and I wanted to bring a little bit of energy in that area, so I put Deybi on. He was full of energy. He could have probably had a goal or two himself, so yeah, it was promising from him.”
    Thoughts on team confidence:
    “Yeah, I think they have to feel good about themselves. As I said we put up a great performance against the best team. What we have to do since last year is be more consistent, then we become a very good team. I don’t want to be a good team one week, and a very poor team the next two or three weeks. It’s about consistency, but with young players, you don’t always have consistency. My job, and my staff’s job, is to get it more consistent than not. That’s part of our focus here, but as I said, we’ll enjoy it, but it’s just one game. It’s another game off the calendar, but we have two massive game coming up with the first game on Wednesday against a very good Columbus team.”
    Thoughts on Kah and Waston:
    “People talk about goal-scorers and finding goal-scorers, but I think the centre back position is the hardest one to find on any team. When you find a good one, or good ones, it’s important you get them on your team and get them on to your squad, and develop them. We’ve been very fortunate, obviously with bringing in Kendall mid-way through last year, and Kah coming in at the beginning of this year, replacing Andy O’Brien, another top experience player, and bringing in Diego as well. I still have Timmy Parker and Christian Dean. I’m happy with all five centre backs I have, and I’ll carry all five centre backs. You need five centre backs all season. They’ve started off very well. Diego’s missed the last two games, and he’s back in the fold on Wednesday.”
    Thoughts on team playing well right now:
    “I just challenge them. I see it on a daily basis. They are really good players. They’ve got a really talented group in here, but as I said, it’s about consistency. When you train Monday to Friday, I want them to train hard and get that winning mentality, that competitiveness between themselves. And if you do that Monday to Friday, then it’ll come out on Saturday. I see them play during the week and they are outstanding. Sometimes we’ll get it right and sometimes we won’t, as we’ve seen in the past two weeks, but it’s important when you don’t get it right, you grind out victories, but we got it right today. We played very well. We have to start believing in our good players because everyone can talk you up, but it’s about playing consistently and doing it over a period of time.”
    DAVID OUSTED
    Thoughts on tonight’s defence:
    “The centre backs played fantastic. They cleared almost everything today. One of your esteemed colleagues told me I didn’t have much to do today and he was right. I had an easy night because we did great defensive work.”
    On the early season success:
    “There’s definitely confidence in the locker room. There’s also knowledge that we need to be even better every time we go in. When people are going to play the Whitecaps, they are going to say, “They’re really good and we need to beat them.” So we need to be even better and we need to work even harder if we want to keep ourselves up there. It starts on Wednesday with a game at home again.”
    On Kekuta Manneh’s goal:
    “It was fantastic. He’s done it all week in training. We know he can do it. It’s fantastic to see him get what he deserves from all the hard work today.”
    On Octavio Rivero’s offensive output:
    “I’m actually not surprised. He’s been known all along as an excellent striker and he’s shown he’s working hard and he’s believing in himself and now, he’s getting his goals.”
    On containing the LA Galaxy offence:
    “They’re a really good team. Normally, they’re good at breaking teams down and it’s a testament to what we did defensively today – not just the back four but midfield and up front, getting in those right areas and getting around their dangerous players. I think we did tremendous today.”
    KENDALL WASTON
    Thoughts on the match:
    “It was very important for us to win today. Last game was a good game and today we were able to continue the good pace. Thank god we won. Now, this game is over, we have to think only of Columbus.”
    On the defensive strategy against LA Galaxy strikers Robbie Keane and Gyasi Zardes:
    “We just wanted to be close to them. They like to play between each other. The team today was very compact. We kept the ball so that gave us a second breath. That helped a lot because we had a lot of good possessions. Today we did the things that we didn’t do last game so obviously, today was a better game for us. We scored two good goals and that is very important for us.”
    On Kekuta Manneh’s recent play:
    “He’s a very important player for us. He’s a young guy that wants to reach the top level. I think he’s improving every day and he wants to get better. Today was a nice goal for him because in the last games, he got others opportunities when he couldn’t score, so today we’re very happy for him that he could score.”
    On getting the crowd pumped:
    “Sometimes we just need the people to get into it. This thing is a group thing – us players, the staff, the fans, we are together and we want to make history together, that’s why I did that.”
    PEDRO MORALES
    Thoughts on the match:
    “It was a very important game. The whole team played very well. It was a very good tactical performance. We had more possessions tonight than the last game. It’s important to win here in our house and now have a four-game winning streak. We have another important game on Wednesday.”
    On Coach Carl Robinson’s post-game message:
    “Coach Carl Robinson told me we needed to play defence better in the middle and that won’t be a problem for this team. I feel happy when we play like this, when we move the ball. We’ll enjoy this game and now just wait for the next game on Wednesday, and hopefully we get another win.”
    LA GALAXY
    BRUCE ARENA
    Talk about the result:
    “They were the better team all night, they outplayed us the entire match. They outcompeted us form the start and it was a big factor in the game, give them credit, they outplayed us in every aspect of the game.”
    What can you take from this game:
    “Can’t take anything good. Personally every player can look at their performance and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
    The attack wasn’t really good:
    “We didn’t do anything well tonight, no excuses.”
    How much better is this Whitecaps FC team than the one you saw last year:
    “Who knows, you don’t know anything this early in a season. Ask me that question in August and I’d hopefully have an answer for you. Right now they have four wins in five games, that’s real positive.”
    What do you think of Rivero:
    “Good player, good player.”
    Slow start, is there enough time to bounce back:
    “We have what 30 more games, 29 more games. There’s a chance to bounce back.”
    A.J. DELAGARZA
    Thoughts on the match:
    “I don’t think we created many chances, the final third all the way up from me could’ve been better the entire night. We gave up two goals on a night you’re not going to win many games away from home like that.”
    Was their speed an issue, especially going against Manneh:
    “I don’t think they really used him [Manneh] too much, except on the counter attacks and you saw that’s when he got his goal. Then we went to three backs and you’re dealing with Manneh, Mattocks, and Hurtado all guys with pretty good pace coming at you, Omar and I were on three on two quite a few times.”
    Is there anything you can take from the game?
    “There’s not much you can take from this game, we just got outplayed, outworked and I think all the way around any guy won their battle tonight.”
    How do you rebound from tonight with Seattle coming home?
    “We're at home, we know what we can do there. If we can’t get points on the road we have to win every single game at home. Start with Seattle then we play Kansas City after that. These are as big games as you can have six games into the year.”
    GYASI ZARDES
    Thoughts on the match:
    “I could talk about myself, my teammates they were good today. I felt like was multiple times I wasn’t a threat going forward, got be a threat, got to put the defenders on their heels when I’m playing up top or out wide.”
    Do you think the offence isn’t clicking right now:
    “It’s early, a bunch of us left with our national team, our attacking forwards, it’s hard to come back and just get in the groove of it, but then again there’s no excuses we didn’t show up.”
    Is it about regaining a sharpness:
    “This week we’re going to work on our chemistry, just getting the ball moving. Usually we outplay teams, we don’t let other teams touch the ball, although tonight we let Vancouver catch a rhythm.”
    The team got run over a bit tonight:
    “Yeah this team is very fast on the counter attack, when we lost the ball they were already running away with it.”
    Slow start again this season:
    “To be honest we’re one of those teams, we have a lot of veteran players. Last year I think we even started out worse than this year. It’s a long season and we’re going to move and stride forward. I feel okay with the team coming forward.”
    What did Vancouver do to make it difficult:
    “They had a lot of numbers back. A back line of four, they didn’t really go up, their wing backs stayed tucked in it was good on their part. Their defensive midfielders who come back and helped, he didn’t push to far up the field.”
    ROBBIE KEANE
    Thoughts on the match:
    “We have to give them a lot of credit, they were the better team there’s no question about that, they outplayed us.”
    Does the chemistry need to get better:
    “They played better than us, it’s not about chemistry. Tonight that obviously wasn’t there but you know it wasn’t because we weren’t trying, it was the fact that they were the better team.”
    Is it a good wakeup call this early in the season:
    “It seems to happen to us a lot at the start of the season. Start off very very slow and then end up kicking on and then winning it, hopefully that will be the case again.”
    What did Vancouver do:
    “Nothing, they just played better than us, they were the better team all around. They kept the ball, they counter attacked very very well and at the end of the night they scored two goals. You just have to hold your hands up and accept we weren’t good enough tonight and they were the better team.”
    Is it a different Vancouver team?
    “Yeah completely. If you look at the squad now they have that Carl has inherited it’s his own team now. Before it wasn’t really his own team, it was from previous managers. This is 100% Carl’s team, as good a manager as he is, it was a matter of time before he had a good good team and that’s what they were tonight.”
    Michael Crampton
    Tepid is probably not an unfair word to apply to most of MLS’s Eastern Conference in 2015. Between two expansion teams, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Montreal – CCL success notwithstanding, granted – the likely occupiers of the bottom half of the Eastern table don’t look like insurmountable obstacles. Keep in mind: one of those teams will have to make the playoffs in the new, expanded format for 2015. And TFC only has to finish ahead of four of the five to complete that task themselves.
    Now, this is Toronto FC we’re talking about of course, so please don’t imagine that I’m anything but aware of the ridiculousness of claiming that they really should make the playoffs. If the Reds are going to do it, however, taking points off those Eastern Conference opponents they need to finish ahead of is the way to go about the task.
    After missing out on Jermaine Jones last summer, Chicago ownership and management has made a faint hearted attempt to recapture some of the excitement that has waned in the Windy City by dipping into the designated player market in the offseason. On the other hand, many observers are not quite sure why Shaun Maloney is a designated player. The Scottish international had a number of successful seasons after coming through Celtic’s youth ranks, and a few respectable if unexceptional years after moving to the English Premier League, but is hardly a name brand beyond dedicated followers Scottish football and, at 32, unlikely to have undiscovered upside.
    David Accam, on the other hand, is an interesting signing, and in some sense the type of chance that some fans would like to see more MLS teams take. The young Ghanaian has been climbing the ranks of European football in Sweden after finding an unconventional route to the professional game by winning a contest to find undiscovered talent. So far Accam has been limited to a second half appearance in the Fire’s loss in San Jose, but his addition did add energy and directness to a largely lifeless looking Chicago attack.
    Finally, Kennedy Igboananike is another forward grabbed from Swedish football. More experienced than Accam, but still only 26, Igboananike has yet to complete a full 90 minutes in MLS or notch his first goal.
    Regardless of the designated players, it is homegrown signing Harry Shipp who is fast becoming the identifiable face of Chicago’s franchise. After a breakout season in 2014 the young American now seems like the possible difference between the Fire and increased irrelevance. A goal in San Jose and an assist on the Fire’s game-winner last week show Shipp’s importance: he’s literally been involved in all of Chicago’s goals to date this season.
    Putting out the Fire has never been easy for Toronto FC in Bridgeview as a failure to win in nine visits will attest. Stop Shipp, however, and this could be the time they finally leave the home of their Great Lakes rival with all three points.
    Michael Mccoll
    "He's the best," Robinson said bluntly when asked by reporters this week what makes Arena so successful. "You can talk about young coaches coming through and all that but he wins things. He gets the best out of his group of players. He's got some fantastic players to choose from by the way.
    "If you win and you've got good players and you're able to manage them and consistently do it, not just one year, but consistently do it, arguably you're the best. And he is the best. The way he conducts himself, the way he manages himself, the way he manages his players. To all of us young, aspiring coaches, he's the model that you want in North America. So as I said, I just think he's the godfather."
    This may read a little strange to some. Why is Robinson bigging up his opponent ahead of the game? Is he maybe too much in awe of him and sees him as invincible you may wonder?
    Far from it. Robbo's made it very clear on numerous occasions that he wants both himself and his team tested against the best. It's simply respect of his experience and his achievements in the game.
    "Bruce and Sigi [schmid] are arguably the two best managers in the league without a doubt," Robinson told AFTN when we spoke to him about this just before the season started. "I enjoy pitting my wits against those two guys when we come up against each other. I'm sure people will tell you that I still haven't beaten Bruce Arena yet, which is great because hopefully we'll get a couple of cracks at him this year.
    But he also wants to learn. And games like this weekend's one against LA are part of where he does that. As is sitting down and chatting with the likes of Arena on occasion to pick his brains.
    "I've sat down with him a couple of times," Robinson told reporters this week. "Is he going to give me all of his secrets? No, he's not. But the way he puts his teams out is very organised, but he's got good players and consistently got good players.
    "When the end of a season comes and you win a championship, and hopefully one day we will get there, it's important that you build again. And what he's managed to find the art of is strengthening his group when he loses players, but not having a detrimental effect on the group because they're always in the MLS Cup final."
    That's exactly where Robinson wants to be with the Whitecaps. Every manager does obviously, but the 'Caps coach sees the work he is putting in now and the building process that he has underway as stepping stones to that ultimate goal. And he has a firm belief that that day will come for Vancouver.
    "Do I think I can win MLS? I'm sure you've got 20 odd managers that think they can win MLS Cup," Robinson told us preseason. "The reality is, the same guy's won it three years out of four and he's probably the best one, but you never say never."
    LA and Seattle have been dominant forces in MLS, particularly in the Western Conference, these past few years. It's no surprise as they are led by the two coaches with the most wins in MLS history in Arena and Sigi Schmid.
    The pair of sexagenarians are the MLS old guard. How many more years they have in them is impossible to say. Bobby Robson was 71-years-old when he was sacked as Newcastle boss in 2004. Arena is 63 right now and Schmid has just turned 62. Orlando City manager Adrian Heath is the next oldest coach in the league at 54, with Frank Yallop the only other coach to be 50+ and he just squeaks in.
    The future of MLS is going to be as a young coaches league and that future is pretty much already here.
    Of the 20 head coaches in MLS, 11 of them are aged 42 or under, with five of them still in their 30s [Also interestingly, only four of the 20 have no experience of playing in MLS]. Robinson falls into that last category. At age 38 he is the third youngest coach in Major League soccer right now. Only Philadelphia's Jim Curtin (35) and DC's Ben Olsen (37) are younger.
    As far as Robinson is concerned, it's easy to see why this is the case. He feels that Major League Soccer is the perfect breeding ground for young coaches to cut their managerial teeth and applauds the league for going in that direction.
    "What MLS does, is it gives opportunities for young coaches, their first proper job," Robinson told AFTN. "A common fact in England is that around 80% of first time managers never get employed again in Europe and in England especially because they're not right and they're not ready and they don't succeed in their first job.
    "MLS is fantastic at giving young coaches opportunities and you've got to be ready for it. You've got to take your chance because it's easy to blame someone else if you don't take the opportunity and grab it with both hands. But you're only going to do it with hard work. You can't get lucky. Sometimes people get lucky, but in the end you get found out, so I'm grateful to MLS for giving me this opportunity."
    Coaching was always in Robinson's plans for when his playing days came to an end. He's envisaged a bit of a slower route, with a longer spell as an assistant before taking on his own managerial reigns, but now that he's there, he's most certainly done what he says above and grabbed that opportunity by the throat.
    And he's enjoying every minute of it so far.
    "I always planned on doing it when I moved over in 2007," he told us. "To coach here, to be an assistant for a number of years but also to be a manger. Other questions get asked of me. Am I happy? I love MLS. It's brilliant.
    "The league's growing, the players are growing. The standard of coaches has to get better because the quality of players are getting better, the league attendances are rising, the TV attendances are going through the roof. More people are watching it, so we have to get better and that's generally across the board. Anyone who doesn't think they do are in the wrong job."
    So is there a little bit of correlation in the fact that the young manager is building a squad of young talent? And after being given an opportunity himself, he's keen to give his own young players their shot and their chance to prove themselves?
    "Football's about proving people wrong, as I say to my group of players," Robinson told us. "The thing about this game is that no-one's right and no-one's wrong and everyone has an opinion, but the one thing you get to do is you have the opportunity to prove to people how good a player you are. Not reading about how good you are. Actually showing people how good you are.
    "I did get the job last year. Whatever people's thoughts were on it, it was irrelevant to me. I knew what I wanted to do and I know what I needed to do, and I took the opportunity with both hands.
    "Now, a year down the line, I've still got a lot of progression with my development. I still analyze myself. I still work hard. In fact, I work even harder this year than I did last year because I know now how to prioritize what needs to be done in the short and medium term. There's a plan in place."
    Guest
    However, there are a number of injury and suspension absences for the Fury. We know for sure that Phil Davies will miss the next month or two, while the club reminded us that Oliver, Mauro Eustaquio and Nicki Paterson are all suspended from bookings and dismissals accumulated from the 2014 season.
    In addition, captain Richie Ryan has not played in the last 3 preseason games, due to his recovery from a minor injury, while Julian de Guzman has only joined the squad for the first time on Tuesday, having played zero preseason games with the team.
    With Waleed Cassis, Mohamed Dagnogo and Matthew Foschini all unable or unlikely to join the matchday squad, the Fury may field a gameday squad of possibly 16 or 17 players, shorter than the usual 18. Of course, we can always imagine Martin Nash or the great old wobbly legs pitching in if needed.
    Currently, there are starting berths to be won at the 2 CB positions, at 2 of the midfield positions, and at the ST position. I’ve put out a starting lineup based on the preseason lineups and injuries and suspensions, but all Fury players will be expected to be ready to play a key part in starting off the season on the right note.
    The two Ottawa supporters groups, the Bytown Boys and Stony Monday Riot, are hosting viewing parties, at the Georgetown and the Heart & Crown – Preston, respectively, for anybody who would like to watch the games with some of the most passionate Fury FC fans out there!
    ---
    2015 Fury FC NASL Season – Matchday 1 – Carolina RailHawks vs. Ottawa Fury FC Preview
    When: Saturday, April 4, 2015 @ 1:00pm EDT
    Where: WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, NC. Watch on Rogers TV Ottawa 22, TSN Go, OttawaFuryFC.com
    Ottawa Injuries and Absences: M Phil Davies (out – injury); DM Mauro Eustaquio, CM Nicki Paterson, F Oliver (out – suspension); F Mohamed Dagnogo, GK Waleed Cassis (doubtful – registration); DM Richie Ryan, CM Julian de Guzman (probable – fitness)
    Ottawa Possible Starting XI (4-3-3) – Peiser; Randolph, Falvey, Rafael Alves, Richter; Ubiparipovic, de Guzman, Misik; Paulo Jr, Wiedeman, Haworth
    You can follow Namu Yoon on Twitter at @BBSC_SeoulBro and @OFFCReview, and his Canadian Soccer News articles on Ottawa Fury FC at http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/index.php?/page/articles.html/_/ottcityfootie and https://offcreview.wordpress.com.
    Duane Rollins
    As we reported yesterday, a deal in principle was in place to send Cooper to Montreal. The forward was not in Seattle’s plans and Montreal is in need of a striker now that Cameron Porter is out for the year with a blown knee.
    However, the Impact allowed Cooper to have the final say on the move. We don’t know why Cooper turned Montreal down. We won’t likely ever know. However, the Impact deserve credit for working with the player. They could have forced a move, but it would have been toxic to all involved. It’s better to move on and find someone who wants to be in Montreal.
    Once Cooper turned the move down, Seattle was in a tough place. With a cap hit of about $275,000, Cooper is not a player you want training with the reserves.
    This is where things get MLS gray.
    Under previous rules – rules that had not publicly been changed – Cooper, by virtue of having a guaranteed contract, could not be removed from Seattle’s salary budget unless he was traded to another team. The Sounders could part ways, but the salary would remain on their cap.
    There was an exemption permitted to every team to buy out one guaranteed contract per year so long as the buyout happened prior to the roster compliance deadline. That was three weeks ago.
    So, under the rules as they were understood, Seattle was stuck with Cooper unless another team wanted him.
    It was a surprise, then, when Seattle announced this afternoon that they had bought Cooper out. It was also confusing in that they used the terms “bought out” and “waived” interchangeably and the two are very different from a rules stand point. Eventually, however, Garth Lagerway clarified that Cooper’s salary was indeed “off the books.”
    How that was possible when the rules as understood prevented it was never made clear.
    Again, the rules were clear. Guaranteed contract after roster compliance date? You’re on the hook for whole salary. Non-guaranteed contracts can be bought out at any time prior to mid-season and only the prorated portion of the contract paid out would count against cap, but not guaranteed contracts.
    It was black and white. Except nothing ever is in MLS.
    Clearly the league has once again changed its roster rules without informing anyone that covers or follows it. Talk of improving transparency is once again exposed as nothing more than rhetoric.
    What’s infuriating is that a rule like this doesn't need to be a secret. So long as the rule is the same for everyone, no one is going to care. The problem is, when MLS isn't upfront about the rule changes it creates the perception that it makes things up on the fly. And, that’s the charitable conclusion. Less charitably it makes the league look like it plays favourites with certain clubs.
    It isn't helping the optics that it’s Seattle that just got $275,000 of cap space.
    It’s likely that Seattle isn't getting special treatment here. However, we can’t definitively demonstrate they aren't because MLS fails to give us the evidence to do so.
    Fans shouldn't have to hope that the rules are the same for everyone. It shouldn't even be a question that they are.
    Yet, not only are fans uncertain of that, there is a growing number convinced that the rules aren't the same—that MLS manipulates rules as it sees fit.
    How is that healthy? How is that a sign of a mature league?
    Michael Mccoll
    The 21-year-old came through the fabled Barcelona academy system before leaving to play with the youth and reserves teams of Mallorca, Cornella and Sabadell. Coming to play in Canada was likely one of the furthest things on his mind, but after impressing the then SFU Clan head coach Alan Koch on a scouting trip to Europe, that’s exactly what happened. Now, within a year of coming over, he’s signed a pro deal with the Whitecaps.
    "When he came to see me, I was playing for Mallorca," Blasco told AFTN about his first contact with Koch. "In Spain, there is a great economical crisis, so he offered me a scholarship. It wasn't an easy decision, but my family told me if you want to study, this is a very good opportunity for you. Not only being in a sporting environment but also in an academic place.
    "As I said, there's an economic crisis and it's a bad moment in Spain right now, so I thought it was a pretty good opportunity for me, and here I am."
    That in itself is a good story, but it’s what happened between that scouting trip and his signing with WFC2 that we find the most interesting part of his journey so far.
    Blasco was signed to play for SFU, but in a unique deal, he was loaned out to Vancouver Island University Mariners for the 2014 PACWEST season.
    The reason? Blasco’s English wasn’t up to what was needed for him to be able take courses at SFU. VIU offered an English as a second language speaking course to help foreign students understand and learn the language better. When you speak with him now, his English is pretty much impeccable. Some would say it’s better than mine!
    Coming over to a new country, especially on your own, can be a daunting enough experience. To do so when your grasp of the native language "wasn’t very good" must have been even more so. As tough as it was, he’s loved his time in Canada so far and all the new experiences that it’s brought him.
    "It was pretty hard at first, but at the same time it was pretty exciting for me," Blasco said. "The opportunity to come here and learn another language kind of opened my mind to another culture, new people and an absolutely different environment. Everything that has happened here has been positive to me.
    "It was tough, of course, to learn a new language and stuff, but I think I fit pretty well here."
    And for a lad born and raised in the hot Mediterranean climate of Spain, even the infamous BC weather doesn't phase him. Well, at least not too much.
    "Actually, it's pretty nice weather," Blasco said with a smile. "I like it. It rains too much for me, but I'm getting used to it! It's not better or worse than Spain, it's just different, but I love it."
    It's pretty clear that Blasco not only feels right at home already in British Columbia, but he's settled in immediately to the Canadian football scene.
    It was almost a dream rookie season for the winger with VIU Mariners. All that was missing was a Championship at the end of it.
    Blasco won PACWEST Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honours, as the number one seeded Mariners lost out on penalties to Douglas College in the PACWEST Championship game. Blasco scored in both the semi final and final. Two of his 12 goals from his 13 appearances with VIU.
    Despite the loss, VIU headed east for the CCAA Nationals, where they again lost out in the Championship game on penalties, this time to Sheridan Bruins, with Blasco scoring a couple in the final, including the game tying goal when injured.
    Not really surprising that a player who was with the Barcelona youth academy for eight years up to U16 level would handle the demands posed by being in a new country and do well at CCAA college level.
    And whatever his footballing future holds in store, the winger has great memories of his time with Barca.
    "I was there from when I was 8 to 15 years old," Blasco said. "It was a pretty nice moment in my life. I learned a lot. I was with very good players and everything that happened there was incredible. Absolutely exciting."
    But now it's all about the Whitecaps for the young Spaniard and using what he's learned along the way to excel in USL. But as he tries to impress in his latest new surroundings, those surroundings are already impressing him.
    "It actually surprised me a lot because I didn't really know how it worked here," Blasco admitted. "We have very, very professional staff. We have a very good environment here and it seems really really professional. It's actually incredible. I think we have a good, exciting team."
    As for what Blasco can offer WFC2, his goals and performances at VIU have given some indication, but how would he describe his own game?
    "I like to play on the wings," Blasco said. "Both wings works for me. I usually play on the left, but now I'm playing more on the right. I think I am a very attacking player. I try to dribble, I try to create attacking chances, score goals, provide goals too. My type of play is speed playing. Dribble, shoot, attacking player."
    The original loan deal between SFU and VIU was for one year. With Blasco signing a pro deal with the 'Caps, the Clan and NCAA are no longer an option for the Spaniard moving forward.
    While some college players like Chris Serban will be looking to continue his studies and play for both WFC2 and the UBC Thunderbirds, Blasco's focus is firmly on the footballing side for now. His target - playing in MLS with the Whitecaps.
    And the man who brought him over to Vancouver to begin with believes he has what it takes to get there.
    "If you watch him in a training session, you'll see within five minutes," WFC2 coach Koch told AFTN when we asked him what it was about Blasco that made him want to sign him twice now.
    "He's energetic, he's passionate, he's great on the ball. He's very, very creative. A very likeable guy. He wants to learn, he wants to get better. He's got a lot of those intangibles that kids in Spain that grew up around a ball all the time, around the game, have. He understands his position.
    "I'm looking forward to pushing him because he's got a lot of talent. Just like all the players in our team, but the sky's the limit for him. The better he does here, obviously the better chances for him to move further in the game."
    Aaron Campbell
    THE GOOD
    The Great Dane David Ousted
    A great showing by Ousted, he stepped up when his team needed him to get the three points from their Cascadian rivals.
    On the goal you could put a little bit of blame on him for his lack of rebound control, but there is no way that shot should have been given up by Steven Beitashour (Spoiler Alert - see "The Bad" below). He stood on his head a few times to keep the score tied 1-1 to give the team the chance they needed to win the game.
    There was an interesting exchange between him and Octavio Rivero on the Portland cross that just missed the far post. Instead of running out after the play and yelling at his defenders, as we have seen him do numerous times, he went up to Rivero and didn't start yelling but showed him what he did wrong and what he would like him to do next time. Then on the next corner, after he caught the cross that was whipped into the box, he gave Rivero a pat on the ass for standing his line and not letting Borchers run straight to the post.
    Ousted has been great this season (3W-0D-1L - 1.00GAA - 2CS). Really, out of the 4 goals he gave up you can only blame him in the first Altidore one from the first game versus TFC. Other than that it has been lack of defending in front of him and a penalty kick.
    THE AVERAGE
    Erik Hurtado's First Start Of The Season
    Carl Robinson gave him a shot with the suspension to Kekuta Manneh to show what he can contribute to the squad.
    Other than a few crosses into the box where there were no Whitecaps players around to convert it, you really didn't notice him that much on the pitch. Sure he had a few runs into the box that should have created scoring chances, but his passes were either picked off or too far behind the intended target striker.
    In my opinion he didn't do enough to continue being the starter over the young Manneh. He just didn't show he deserves the spot moving forward.
    THE BAD
    The Defence Of Steven Beitashour
    Another game, another time Beitashour gets beat down the wing and the Whitecaps get bested for another goal. On the Adi goal, not only did Beitashour pinch too far in the middle of the pitch but he then couldn't recover in time and got beat down the wing where Portland got the shot on net. Ousted couldn't control the rebound and Adi was able to beat the sprawling Ousted and tie the game up.
    This is an ongoing problem for the right-back. Time and time again he is too far in the middle of the pitch, not fast enough down the wing and doesn't stop enough crosses into the box.
    With Ethen Sampson being loaned to USL today, it means Beitashour has the job moving forward (which is of course as we'd all expect) but he will have to improve so the Whitecaps don't drop two points with a tie or lose all three on a sloppy goal.
    Michael Mccoll
    The Whitecaps starting eleven The 'Caps get fired up in their pre-match huddle Scarves up if you love the 'Caps David Ousted starts as he means to go on, getting down to thwart a low George Fochive shot Fochive is in the thick of the action again, bringing down Octavio Rivero for a 15th minute free kick Up steps Nicolas Mezquida Who curls it over the wall and into the bottom corner for the opening goal Nico and Pedro celebrate the 'Caps going 1-0 up Dirty, dirty Ridgewell Portland dominate an uninspiring second half until Fanendo Adi pokes home an 82nd minute equaliser Boooooooooooo But there's still time for Robert Earnshaw to pop up with a dramatic 90th minute winner for Vancouver Another debut goal, but Earnshaw enjoys them all like it was his first And there's the famous flip! And the crowd go wild! David Ousted lets out a roar at the final whistle Earnie's feet won't touch the ground tonight Carl Robinson does the Humba with Curva Collective A happy footballing day all round for Welshmen You can see all of Tom's photos from the game as a video slideshow (with added crowd noise) below:

    Guest
    2015 Ottawa Fury FC NASL Season Preview
    By Blog Smith (@BlogFuryFC) & Namu Yoon (@BBSC_SeoulBro)

    Photo courtesy of RedNation Online
    Club: Ottawa Fury FC
    Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (City: 883,391; Metropolitan area: 1,236,324). The capital of Canada, Ottawa is situated on the Ontario side of the border between the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, with Gatineau forming the Quebec side of the metropolitan area.
    Stadium: TD Place Stadium, Lansdowne Park, Ottawa, ON
    Located near Rideau Canal, one of Ottawa’s most iconic landmarks, the stadium was redeveloped between 2011 and 2014 as part of the plan to bring NASL soccer and CFL football to the city. The stadium is about 15 minutes south of downtown, in a central location within the city. The stadium has a full capacity of 24,000, although much of the north stands and some of the south stands are closed off to give a capacity closer to 8,000 for NASL matches. The club’s 2014 spring season was spent at Carleton University’s Keith Harris Stadium while TD Place was being completed.
    Manager: Marc Dos Santos, 37, enters his second season behind the Ottawa Fury FC bench. Dos Santos has managed Montreal Impact in the USL and USSF (winning the 2009 USL First Division title) and Trois-Rivières Attak in the CSL, as well as serving as Technical Director for Desportivo Brasil before returning to Canada to coach the Fury. Dos Santos, affectionately known as MDS among Fury fans, favours a fluid and possession-oriented style of play primarily in the 4-3-3 formation.
    Captain: Richie Ryan, DM
    As of March 2015, the team captain is DM Richie Ryan, an Irish native who came through the Sunderland academy system, before playing in the Football League, Belgium, Scotland and Ireland. Ryan was named the PFAI Players’ Player of the Year in 2010, voted by players in the League of Ireland. Ryan combines strong leadership, quick short passes and accurate mid-range passes and strong tackling at the heart of the midfield in Ottawa’s preferred 4-3-3 formation.

    Photo courtesy of Ottawa Citizen
    Key Player: Sinisa Ubiparipovic, AM/LCM
    Based on pure talent and performances alone, Ubiparipovic has to be the first name on the Fury FC teamsheet. Playing as the attacking midfielder on the left side of the midfield 3 in the 4-3-3 formation, Ubiparipovic was the main creative playmaker of the team in 2014, with his dangerous through balls to the front 3 often sparking the best chances of the game. However, his focus on offense sometimes distracts him from his defensive duties, which is crucial in stemming the opponent’s attack through the middle. However, his strong ball control skills will ensure that he continues to orchestrate much of the possession-oriented offense that Dos Santos has implemented.

    Photo courtesy of Ottawa Fury FC
    Supporter Groups: The Fury FC currently has three supporter groups. The Bytown Boys are generally the most enthusiastic and can be found at the front of Section W. Stony Monday Riot, standing at the back of Section W, are considered the most original among the groups, often mixing Canadian songs and artists into their chants. The Fury Ultras are a smaller group who have cool shirts.

    Photo courtesy of Stony Monday Riot
    2014 Review: Finishing in 8th place in the final NASL standings, Ottawa did not set the league on fire in their inaugural season. Jumping from one stadium to another over the summer break did not do the Fury any favours, as they would go on to win only one match in nine games played at the new TD Place. The lowest point came as the Fury started the Fall Season by going four matches without a goal. While Ottawa was competitive in most of its matches in 2014, this stretch caused the Fury to drop out of the playoff hunt early. It was not all bad news for the Fury, however, as players such as Richie Ryan, Romuald Peiser and Oliver gave strong performances and hope for 2015.

    Photo courtesy of Ottawa Citizen
    Notable Transfers In/Out
    In: LB Mike Randolph (Atlanta Silverbacks FC), LB/LW Brandon Poltronieri (Atlanta Silverbacks FC), CB Rafael Alves (Ft. Lauderdale Strikers FC), CB Colin Falvey (Charleston Battery), RB Ryan Richter (Toronto FC), CM Julian de Guzman (Skoda Xanthi, Greece), CM Patryk Misik (Slask Wroclaw, Poland), LW Paulo de Araujo Jr. (Nautico, Brazil), ST Andrew Wiedeman (Toronto FC)
    Out: GK Devala Gorrick (Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC), GK Chad Bush (CIS), LB Ramon Soria (NK Celje, Slovenia), LB O’Brian Woodbine (Charleston Battery), CB Kenny Caceros (released), CM Tony Donatelli (Baltimore Blast), LW P.R. Mayard (released), CF Vini Dantas (Pittsburgh Riverhounds)
    2014 Best Matches
    Apr. 26, 2014 – Ottawa vs. Carolina – 4-0 W – First competitive win for Ottawa in NASL history, with a mesmerizing display that has not been matched yet in Ottawa’s history. Of note is Oliver’s brace en route to him being named NASL Player of the Week, the fantastic midfield domination by Ubiparipovic, Donatelli and Ryan, and the selfless running of Carl Haworth in his lone appearance as a ST (who was mostly stationed out on the wings during the season).
    May 17, 2014 – Indy vs. Ottawa – 2-4 W – An eagerly anticipated match that did not disappoint at all for Ottawa supporters. It was the Tony Donatelli show, as he had a very well-taken brace, highlighting his dominating performances for Ottawa during the spring season. Ryan also displayed his fantastic distribution of the ball, highlighting the differences between the two expansion cousins.

    Photo courtesy of Ottawa Citizen
    May 31, 2014 – Ottawa vs. Edmonton – 1-0 W – The season debut of Tom Heinemann, who was laid off for a couple months with a preseason ankle injury, was one of the most memorable moments of Ottawa’s 2014 season. His introduction as a late sub, and then his glancing header from a free kick to win the game in injury time against our Northern cousins ensured that Ottawa would take home the Poutine Cup, as it is known only in America, in their first competitive match-up in the league (the two clubs played twice in the Voyageurs Cup in April, not worth talking about hehe).
    Oct. 1, 2014 – Ottawa vs. Atlanta – 2-0 W – Our lone victory in 2014 in our spanking brand-new stadium that we moved into for the fall season came against an Atlanta side that was in free-fall form at the time, and highlighted the fact that Ottawa could earn a professional win at home. Ottawa will be expecting many more of these professional wins at home if they wish to ensure a shot at the playoffs for 2015.
    2015 Possible Best XI
    Ottawa (4-3-3) (R to L): Peiser; Richter, Rafael Alves, Falvey, Randolph; De Guzman, Ryan, Ubiparipovic; Haworth, Wiedeman, Paulo Jr.
    2015 Preview
    Short version: The Ottawa Fury FC hope to build upon a 2014 season that did not go exactly as planned, but had glimpses of a team that could compete week in and week out with the best teams in the NASL. The Ottawa coaching staff will look for improvements from their youngsters: Oliver, Carl Haworth, Drew Beckie and Mauro Eustaquio, as well as continued standout performances from Richie Ryan, Romuald Peiser and Sinisa Ubiparipovic. The Fury emphasized defense over the course of the offseason, acquiring NASL veterans Mike Randolph, Rafael Alves and Brandon Poltronieri, as well as Irishman Colin Falvey.
    The team quite recently made their biggest signing to date, inking Canada MNT captain Julian de Guzman in an attempt to solidify their midfield, which was in need of further depth. The Fury FC will be harder to break down and score on this year, but an ability to put goals in themselves will be tested if Tom Heinemann and newly-signed Andrew Wiedeman can’t step up to give the Fury finishing in the final third that they lacked in 2014. Paulo Junior, another new signing, will be expected to provide further creativity and imagination.

    Photo courtesy of Ottawa Sun
    Long version: The offseason has been one that emphasizes a theme of continuity. With 13 players returning from the 2014 squad, including the entire coaching staff, and having 21 players as of the 1st day of preseason camp, the Fury are in a far stronger shape than they were at the start of camp the prior season. With this familiarity comes strong teamwork and a heightened sense of expectations among the players, coaching staff and the fans.
    The notable transfers have been across the back 4 and the front 3, as Dos Santos seeks to add strong competition among all 11 positions on the field. There will be an especially intense competition for spots at the 2 CB berths among Rafael Alves, Colin Falvey, Mason Trafford and Drew Beckie, which can only add to what was a good defense in 2014. The squad has far more NASL and MLS experience in its ranks, both from playing in the 2014 season and from bringing in proven stars in the league and those seeking to make their fortunes in NASL after mixed performances in MLS or having conquered much in USL Pro.
    The Canadian content of the squad is as strong as ever, with the Fury expected to once again lead in the number of minutes played by Canadians in the squad among all professional sides. The exciting signings in the front 3 have added speed and guile, two qualities that were somewhat lacking in the possession-oriented offense of 2014. Andrew Wiedeman has looked sharp all preseason and currently has the edge over Tom Heinemann, while Carl Haworth has had a strong preseason and has pushed 2014 team-leading scorer Oliver Minatel neck and neck for the starting position at RW.

    Photo courtesy of Ottawa Fury FC
    The late addition of Canada’s MNT captain Julian de Guzman to the central midfield adds the first mainstream name to the Fury FC in their young history, and completely changes the dynamics of the battle for starting berths in midfield. While he may or may not be able to get a game in with the Fury in their last preseason friendly on Tuesday vs. Wake Forest University, de Guzman may very well find himself in the starting lineup come opening day at RCM or at CDM, and will be an integral piece of the squad throughout the season. Nicki Paterson and Patryk Misik have both made strong cases to start at the CM positions throughout preseason, and may have done enough to prevent de Guzman or Ubiparipovic from simply walking into the starting lineup.
    As discussed above, the key to a successful 2015 season will be ensuring that the form at home translates to more points at TD Place, as the high % of ball possession must be converted to clear-cut scoring opportunities, all while making sure that the team is ready for the counter-attacks they will face at home. At times, the 4-3-3 formation isolates Ryan in front of the back 4 in transition, and so a 4-2-3-1 formation may be utilised time to time to stop the attacks through the middle, all while maintaining greater possession of the ball.
    If and when the team comes together, this team may truly break out strongly in its sophomore season. The anticipation among Fury fans continues to grow.
    —
    You can follow Blog Smith on Twitter at @BlogFuryFC and @OttawaFury, and his podcasts/articles on Ottawa Fury FC for RedNation Online at http://www.rednationonline.ca and https://blogfuryfc.wordpress.com.
    You can follow Namu Yoon on Twitter at @BBSC_SeoulBro and @OFFCReview, and his articles on Ottawa Fury FC for Canadian Soccer News at http://www.canadiansoccernews.com and https://offcreview.wordpress.com.
    Duane Rollins
    First of all the club has appointed Pinball Clemons as the stadium announcer.
    “Pinball will bring his enthusiasm for football to BMO this year and we are extremely proud to have landed him,” a source said.
    In addition, the club is planning on adding cheerleaders to the in-game experience. CSN was told that the cheerleaders would mingle with fans pre-game in the newly re-named Budweiser Endzone Beer Patio.
    Additionally, the stadium will undergo a bit of a face lift. The red seats are to be replaced by two shades of blue and the south end will be pulled back a few yards to allow for better site lines.
    “The most important plays of the game will take place right in front of them!” the source said.
    Finally, a mascot will be added. CSN has obtained a leaked photo of the mascot, which can be seen below.

    This post was written on April 1. Sadly, I’m not sure it will turn out to be satirical.
    “Get used to it,” the source said.
    Duane Rollins
    However, the two teams have allowed Cooper the opportunity to approve the move. Cooper has already turned down the opportunity to move outside MLS and it’s unclear as to whether he wants to leave the United States at this point in his career.
    It is clear that he is not part of the Sounders plans. He has been training on his own since the start of the season.
    The season ending injury to Cameron Porter makes the need for a striker urgent for the Impact.
    It’s thought that the Impact would not be giving up a player asset in exchange for Cooper. Allocation or a draft pick would go Seattle’s way.
    A final decision by Cooper is expected by the weekend.
    Guest
    Today on a very busy Two Solitudes Soccer Podcast, Duane and Kevin talked to Dave Clark of Sounder at Hear about the Sounders and their great potential this year. They also talked about the NASL and its place in Canada, could it be the answer to our needs? Plus, a 401 Derby happened last Saturday between FC Montreal and Toronto FC 2 and they talked about the importance of the USL going forward, a USL Radio preview of some sorts! Canada Men's National Team Senior Program is on a hotstreak, winning their last two game 1-0 and 3-0 against Guatemala and Porto Rico . And to cap off a jam pack show, the now famous Canadian Review!
    Thanks to the band Saint Clare for the music on today's show saintclare.bandcamp.com/ to buy the song and support the band!
    Until next time, have a great soccer!
    @24thminute
    @KevLaramee
    https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/two-solitudes-soccer-podcast/id833616975?mt=2
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    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1XTTehckvHGtr1OXC9Bs6g
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    Guest
    Phil Davies had a severe fracture in his right arm, and is expected to miss 6 to 8 weeks, according to Ottawa Sun. With this further blow to the midfield corps, it will be interesting to see who lines up in the 3-man midfield for tonight’s friendly vs. Wake Forest, and the season opener vs. Carolina.
    Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Nicki Paterson and Misik are the only 3 midfielders completely fit at the moment and could make up the mid today, while Julian de Guzman, once he has recovered from his Canada MNT matches, may make the lineup for the Saturday opener.
    Alternatively, today’s friendly may see a second XI come out, with those who have not started many of the games this preseason playing the bulk of the minutes. This may make sense with the team having just played a friendly on Saturday, with the league kicking off the following Saturday.
    If so, expect to see players such as Mason Trafford, Drew Beckie, Tom Heinemann and Brandon Poltronieri make their final cases to start for Saturday. The match kicks off at 7pm tonight in North Carolina.
    ---
    2015 Fury FC Friendly – Wake Forest University vs. Ottawa Fury FC Preview
    When: Tuesday, March 31, 2015 @ 7:00pm EDT
    Where: Spry Soccer Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC
    Ottawa Injuries and Absences: M Phil Davies (out), DM Richie Ryan, DM Mauro Eustaquio, CM Julian de Guzman (doubtful), F Oliver (probable)
    ---
    2015 Fury FC Friendly – Syracuse University vs. Ottawa Fury FC Review - 0-1 W
    When: Saturday, March 28, 2015 @ 6:00pm EDT
    Where: SUNY Canton College Turf Field, 34 Cornell Drive, Canton NY
    Ottawa Injuries and Absences: DM Richie Ryan, DM Mauro Eustaquio, F Oliver (injured), CM Julian De Guzman (international duties)
    Ottawa (4-3-3) – Peiser (Cassis 75′); Randolph, Falvey (Trafford 60′), Rafael Alves (Beckie 60′), Richter (Foschini 80′); Ubiparipovic, Davies (Misik 25′), Paterson; Paulo Jr. (Dagnogo 70′), Wiedeman (Heinemann 60′), Haworth (Poltronieri 85′)
    Ottawa Goals/Assists: Haworth (Misik) (55′)
    You can follow Namu Yoon on Twitter at @BBSC_SeoulBro and @OFFCReview, and his Canadian Soccer News articles on Ottawa Fury FC at http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/index.php?/page/articles.html/_/ottcityfootie and https://offcreview.wordpress.com.
    James Grossi
    Kofi Opare
    Having been rooted to the bench after a mid-season trade from Los Angeles in 2014, Opare finally got on the pitch for DC in Saturday's 1-0 win over his former side, making his first appearance of the season.
    And it almost wasn't to be.
    Once more amongst the substitutes, the Niagara Falls, Ontario-raised Opare was only called into action due to an ankle injury suffered by standout sophomore Steve Birnbaum, who landed awkwardly after going up for a header, prompting Ben Olsen to bring the Canadian onto the pitch in the fifth minute.
    The defender did not do anything particularly spectacular, one does not require spectacular from a defender, but what he did contribute was a solid outing, not putting a foot wrong in his 85 minutes of play, quelling the threat of a dangerous LA attack comprised of Alan Gordon and Jose Villarreal, with Robbie Keane and Gyasi Zardes away on international duty.
    Taking up Birnbaum's left-sided centre-back slot, alongside Bobby Boswell, Opare was immense, exhibiting his excellent reading of the match by getting in position to cut out a potentially troublesome Robbie Rogers cross in one instance and proving that despite his extended absence from the pitch – he last saw action in July of last season – his aerial presence, especially against a foe as troublesome as Gordon, was as close to perfection as possible.
    Completing 22 of 27 passes, Opare racked up some good numbers, including seven recoveries, six clearances, five interceptions, a block and a tackle, winning one foul throughout. A hearty outing for his thirteenth all-time appearance in MLS.
    Opare earned the praise of both his coach and his teammates, Olsen stating, "Kofi is a big story line today. He hasn’t had a lot of minutes for us or in the League, but from what I’ve seen of Kofi, he’s a gamer. He has a mentality that he can step in and do the job, and tonight I thought he was great. It was a good match-up for him tonight."
    While Chris Pontius, who scored the game-winner, gave credit to, “Our defenders, especially Kofi stepping in for Birnbaum early, that’s not easy to step into a game that early on and I thought he was fantastic.”
    He even earned MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week honours for his outing, one that will undoubtedly have reassured Olsen that should Birnbaum's injury require a spell on the sidelines, Opare is more than capable of filling that gap on the back-line.
    Wandrille Lefevre
    Like Opare, Lefevre made his first appearance of the season, lining up in the left-sided centre-back position for Montreal in their 2-2 draw against Orlando City on Saturday.
    Having made a career-high fifteen appearances last season – thirteen as a starter – Lefevre was more than ready to stand in for the absent Laurent Ciman, away with Belgium on national team duty.
    That said, it was a bit of a mixed night for Lefevre, individually solid, his side collapsed, conceding two goals in just over a minute having strolled out to a two-goal lead inside the first 27 minutes of the match.
    Mere moments after Jack McInerney's stunning chip gave Montreal their second, Pedro Ribeiro drew one back for the visitors. Though
    , it would be harsh to put him at fault. The same could be said of the second goal just 82 seconds later. Neither Lefevre, nor his centre-back partner Bakary Soumare challenged Ribeiro to impede his progress towards goal, – Lefevre was not best pleased.Aside from those two blemishes, the French-born defender was impressive, compiling figures that challenge Opare's, including nine recoveries, seven interceptions, six clearances, and a tackle, winning and conceding a foul each way.
    Perhaps his best intervention of the game was a sliding challenge on Eric Avila, timed to perfection, sliding in to stop the attacker's progress with a strong tackle, deflecting the ball of Avila himself and out for a goal-kick. Orlando cried for a penalty, but there was absolutely no grounds for one.
    Lefevre had to be prepared for the physical side of the game as well, getting flattened in the box by Sean St Ledger early on a corner kick – which may have been worthy of drawing a penalty itself – later getting leveled by his own keeper, Eric Kronberg, as he rushed out to collect a high cross, and then Lefevre himself put a heavy body-check into Kaka in midfield to attempt to break up an attack – for which he was lucky to escape a booking.
    And his passing, long an impressive feature of his game, was once more excellent, completing all but eight of some forty-plus attempts.
    Another impressive debut from a fringe-Canadian.
    Ashtone Morgan
    Following a suspect outing in Columbus two weeks ago, where Morgan could be blamed – at least in part – for both Columbus goals and was nearly directly responsible for a third, he resumed his left-back role for TFC in their 2-1 loss in Salt Lake on Sunday.
    Deputizing for the suspended Justin Morrow, Morgan, making his first start of the season, looked an all-together more comfortable player, even showing glimpses of the attacking impetus that earned him such plaudits as he broke onto the scene in 2011 and 2012.
    Having learned the lesson of being slow to close down a potential cross, Morgan was out quick to slow Sebastian Jaime early and then held the off-side line well to force the Salt Lake attacker off in a later attempt – Jaime would find the back of the net, but the raised flag denied any celebration.
    The Toronto, Ontario-native would end the night with three interceptions, two tackles, a clearance and a recovery.
    Going forward Morgan was a more confident threat, taking on Tony Beltran to win an early corner kick and then forcing a turnover out of the Salt Lake full-back before sending in a lovely ball from the left that was just beyond the reach of a stretching Luke Moore.
    At first glance, Morgan could be blamed for Salt Lake's opener – it was his side down which Luke Mulholland made his unmarked run to nod a Javier Morales cross from the left in at the back-post – but Morgan was preoccupied in the middle, already covering his mark and the responsibility to track that run lay with the recovering midfielder sauntering into frame late.
    Toronto should have been more aware that the three-man front-line of Salt Lake would occupy the defenses and it was necessary for the midfield to track other runners – or, don't let Morales get on the ball to pick those crosses. Lessons hopefully learned, though too late for this match.
    Morgan would make way for Dan Lovitz in the 77th minute, with Greg Vanney throwing caution to the wind in search of an equalizer. It would come, but Morales again would punish poor marking from TFC, once more breaking the tie, a minute after TFC leveled.
    On the ball Morgan was equally confident, completing fourteen of nineteen passes, but his cross rate is of some concern, flinging eight unsuccessful balls into the area. Crossing is a low-percentage method at the best of times, but perhaps a touch more patience and interplay on that flank would be advantageous.
    On a side note, given that Morgan saw extended minutes with TFC2 during Toronto's bye-week, could this be the first tangible sign of Canadian MLS clubs using the USL affiliation to get minutes for squad players, which then translates into better performances with the first team?
    Tesho Akindele
    Akindele started a fourth-consecutive match for FC Dallas on Saturday night, as they drew 0-0 against Seattle at home, maintaining their unbeaten start to the season, but relinquishing their winning streak with the draw.
    Initially taking up a secondary striker's position, playing centrally underneath David Texeira who led the line, Akindele was forced into a more defensive role after eighteen minutes, when Kelyn Acosta was dismissed for a high boot on Andy Rose, catching the Seattle midfielder with an errant foot to the midsection and seeing a red card for his effort.
    As Dallas reconfigured, the attacker dropped into a wide right midfielder role, running his socks off to put in a defensive shift – one of his three tackles on the night came just a few yards away from defensive corner flag, indicative of his tracking efforts.
    Despite being forced on the back-foot, the Calgary, Alberta-native was still able to get forward, twice making the runs to get on the end of Fabian Castillo through-balls. The first was slightly over-hit, running to Seattle keeper, Stefan Frei, though Akindele nearly got a touch at the last second. The next time, his progress was impeded just enough by Zach Scott to prevent Akindele from curling onto the ball with his run, allowing Frei to collect once more.
    The first attempt was perhaps the more impressive, as Akindele recognized Castillo was on the ball and made a long, diagonal run from the right touch-line to burst past the Seattle defenses and put himself in place to challenge for the chance at the left-post.
    His hustle in those aspects of the game is indeed admirable, once chasing down a long Victor Ulloa ball, sprayed into the corner, only for Scott to recover and block his attempted cross into the middle.
    Defensively, there are certain aspects the forward could work on – he was made to look a little foolish as Leo Gonzalez squirmed past him to get a ball to the near-post for Seattle's best, early chance at the end of the first half – but with four recoveries, three clearances, three tackles, and two interceptions to his name, it was a solid shift from Akindele.
    His passing, completing 12 of 21 on the night, was once more erratic, but given that Dallas were short-handed for the majority of the match, that is understandable, albeit if he were to be a touch more conservative and careful with the ball it could be useful.
    Sam Adekugbe
    Adekugbe recovered from his rib injury in time to start a third-consecutive match for Vancouver as they stole another win at the death, beating Portland 2-1 on a 90th-minute winner from Robert Earnshaw.
    Lining up once more at left-back, the English-born defender was a force on that side, factoring in attack - hugging the touch-line going forward – and contributing defensively as Vancouver held a dominant Timbers side at bay.
    He showed little effect from the injury concerns, galloping up the left with a good burst on one occasion, going down a little easy, it must be said, to win a free-kick. And, as will be noted below, he made one potentially threatening ball, finding Kianz Froese inside the Portland box, only for time to run out on his fellow Canadian before a shot could be had.
    Adekugbe showed some of that competitive spirits so required in MLS, getting in the face of Liam Ridgewell as the two battled prior to a corner kick – the veteran flung him to the ground as they waited and Adekugbe refused to play the shrinking violet.
    But his rough introduction to the perils of MLS continued, as he took an Alvas Powell cross in a very sensitive spot – it shall be called the midriff for cleanliness' sake – that saw him crumpled to the floor once more. No doubt lessons, such as don't get into a sliding tackle with a behemoth of a keeper and get those sensitive bits out of the way of crosses, have been learned.
    His passing was impressive, completing all but one of his fifteen attempts, while racking up nine clearances, six recoveries, and four interceptions on the night; winning and conceding a foul each way.
    Steven Vitoria
    Vitoria's iron-man run continued, as he started a fourth match for Philadelphia on Sunday, losing 1-0 in Chicago – Vitoria has featured in every single minute played by the club this season.
    Despite the Union's struggles – they are winless through four matches and have not scored in three of those games – the Toronto-born centre-back has barely put a foot wrong in his first 360 minutes of MLS action. And should Philadelphia's scoring woes continue, one can expect him to get a goal or two as the season plays out, being a sizable aerial threat on set-pieces.
    Back to Sunday, he made one vital intervention to prevent Quincy Amarikwa's touch from finding a streaking Kennedy Igboananike inside the area, cutting out what would have otherwise been a glorious goal-scoring chance.
    But Vitoria could be found partially at fault for letting centre-back Adailton get free on what turned out to be the game-winner in the 37th minute. Vitoria covered Eric Gehrig as he moved towards the near-post, leaving the big Brazilian to Andrew Wenger, who did not bother to track, leading to a virtually free-header on the end of Harrison Shipp's corner kick.
    While not directly his responsibility, one of his tasks with the Union this season will be to organize and coordinate those situations – something that broke down on Sunday.
    That aside, Vitoria was once more as solid as they come, racking up some impressive figures: ten recoveries, six clearances, three interceptions, a block and a tackle, winning one foul and conceding two, while misplacing just eight of his 45-plus passes.
    Jonathan Osorio
    Osorio resumed his midfield position for a third match on Sunday, as TFC fell in Salt Lake – he has started each of Toronto's three matches this season.
    Taking up his familiar right-sided midfield position, Osorio was energetic, but with Toronto chasing large sections of the game and opting to by-pass the midfield build in lieu of long balls, he was not able to get on the ball as much as one would like. Still he completed all but eight of his over-forty passes on the night.
    Somewhat isolated, the Toronto, Ontario-native would regularly cut in-field to get involved. He even made a sneaky back-post run on a corner kick, nearly getting on the end of Sebastian Giovinco's service, only for his connection to falter, slicing the attempt off target.
    It was a physical night for Osorio, he cut his hand early, requiring a moment on the sidelines for repairs, and was later flattened by Abdoulie Mansally, winning one of his two fouls of the match.
    Osorio has been a little quiet thus far this season, still adjusting to his new supplementary role as Giovinco takes centre-stage, the majority of the time on the ball, and responsibility for driving the side forward, a role that once fell largely on Osorio's shoulders.
    Kianz Froese
    Froese made a second-straight appearance from the bench for Vancouver against Portland, coming on for Nicolas Mezquida in the 58th minute.
    The Cuban-born midfielder/attacker was lively once more, making a couple of nice touches on the run to spur an attack – it would eventually fizzle out.
    He had one good chance, getting into an advanced position just inside the box to receive a pass from Sam Adekugbe, only to run out of time before getting off a shot, closed down by several defenders before the ball would settle.
    In his half-hour on the pitch, Froese completed fourteen of fifteen passes, made one clearance, and won a foul.
    Patrice Bernier
    Bernier finally made his first league appearance of the season for Montreal on Saturday, coming on in the 76th minute for Nigel Reo-Coker, who respectfully handed over the armband to the club captain as they traded positions.
    Having received a hearty applause from the home fans, the Brossard, Quebec-native showed that he still had a role to play with the club, even if he has lost a step, contributing a solid, if brief, outing that saw him complete eleven of thirteen passes, making two recoveries, one interception, and a tackle in the process.
    Bernier even got a shot from distance towards goal, though it was blocked.
    After Montreal's Champions League match two weeks ago, Bernier took to twitter to thank the fans for their support.
    While his time on the pitch may be coming to an end, there is no doubt that Bernier's leadership and calming influence will be an asset to Frank Klopas behind the scenes. Klopas has a history of keeping veterans in place, who despite few minutes on the pitch, play vital roles – as Logan Pause did for him in Chicago.
    The Rest
    Jay Chapman and Jordan Hamilton were unused substitutes on the bench for TFC in Salt Lake, called up from TFC2 to pad the squad with international absences, injury, and suspension mounting.
    Vancouver announced their list of first team players that would be going on loan to WFC2 for the upcoming USL season. Of the five players spending time between the two clubs, two were Canadians: Ben McKendry and Caleb Clarke – they are available to move between the two clubs as required. The rest of the roster can be seen here.
    Each week James takes a look at the contributions of Canadians in the league. He can be followed on twitter @grawsee and more of his writing is available at Partially Obstructed View
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