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    Guest
    By Tyler Follett

    Ottawa Fury FC fought back to earn a hard-fought 1-1 draw against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
    Despite strong winds, sun and high temperature provided the best weather yet for a home game so far.
    It was an effort that could have just as easily turned into three points for the team, if not for some impressive saves from Rowdies keeper Matt Pickens, a seven-year veteran of MLS.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Oliver returned to the starting lineup after being rested against the Silverbacks, slotting into his usual spot on the left wing, joined up top by Vini Dantas and Carl Haworth on the right flank.
    Richie Ryan and Omar Jarun also made returns to the starting lineups, as Fury FC played their top squad available, with Nicki Paterson, Maykon and Tom Heinemann still sidelined by injuries.
    Ramon Soria had a standout game filling in for Maykon, nearly scoring a late winner following some nice passing just outside the Rowdies box.
    The first half featured bundles of chances for both sides, including two penalties, one for each side, in the span of five minutes.
    The teams felt each other out in the opening 20. Carl Haworth showed some impressive speed on the wing, especially when tracking back and defending. His speed and tenacity more than make up for his size, winning nearly every contested ball down the flank.
    Neither Gorrick nor Pickens were really challenged until the penalty parade.
    Oliver took the first penalty of the day, as well as Fury FC’s first one ever, after a handball by Rowdies captain Frank Sanfilippo just inside the box.
    Rowdies keeper Matt Pickens dove to stop a strong effort from Oliver with an incredible save, sending the ball off the post and out.
    “Matt (Pickens), it’s his third penalty save in five games. I don’t know what he has, a little bit of a magic wand,” said Dos Santos of the impressive stat.
    Minutes later, with the Rowdies on the counter attack, Jarun grabbed a hold of a streaking Lucky Mkosana, impeding him enough to draw the penalty.
    Bulgarian international Georgi Hristov slotted home to give the Rowdies an early lead.
    It was a penalty that angered Fury FC players, with Drew Beckie and Jarun getting cautioned, Beckie seemingly for his protest against the call.
    “I was a little blocked in my view. The guys say it’s no way a PK, they’re a little bit upset, but you have to move on,” said Fury FC coach Marc Dos Santos.
    “After three yellows you miss the next game and (Beckie’s) at 2 already. So it’s maybe not a good card but I’ll have to see it.”
    In the span of five minutes, Fury FC went from looking sure to open the scoring, only to find themselves down before half.
    The team responded in the best way possible however, not altering their game despite the score line.
    Fury FC had the Rowdies on their heels as the end of the first half neared, earning corner after corner.
    In the 38th minute, after a third consecutive corner, Tony Donatelli finished a cross from skip Ryan.
    It was the first goal of the season for Donatelli, who has been a key part of the Fury FC midfield this season, particularly with all the injuries suffered. His play has been consistent in a season and league where few consistencies are made possible.
    “It’s tough, cause there’s guys in and out of the lineup. But there are a lot of good players on this team so it just takes a little bit of time to gel,” said Donatelli.
    “It’s gonna take time, especially for a new team, but we’re stepping in the right direction.”
    The second half started slow, with the Rowdies controlling the play for opening 15. At that point, Fury FC asserted themselves in the half, suddenly carrying the play.
    The team earned a number of nice chances, with Jarun nearly capitalizing on a set piece, and Soria with two chances of his own.
    The best came in the 85th minute when, just outside the box, Soria played a give and go with Sinisa Ubiparipovic.
    The result was Soria alone in the box with the ball, only to have his shot stopped by Pickens.
    In the 89th minute, Carl Haworth won a 50-50 ball that sent the defender flying, looking for a call. He then took on another defender who met the same fate, planted in the turf.
    The ref called Haworth on the second one, but it’s great to see that level of intensity and fearlessness in the 89th minute.
    The final whistle signaled relief for the Rowdies, who were fortunate not to give up a late winner.
    Dos Santos was impressed with how the team responded following the adversity of missing a PK and then giving one up.
    “I think you have to look at everything. The character of the team after conceding, it’s so tough when you have a PK and the guy saves it,” said Dos Santos.
    2,164 fans attended the game, which competed with game 5 of the Bruins-Habs series.
    After the game, Dos Santos stressed the importance of the team being involved in the community, which they have done in spades thus far, making themselves available.
    “Winning is important but the most important thing I keep telling everybody is results only don’t bring people to come and see the franchise. What brings people here to the stadium and everything is the way you’re in the city, the way you’re involved in the community, the way you’re out there,” said Dos Santos, before returning to the discussion of the team’s form.
    “We’re showing a sign that we can compete against everybody, now can we win against everybody? That’s the next step.”
    Guest
    Episode 64 of the AFTN Soccer Podcast is another double whammy! It's both a Vancouver v Columbus postgame and Canadian Championship semi final preview show.
    We pick over the bones of the Whitecaps first away win of the season in the 1-0 win over the Crew. Who stood out and what were the highs and lows from the game?
    We also hear some thoughts on the game from two of the young guns, <b>Omar Salgado</b> and goalscorer <b>Erik Hurtado</b>.
    Turning our attention to Wednesday, we look ahead to the Canadian Championship semi final second leg against Toronto. Can the Caps overturn the one goal deficit? Will Carl Robinson go young again? And will Toronto play to their full strength?
    We're recording the podcast at TFC's training session at UBC, so we bring you some inside info from the enemy's camp and hear from Toronto head coach <b>Ryan Nelson</b>.
    We also get the thoughts on the game from <b>Carl Robinson</b>, <b>Jay DeMerit</b> and Canadian <b>Russell Teibert</b>.
    And there's still time to bring you a little bit of Whitecaps transfer gossip about a new South American heading Vancouver way. No names, no pack drills, just some teasing clues!
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Have a listen!
    You can listen to this week's podcast on iTunes <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/aftn/id628306235" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>.
    Or download it for your later listening delight <a href="http://aftn.podbean.com/" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>.
    We also have an iPhone app, so you can now add our podcast to your phone as an app. Visit the podcast's mobile site <a href="http://aftn.podbean.com/mobile/" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a> and then at the bottom of the screen just click the "Quick Launch" icon and the podcast will be added to your home screen and appear as an app.
    And if that's not enough, we've joined <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/michael-mccoll/the-aftn-soccer-podcast?refid=stpr" target="_blank"><u><b>Stitcher Radio Network</b></u></a>. Download the app and listen to the AFTN podcast on your device, along with over 15,000 shows <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/michael-mccoll/the-aftn-soccer-podcast?refid=stpr" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>.
    Or after all that, you could just listen on the player below!
    <iframe width="100%" height="100" id="audio_iframe" src="http://www.podbean.com/media/player/audio/postId/5157917/url/http%253A%252F%252Faftn.podbean.com%252Fe%252Fepisode-64-the-aftn-soccer-podcast-up-for-the-cup%252F/initByJs/1/auto/1?skin=3" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>
    <p>
    Aaron Campbell
    Vancouver Whitecaps' Residency players are currently on a six year Canadian U17 player of the year winning streak.
    Russell Teibert did the double in 2008 and 2009. Bryce Alderson in 2010 and 2011 and Marco Carducci for the last two years, 2012 and 2013. All have been rewarded with MLS contracts by the Whitecaps.
    The next group of young players are now competing to be the next one named and one player who has catapulted his way into the conversation is Victoria, BC native Dario Zanatta.
    This season Zanatta, who turns 17 later this month, has scored 19 goals in 21 games for the Whitecaps, and has seen time, and the scoresheet, with both the U16 and U18 teams.
    I had a chance to catch up with this up and coming Whitecaps Residency player to see what his plans are in the future and how excited he would be to be the second local BC kid to suit up for the MLS Whitecaps (*Caleb Clarke got 15 minutes of MLS action in two appearances towards the end of the 2012 season, as the first and only BC born player to come through the Residency program and play for the Whitecaps in the MLS so far).
    AFTN: The Whitecaps have a great history with producing quality U17 players. Where do you see yourself fitting into that mix?
    Dario: The Whitecaps history of having players win the U17 Player of the Year award has been very good, and I would be honoured to be nominated and follow in their footsteps. But I am a different player than those before me and I am just trying to be the best player I can be.
    AFTN: You are off to a amazing start with the Residency this season. What area of your game do you feel you need to improve on before stepping up to the U18 set-up full time next season?
    Dario: The physical side of the game is something I have been working on recently, as well as dealing better with crosses. Playing the number of games that I have with the U-18's this year has been very helpful, but as a player I am always trying to work on every aspect of my game.
    AFTN: With the Whitecaps moving towards a younger attacking team, how excited are you at the thought of getting a chance to suit up for the team in MLS?
    Dario: It is a goal of mine to play professional soccer, and playing in my home province with the Whitecaps would be a great thrill, but those are decisions that aren't up to me. I would hope that over time my development gives me that opportunity.
    AFTN: What professional player would you compare your game to?
    Dario: I aspire to play like any of the top strikers in the world, but the professional player I compare my game to is Robin van Persie.
    AFTN: Finally, what are your soccer specific goals for the next 5 years?
    Dario: To sign a professional contract, to represent my country at the U20 World Cup and to earn a spot with the senior team.
    ** There is one more U16 home game left this season in the USSDA and it takes place this coming Saturday, May 17th at Percy Perry Stadium in Coquitlam. The U16s will kick off at 2.30pm and before that the U18s will kick off the afternoon of football at noon. Come out and make it a Residency double header and #SupportTheFuture.
    Follow Dario Zanatta on twitter @dario_zanatta. You can see video of Dario scoring for the Caps U16s against Portland in November below:

    Guest

    MLS Week in Review – Round 10

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    Another cracking round of MLS action is in the books.
    Leaving aside the extra midweek fixtures, the tenth weekend saw nine matches played, resulting in a whopping six away wins and a single lonely, albeit intense, draw between Portland and LA.
    An impressive 35 goals were scored – three from the penalty spot and a pair of own goals - including a nine-goal thriller in New York, a seven-goal contest in Houston, and a five-goal romp in New England. Three teams tallied five goals this round and three players netted hat-tricks, while another four ended the round with a brace to their name.
    A mere 25 yellow cards were shown, as well as three straight red cards, two of which had dramatic impacts (pardon the pun) on the outcome of their respective matches.
    There were fans-a-booing (in two cities, at least – yes, the ones one would expect), a pair of rare goalkeeper assists – from Vancouver’s David Ousted and San Jose’s Jon Busch, an incidence of recent trades haunting the team who let a player move on, two sides put long winless road runs behind them, and for many sides, it was just one of those days…
    Before the results, the goals of the round:[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    With so many to choose from after a high-scoring round, four candidates for one’s viewing pleasure – in chronological order, Patrick Nyarko, Erik Hurtado, Michel, and Javier Morales.
    Up first is Chicago’s Nyarko with his cross-shot that sailed over a helpless Luis Robles and turned out to be the game-winner in a hard-fought Eastern Conference clash between the first and second-cities:
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/V5uStfBInmY?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    He probably did not mean it, but hey, it worked.
    Quick on his heels was Vancouver’s Hurtado. His speed is well-known, but the inability to make that final decision has dogged his young career; come Saturday he finally found his first MLS goal:
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/e99rVOtoq3Y?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    Not a bad way to introduce oneself – will be interesting to see if that confidence carries into the future.
    Not to be outdone, Dallas’ Michel demands an answer to who is the best free-kick taker in the league – hint, it’s probably him, as this rocket against San Jose evidences:
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/gZfRfaOGjEg?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    Oh my.
    And finally, Salt Lake’s Javier Morales, who has been quiet by his standards, reminded the league why his is still one of the best around. Fifteen seconds – yes, fifteen, is all it took for him to abuse Tally Hall with this delicate chip:
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/fE7Tl9JM3D0?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    That is the stuff keeper’s nightmares are made of.
    On to the results….
    Midweek Results in a Sentence (or Two; maybe Three)

    Dominic Kinnear’s Dynamo got one over on Eastern Conference foes Columbus, 1-0 on Wednesday night thanks to a 50th minute header, of sorts, from Will Bruin, courtesy of a Brad Davis corner kick - of course – notching his third goal in as many matches.
    Gregg Berhalter’s Crew would again boss possession and the run of play, but could not find the back of the net, falling to a second-straight loss while extending a winless run to six matches – they have just three goals over that stretch.

    Seattle continued their impressive form with a 2-1 win over visiting Dallas, despite falling behind to a 16th minute penalty kick, won by Blas Perez - for cutting across the line of Brad Evans and going to ground in a tangle, and converted by Michel.
    Goals from Lamar Neagle and Kenny Cooper, who netted the winner against his former club in the 88th minute - each assisted by Obafemi Martins, were enough to extend Sigi Schmid’s Sounders winning-streak to five matches and unbeaten run to six.
    Oscar Pareja’s Dallas, however, fall to a third-straight loss and have now won just once in their last five matches after going unbeaten through their first five matches.

    San Jose and Colorado, who drew 0-0 in their previous meeting of the season on April 19, refrained that display – the less said about it the better, though were it not for a stellar outing from Clint Irwin, the Earthquakes should have taken the full points.
    Results in Brief
    Philadelphia 0 – DC 1
    The round proper got underway on Saturday with Philadelphia welcoming DC United to PPL Park in Chester.
    The Union were desperate for a win, having equaled a club-record of eight winless matches with last weekend’s loss in Seattle, but again a momentary lapse would cost them.
    Six minutes in, Davy Arnaud hit a ball to the left-side of the box for full-back Christian. He hammered a drive into the heart of the goalmouth that was blocked by Ray Gaddis, The rebound, however, fell to Chris Rolfe, who was completed unmarked near the penalty spot.
    Rolfe took his time, controlling on his chest, before lashing a left-footed volley low to the bottom right-corner of the goal, as Philadelphia were very slow to close him down and his early goal was enough for DC to see out a 0-1 victory.
    Snake-bit, though playing well, Philly again won all the attacking categories – shots, corners, possession – but could not translate those advantages into the one stat that matters: goals. They have been shutout in three of their last four and have not scored from the run of play in five matches.
    Ben Olsen and DC continue to put the miseries of the past behind them: first ending the winless run, then going on a positive run of their own, and finally picking up their first road win in over a year.
    For John Hackworth, a third-straight loss and a new club-record for winless-ness (nine) are tough enough pills to swallow, but a chorus of boos from the Philly faithful and chants of ‘Fire Hackworth’ added an expected, but weighty gloom to his travails.
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zan79GGhzbE?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    Montreal 0 – Kansas City 3
    Boos and painful results – familiar medicine for a struggling Montreal side, who failed to build on their first win of the season last round (coincidentally over Philadelphia), falling to a rampant Sporting KC.
    Already weighed down by a surprise midweek loss in the opening leg of the Voyageurs Cup to Edmonton, not to mention the extensive travel, Montreal’s spirits were further dampened when Collen Warner was sent off in the 17th minute with a red card.
    The Impact were caught napping on a long Matt Besler throw that was met by Dom Dwyer at the near-post, drawing a fine save out of Troy Perkins. Uri Rosell knocked the rebound towards goal, where a falling Warner handled once by accident, then again on purpose, drawing the ire of the referee – even though Dwyer would eventually force the ball in after a poor collection from the keeper.
    Warner was off and KC took the lead from the spot with Dwyer placing a left-footer low to the keeper’s right – Perkins would read his intention, but could not reach the well-taken spot kick.
    Sporting would add a second goal in the 34th minute after an impressive, patient passing build-up capped by Chance Myers hitting a low cross across the top of the box through a crowd that fell to Paulo Nagamura, who coolly put a right-footer on goal.
    Camera angles were not the best and Nagamura either miss-hit his finish or saw it kick up off the attempted block of Jeb Brovsky, but either way it handcuffed Perkins and bounced into the right-side of the goal.
    Content to manage the match with ball-movement, Kansas City put on a clinic – racking up impressive numbers, setting new OPTA records (though they have only been collected since 2011) with Rosell, in particular, shining, completing an astonishing 160 of 166 passes on the night.
    The guests would add a third to see out the 0-3 result in the 64th minute when Rosell played up to Toni Dovale, who used Karl Ouimette’s aggression against him, drawing out the centre-back and feeding Dwyer into the space vacated by the young Canadian.
    In alone, Dwyer would complete his brace with a left-footer past Perkins to seal his side’s second-straight win, second win over Montreal of the young season, and a fifth clean-sheet.
    Peter Vermes was more than pleased with the dominant performance, while Frank Klopas must not only address the failings of his side, but also deal with disgruntled fans and tweeting owners.
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/K-aqlnAOOEg?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    New York 4 – Chicago 5
    Nine goal thrillers are rare enough, but this one was made doubly so with a pair of hat-tricks from Chicago’s stellar rookie Harrison Shipp and New York’s red-hot Bradley Wright-Phillips – marking the first time two hatties had been tallied in the same match in MLS history.
    Shipp began the party after just four minutes in controversial fashion, when his pass for a clearly offside Mike Magee sailed past a frozen Luis Robles into the right-side of the goal. The linesman raised his flag immediately, and then retracted it, leaving both the Red Bulls and the commentators momentarily confused, until the Fire celebrated their good fortune.
    Two minutes later Tim Cahill equalizer with a trademark towering header, posterizing poor, defenseless Greg Cochrane on a left-sided Eric Alexander cross to the back-post.
    And Wright-Phillips would hand the home side a lead heading into half-time with a 39th minute strike – his sixth-goal in the last four matches after Thierry Henry gobbled up a loose ball from an under-pressure Benji Joya and blew past Jhon Kennedy Hurtado down the left-channel.
    Unselfishly, Henry picked out Wright-Phillips with a lofted ball to the back-post that was right-footed past Sean Johnson by the in-form Englishman.
    Undaunted, Chicago responded three minutes after the restart when Quincy Amarikwa’s diagonal run was excellently spotted and picked out by a long ball from Jeff Larentowicz, for a flicked header over Robles that leveled the match at twos.
    And four minutes later Shipp reinstated Chicago’s advantage after New York centre-back dispossessed Amarikwa on the right-side of the box, only for Patrick Nyarko to return the favour and set up Shipp with a square ball, settled and then right-footed past Robles after making space for the shot.
    Five minutes on Shipp completed his hat-trick, forcing a pass out of Jamison Olave, nicking in front of Kosuke Kimura to coast in unfettered down the end-line before cutting back to the edge of the six and slotting a simple right-footer past an exposed Robles for Chicago’s fourth.
    Nyarko would add a fifth in the 64th minute, with a cross-cum-shot that sailed over Robles from the right after Shipp had laid him down the flank.
    Wright-Phillips drew one back for the hosts in the 67th, dummying a cross from Alexander on the left to Lloyd Sam before smashing the loose ball with a right-foot after Sam chested down the rasping service and rounded out his trio from the penalty spot in the 78th when Hurtado tangled with Henry in the box, wrestling the Frenchman to the ground.
    But it was not enough as Chicago found their first win of 2014, 4-5 on the road, having gone winless through the first eight matches of the season, much to the delight of Frank Yallop, though the possibility of letting New York back into the match after taking a commanding lead still rankled.
    Mike Petke held back criticism of his side – it was only their second loss in ten matches after all, admitting that on occasion, regardless of preparation and form, these things will happen.
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/RG4G0vqIRIM?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    Columbus 0 – Vancouver 1
    With the fireworks well underway in New York, a struggling Columbus side kicked off a home match against Vancouver.
    Much like Philadelphia, Columbus has impressed on the pitch, with their style and energy, but have failed to translate that flair into results.
    Playing their third match in six days, Berhalter’s Crew were unable to find a breakthrough against an energetic Vancouver side, who took the lead in the 37th minute through Erik Hurtado.
    Selected fifth-overall in the 2013 SuperDraft, Hurtado has impressed with his speed, but has failed to bring that dynamism to fruition, without a goal in his 21 league appearances to date for the side.
    That all changed in his 22nd match, when goalkeeper David Ousted hit a long free-kick up the right-side of the pitch, which Hurtado won in a challenge with Columbus left-back, Waylon Francis, before turning towards goal. Tony Tchani half-heartedly gave chase as the Vancouver forward moved into the arc from whence he struck a sweetly-hit left-footed curler that eluded keeper Steve Clark en route to the top left-corner of the net.
    A cracking hit.
    Unable to muster the energy reserves for a comeback – Berhalter would criticize himself for failing to rotate his squad through the first months of the calendar – Columbus fell to a third-straight loss with the 0-1 result, stretching their winless run to some seven matches. They have not scored a goal through those three losses, held off the score-sheet for a running tally of 321 minutes.
    For Carl Robinson and Vancouver, coming off a midweek loss at Toronto FC in the opening leg of their Voyageurs Cup series, it was their first away win of the season, extending their current league unbeaten run to four matches with a second-consecutive victory.
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/UKt5b4w0RUA?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    San Jose 2 – Dallas 1
    Saturday’s late game was an all Western affairs, as two more sides coming off midweek exertions met at quaint little Buck Shaw Stadium.
    The hosts would take the lead after 25 minutes, when Jon Busch’s long kick was flicked on by Clarence Goodson into the path of the speedy Cordell Cato. Cato would deftly slot his first goal of the season through the legs of Peruvian keeper, Raul Fernandez, with a calm finish.
    One of the enduring trends of the young MLS season has been the crumbling of sides who go down a man, conceding to a blow-out rather than solidifying down a man.
    San Jose, who lost Shea Salinas moments before the half-time whistle to a late challenge that caught Zach Loyd high and drew red, managed to avoid that fate, but not without a little luck.
    They extended their lead in the 73rd when Dallas forward David Texeira struggled to cutout a Sam Cronin free-kick for Chris Wondolowski at the near-post, getting it all wrong, back-heeling off his own posterior as he turned aimlessly, ushering the ball past Fernandez.
    Dallas would draw one back three minutes later, through a vicious Michel free-kick with his venomous left-footed strike from inside the arc kissing off the underside of the bar on its way past a Busch who could offer no resistance on this occasion.
    But thanks in large part to the Earthquakes keeper, the visitors would not find another, falling to a fourth-straight loss, as Coach Pareja is forced to shuffle his pack with long-term injuries to Mauro Diaz and Kelyn Acosta.
    Mark Watson was proud of the fight displayed by his side, singling out the performance of keeper Busch, who made several (a technical term) important saves, stretching their unbeaten home run to three matches.
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hGZBPgi0Mw8?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    Portland 1 – Los Angeles 1
    Sunday began in fine fashion with the headline, American national broadcast of the round, pitting Portland against visiting LA.
    What transpired was a close-fought affair that was paradoxically wide open for stretches, with the tight-match ballooning into wide open passages of play.
    It has been a strange season for both these high-profile sides with the Timbers having only registered their first win of the season last weekend over DC, thanks to a stoppage-time Max Urruti winner in the 94th minute after eight winless matches.
    For LA, with the stop-start nature of their first few months with Champions League, bye weeks, and a bizarre series of back-to-back matches, it has been neigh impossible to find their rhythm.
    Late drama has been another trend in this season’s MLS panorama with over one-quarter of all goals scored in the final fifteen minutes of matches (69/258 – barring any mathematical errors),
    Rarely does such late activity include three game-changing events, as it did in Portland early on Sunday.
    First came Robbie Keane’s goal in the 92nd minute from a right-sided long-throw by Dan Gargan that sailed between the lines, freezing the Portland defenders and allowing the Irishman to pounce inches in front of goalkeeper, Donovan Ricketts, to redirect what appeared to be a late winner into the goal.
    But then, with the Timbers pouring forward, Juninho was handed a breakaway from the halfway line, clear in on goal, only for the recovering Darlington Nagbe to bundle him over, punishing his indecision. Much to the chagrin of LA and Bruce Arena, no foul was called – it would likely have warranted a red – and Portland were allowed to continue their desperate search for the equalizer.
    Finally, come the 95th minute, the final passage of stoppage-time saw Diego Valeri flick a long Ricketts kick to Will Johnson on the edge of the Galaxy area. He, in turn, flicked a ball over the LA back-line, where a well-out-of-position Futty Danso popped it up in the air for Johnson to corral. With his back to goal, the captain cheekily rolled a back-heel out of the crowd, picking out Valeri wide on the right and his low, right-footed blast was too much for Jaime Penedo to handle, getting a hand on the strike, but not enough to prevent the equalizer.
    Arena was indeed incredulous with the decision to not penalize the supposed infraction; with the 1-1 draw his LA side must go without a win for a third-straight match – though he will be painfully aware that last season’s ghost of conceding late has cost them a further five points already this season.
    Caleb Porter was similarly displeased with his side’s inattention to detail; pointing out that on at least three occasions the opponent’s most obvious target has broken free to punish their lack of stringency.
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/XsZjJdeH3Bo?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    Colorado 1 – Chivas 3
    It is hardly uncommon for a former player to return to haunt the club that deemed their services unnecessary, but rarely does such an event occur in the space of mere days.
    On Thursday, it was announced that Marvin Chavez would depart from the Rapids for Chivas USA in a three-way trade, with Toronto’s Gale Agbossoumonde heading to Colorado and the Goats Luke Moore TFC-bound.
    Come Sunday, Chavez would make his former employer pay with a two-goal outing that exhibited all his pace and guile.
    But it was another released Rapids that drew first blood after an uneventful first half. Martin Rivero – who made his way to California at the start of April – picked out Erick Torres with a lovely cross from the right, which the in-form striker nodded past Clint Irwin for his eighth goal of the season in the 56th minute.
    Eleven minutes later it was Torres who turned provider when he blocked the cross of Marc Burch, rebounding in the direction of Chavez faced with two Colorado defenders near the centre-circle.
    Marvell Wynne bit, allowing Chavez to head over him and outpace Nick LaBrocca with a streaking run on goal fading to the right. Irwin raced out to challenge, but the revenge-minded Honduran skillfully chipped the on-rushing keeper to double his new side’s advantage.
    He would add a third, rounding out his brace nine minutes later, by pressuring a weak back-header from Burch, latching onto the loose ball and again chipping past a helpless Irwin with a stab of the left-boot.
    Colorado would find little nourishment from a 92nd minute consolation goal scored by Deshorn Brown, after Charles Eloundou’s pass deflected into the path of the wide attacker off Mauro Rosales and his shot kicked up off the sliding challenge of Bobby Burling to spoil Dan Kennedy’s clean-sheet.
    Pablo Mastroeni’s Colorado, who had dominated the recent meetings – having not lost in eleven dating to 2009 and not been beaten at home by Chivas in the last six, back to 2008 – had one of those afternoons to forget, while Wilmer Cabrera’s evolving Chivas end an eight-match winless drought in style, picking up their first win on the road in over a year.
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/nSCCCMn3IKE?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    New England 5 – Seattle 0
    As if there had not been enough goals already this weekend, New England put the sword to visiting Seattle, winning 5-0 on four first-half strikes and a Chad Marshall own-goal in the opening stages of the second half.
    Patrick Mullins, who scored a cracker last weekend in Toronto and won the game-winning penalty kick, got the scoring started in the 14th minute, capitalizing on the rebound after Stefan Frei had tipped Teal Bunbury’s finish on to the post.
    Diego Fagundez began the play laying a ball down the left for Chris Tierney, who hit a dangerous low ball through the goalmouth to the non-promise-keeper. Frei denied his right-footed touch, but could do little to prevent Mullins from putting the rebound in with a right-footer of his own from the doorstep.
    Fagundez added the second himself, finally getting his first of the season, from a half-cleared Lee Nguyen corner kick. Tierney again played provider, playing a ball down the left-side of the box for the teenager, who shaped to right-foot across the keeper, but instead slotted to the short-side in the 29th minute.
    Seven minutes on Bunbury got his goal, when Nguyen charged up the left-channel and threaded in the forward. His first attempt was parried, but Bunbury stuck with it, putting a right-footer from a very tight angle across the face of goal, only for it to deflect off the outstretched leg of Frei and into the Sounders goal.
    Fagundez notched his second in the 41st minute, again from the left-side of the box after an excellent cross-field pass from Bunbury, this time indeed finishing across the keeper with his right-foot.
    Stunned by the shellacking, the Sounders fell victim to another devastating Revolution attack, when Nguyen played wide right to Bunbury and his cross was redirected by the outstretched leg of Marhsall, beating Frei at the near-post in the first minute after half-time.
    Sigi Schmid’s Seattle, who had entered the match riding a five-game winning streak, where humbled on an off-afternoon, having travelled across the continent after a midweek match, to face the league’s other hottest team.
    Jay Heaps’ New England keep on rolling, picking up a third-straight win, while stretching their unbeaten run to four – putting themselves into a tie atop the Eastern Conference with leaders Kansas City.
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/aQx0FizUbHQ?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    Houston 2 – Salt Lake 5
    And what better way to close out a goal-filled weekend than with more goals, as Houston and Salt Lake played to a seven-goal contest that was much tighter than the final score indicated.
    It took just fifteen seconds for Javier Morales to kick off the final match of the round, collecting the ball on the right-side of the pitch above the box and placing a delicate, gorgeous right-footed chip beyond the reach of Tally Hall to the top, left-corner of the goal.
    Sixteen minutes on he added a second, after Ned Grabavoy directed a Joao Plata corner kick towards the far-post from deep above, allowing Morales to pounce with a flying right-footed touch on the edge of the six over a defenseless Hall.
    Rookie target forward Mark Sherrod would draw one back for the Dynamo in the 22nd, avoiding the attentions of centre-back Nat Borchers on a left-sided, out-swinging Brad Davis corner kick, to redirect the service on to the far-side of goal with a left-footed touch.
    But any serious hopes of a comeback were stifled five minutes later when Servando Carrasco was dismissed for an industrial challenge on Morales.
    Alvaro Saborio would reinstate Salt Lake’s two-goal lead in the 32nd minute, meeting a Luke Mulholland cross from the right at the near-post with a flicked header to the far-side of goal.
    The hosts would then waste a chance to get back into the match when Giles Barnes put his attempt from the spot, after David Horst was shoved to the ground by Aaron Maund on another dangerous Davis corner kick, straight at Nick Rimando.
    Barnes would make amends for his wastefulness in the second half when Houston drew one back through Sherrod. AJ Cochran pressured a poor pass out of Saborio, allowing Barnes to intercept, touching it away from Mulholland to Sherrod, who slotted a right-footer past Rimando at the near-post.
    Salt Lake quelled any concerns with a fourth goal in the 78th minute, when Morales played a visionary ball that sprung Mulholland in alone, where he rounded the keeper and slotted in from a tight angle and completed the performance with a fifth in the 89th minute from the penalty spot – Morales completing his hat-trick after Devon Sandoval’s leg was bear-hugged by Hall, after the Houston keeper failed to hold onto a rasping shot.
    Jeff Cassar’s Salt Lake continue their unbeaten start to the season, now ten matches – just two short of equaling LA’s twelve-match run at the start of the 1996 season (though, thanks to the shootout, LA’s record was a perfect twelve wins from twelve).
    For Dominic Kinnear, who had seen his side turn a six-match winless run into three results, the failure to compete at home, as well as conceding four-plus goals for the fourth time this season, will be a major concern.
    <iframe width="533" height="300" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QBoOtpOno9E?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
    CanCon
    As usual, the extended review of the Canadian performances will be posted tomorrow (Tuesday) midday, featuring a first start from Tesho Akindele, a near-all-Canadian back-line in Montreal, and a touch of class from Will Johnson, as well as some notes from the first legs of the Voyageurs Cup.
    Overheard
    Plenty of sound-bytes this weekend, starting with Joey Saputo’s unhelpful tweet:
    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Nos supporters méritent mieux. Il y aura des changements, je vous le garantis. Our fans deserve better. Changes will be coming, guaranteed.</p>— Joey Saputo (@JoeySaputo) <a href="
    ">May 10, 2014</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
    It is great to have a passionate owner, but with three managers in three seasons, and Frank Klopas already on the hot-seat after a sedentary off-season from the club management, they are starting to enter TFC territory for managerial turnover.
    Sometimes there are games one just wants to forget – a sentiment echoed by three voices this round:
    New York’s Mike Petke, who responded thusly, when asked if there were any positives to be had, “Yes, I’m going to go and have a vodka. That is a big positive. Let me be clear, very clear. It’s tough for me to be critical of my team to be quite honest because every year you’ve got to allow yourself for a game like this, maybe two, and I’ve been there before.
    “That’s what I told them in the locker room. … It’s hard for me to yell at them and hard for me to blow up. I’ve been on the losing end of a game like this and I’ve been exhausted at the end like these guys are because they did everything they could to come back. I commend that, but we’re a better team than that.”
    Colorado’s Shane O’Neill similarly offered, “It was just one of those days you want to forget about… This is just one of those games you want to forget about. Move on.”
    And Seattle’s Sigi Schmid, “It was just one of those days, you know. We know we’re going to lose some games this year, but I thought we threw too many people forward, left ourselves exposed for the counter. I thought they did a good job of countering today. They executed well when they got forward, and it’s just a game that we got to forget about.”
    Then there was an amusing little twitter spat between Dax McCarty and hat-trick rookie Harrison Shipp.
    Gregg Berhalter has been a breath of fresh air for a stale Crew, as was his honesty after their loss to the Whitecaps, "If I'm critical of anything, it might be my team selection, of not rotating more guys and getting some fresh legs in there. To me, that was clearly the difference. [Vancouver] were just more physical and were able to run more."
    And he offered another football truth, when discussing having held one-on-one meetings to determine if the players were ready to go for a third match in six days, “You rarely get players that are going to tell you, 'No coach, I'm not ready'. We tried to have serious conversations. But guys wanted to play. They wanted to make up for the game in Houston, and unfortunately they didn't have it, physically, to be able to do that."
    San Jose’s Jon Busch got into the spirit of the NHL playoffs when queried about his miraculous save on Dallas’ Blas Perez (see below), “We don’t have to call Toronto [to analyze the replay]. We don’t have that yet, so thank God.”
    And finally, Caleb Porter lets his frustrations soar with some disturbing imagery when analyzing Portland’s failure to track their most dangerous opponents, “Robbie Keane runs through our box naked and heads the ball in the goal. For me, I don’t understand how that happens, and it’s been a trend. I’m sounding like a broken record after the games because most of the goals we’re giving up are on simple crosses.”
    See It Live
    A contracted section this week, given so much verbal content above – but what was up with Portland’s Paa Modou Kah hacking into his boots, all helter skelter, with a pair scissors during an injury break for Diego Chara – blisters on the heels?
    Controversy
    Brad Evans was not best pleased at the penalty kick he conceded to Blas Perez, who used a bit of CONCACAF-esque trickery in their midweek clash.
    What to make of
    that was allowed to stand in New York despite Mike Magee clearly affecting the play from an offside position?And what about that ‘foul’ on Juninho that allowed Portland a chance to go back up to the other end of the pitch for a dramatic late equalizer? Clip unavailable, but watch for Simon Borg’s Instant Replay, which should be posted this evening or tomorrow.
    And did karma come back to haunt the Panamanian Perez, who was denied by the miracle save from Jon Busch that may have need a goal-line camera (or two) to determine whether it had crossed the line?
    Upcoming Fixtures
    Another midweek fixture next Wednesday, the same night as the return legs of the Voyageurs Cup – with Montreal hosting Edmonton, trailing 2-1 after the away leg and Vancouver hosting Toronto, in arrears by the same margin. Followed by nine matches on the weekend: eight Saturday and a sole Sunday fixture.
    Wednesday: Kansas City-Philadelphia. Saturday: Toronto-New York; Philadelphia-New England; DC-Montreal; Houston-Los Angeles; Dallas-Chivas; Salt Lake-Colorado; Seattle-San Jose; Portland-Columbus. Sunday: Chicago-Kansas City.
    All videos and quotes courtesy of MLSsoccer.com
    Each week James takes a look at the league as a whole.
    You can follow James on twitter @grawsee or read more of his writing at Partially Obstructed View
    Guest
    <i>"Caps Countdown" is our Vancouver Whitecaps player rankings with a twist. The starting eleven is ranked from eleven to one, from worst to first. Who was the 'man of the match' and who, if anyone, had a game to forget in the first away win of the season, the 1-0 victory at Columbus Crew? Aaron Campbell makes his selections. Do you agree?</i>
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <b>STARTING XI:</b>
    11 - Jay DeMerit
    Wasn't able to get up in the air on a few of the Columbus crosses in for headers. Still looks slow and a step behind everyone else on the pitch.
    10 - Kekuta Manneh
    Was nice to see him play the whole 90 minutes. Showed some great pace and attack throughout the game.
    9 - Jordan Harvey
    Played well defensively. Had a few moments where he was caught up field. Best game in a few weeks.
    8 - Sebastian Fernandez
    May not start on Wednesday. Played a sound game in the midfield, had a few chances to score.
    7 - Pedro Morales
    Best game on the road in MLS. Saw more of the long range passes that we have seen at home. Didn't look happy when he was subbed out of game.
    6 - David Ousted
    He got a clean sheet. Second game in a row where he stepped up and got the Whitecaps hard earned points. Question is does he start over Carducci against TFC?
    5 - Erik Hurtado
    Great to see him finally open his MLS goalscoring account. Had a chance to get three or four goals. Did have one of the worst misses on a break that I have seen in a long time.
    4 - Steven Beitashour
    Solid as he always is. Stepped up when he had to and got physical when it was needed. He is going to be missed now that he has left to join Iran's World Cup training camp.
    3 - Gershon Koffie
    Had a great game paired up with Laba again. With the young age of these two there is an opportunity for them to be dominate DM's in MLS for years to come.
    2 - Andy O'Brien
    Played a great game and covered for DeMerits lack of pace a couple of times throughout the match. Will have to step up on the right side of the defensive pitch with Beitashour leaving.
    1 - Matias Laba
    Mr 50/50 is how he should be known. Completely shutdown the middle of the pitch teamed up next to Koffie. I can think of 1,500,000 reasons why he will be a Whitecap next season.
    <b>SUPER SUBS:</b>
    3 - Nigel Reo-Coker
    Came into the game with not enough time to make a difference. With reports he is leaving after the Sounders game on May 24th, was this his last MLS minutes in a Whitecaps kit?
    2 - Russell Teibert
    Wasn't a impact like he was vs TFC. Continues his Jekyll and Hyde performance this season.
    1 - Omar Salgado
    Has been great to see Omar back in a Whitecaps jersey this past week. Almost had his first goal of the season with a nice chip over the keeper but just missed. Will have more opportunities with Kenny Miller gone.
    <p>
    Guest
    <i>Match report and post game reaction from Vancouver Whitecaps' trip east to take on Columbus Crew in MLS action. Carl Robinson, Erik Hurtado and David Ousted talk about the 1-0 win.</i>
    <b><u>Report:</u></b>
    Watching Vancouver Whitecaps' away games the last couple of years have, on the whole, not been the most enjoyable experience. Even when there was a rare win at the end of it, the tactics employed were often hard to watch.
    That is certainly not the case under Carl Robinson and his young team put in a terrific attacking performance in Columbus on Saturday evening, generating 22 shots on their way to a deserved 1-0 win over the Crew.
    It was Vancouver's first away win of the season and it came courtesy of Erik Hurtado's first ever MLS goal.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The Whitecaps made one change from the team that beat San Jose last weekend, a forced one, with Erik Hurtado coming in as the out and out striker in place of the injured Darren Mattocks.
    It was clear from the line up, and the early going, that Vancouver were hoping to use their pace to cause Columbus a whole heap of problems.
    Vancouver had the first chance of the match in the 4th minute when Sebastian Fernandez pounced on some sloppy play from Michael Parkhurst as he brought the ball out from the back.
    The Uruguayan dispossessed the Crew captain but pulled his shot wide left when he really should have done much better.
    Columbus had their first shot on target two minutes later when Hector Jimenez's long range drive forced David Ousted to save low to his left.
    The Caps kept pressing and the pace of their young again was causing the Crew some problems.
    Fernandez fired wide from inside the box before Erik Hurtado forced a save out of Steve Clark in the 9th minute.
    The game settled down and it was the 18th minute before a keeper was called into action again, with Ousted making an easy hold from a Jairo Arrieta header.
    There was very little action of note, although Clark was called into action in the 33rd minute to keep out a Jordan Harvey header from a Pedro Morales corner.
    The Whitecaps got the breakthrough in the 37th minute and it came from Hurtado. It was his first MLS goal and it was a beauty.
    The striker brought down a long Ousted free kick forward, turned, took a touch and buried a 20 yard screamer into the top left corner.
    The visitors weren't content to sit on a one goal and minutes later Morales forced a save out of Clark on a dipping 30 yard free kick.
    Columbus were having the better of possession but were creating very little, which Vancouver went in at the half with 12 shots from a very attacking first 45 minutes.
    The Whitecaps nearly came out flying in the second half, with Kekuta Manneh flashing a low long range effort just past the left hand post just 23 seconds in.
    Manneh was in the thick of the action four minutes later, playing in Hurtado but the striker took a wild attempt at a shot instead of trying to take on Clark one on one.
    The game had died a little but Hurtado showed some nice footwork in the box before seeing his shot deflected for a corner as the hour mark approached.
    Both teams made substitutions but Vancouver's defence were comfortably dealing with anything Columbus were able to muster, which wasn't actually a lot.
    As time ticked down, Wil Trapp came close for the Crew with three minutes remaining but his low long ranger took a deflection and whizzed past the right post.
    Vancouver responded and it was nearly a fairytale return for substitute Omar Salgado as he raced clear on goal and did everything right but could only look on in agony as his lob over Clark took a bounce and just went the wrong side of the right post.
    Seconds later and it was Manneh's turn as he raced toward goal but pulled his effort right as well.
    Columbus had a late rally in stoppage time but without troubling Ousted's goal and in the end Vancouver easily held on for their first away win of the season and back to back wins in MLS.
    Now all their attention will turn to Wednesday evening's Canadian Championship semi final second leg against Toronto.
    FINAL SCORE: Columbus Crew 0 - 1 Vancouver Whitecaps
    ATT: 14,495
    COLUMBUS: Steve Clark; Josh Williams (Ethan Finlay 77), Giancarlo Gonzalez, Michael Parkhurst, Waylon Francis; Wil Trapp, Tony Tchani, Hector Jimenez (Dominic Oduro 63), Federico Higuain, Bernardo Anor (Justin Meram 46); Jairo Arrieta [subs Not Used: Matt Lampson, Tyson Wahl, Agustin Viana, Chad Barson]
    VANCOUVER: David Ousted; Steven Beitashour, Jay DeMerit, Andy O'Brien, Jordan Harvey; Matias Laba (Nigel Reo-Coker 89), Gershon Koffie, Sebastian Fernandez, Pedro Morales (Russell Teibert 82), Kekuta Manneh; Erik Hurtado (Omar Salgado 74) [subs Not Used: Paolo Tornaghi, Johnny Leveron, Carlyle Mitchell. Nicolas Mezquida]
    <b><u>Reaction:</u></b>
    <b>Carl Robinson on the overall performance:</b>
    [On Team 1410] "It was a thoroughly good performance for 90 minutes and that's the tone we have to set. It seemed like a home performance, only on the road, and that will be my biggest challenge continuing that process with these guys."
    [On Team 1410] "First of all it's nice to get your first away win but I think more importantly than that was the performance. I thought we were absolutely excellent today in the way we set out our gameplan and took one chance, and I'm disappointed that we only took one chance, but it worked a treat against a very good Columbus team that likes to play football the right way."
    <b>Carl Robinson on Erik Hurtado:</b>
    "The goal's fantastic. It was a super strike and it's just reward, but his all round performance really was fantastic. He held the ball in, he run down the channels and he gave the two centrebacks, who are both very good players, a problem all night. That's credit to him. It's been tough since he come out of the draft, it really has, but he's knuckled down, especially this year and he got his reward tonight."
    <b>Carl Robinson on Matias Laba:</b>
    [On Team 1410] "His calf got a little bit tight, otherwise he wouldn't have come off. I don't need to talk about Mati Laba because I'm his biggest fan and I think people are getting to see what he's about. I thought he was absolutely awesome today from the first minute"
    <b>Erik Hurtado on his 20 yard screamer:</b>
    "I got the little touch that set me up for the shot and just kept my eye on the ball, cos when I keep my eye on the ball I connect with it smoothly. I can watch the goal on replay, I don't have to watch it go into the back of the net."
    "It hit my sweet spot, right on my left foot. It felt good. I saw it going over the keeper and I knew it was going under the crossbar."
    <b>Erik Hurtado on finally breaking his MLS scoring duck:</b>
    "I don't really know if it changes my confidence. It's a little weight off my shoulders looking for that first MLS goal. I know the team's got faith in me, the coach has got faith in me. I just got to keep what I've been doing and hopefully the floodgates are open."
    [On Team 1410] "I've been focusing on just being calm and thinking before I get the ball. Seeing the field before I get it and what I'm going to do and just attacking like I've always done my entire life. I've been working on my finishing a lot and it proves today hard work pays off."
    <b>Erik Hurtado on his other missed chances:</b>
    [On Team 1410] "I got to work on finishing next week. I could have had two, I could have had three, but I got to learn from that. I'm a young player but I've got to finish my chances the next time I get them."
    <b>Erik Hurtado on team's performance:</b>
    "We pressed and pressed and pressed. We got at them from the beginning. We didn't sit back and that's what we're most trying to instill in this team. Whether we're away or at home, we want to press and get at them. We're an attacking team, we did that, but also defended great as a team."
    <b>Erik Hurtado on team's confidence:</b>
    "We got to keep level. We definitely got to keep level."
    <b>David Ousted on the overall game:</b>
    "Solid game where I thought we had a lot of chances to make it more than the 1-0 we won it with. Other than that, I thought it was a great team performance. We defended well and I thought we deserved the win."
    <b>David Ousted on his clean sheet:</b>
    "Kudos, especially the four guys in front of me for doing amazing work, especially in the second half."
    <p>
    Guest
    One of the knock on effects from Kenny Miller's departure to pastures new was the recalling of Vancouver Whitecaps' striker Omar Salgado from the Caps' USL affiliate Charleston Battery.
    Salgado had scored two goals and added one assist to Charleston during his five loan appearances and upon his return, found himself immediately back into the mix for Vancouver, coming on off the bench in Wednesday's game against TFC.
    AFTN's Aaron Campbell spoke with Omar Salgado after his first competitive appearance for the Whitecaps since the 1-0 loss at Portland on October 21st 2012, as he pushes hard for his first MLS minutes in more than a year and a half....
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <center>********************</center>
    AFTN: You've had three games in six days during the past week after an earlier recent injury scare whilst down at Charleston. How are you feeling physically?
    Omar: Feeling a lot better. The scare really got to me. I'm glad it turned out to be nothing.
    AFTN: When you asked to be loaned to Charleston it was so you could get meaningful minutes on the pitch. How was your time down there?
    Omar: Charleston was great. I really enjoyed the city and playing for the Battery. They have a great organization and the team was great. Really enjoyed playing with those guys.
    AFTN: How did it feel to put on the Whitecaps jersey against TFC on Wednesday?
    Omar: It was surreal. I've been dreaming about it for almost 2 years. October 2012 was the last time I played for them in a significant game. Felt amazing.
    AFTN: When did you find out you where being recalled from loan for the game v TFC? What was your first reaction to being called up?
    Omar: I found out Tuesday morning. Flew out Tuesday afternoon and was in Toronto by 6 pm. It was awesome. I really want to prove myself with Vancouver.
    AFTN: With the departure of Kenny Miller it looks like there is a need for a big targetman striker. Do you feel like you are physically ready to play quality MLS minutes?
    Omar: I do feel ready, yes. I can fill that role and play alongside Darren. I think we could both do very well together.
    AFTN: What are your goals for the rest of this season?
    Omar: My goals are first of all to stay healthy. Then play as many minutes as I can and make an impact.
    It's been a long hard road back for Omar after his series of foot injuries and lengthy time out. Hopefully he has now turned the corner. We wish him all the best.
    <p>
    Guest
    Episode 63 of the AFTN Soccer Podcast is a double whammy! It's both a Vancouver v Toronto postgame show and a Columbus pregame show.
    Two for the price of one, and since that price is free, that's pretty darn good value for money if you ask me!
    AFTN's Steve Pandher and Jay Duke look back at the performance of the Caps' smoking young guns against TFC in Wednesday's Canadian Championship semi final first leg. A loss but a lot of positives to take from it.
    Attention is then cast ahead to Saturday's game against Columbus in MLS action. Will there be any surprises in the line-up? Who steps up to fill the void left by the absence of both Kenny Miller and Darren Mattocks? Will the Caps' end their road duck for the season?
    All this chat and more, and we hear some pregame thoughts from the Caps two centrebacks, <b>Jay DeMerit</b> and <b>Andy O'Brien</b>, and look at the rest of an eventful week in Whitecapsland.
    And there's still time for <b>Predictapooch</b> to gaze into his crystal bowl and try and break his losing streak.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Have a listen!
    You can listen to this week's podcast on iTunes <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/aftn/id628306235" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>.
    Or download it for your later listening delight <a href="http://aftn.podbean.com/" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>.
    We also have an iPhone app, so you can now add our podcast to your phone as an app. Visit the podcast's mobile site <a href="http://aftn.podbean.com/mobile/" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a> and then at the bottom of the screen just click the "Quick Launch" icon and the podcast will be added to your home screen and appear as an app.
    And if that's not enough, we've joined <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/michael-mccoll/the-aftn-soccer-podcast?refid=stpr" target="_blank"><u><b>Stitcher Radio Network</b></u></a>. Download the app and listen to the AFTN podcast on your device, along with over 15,000 shows <a href="http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/michael-mccoll/the-aftn-soccer-podcast?refid=stpr" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>.
    Or after all that, you could just listen on the player below!
    <iframe width="100%" height="100" id="audio_iframe" src="http://www.podbean.com/media/player/audio/postId/5154570/url/http%253A%252F%252Faftn.podbean.com%252Fe%252Fepisode-63-the-aftn-soccer-podcast-tfc-postgame-and-columbus-preview-show%252F/initByJs/1/auto/1?skin=3" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>
    <p>
    Guest
    As far as Mother's Day gifts go, Kadeisha Buchanan delivered a pretty good one on Thursday night.
    With her mom watching Canada's friendly against the United States amongst relatives, members of a teammate's family and other Canadian fans at a viewing party in downtown Toronto, Buchanan fully and firmly announced herself to the soccer world by almost single-handedly earning Canada just its ninth result in 56 all-time matchups with our southern neighbours.
    "That's my daughter!" could be heard at approximately 245 decibels when Buchanan, the 18-year-old central defender, rose up in the 36th minute to head home her first goal for the senior national team.
    And on the other side of the ball, the rough-and-tumble Buchanan did the same thing to Abby Wambach -- the top goal scorer in the history of international soccer -- that she did the previous two times the teams played: She made her look positively ordinary.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    While Buchanan rightfully earned the headlines and player-of-the-game honours, the fact that she was part of a back line that contained two other relatively inexperienced teenagers -- Rebecca Quinn, 18, and Sura Yekka, 16 -- that held the world's No. 1-ranked team scoreless for more than three quarters of the match is probably even more pleasantly surprising.
    Yes, it's just one game. Yes, the U.S. spurned a few glorious scoring opportunities it had created. And yes, Erin McLeod was called upon for big saves, which she made.
    But the positive showings from Buchanan, Quinn and Yekka -- along with the promise of Jessie Fleming, 15, and Ashley Lawrence, 18 -- should give Canadian fans plenty to look forward to when it comes to this summer's Under-20 Women's World Cup. Fleming, of course, made a cameo appearance against the U.S., while Lawrence was reportedly fighting the flu as she remained an unused substitute.
    Buchanan is presumably a lock to wear the captain's armband at the U-20 tournament this summer, and could very well follow in the footsteps of another player who wore the armband for Canada on very many occasions -- Kevin McKenna, a fellow centreback who would occasionally line up as a striker for the national team, and is actually tied for seventh all-time in CanMNT scoring with 11 goals.
    Hey, Buchanan is a natural striker (so says her family) and did line up at the position occasionally for the Toronto Lady Lynx. Is it too early to call Kadeisha Buchanan the CanWNT version of Kevin McKenna?
    Yeah, probably. But hey, getting a result against our border rivals (again, only Canada's ninth non-loss in 56 all-time matchups), especially with a youthful lineup and only about a year away from hosting the Women's World Cup, will make a Canadian soccer supporter say all sorts of wild and upbeat things.
    Nowhere near as wild and upbeat as Kadeisha's mom -- who attributed her daughter's terrific performance to her new hairdo -- but hey, we can all dream.
    And when it comes to wild and upbeat, kudos were well-earned by those who turned up to the tune of over 28,000 for a midweek, 7 p.m.-start May friendly in not-especially-friendly weather conditions in Winnipeg. Surely, the CSA was hoping that this game would serve as a showcase, ahead of the WWC, of not just the Manitoba fanbase but the suitability of the shiny new Investors Group Field as a soccer venue.
    Well, mission accomplished on both counts.
    And yeah, a win -- which would have been Canada's first over the USA since 2001, not 2000 as the TV broadcast said -- would have been really swell. And not conceding the equalizing goal to that same Canada-punishing jerk would have been even more swell.
    But to get hung up on those two points would be to dwell unnecessarily on what could have been -- which is, admittedly, a favourite pastime for the masochistic Canadian soccer fan.
    Instead, for once, why not focus on what could be?
    Canada has passed the first of its four big tests on home turf this year. The next one comes on June 18, when Germany rolls into B.C. Place in Vancouver. A hard-fought and deserved draw against an admittedly reeling and somewhat shorthanded American squad is a good start. But a result against the No. 2-ranked Germans -- and another raucous home crowd on the west coast -- would serve notice that the entire Canadian team will be ready to compete at next year's World Cup.
    .
    Guest

    The Moore trade by the numbers

    By Guest, in 24th Minute,

    The Gale Agbossoumonde era is over.*
    Agbossoumonde was traded to Colorado for forward Luke Moore as part of a three way move today. Moore was previously with Chivas USA.
    In many ways it is a deal of minor consequence. Agbossoumonde was not in the plans. Getting anything for him was more production than they ever were going to get.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    However, as always in MLS salary has to be considered. Moore has a cap hit of $128,333.33 over the full year (his TFC cap hit will be pro rated to reflect only the time he played with TFC -- so about $101,000). Agbossoumonde was close to a minimum wage player. Overall, Moore will cost TFC about $50,000 more over full season.
    Again, since Agbossoumonde was clearly not going to play the argument can be made that any amount of money on him would have been wasted. So, then, the key question is whether TFC got the best value they could for him. Was Moore the piece they needed.
    To answer that we need to look at who Moore will likely be replacing on the depth chart. That player is Andrew Wiedeman.
    We looked at five key performance measures for both -- Shots + Key Passes, dribbles, drawn fouls, turn overs + fouls and aerial wins.
    Here's how they compared.
    Moore - S+KP 1.0 (per 90), Drb 0.2, DF 0.3, TO+F 1.5, AW 1.7
    Wiedeman - S+KP 0.3, Drb 0, DF 0.3, TO+F 0.8, AW 0.8
    Moore is clearly better. The question is whether he's enough better to justify the $30,000 increase on the salary cap.
    That's a question that might require more playing time from Moore. As it stands now, the numbers for both men (outside of Moore's AW, which is 16th best amongst forwards in MLS) aren't inspiring.
    In case you're thinking that Moore is coming in for a struggling Gilberto, here's his numbers.
    Gilberto - S+KP 4.8, Drb 0.2, DF 2.0, TO+F 3.8, AW 3.7.
    So, probably not.
    *Yes, I make that joke every time.
    Guest
    <i>"Caps Countdown" is our Vancouver Whitecaps player rankings with a twist. The starting eleven is ranked from eleven to one, from worst to first. Who was the 'man of the match' and who, if anyone, had a game to forget in the late drama of the 2-1 Canadian Championship loss in Toronto? Aaron Campbell makes his selections. Do you agree?</i>
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    <b>STARTING XI:</b>
    11 - Nigel Reo-Coker
    Looked so slow when being attacked by TFC strikers. Is completely out of game shape and may not have got another game if Ethen Sampson was fit.
    10 - Erik Hurtado
    Wasn't a huge threat attacking in the first half. Had some really bad clearances from the defensive box. Needs to show more attack and good touch to get minutes over Manneh.
    9 - Marco Bustos
    Great so see Marco get the start. However did look sloppy and out of place most of his time on the pitch. It's all uphill for Marco from here.
    8 - Christian Dean
    Looked rushed when he was pressured with the ball. A few too many times he just knocked the ball to a TFC player. Threw his weight around nicely when he had to.
    7 - Kianz Froese
    Was surprised to see Kianz get the start. At times he was hidden on the pitch but overall had a good game.
    6 - Carlyle Mitchell
    Was lucky not to get a red on his hard challenge. Played physical with Defoe, Gilberto and Bradley. A big body who is great in the air.
    5 - Nico Mezquida
    Had some great looks but couldn't get to the right spot on the pitch to get quality shots. Worked well with Kianz and Marco in middle of pitch.
    4 - Johnny Leveron
    Almost got to the ball on Defoe's goal. Was calm and played well with Mitchell. Should get the start on Saturday over DeMerit in my opinion.
    3 - Bryce Alderson
    A bit choppy at times but overall a pretty solid game for his first start. Attacked when he had to and stepped up physically when needed also.
    2 - Marco Carducci
    Was a bit jumpy off his line to start the game. You can tell he was anxious to play the game. Was right to attack Defoe on first goal but need to get down quicker. On second goal was a little too far back on his line. Overall a great first game considering who he was playing against.
    1. Russell Teibert
    A great game by Teibert. Was all over the pitch and had a great chance at the end of the first half. Was a pain for TFC midfielders and defenders.
    <b>SUPER SUBS:</b>
    3 - Sebastian Fernandez
    Came on at a time when the Whitecaps needed an offensive spark. Wasn't able to attack the tired TFC defenders.
    2 - Omar Salgado
    Had a chance to tie the game early after subbing into the game. Was a good big man presence that the Whitecaps haven't had this season.
    1 - Kekuta Manneh
    Show me the Manneh!!! A huge away goal that was much needed. Is showing a great nose for the back of the net.
    <p>
    Guest
    Before Manchester City became the richest club in the world , its fans had a term to describe the near comical way the club used to shoot itself in the foot.
    Typical City wasn't just a saying, it was an identity that was eventually embraced by City fans. By owning the failures and remaining loyal to a club that never seemed to get it right the City fan stayed sane(ish).
    Welcome to Typical TFC.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    The Reds don't do things the easy way. Last night -- a 2-1 win over Vancouver in the first leg of the the Voyageurs Cup semi-finals -- was as good an example of that as we've seen in a while.
    Yes, they won. And, that's better than losing. But, they beat a team that included a 17 year old in goal and that all but got on the plane waving a white flag. The Whitecaps went young and sat back and waited to see if TFC would self destruct.
    It took the full 90 minutes, but we got to see some destructive behaviour eventually. A stoppage time goal by the Caps now allows them to go for it at home and take TFC out of a tournament that many of its most loyal fans care about a great deal.
    Typical.
    It's not done, of course. TFC did win the game. It just should have been so much easier. The talent difference on paper was so extreme that you would need to be the blindest TFC apologist alive to defend the result.
    Beyond the tie itself, what's more troublesome was TFC's continued inability to create legitimate chances that don't come directly from Jermain Defoe doing something only Jermain Defoe could do.
    Oh, and the continued inability of Chado Gilbarreto to score.
    Yes, Chado Gilbarreto was a thing in the stands last night. That 25 goal prediction is seemingly a tad bit of a stretch.
    Again, Typical.
    The good news for TFC fans is that City eventually figured it out. It just took a gazillion dollars and 44-years.
    TFC Till It Inevitably Kills You!
    Guest

    Emotional Ramblings: Hope and Anger

    By Guest, in AFTN,

    Carl Robinson publicly tipped his hand earlier in the week when he named a few of the Vancouver Whitecaps youngsters as starters days before the line-up was due. When the starting eleven was put out on Wednesday, even the biggest youth supporters had to rub their eyes.
    Robinson rolled the dice by starting a line-up that included five young Canadians, two of whom aren’t even on the Whitecaps MLS roster.
    Many have been asking to give the Residency kids their shot, and to see them all at once against such a strong team, in a very meaningful game, may have felt like a dream (or maybe a nightmare for some).
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    Well, 90 minutes later, and the youth experiment resulted in a 2-1 loss after a very late, very important away goal by another youngster Kekuta Manneh.
    Of course, TFC probably could have, or should have won by more. And yes, TFC was the better team, but what did you expect? Even if it was the Whitecaps first team squad we’d be pretty satisfied with a one goal deficit and an away goal to take home for the second leg.
    Besides the decent result, there are two things that really impressed and should give all Whitecaps fans (and Canada fans) real hope.
    The first is that the kids, including a few that aren’t old enough to buy beer in Vancouver, didn’t at all look out of place. Sure, mentally there were some jitters, and there was the odd hesitation while they come to terms with the speed of the game, but no one on the pitch looked like they were outclassed technically or physically.
    Bryce Alderson seemed fairly settled and only once was overrun (leading to a goal by Michael Bradley, and that could have been due to some tired legs and an even more tired brain). Marco Bustos and Kianz Froese both looked to get involved, and the latter had a couple storming runs and didn’t look at all intimidated or out of place against men.
    They both made poor decisions or passes from time to time, but they also both made some good plays and should be encouraged to continue what they were doing.
    Russell Teibert, who has been a bit of a mixed bag so far this year, had a man of the match performance and was all over the pitch. He was effective both in a possession role as well as a distributing and creating role.
    Omar Salgado and Kekuta Manneh both had an impact off the bench, including Manneh scoring another of his now signature clinical goals.
    Even better than the result, and even better than the individual performances, was not just that the Whitecaps hung in there but actually how they did it.
    Maybe it’s a result of the Residency influence, but despite being hemmed in at times, the Whitecaps kept playing out of the back. They built through the middle. They held on to the ball and passed it around. They tried one-twos, they switched play, and when nothing was doing, they would move it around and try a different angle.
    A bunch of kids, some of whom played their first professional minutes. Away from home. Against Defoe and Bradley and the rest of TFC’s big money first team.
    Even when they went down, even by two, they didn’t wilt and lump the ball away. And they never looked like they wanted to settle on leaving Toronto 2-0 down to fight another day. They wanted to play football and they wanted to win. And that’s damn exciting for the future.
    It was unfortunate that at the end of what was an otherwise entertaining and exciting game, the ugly part of football reared its head.
    After Kekuta Manneh does as he usually does, and scored an important goal late in the game, Joe Bendik grabbed at Kekuta to stop him from grabbing the ball to restart the match. He then barked at Kekuta and tried to impede him again. Kekuta snapped back, they both flailed their arms around in a huff, and a crowd formed.
    Dwayne DeRosario, who has never been known for being the classiest fellow, then flew into the melee and gave Kekuta a palm or forearm shove to the face.
    Manneh would receive a yellow. Bendik, apparently nothing, and although some people on social media indicated DeRosario received a yellow, the match report on MLSSoccer.com states he did not receive any discipline.
    Now, here’s where football authorities need to figure it out. The matchday officials need to take control of the games and the players. They also need support from their respective leagues and disciplinary committees to enforce the rules that are already in place.
    For far too long, officials have been giving an inch and players have taken a mile and it’s one of the biggest reasons football players get snickered at every game.
    While Bendik didn’t do much of any real harm, just a little tug and a bit of a "pick," he was clearly trying to delay the restart and delay Manneh. That’s a yellow card offense. Show it.
    DeRosario quite obviously flew in with his hand into the face of Manneh. That’s a red card offense. Show it.
    If you didn’t see it, the league, or in this case the CSA needs to suspend DeRosario.
    Earlier in the game, Issey Nakajima-Farran and Nicolas Mezquida were both guilty of clear embellishment. That’s a yellow card offense. Book them.
    After the games, the league should fine them, or in the case of repeat offenders, suspend them.
    When players crowd the official as he’s trying to deal with another player, or has issued a foul or some other even, he should tell them to back off. And if they don’t, and they keep yapping, that’s a yellow card for dissent. Book them.
    This is really an easy fix if you just do it. The leagues and officials should send out memos, both written in advance, and then speak to the players before the match.
    "Hey, fellas, no embellishment and if I tell you to back off when I’m talking to someone else, you do it, okay? Cards will come out quick for that stuff today."
    Players and teams will get the message real quick when they start getting in game discipline and retroactive suspensions. And then maybe garbage like Bendik and DeRosario won’t mar what was otherwise a wonderful show.
    <p>
    Guest
    <i>*** Match report and post game reaction from Vancouver Whitecaps' 2-1 loss to Toronto FC in the Canadian Championship semi final first leg, with quotes from Carl Robinson, Marco Carducci and Kianz Froese. ***</i>
    <b><u>Report:</u></b>
    It was a risky strategy. Vancouver Whitecaps were going with youth, Residency talent and a 17-year-old keeper. Toronto were going more with experience and some high salaried big names.
    Risky, but worth it as far as Carl Robinson was concerned in terms of player development. His players didn't let his belief down and held firm for most of the game, going down 2-1.
    Toronto's two Designated Players did the damage for the home side with Jermain Defoe opening the scoring in the 28th minute and Michael Bradley scoring a second with a minute left in normal time. TFC may have felt the job was done but the story was only just beginning with Kekuta Manneh's stoppage time counter now giving Vancouver a crucial away goal and a great chance to reach the final in next week's second leg.
    [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
    It was all change in the Whitecaps starting eleven from Saturday’s MLS win over San Jose. Eleven changes and three teenagers, including two unsigned Residency players, was the make-up, with 29-year-old Nigel Reo-Coker being the veteran of the team. He hadn’t played a competitive minute since March 22nd and was playing in the unfamiliar right back role that he may be seeing a lot more of in the next few weeks.
    With a bye week coming up this weekend, Toronto fielded eight of the starting eleven that lost at home to New England on Saturday, including Designated Players Jermain Defoe and Michael Bradley, and a further two that had come on as subs.
    David v Goliath? Sure. But a great Cup tie in the making in true FA Cup giantkilling tradition. Just how I like them. Would the Whitecaps' young guns compete or would Toronto kill off the tie well before the second leg and be able to rest players for the return in Vancouver next week?
    The giant may not have been slayed but Vancouver did inflict what could yet be some lasting damage.
    Toronto were looking for an early breakthrough and put Vancouver under the cosh in the opening minutes.
    Defoe had the first chance of the match three minutes in, but his goalbound effort was deflected by Carlyle Mitchell for a corner. TFC kept the pressure on and Steven Caldwell met the resultant set piece and his header was flicked on by Reo-Coker before being cleared off the line by Marco Bustos.
    There was almost a scare for Vancouver in the 11th minute when Gilberto chased down a long ball and Caps keeper Marco Carducci came flying out of his box. The two time Canadian U17 Player of the Year never looked like getting to it first and missed his attempted kick, but he did enough to put the Brazilian off and Mitchell cleared the danger.
    TFC came close again on the 21 minute mark when Gilberto flashed a header wide after getting on the end of a Issey Nakajima-Farran cross.
    Vancouver hadn't been too troubled but the home side gave the impression that they could do the damage any minute and the breakthrough eventually came in the 28th minute when Defoe beat the offside trap to latch onto a Gilberto through ball and easily slotted home past Carducci.
    Defoe had an opportunity to add to his and Toronto's tally five minutes later but Carducci stood tall and kept him out at his near post with a fine save.
    It was pretty much one way TFC traffic and Mark Bloom, who was a late addition to the starting line up after Nick Hagglund was a scratch, hit a cross-come-shot past the left post.
    Vancouver finished the half strongly and had a couple of chances to equalise in the 43rd minute.
    Russell Teibert played two give and gos with Kianz Froese before taking a touch in the box and firing a shot off the onrushing Joe Bendik in the TFC goal. The rebound broke to Nicolas Mezquida but his effort was cleared off the line by Doneil Henry.
    The half time whistle came and despite the home side's dominance, Vancouver will have gone into the break relatively happy with how the half played out and hoping to have a go and nick something in the second, or at the very least keep it tight for the second leg.
    Toronto continued to dominate play but were doing very little with it and the Whitecaps defence was relatively unthreatened for the opening period of the second half.
    TFC had a penalty appeal waved away just past the hour mark when Gilberto's header hit the tucked in arms of Mezquida, but the referee wasn't interested.
    The Whitecaps made the first change of the match shortly after, bringing on the recently recalled loanee Omar Salgado, as they hoped to try and get something going for the closing stages.
    Bryce Alderson had a low long range shot easily held by Bendik at the midway point of the half and Nakajima-Farran headed just past the right post moments later for TFC.
    The Caps broke quickly with 15 minutes remaining and Salgado nearly gave himself a dream return with two efforts which Bendik did well to keep out. The first was an acrobatic save from a shot from just outside the box but the rebound fell to Mezquida who played the ball back to Salgado and the young striker's dipping effort was tipped over by the TFC keeper from under his own crossbar.
    The Caps sensed they could get something from the game and Robinson made a double substitution in the 77th minute, bringing on Kekuta Manneh and Sebastian Fernandez.
    Vancouver were now making a match of it and Toronto were looking to their expensive summer signings to try and grab a second.
    Michael Bradley had been quiet all night but the TFC DP went on a strong run with ten minutes remaining but was dispossessed before he could get off a shot. Moment later, Defoe had a half chance which he pulled wide.
    Teibert hit a long range shot for Vancouver, which was easily held by Bendik, but the game was finishing as an end to end affair.
    Just when it was looking like it would be a one goal game, Defoe played in Bradley in the 89th minute and the US international got the better of Johnny Leveron and hit it across Carducci and into the bottom left corner.
    But that wasn't to be the end of the action and it did indeed finish a one goal game.
    The Caps kept pushing and two minutes into stoppage time the ball broke to an unmarked Manneh 12 yards out the Gambian left Bendik flatfooted to fire home a crucial away goal for Vancouver.
    As Manneh tried to get the ball back he got into a scuffle with Bendik and soon other players got involved setting the scene for what could be a fiery second leg.
    It was a fantastic performance from the young Caps. They may have had to soak up a lot of pressure but their second half performance certainly merited the faith that Carl Robinson had put in them.
    FINAL SCORE: Toronto FC 2 - 1 Vancouver Whitecaps
    TORONTO: Joe Bendik, Mark Bloom, Doneil Henry, Steven Caldwell, Justin Morrow, Alvaro Rey, Kyle Bekker, Michael Bradley, Issey Nakajima-Farran (Dwayne De Rosario 79), Jermain Defoe, Gilberto [subs Not Used: Julio Cesar, Bradley Orr, Nick Hagglund, Ashtone Morgan, Ryan Richter, Andrew Wiedeman]
    VANCOUVER: Marco Carducci; Nigel Reo-Coker, Carlyle Mitchell, Johnny Leverón, Christian Dean; Bryce Alderson, Russell Teibert, Kianz Froese (Sebastian Fernandez 77), Nicolas Mezquida, Marco Bustos (Omar Salgado 64); Erik Hurtado (Kekuta Manneh 77) [subs Not Used: Paolo Tornaghi, Jordan Haynes, Mitch Piraux, Jackson Farmer]
    <u><b>Reaction:</b></u>
    <b>Carl Robinson on fighting till the end:</b>
    "I think you’ve seen in the first nine games on the Major League Soccer season that we don’t give up. We’ve installed a culture into the team and that is credit to the players because we have a never say die attitude. I think we deserved something at the end of the game, I really did, based off the second half performance."
    <b>Carl Robinson on young players:</b>
    "Froese played very well and that’s credit to him. I saw the kid play last year as an assistant coach and I wanted to give him the chance. Because how do you find out when they are ready? You find out when they are ready when you give them the opportunity. I am delighted they played a strong team because that is the level we need to learn. You see Michael Bradley’s running power in the 89th minute and you see Jermaine Defoe’s finishing in the first half."
    <b>Carl Robinson on conceding late second goal:</b>
    "I was a bit frustrated and disappointed because we conceded such a late goal and sometimes there is nothing you can do during a moment of brilliance. Michael Bradley’s finish was brilliant, it really was, and in the 89th minute to be still doing that obviously shows the level of his fitness and his desire to go and play in the World Cup."
    <b>Carl Robinson on Kekuta Manneh's late counter:</b>
    "I was very happy with a little bit of magic by the kid Kekuta at the end which makes it an exciting second leg next week."
    <b>Carl Robinson on Marco Bustos:</b>
    [On Team 1410] "Great, talented player. [He] Understands the game. He was winning free kicks, he was causing the right back a lot of problems."
    <b>Carl Robinson on Kianz Froese:</b>
    [On Team 1410] "I think Kianz was a little bit special today, I have to say. I think he came of age and that's easy to say for a 17 year old, but he grew in stature and in front of the Canadian national team manager, Benito was here."
    <b>Carl Robinson on Omar Salgado:</b>
    [On Team 1410] "I'm about giving young players chances. I'm not going back on my word to any young player and Omar is in that category. He didn't let anyone down."
    <b>Marco Carducci on his first start:</b>
    "It’s a dream and that was always my goal, and then obviously tonight was a great experience for me now looking back on it already, super excited. The result of the game, getting that away goal at the end is really important for us. I think next Wednesday is another great test and I’m looking forward to that now."
    <b>Marco Carducci on whether he felt nervous as the game kicked off:</b>
    "Yes, for sure. The situation, the stage, and the players we were up against but once we got through that, with the support of the team of course. Full credit to everyone in front of me especially the back four I thought were magnificent just helping me through. After the first 15 or 20 minutes or so, I felt like I settled in a bit more and just got into the flow."
    <b>Kianz Froese on his first professional start</b>
    "I was happy to get the opportunity to play with a great group of guys, with my friends. It was nice to just get on the field and have an opportunity to be on the field."
    <b>Kianz Froese on his performance</b>
    "I thought I did well. There is always space for improvement."
    <b>Kianz Froese on next week's second leg</b>
    "Hopefully go out and be calm, have a general good performance by everybody and hopefully we can take it at home."
    <b>Kianz Froese on the state of Canadian soccer</b>
    "I think it’s improving. Obviously Benito (Floro) is doing a good job with us and he is laying down how we want to play. I think we are just moving forward and progressing."
    <p>
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