Steven Sandor's Blog, page 21

Inescapably Canadian Power Rankings: MLS Week 8/USL Week 6

Fresno FC, the USL expansion side that’s affiliated with the Vancouver Whitecaps, played twice this week. It drew both of its games.

But, in terms of “most ironic game of the week involving a Canadian player,” let’s focus on last Wednesday’s 2-2 draw between Fresno and Tulsa. As Fresno is a U.S.-based team, it has no obligation to play Canadian players, even though the club is affiliated with a Canadian MLS side. So, in Wednesday’s game, not one Canadian appeared for Fresno. But, and this is the best part of the story, a player from the Vancouver area scored in that game — for Tulsa, that is. Paris Gee, who played for Simon Fraser University, scored in the 55th minute.

As well, Canadian Jordan Dover also found the net for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds this past week.

Over in MLS, Toronto FC’s plan to start as many reserves as possible in Saturday’s 5-1 loss in Houston has swelled the Canadian minutes-played section. TFC’s plan has been to play a lot of TFCII players for MLS matches so the first team can get as much prep time as needed for CONCACAF Champions League action. And that’s  been a big reason why the number of Canadians who have played in MLS so far in 2018 has been boosted to a fairly healthy… 24.

 

Here are the rankings after the eighth week of MLS play/sixth week of USL action:

 

MLS MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS

Will Johnson, Orlando, 630 (7)
Samuel Piette, Montreal, 630 (7)
Alphonso Davies, Vancouver, 609 (8)
Marcel de Jong, Vancouver, 526 (7)
Mark-Anthony Kaye, LAFC, 506 (6)
Dejan Jakovic, LAFC, 405 (5)
Russell Teibert, Vancouver, 350 (5)
Michael Petrasso, Montreal, 275 (4)
Jonathan Osorio, TFC, 251 (3)
Jay Chapman, TFC, 211 (3)
Ashtone Morgan, TFC, 189 (3)
Liam Fraser, TFC, 180 (2)
Jordan Hamilton, 180 (2)
Ryan Telfer, TFC, 180 (2)
Tosaint Ricketts, TFC, 167 (3)
Richie Laryea, Orlando, 114 (3)
Raheem Edwards, Montreal, 112 (3)
Julian Dunn-Johnson, TFC, 104 (2)
Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Montreal, 98 (4)
Louis Beland-Goyette, Montreal, 92 (3)
Tesho Akindele, FC Dallas, 23 (3)
David Choiniere, Montreal, 12 (1)
Aidan Daniels, TFC, 12 (1)
Kwame Awuah, NYCFC, 3 (2)

 

TEAM RANKINGS, MLS MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2018

Toronto FC, 1474/5 (294.8)

Vancouver, 1485/8 (185.6)

Montreal, 1239/7 (177)

LAFC, 911/6 (151.8)

Orlando City, 744/7 (106.3)

FC Dallas, 23/6  (3.8)

NYCFC, 3/8 (0.4)

 

USL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS

Jordan Schweitzer, Colorado Springs, 650 (8)
Kyle Bekker, NCFC, 522 (6)
Jordan Murrell, Reno, 450 (5)
Skylar Thomas, Charleston, 450 (5)
Paris Gee, Tulsa, 437 (5)
Keven Aleman, Sacramento, 396 (6)
Robert Boskovic, TFCII, 360 (4)
Mauro Eustaquio, Penn FC, 360 (4)
Bradley Kamdem-Fewo, Fresno, 360 (4)
Chris Mannella, Ottawa, 360 (4)
Tyler Pasher, Indy, 360 (4)
Jordan Dover, Pittsburgh, 344 (4)
Ryan James, Nashville, 337 (4)
Aidan Daniels, TFCII, 300 (4)
Amer Didic, Swope Park Rangers, 300 (4)
Luca Uccello, TFCII, 276 (4)
Angelo Cavalluzzo, TFCII, 270 (3)
Zachary Ellis-Hayden, Fresno, 270 (3)
Karl Ouimette, Indy, 270 (3)
Josh Heard, Real Monarchs SLC, 267 (4)
Rocco Romeo, TFCII, 262 (3)
Michael Cox, Nashville, 222 (3)
Carl Haworth, Ottawa, 213 (4)
Malik Johnson, TFCII, 209 (4)
Matthew Srbely, TFCII, 207 (3)
Ryan Telfer, TFCII, 207 (3)
Jamar Dixon, Ottawa, 193 (4)
Zak Drake, Las Vegas, 181 (3)
Maxime Crepeau, Ottawa, 180 (2)
Eddie Edward, Ottawa, 180 (2)
Callum Irving, Ottawa, 180 (2)
Mastanabal Kacher, Real Monarchs SLC, 175 (3)
Kyle Porter, Ottawa, 173 (2)
Daniel Haber, FC Cincinnati, 126 (4)
Mark Anthony Gonzalez, Reno, 98 (2)
Adonijah Reid, Ottawa, 93 (2)
Liam Fraser, TFCII, 90 (1)
Darrin MacLeod, Swope Park Rangers, 90 (1)
Noble Okello Ayo, TFCII, 90 (1)
Shaan Hundal, TFCII, 72 (2)
Kunle Dada-Luke, TFCII, 72 (1)
Jordan Hamilton, TFCII, 63 (1)
Daniel Da Silva, TFCII, 59 (1)
David Edgar, Nashville, 48 (2)
Monti Mohsen, Ottawa, 45 (1)
Terran Campbell, Fresno, 24 (4)
Alessandro Riggi, Phoenix, 24 (3)
Chris Nanco, Bethlehem Steel, 19 (2)
Luca Ricci, Phoenix, 16 (1)
Jordan Faria, TFCII, 15 (1)
Gabriel Wiethaeuper-Balbinotti, Ottawa, 6 (1)

 

TEAM RANKINGS, USL MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2018

TFCII, 2552/4 (638)

Ottawa, 1623/4 (405.8)

Indy Eleven, 630/4 (157.5)

Nashville, 607/5 (121.4)

Reno, 548/5 (109.6)

Fresno, 654/7 (93.4)

Charleston, 450/5 (90)

Penn FC, 360/4 (90)

Real Monarchs SLC, 442/5 (88.4)

Tulsa, 437/5 (87.4)

NCFC, 522/6 (87)

Colorado Springs, 650/8 (81.25)

Pittsburgh, 344/5 (68.8)

Sacramento, 396/6 (66)

Swope Park Rangers, 390/6 (65)

Las Vegas, 181/4 (45.25)

FC Cincinnati, 126/5 (25.2)

Phoenix, 40/6 (6.7)

Bethlehem Steel, 19/5 (3.8)

 

CanPL and CFL: Much better to be friends than enemies

Oh, the irony.

The Canadian Premier League’s first push came from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The league’s initial champions were Ticats owner Bob Young and team president Scott Mitchell. They were the ones who brought in current league president Paul Beirne to help build the CanPL towards its scheduled spring 2019 launch date.

In fact, in the early days of the CanPL,  the league was thought of as the CFL’s soccer league. CFL and #CanPL were used hand-in-hand on message boards. In the minds of Canadian soccer followers, the CFL and #CanPL were connected at the hip.

Now, fast forward to Wednesday’s committee meeting at Edmonton’s City Hall; on the agenda was a series of guidelines for proposed changes to Clarke Field in order for FC Edmonton to be resurrected as a #CanPL side in 2019. It’s the stadium FC Edmonton called home for NASL games from 2012-17. FCE owners Tom and Dave Fath paid for the stands that nearly tripled the capacity of the facility. It’s also the stadium that was home to Edmonton Eskimos before Commonwealth was built next door. It’s also the place that hosts many minor football games, and the city’s gridiron followers see it as something more than a facility. It’s a holy place.

The proposed changes include raising the capacity of Clarke from just over 4,000 to 7,000, and ensuring that FCE is the prime tenant — giving the club the right of first refusal on game dates that it didn’t have during its time in the NASL.

Those proposals were challenged by the Edmonton Eskimos, who host this coming year’s Grey Cup. So, with that, the CFL and #CanPL love-story thing, is it over? Was it ever really there?

Before we go any further, let’s be clear that Wednesday’s gathering was a committee meeting, the purpose of which was to gather information about the stadium proposals. The committee, even though it features members of council, was simply a first step. Still, because of the number of speakers who wanted to address the committee, the meeting was moved to the big council chambers.

The majority of speakers spoke in favour of FCE, and the turnout inspired team general manager Jay Ball to say “today was a day of validation for our fans and the sport of professional soccer in Edmonton.”

But minor football groups and the Eskimos were also there to stake their claims.

Now, let’s get this straight. Anyone who has followed this website knows how much I dislike the “sport vs. sport” thing. I enjoy the CFL. I love hockey and, on Wednesday afternoon, I had a blast sitting at Rogers Place, watching the Jays beat the tar out of the Royals. In fact, I’ve watched a CFL game with Eskimos president Len Rhodes.

So, if you’re expecting to me to froth at the mouth over the fact that Rhodes appeared at the committee to say that Clarke shouldn’t be expanded until FCE can regularly sell it out at the current capacity, you’ll be disappointed.

Where I think there’s a disconnect is, well, is that an old NASL plan for Clarke is being conflated with the new CanPL one. When FCE was in NASL, the deal with city council was that capacity would be increased if the club could show regular sellouts at Clarke. That was then.

As FCE co-owner Tom Fath confirmed last week, the new guidelines don’t come  from FCE. They come from the #CanPL. The new league is the one that wants its teams to have those rights of first refusal on dates. It’s the league that wants teams to have a 7,000-seat capacity. This is the ante the league requires if you want to play at the poker table.

But, when dealing with the city bureaucracy, this is still early in the game. It’s time for the various stakeholders to come together. It’s time for dialogue.

Why? Because CanPL and CFL made for a heck of a marriage.

CanPL vs. CFL is not a story anyone wants to see play out..

TFC doesn’t get their Goats: Chivas shocks BMO Field with inspired road effort

Toronto FC entered the CONCACAF Champions League final as the favourite to win the final. The Reds were in rare territory; an MLS team that was, incredibly, the odds-on pick to take a tournament that has traditionally been the playground for Mexican giants.

But, after a 2-1 loss to Chivas at BMO Field in Tuesday’s first leg, despite having the advantage of blustery conditions, the Reds will enter next week’s second leg in what has become familiar territory for MLS sides in CCL. They’ll be the underdogs.

They’ll have to overcome two road goals.

The deadlock was broken late in the second half, as Alan Pulido’s free kick from left of the penalty area caught TFC keeper Alex Bono out of position, and bent into the goal.

Yeah, the same Alan Pulido who has haunted the Canadian national team in the past, at the U-20 and U-23 level. Search his name in The 11, and he turns up a few times. He doesn’t make for pleasant reading for Canadian fans.

It was a poor finish from the Reds, after a brutal start.

Toronto FC gave up the key road goal just 70 seconds into the match. The Reds were caught napping on a Chivas throw in; they were loose in their coverage and then Auro, coming in from the fullback position to mark striker Rodolfo Pizarro in the box, didn’t do his job. Pizarro was left open to slam the ball into the net for the Goats.

“It was a bad goal to give up, we’re not even two minutes into the game,” said TFC coach Greg Vanney. “Throw-in on the side, we have to deal with it better.  I don’t know if it changes the game, but it sure puts us in a hole to start the game.

Now there was some debate if the linesman mistakenly awarded the initial throw-in to Chivas; but, that would really be splitting hairs. You’ve got to be able to collect yourselves and defend a throw-in.

And Chivas, who, based on previous Champions League exploits against Seattle and New York Red Bulls, were expected to park the bus, were in the driver’s seat.

But the Reds drew level (well, sort of level, as Chivas carried the advantage of the road goal) in the 19th minute. Jozy Altidore did well to hold the ball up in front of the Chivas back line, then pushed the ball down the right wing to Marky Delgado, who then cushioned a ball in front of the goal — and barely out of the reach of three, count ‘em, three defenders. Jonathan Osorio bowled into the area and slid to meet the ball — and drive it in.

Altidore, coming back from a foot problem that forced him out of the second leg of the semifinal, then slowed down and was hunched over for a couple of minutes, before stating he could go on.

Altidore then had two golden chances to give the Reds the lead before halftime, but, in both instances, shot straight at keeper Miguel Jimenez.

Delgado then shot over the bar early in the second, before Bono was forced to stretch to stop an effort from Chivas’s Orbelin Pineda.

Drew Moor, up from his defensive position, then had the next great chance to get TFC the lead it badly needed, but Pizarro’s late challenge was enough to force the Toronto man to  shoot wide.

Pizarro was simply wonderful on the night; the best player on the pitch. He looked to be playing in a variety of positions, tirelessly running to help out the back line when needed, going out onto the wing when needed, and supporting the attack when needed. He was an inspiration to his team, the kind of individual performance that Tigres and Club  America didn’t get from one of their players in the earlier CCL rounds against the Reds.

Then, in the 72nd, came Bono’s mistake, as he was caught out on a free kick he clearly expected to be delivered into the penalty area, but was swerved goalwards instead. If Bono was close to his goal line, he would have handled the ball. But he was caught out, and the ball hit the back of the net. Bono has made a series of excellent saves for the Reds in their run to the final, but, in that key moment, he was at fault.

“It is definitely a misread on my part,” said Bono. “It is something I have to own up to and work on in training and that sort of thing and get ready for the next tie.”

Two minutes later, TFC star Sebastian Giovinco went down in the box under the challenge of Chivas defender Michael Perez; but referee Ricardo Montero saw no reason to give a penalty, despite Giovinco’s arm waving and protest.

That was TFC’s final meaningful attack; now, they must gather themselves and pull off a great Mexican turnaround against a team that isn’t cocky, that understands who its opponent is. Chivas may not have the talent of Tigres or Club America, but the Goats far surpassed them in terms of guile, effort and passion.

 

Inescapably Canadian Power Rankings: MLS Week 7/USL Week 5

It was a very active week for Canadians in MLS and USL.

First, congratulations to Real Monarchs’ forward Mastanabal Kacher, who netted a brace in a midweek game against Sounders 2. Kacher, who ate up minutes for Colorado Springs last season, has now made an impact in his new home. (Of, course, because Kacher was a product of Montreal’s academy system, had to get “Impact” into that paragraph!)

Five Canadians — Marcel de Jong, Alphonso Davies, Russell Teibert, Mark-Anthony Kaye a and Dejan Jakovic — started in Friday’s game between LAFC and the Vancouver Whitecaps.

And, the numbers for Canadians in MLS swelled as Ryan Telfer, Julian Dunn-Johnson and Liam Fraser all made their MLS debuts in Saturday’s loss for TFC in Colorado. Needing to rest players for their CONCACAF Champions League final against Chivas, TFC began a run of two MLS league weekends that will see coach Greg Vanney employ depth players. Because Vanney needs to keep the likes of Sebastian Giovinco, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore fresh for the CCL, the opportunity is there for players to come up from TFCII and make some sort of impression with the big club.

Here are the rankings after the seventh week of MLS play/fifth week of USL action:

MLS MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS

Alphonso Davies, Vancouver, 554 (7)
Will Johnson, Orlando, 540 (6)
Samuel Piette, Montreal, 540 (6)
Marcel de Jong, Vancouver, 436 (6)
Mark-Anthony Kaye, LAFC, 431 (5)
Dejan Jakovic, LAFC, 360 (4)
Russell Teibert, Vancouver, 315 (4)
Michael Petrasso, Montreal, 270 (3)
Jonathan Osorio, TFC, 251 (3)
Ashtone Morgan, TFC, 189 (3)
Jay Chapman, TFC, 121 (2)
Richie Laryea, Orlando, 114 (3)
Raheem Edwards, Montreal, 112 (3)
Tosaint Ricketts, TFC, 102 (2)
Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Montreal, 98 (4)
Louis Beland-Goyette, Montreal, 92 (3)
Liam Fraser, TFC, 90 (1)
Jordan Hamilton, 90 (1)
Ryan Telfer, TFC, 90 (1)
Julian Dunn-Johnson, TFC, 14 (1)
Tesho Akindele, FC Dallas, 12 (2)
David Choiniere, Montreal, 12 (1)
Kwame Awuah, NYCFC, 3 (2)

 

TEAM RANKINGS, MLS MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2018

Toronto FC, 947/4 (236.8)

Montreal, 1144/6 (190.7)

Vancouver, 1305/7 (186.4)

LAFC, 791/5 (158.2)

Orlando City, 654/6 (109)

FC Dallas, 12/5  (2.4)

NYCFC, 3/7 (0.4)

 

USL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS

Jordan Schweitzer, Colorado Springs, 534 (6)
Keven Aleman, Sacramento, 377 (5)
Jordan Murrell, Reno, 360 (4)
Tyler Pasher, Indy, 360 (4)
Skylar Thomas, Charleston, 360 (4)
Paris Gee, Tulsa, 347 (4)
Kyle Bekker, NCFC, 345 (4)
Ryan James, Nashville, 337 (4)
Robert Boskovic, TFCII, 270 (3)
Mauro Eustaquio, Penn FC, 270 (3)
Zachary Ellis-Hayden, Fresno, 270 (3)
Bradley Kamdem-Fewo, Fresno, 270 (3)
Chris Mannella, Ottawa, 270 (3)
Karl Ouimette, Indy, 270 (3)
Luca Uccello, TFCII, 270 (3)
Jordan Dover, Pittsburgh, 254 (3)
Michael Cox, Nashville, 222 (3)
Aidan Daniels, TFCII, 210 (3)
Amer Didic, Swope Park Rangers, 210 (3)
Josh Heard, Real Monarchs SLC, 207 (3)
Matthew Srbely, TFCII, 207 (3)
Ryan Telfer, TFCII, 207 (3)
Jamar Dixon, Ottawa, 183 (3)
Malik Johnson, TFCII, 183 (3)
Zak Drake, Las Vegas, 181 (3)
Angelo Cavalluzzo, TFCII, 180 (2)
Callum Irving, Ottawa, 180 (2)
Carl Haworth, Ottawa, 179 (3)
Kyle Porter, Ottawa, 173 (2)
Rocco Romeo, TFCII, 172 (2)
Mastanabal Kacher, Real Monarchs SLC, 145 (2)
Daniel Haber, FC Cincinnati, 126 (4)
Mark Anthony Gonzalez, Reno, 98 (2)
Maxime Crepeau, Ottawa, 90 (1)
Eddie Edward, Ottawa, 90 (1)
Liam Fraser, TFCII, 90 (1)
Darrin MacLeod, Swope Park Rangers, 90 (1)
Jordan Hamilton, TFCII, 63 (1)
Daniel Da Silva, TFCII, 59 (1)
David Edgar, Nashville, 48 (2)
Monti Mohsen, Ottawa, 45 (1)
Alessandro Riggi, Phoenix, 24 (3)
Terran Campbell, Fresno, 23 (3)
Chris Nanco, Bethlehem Steel, 19 (2)
Luca Ricci, Phoenix, 16 (1)
Jordan Faria, TFCII, 15 (1)
Shaan Hundal, TFCII, 8 (1)
Adonijah Reid, Ottawa, 3 (1)

 

TEAM RANKINGS, USL MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2018

TFCII, 1934/3 (644.7)

Ottawa, 1213/3 (404.3)

Indy Eleven, 630/4 (157.5)

Nashville, 607/5 (121.4)

Reno, 458/4 (114.5)

Fresno, 563/5 (112.6)

Charleston, 360/4 (90)

Penn FC, 270/3 (90)

Colorado Springs, 534/6 (89)

Real Monarchs SLC, 352/4 (88)

Tulsa, 347/4 (86.8)

NCFC, 345/4 (86.25)

Sacramento, 377/5 (75.4)

Pittsburgh, 254/4 (63.5)

Swope Park Rangers, 300/5 (60)

Las Vegas, 181/4 (45.25)

FC Cincinnati, 126/4 (31.5)

Phoenix, 40/5 (8)

Bethlehem Steel, 19/5 (3.8)

 

Big day for CanPL next Wednesday: City of Edmonton to discuss making changes to Clarke Stadium to benefit FC Edmonton

The City of Edmonton’s Community and Public Services Committee’s agenda for its April 18 meeting includes a discussion on “Support for Professional Soccer in Edmonton.”

What that entails is a discussion on the future of Clarke Stadium, the city-owned facility that the Eddies have called home since the 2012 NASL season. Securing Clarke is key if FCE is to be resurrected in the new Canadian Premier League, which is set to begin play in 2019. The Eddies announced in 2017 that they would not be returning to NASL and were suspending the club’s professional program. The team is running its academy program in 2018. Since then, a fan-led #YEG4CPL initiative has been staging regular events to build awareness for soccer in the Alberta Capital and to drum up support for FCE’s potential return.

But a stadium deal is crucial to FCE’s future. Tom Fath, who owns the team with his brother, Dave, has said repeatedly that he won’t bring back the Eddies in CanPL unless he sees that the team can be “feasible.” As well, Edmonton is one of the three Canadian finalists to be a World Cup host city in 2026; so if the United bid wins the right to hist the tourney, Edmonton will need an expanded Clarke as a training venue for the nati0nal teams that will visit the city. Clarke was used as a training facility for the Women’s World Cup in 2015.

On the committee’s agenda for next week:

“Administration has received a request from Fath Sports for the City to provide the following, all of which require further discussion.

1. New operating agreement as primary venue partner

2. Permanent dressing room and laundry facilities

3. Canadian Premier League/FC Edmonton will be the exclusive professional soccer tenant of the City of Edmonton

4. Canadian Premier League/FC Edmonton will be the primary tenant of Clarke Stadium

5. Spectator seating is increased from 4,153 to 7,000 seats, plus standing room

6. Increased washrooms and concessions

7. Exclusion from existing City food service and beverage contracts

8. Naming rights for the field in Clarke Stadium

9. Upgraded lighting for broadcast, sound system, internet, and media services (play by play broadcast area)”

Fath said that the requests made of the city aren’t specific to FC Edmonton. These asks reflect “guidelines” that the CanPL has for all of its teams. So, taking that at face value, that would mean all CanPL teams will need 7,000-seat venues and the ability to control their dates – and concessions.

In 2012, the Faths purchased stands to increase Clarke’s capacity from 1,500 to 4,153. But, the team never was given prime-tenant status, meaning it did not get the first right of refusal on potential dates. That meant the Eddies didn’t always what they felt were the prime times in which to play their home games. For much of their existence, the Eddies have played on Sunday afternoons, though experiments (when possible) to play games on Friday and Saturday nights led to surges in attendance. Edmontonians, simply put, don’t want to spend their summer weekend afternoons at sporting events.

According to Edmonton’s administration “Clarke Stadium is currently subject to existing food and beverage contracts which are in place until 2021,” so an exception to this, to allow FCE to benefit from concession sales, needs discussion.

As well, the proposals, if approved, would give the Faths pro-soccer exclusivity at Clarke, so if another CanPL team would call Edmonton home down the road, it would need to find another place to play.

From the city’s administration:

“Administration has discussed with FC Edmonton these requests and options to achieve what the Canadian Premier League and FC Edmonton believe are needed to sustain a franchise in Edmonton. Several of the requests could have significant budget and/or business implications to the City.

“Administration will continue to work with FC Edmonton on a number of key elements of the request, including a review of the long-term viability of the league, operating budget implications to the City, capital cost estimates for any facility upgrades or improvements, and impacts on the community and other Clarke Stadium users.”

Administration also suggested compromises would need to be made with other sports organizations, such as minor football, about alternate sites in which to play games. “Ongoing conversations with Clarke Stadium users and stakeholders regarding amenities required to host games and the use of alternate sites, such as Jasper Place Bowl, will also continue.”

Fath said he will likely be at City Hall next Wednesday to answer any questions officials may have.

“We have a great relationship with the city’s administration. The fact that this is now being brought forward to the committee, that’s great thing.”

 

Another deep Canadian run helps the case for a second team in the CCL: And it stands to benefit the CanPL

Twitter is a wonderful place for totally unnecessary debates that turn ugly, real fast.

In the wake of Toronto FC’s CONCACAF Champions League semifinal triumph over Club America, there were a few tweets that ended up in my stream that came off like this: That, because TFC didn’t qualify as an MLS team, it’s not really representing MLS.

What does that mean? Well, the MLS format has no bearing on how the league’s three teams qualify for international tournaments. How teams qualify for things like the CCL is determined by the national associations. So, to get the single CCL spot available to Canadian teams, Toronto FC had to win the Canadian Championship. The fact that TFC won MLS Cup in ’17 or got to MLS Cup the year previous has no bearing on CCL whatsoever.

For the American teams, MLS positioning means a great deal when it comes to getting CCL spots, because the USSF deems it so, and recognizes MLS as the official first division of the United States.

But, to suggest Toronto FC isn’t really representing MLS is kind of weird. Even though it can’t qualify for CCL via MLS, it is still a member team of that league.

The totally needless Twitter debate, though, should have been the stepping stone to a much more important conversation. And that’s how much Toronto FC’s CCL success (and the Montreal Impact’s run to the CCL final in 2015), could end up benefiting the nascent Canadian Premier League.

It’s been openly acknowledged by the CanPL brass that Canada Soccer is actively pushing to get Canada at least one additional slot in the CCL; the hopes are that this second spot would go to the CanPL champion, as the league, once it kicks off in 2019, will be recognized as Canada’s official division one.

That spot could send a second Canadian side into the qualifying rounds of the CCL.

Canada has a few aces in the hole. It might help a little bit that the president of CONCACAF is a Canadian. It’s noted that, Scotiabank, the title sponsor of the CCL, is a Canadian bank.

But the big argument will be about the competition. And the glaring, obvious truth is that Canada, despite only having one team in CCL, year after year performs better than the United States, which has four slots in the tournament.

In 2015 and 2018, Canadian teams made it to the CCL final. No American team has done it since 2011, when Real Salt Lake got there.

In 2017, the Vancouver Whitecaps got to the semis, beating an American team (New York Red Bulls) on the way there. This season, it has to be noted that TFC beat the Colorado Rapids on the way to the final.

It doesn’t matter that these were MLS-vs-MLS matchups. For the purpose of international club soccer, this was Canada vs. USA, and Canada won both.

Yes, the Canadian teams are MLS teams, but what Canada Soccer and the CanPL will argue is “look how successful Canadian teams have been in the CCL, Canada deserves another slot because of this.”

Ironically, the success of these Canadian MLS teams could be a big boost to the CanPL, as it would be the likely beneficiary of that extra CCL slot. Or slots? Heck, the way Canadian teams regularly outpace the American teams in CCL, maybe Canada should be asking for more than two, considering that the Americans get four.

 

TFC now two-thirds of the way through its Mexican odyssey

TFC are two thirds of the way through the Mexican gauntlet.

Tigres? Check.

And, thanks to an early goal from Jonathan Osorio and a dogged defensive effort, the Reds not only were able to protect a 3-1 lead in Tuesday’s second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinal, they drew the game 1-1, to boot. At Azteca Stadium, a place where Canadian dreams don’t just go to die; we’re wise enough to know that Azteca’s a place where the visitors should know never to get their hopes up. The altitude, the smog. The noise that doesn’t have any lulls. 

Goodbye Club America.

Now, Chivas awaits in the final.

“We’re not done. We’re not happy at being where we are right now, we still have a lot of work to do,” said TFC coach Greg Vanney after the match.

Of course, as TFC progresses, there are worry about the shrinking squad. Jozy Altidore had to leave Tuesday’s game in the sixth minute with what looked like an ankle issue. And Gregory Van Der Wiel left at halftime.

This was a TFC team that was already missing three regulars.

But, ironically, Altidore leaving the game, forcing coach Greg Vanney to bring in Edmonton’s own Tosaint Ricketts, helped lead to TFC’s goal. If there’s one area Ricketts has Altidore beat, it’s raw footspeed. And the threat of his speed forced CA defender William da Silva into a panicked challenge that saw the ball go across the box to Osorio, the pride of Brampton, to slot into an empty goal.

Two Canadians involved in maybe one of the biggest goals ever scored by a Canadian club, in one of the world’s true soccer cathedrals. Pinch me.

Even though Club America changed up its backline personnel, the same problem it had in the first leg came back to bite it at Azteca. That is, the centre backs’ needless desire to make challenges way up the pitch and yank themselves out of position.

When Sebastian Giovinco got the ball in midfield, both of Club America’s centre backs charged at him, for no apparent good reason. The fullbacks, though, didn’t push up, so Ricketts had acres of space to run in behind the centre backs, which forced da Silva to have to come over to help. And, by then, the hosts had nothing left in terms of organization, and Osorio was able to streak in, unmarked, to finish the play.

Keeper Alex Bono, who has named TFC’s man of the match, came up big later in the first half, getting a palm to a diving header from Victor Aguilera. And, while that save will be repeated over and over on highlight shows, Bono wasn’t asked to make too many miraculous stops. Yes, Club America pressed and pressed and pressed, had plenty of the ball in the final third, but didn’t do enough to translate that into meaningful chances on goal. As well, it needs to be said that, outside of a stoppage-time consolation penalty kick from Andres Uribe, Club America’s work on set pieces was, well, brutal. Wayward free kicks, corners that consistently couldn’t clear the first defender.

Heck, it got so bad that, late in the second half, Club America keeper Agustin Marchesin was tasked to take a free kick. He hammered it off the wall.

Toronto FC’s trip to the final also continues the pattern that Canadian MLS teams do far better in the CONCACAF Champions League than their American counterparts do — even though the U.S. gets four slots in the CCL, while the Canadians get just one. And, let us

France’s one-goal margin over Canada doesn’t reflect Les Bleues’ dominance

France’s win at home Monday night over the Canadian women’s national team will go as one of the most comprehensive 1-0 wins we’ve ever seen.

Let’s be honest; 1-0 doesn’t come close to being an accurate reflection of France’s dominance over the visiting Canadians in front of a boisterous crowd in Rennes.

The only reason that this friendly didn’t have more of a one-sided tilted-field scoreline was because of France’s insistence to try and walk the ball into net. And, when the French did settle down to shoot, the wayward attempts made you see exactly why the team in blue so often chose to try and walk the ball into the net. In a lot of ways, save for the different result, France’s attack was very similar to that famous 2012 Olympic bronze medal match, when it did everything but put a ball across Canada’s goal line.

France got its goal early on; the blue shirts came forward in numbers, daring the Canadian defenders to try and work the ball through them or punt the ball to safety. Canada’s back line did neither, and a comedy errors led to a penalty kick. After the French got the ball deep into the Canadian half, fullback Ashley Lawrence made the decision to try and hold the ball and look to pass the ball out of trouble. She lost it, which led to another period of French pressure, and, during the ensuing scramble, a bouncing ball found the arm of Canadian midfielder Diana Matheson.

Eugenie Le Sommer went top corner with her spot kick, giving Canadian keeper Stephanie Labbe absolutely no chance.

But Le Sommer should have made it 2-0 shortly after that; a quick French move down the right side led to a cushioned header back to the middle of the Canadian penalty area. Le Sommer was in perfect position to finish the clever move, but headed over the bar

In the second half,  Labbe was called in to make a good leaping save to tip a shot from  Gaetane Thiney over the bar.

Labbe would have an even more impressive save to make later in the game, as France was awarded its second penalty of the night. Desiree Scott was ruled to have brought down France’s Amel Majri in the area, but it looked more like the French player slipped on her own. Amandine Henry stepped to the spot, but Labbe guessed correctly, diving to her right to parry away the shot.

Canada’s best effort? Maybe a long-distance first-half shot from Christine Sinclair that swerved wide of the post.

If France wants to send the message that it will be favourites to win the Women’s World Cup at home in 2019, well, the team is doing a fine job. And, for Canadian coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller, he now has to look at ways that the Canadians can deal with the French press. Canada struggled in areas (fullback) where we don’t normally see it have that many difficulties. But the French came and came and came at the Canadians in sheer numbers. And, for a program that prides itself on its ability to play attractive football, Canada couldn’t find a way to pass itself out of trouble.

 

Inescapably Canadian Power Rankings: MLS Week 6/USL Week 4

Canadians played key roles in the NASL reunion match between North Carolina FC and the Indy Eleven this past weekend.

Tyler Pasher scored what would stand up as the winning goal as Indy came into North Carolina and got a 1-0 result. NCFC’s Kyle Bekker had a chance to draw the game level in stoppage time, but he couldn’t convert his penalty-kick attempt. Pasher scored, Bekker didn’t, and that was the difference in a game that saw new Indy coach Martin Rennie go back to his old stomping grounds in Cary, N.C. Before going on to coach the Whitecaps, Rennie coached the then-Carolina RailHawks in the NASL.

USL action brought most of the highlights for Canadian players this past weekend, as Skylar Thomas scored for the Charleston Battery, and we’re all asking what the heck is wrong with the Ottawa Fury. The Fury has lost its first two games, and has a shocking -8 goal difference. And, the team is playing its Canada-eligible players a lot — an average of 443 minutes through these first two blowouts of the season.

Here are the rankings after the sixth week of MLS play/fourth week of USL action:

MLS MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS

Alphonso Davies, Vancouver, 464 (6)
Will Johnson, Orlando, 450 (5)
Samuel Piette, Montreal, 450 (5)
Marcel de Jong, Vancouver, 365 (5)
Mark-Anthony Kaye, LAFC, 341 (4)
Dejan Jakovic, LAFC, 270 (3)
Michael Petrasso, Montreal, 270 (3)
Jonathan Osorio, TFC, 251 (3)
Russell Teibert, Vancouver, 250 (3)
Ashtone Morgan, TFC, 156 (2)
Richie Laryea, Orlando, 114 (3)
Raheem Edwards, Montreal, 112 (3)
Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Montreal, 74 (3)
Louis Beland-Goyette, Montreal, 59 (2)
Jay Chapman, TFC, 31 (1)
David Choiniere, Montreal, 12 (1)
Tosaint Ricketts, TFC, 12 (1)
Kwame Awuah, NYCFC, 3 (2)
Tesho Akindele, FC Dallas, 1 (1)

 

TEAM RANKINGS, MLS MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2018

Montreal, 997/5 (199.4)

Vancouver, 1079/6 (179.8)

LAFC, 611/4 (152.75)

Toronto FC, 450/3 (150)

Orlando City, 564/5 (112.8)

NYCFC, 3/5 (0.6)

FC Dallas, 1/4  (0.25)

 

USL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS

Jordan Schweitzer, Colorado Springs, 444 (5)
Skylar Thomas, Charleston, 360 (4)
Paris Gee, Tulsa, 347 (4)
Keven Aleman, Sacramento, 309 (4)
Robert Boskovic, TFCII, 270 (3)
Mauro Eustaquio, Penn FC, 270 (3)
Zachary Ellis-Hayden, Fresno, 270 (3)
Bradley Kamdem-Fewo, Fresno, 270 (3)
Jordan Murrell, Reno, 270 (3)
Karl Ouimette, Indy, 270 (3)
Tyler Pasher, Indy, 270 (3)
Luca Uccello, TFCII, 270 (3)
Kyle Bekker, NCFC, 256 (3)
Jordan Dover, Pittsburgh, 254 (3)
Ryan James, Nashville, 247 (3)
Michael Cox, Nashville, 222 (3)
Aidan Daniels, TFCII, 210 (3)
Amer Didic, Swope Park Rangers, 210 (3)
Matthew Srbely, TFCII, 207 (3)
Ryan Telfer, TFCII, 207 (3)
Malik Johnson, TFCII, 183 (3)
Zak Drake, Las Vegas, 181 (3)
Angelo Cavalluzzo, TFCII, 180 (2)
Callum Irving, Ottawa, 180 (2)
Chris Mannella, Ottawa, 180 (2)
Kyle Porter, Ottawa, 173 (2)
Rocco Romeo, TFCII, 172 (2)
Jamar Dixon, Ottawa, 154 (2)
Carl Haworth, Ottawa, 154 (2)
Josh Heard, Real Monarchs SLC, 117 (2)
Mark Anthony Gonzalez, Reno, 98 (2)
Liam Fraser, TFCII, 90 (1)
Darrin MacLeod, Swope Park Rangers, 90 (1)
Jordan Hamilton, TFCII, 63 (1)
Mastanabal Kacher, Real Monarchs SLC, 63 (1)
Daniel Da Silva, TFCII, 59 (1)
Daniel Haber, FC Cincinnati, 46 (3)
Monti Mohsen, Ottawa, 45 (1)
Terran Campbell, Fresno, 23 (3)
Chris Nanco, Bethlehem Steel, 19 (2)
Alessandro Riggi, Phoenix, 17 (2)
Luca Ricci, Phoenix, 16 (1)
Jordan Faria, TFCII, 15 (1)
Shaan Hundal, TFCII, 8 (1)
David Edgar, Nashville, 3 (1)

 

TEAM RANKINGS, USL MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2018

TFCII, 1934/3 (644.7)

Ottawa, 886/2 (443)

Indy Eleven, 540/3 (180)

Reno, 368/3 (122.7)

Nashville, 472/4 (118)

Fresno, 563/5 (112.6)

Charleston, 360/4 (90)

Penn FC, 270/3 (90)

Colorado Springs, 444/5 (88.8)

Tulsa, 347/4 (86.8)

NCFC, 256/3 (85.3)

Pittsburgh, 254/3 (84.7)

Sacramento, 309/4 (77.25)

Las Vegas, 181/3 (60.3)

Swope Park Rangers, 300/5 (60)

Real Monarchs SLC, 180/3 (60)

FC Cincinnati, 46/3 (15.3)

Phoenix, 33/4 (8.25)

Bethlehem Steel, 19/4 (4.75)

 

The CanPL and midseason friendlies? “That’s something we will have to examine down the line”

There is a series of summer (dare we call them traditions?) in North American soccer. European and South American clubs take the appearance fees and play against pro teams in Canada and the United States, even though the North American clubs are in season.

Ask fans about these summer friendlies, and the opinions are divided. Some will say that they bring needed glamour and prestige to North American stadiums, and offer the people who have yet to support their local clubs a reason to come out to see games.

The other side will point out that these European and South American sides send out weakened lineups, go through the motions and, well, create scheduling nightmares for Canadian and American teams that have midweek friendlies smack-dab in the middle of the heaviest parts of their schedules.

I’ve been to more than a fair share of these international games, and the quality varies. Last year, I saw Valencia take on the NASL’s New York Cosmos in Regina; the Cosmos came out with a point to prove and were by far the more entertaining of the two sides. Valencia went through the motions. I’ve seen Toronto FC play Aston Villa, plus I’ve covered games between European giants playing in North American stadiums; Juventus, Inter Milan, Manchester United, Celtic, Panathinaikos…

But, the international tours are a big part of what SUM (the business arm of Major League Soccer) does. So, it’s worth asking if the nascent Canadian Premier League’s newly announced business arm will also go for international friendlies which will see league teams play European sides.

The answer? Not yet.

“Our goal is to help to build a soccer culture and industry in Canada and beyond, says CPL Commissioner and Chairman of Canadian Soccer Business David Clanachan. “We will take a thorough look at everything that enables us to do that, including bringing international teams and opportunities to Canada.

“As for in-season friendlies, and other opportunities for Canadian Premier League clubs, that’s something we will have to examine down the line. In the short term, we think we will have a very busy soccer season that includes our league schedule along with a very robust Canadian Championship – something that will be very important to our member clubs.”

The new business arm will look after local and national broadcasting rights, and will also handle the business side of Canada’s national teams.

The new CanPL is slated to kick off in 2019.