Steven Sandor's Blog, page 75

Fordyce, Watson set to become Canadian citizens — what does it mean for FCE, CanMNT?

The Eddies, including captain Albert Watson, celebrate Daryl Fordyce’s goal. PHOTO: TONY LEWIS/FC EDMONTON

Daryl Fordyce and Albert Watson have made major impacts since they left their native Northern Ireland three years ago to sign with FC Edmonton.

Fordyce is the Eddies’ all-time leading scorer. He’s tied for second on the all-time Amway Canadian Championship scoring list, with four over three campaigns. Meanwhile, Watson has established himself as the FCE captain and one of the best defenders in NASL.

This week, they both took on the written test — one of the final stages on the citizenship path. The players and their families are committed to becoming Canadian citizens. They want to make their lives here.

But, on the practical side, the second they get sworn in, things change for FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller. Fordyce and Watson will no longer be international players, so that means two precious international roster spots open up for Miller to use as he wishes.

And, could this also put Benito Floro, the coach of the goal-scoring challenged Canadian national team, in action? Fordyce said Wednesday that if Canada asked him, he would switch — and represent Canada internationally. But there’s a fly in the ointment; Fordyce has played for Northern Ireland’s U19 and U21 teams.

Here are the FIFA rules: “If a Player has more than one nationality, or if a Player acquires a new nationality, or if a Player is eligible to play for several representative teams due to nationality, he may, only once, request to change the Association for which he is eligible to play international matches to the Association of another Country of which he holds nationality, subject to the following conditions: a) He has not played a match (either in full or in part) in an Official Competition at “A” international level for his current Association, and at the time of his first full or partial appearance in an international match in an Official Competition for his current Association, he already had the nationality of the representative team for which he wishes to play; b) He is not permitted to play for his new Association in any competition in which he has already played for his previous Association.”

So, because Fordyce, 29, didn’t have Canadian citizenship when he represented Northern Ireland, he’s not be eligible — but, players in the same situation as Fordyce have successfully lobbied FIFA in the past. (Of course, assuming that Floro is up for that).

Watson, 31, has played for Northern Ireland’s U23s in the past.

Citytv, TSN1260 radio to broadcast FCE home matches

FC Edmonton has announced the details of radio and TV coverage for the remainder of the NASL spring season and the entire fall season.

First off, I want to say I’m delighted to be back in the broadcast booth with Gareth Hampshire for the season. We’ve been doing Eddies games together since 2011 — when the Eddies were playing home games on the tiny Foote Field pitch.

And it’s great to be reunited with the production team at M31.

The broadcasts of all home games will return to Citytv, while the calls will be simulcast on TSN1260 radio. That will begin this Sunday when the Fury visits Clarke Field to take on the Eddies.



In case you missed it, for the second year in a row, the M31 team has been nominated for a “Rosie” — the awards given out to the best in media, TV and film production in Alberta. The broadcast of the Aug. 2, 2015 game in Fort McMurray between the Ottawa Fury and FCE is up for the Best Sports Broadcast award. It speaks highly of the team we have, from the camera crew to the people who put the text up on the screens to the people who get the replays to us.

Overwhelmingly Canadian Power Rankings: MLS Week 7/NASL Week 3/USL Week 4

Shamit Shome

Shamit Shome started and played the full 90 for Canada’s U-20s when they beat England’s U-20s 2-1 in late March.

This past weekend, the Edmonton teenager made his pro debut, playing 80 minutes in FC Edmonton’s 1-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. While FCE coach Colin Miller was bitterly disappointed by the result, he had nothing but praise for Shome’s performance, saying that the 18-year-old was “excellent” in the midfield. Shome, was signed by the big club before the season, and his pro debut was one of the real Canadian highlights of the weekend.

As well, at the USL level, the match between FC Montreal and Wilmington needs to be highlighted. Save for a 15-minute sub appearance by Swiss player Fabio Morelli, FC Montreal used only Canadian players in the game. And, that has only extended FC Montreal’s commanding lead over the USL field when it comes to the average minutes played by Canadians per match. We have often been critical of FC Montreal’s parent club, the Impact, when it comes to playing Canadians. But, to show fair is fair, we need to highlight how dedicated their developmental team is when it comes to giving Canadians minutes on the pitch.

But, it was another Canadian who had the last laugh in that match. John Smits, Wilmington’s Canadian keeper, recorded the clean sheet in a 2-0 win. Smits leads all Canadian players in USL in terms of minutes played.

HERE ARE THE RANKINGS:



MLS AND NASL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS

1. Fraser Aird, Vancouver, MLS, 578 (7)

2. Will Johnson, Toronto FC, MLS, 539 (6)

3. Karl Ouimette, NYRB, MLS 492 (6)

4. Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC, MLS, 421 (5)

5. Tesho Akindele, FC Dallas, MLS, 335 (7)

6. Cyle Larin, Orlando City, MLS, 288 (5)

7. Kyle Bekker, Montreal, MLS, 270 (4)

T8. Drew Beckie, Carolina, NASL, 270 (3)

T8. Marcel De Jong, Ottawa, NASL, 270 (3)

T8. Eddie Edward, FC Edmonton, NASL, 270 (3)

T8. Nik Ledgerwood, FC Edmonton, NASL, 270 (3)

T8. Kyle Porter, Ottawa, NASL, 270 (3)

13. Julian de Guzman, Ottawa, NASL, 250 (3)

14. Mason Trafford, Miami FC, NASL, 180 (2)

15. Mallan Roberts, FC Edmonton, NASL, 142 (2)

16. Kianz Froese, Vancouver, MLS, 140 (3)

17. Allan Zebie, FC Edmonton, NASL, 100 (2)

18. Mo Babouli, Toronto FC, MLS 93 (3)

19. Nana Attakora, Fort Lauderdale, NASL, 90 (1)

20. Shamit Shome, FC Edmonton, NASL, 80 (1)

21. Carl Haworth, Ottawa, NASL, 79 (1)

22. Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Montreal, MLS, 68 (4)

T23. Mozzi Gyorio, Ottawa, NASL, 61 (1)

T23. Russell Teibert, Vancouver, MLS, 61 (1)

T25. Marco Bustos, Vancouver, MLS, 45 (1)

T25. Wandrille Lefevre, Montreal, MLS, 45 (1)

27. Jay Chapman, Toronto FC, MLS, 29 (2)

28. Ashtone Morgan, Toronto FC, MLS, 28 (4)

29. Sam Adekugbe, Vancouver, MLS, 21 (1)

30. Patrice Bernier, Montreal, MLS, 18 (1)

31. Mauro Eustaquio, Ottawa, NASL, 13 (2)

TEAM RANKINGS, MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2016, RANKED BY AVERAGE MINUTES PER GAME:

Ottawa, NASL, 943 /3 (314.3)

FC Edmonton, NASL, 862/3 (287.3)

Toronto FC, MLS, 1110/6 (185)

Vancouver, MLS, 845/7 (120.7)

Carolina, NASL, 270/3 (90)

New York Red Bulls, MLS, 492/7 (70.3)

Montreal, MLS, 381/6 (63.5)

Miami FC, NASL, 180/3 (60)

Orlando City, MLS, 288/6 (48)

Fort Lauderdale, NASL, 90/2 (45)

FC Dallas, MLS, 335/8 (41.9)

USL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS

1. John Smits, Wilmington, USL, 360 (4)

2. Richie Laryea, Orlando City B, USL, 299 (4)

T3. Janouk Charbonneau, FC Montreal, USL, 270 (3)

T3. Raheem Edwards, TFC II, USL, 270 (3)

T3. Zachary Ellis-Hayden, Orlando City B, USL, 270 (3)

T3. Anthony Osorio, TFC II, USL, 270 (3)

7. Dominic Samuel, Rochester, USL, 257 (3)

8. Daniel Haber, WFC2, USL, 256 (3)

9. Brett Levis, WFC2, USL, 243 (3)

10. Skylar Thomas, TFC II, USL, 241 (3)

11. Louis Beland-Goyette, FC Montreal, USL, 235 (3)

12. Aidan Daniels, TFC II, USL, 227 (3)

T13. Kadin Chung, WFC2, USL, 180 (2)

T13. Maxime Crepeau, FC Montreal, USL, 180 (2)

T13. Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare, FC Montreal, USL, 180 (2)

T13. Thomas Meilleur-Giguere, FC Montreal, USL, 180 (2)

T13. Sean Melvin, WFC2, USL, 180 (2)

18. Yacine Ait-Slimane, FC Montreal, USL, 179 (3)

19. Aron Mkungilwa, FC Montreal, USL, 177 (2)

20. Mark Anthony Kaye, Louisville City FC, 169 (2)

21. Jordan Murrell, Pittsburgh, USL, 164 (2)

22. Alphonso Davies, WFC2, USL, 159 (2)

23. Adam Bouchard, TFC II, USL, 157 (3)

24. Michael Cox, Orlando City B, USL, 157 (2)

25. Marco Leonel Dominguez-Ramirez, FC Montreal, USL, 154 (2)

26. Shaan Hundal, TFC II, USL, 142 (2)

27. Thomas Gardner, WFC2, USL, 137 (2)

28. Mastanabal Kacher, FC Montreal, USL, 135 (2)

29. Charles Joly, FC Montreal, USL, 134 (3)

30. Malik Johnson, TFC II, USL, 131 (3)

31. Chris Mannella, TFC II, USL, 114 (2)

32. David Choiniere, FC Montreal, USL, 111 (2)

33. Jordan Haynes, WFC2, USL, 104 (2)

34. Chris Serban, WFC2, USL, 98 (2)

T35. Mo Babouli, TFC II, USL, 90 (1)

T35. Jackson Farmer, WFC2, USL, 90 (1)

T35. Jems Geffrard, FC Montreal, USL, 90 (1)

T35. Wandrille Lefevre, FC Montreal, USL, 90 (1)

T35. David Paulmin, FC Montreal, USL, 90 (1)

T35. Ballou Jean Yves Tabla, FC Montreal, USL, 90 (1)

T35. Maxim Tissot, FC Montreal, USL, 90 (1)

42. Mitch Piraux, WFC2, USL, 86 (1)

43. Tyler Pasher, Swope Park Rangers, USL, 84 (1)

44. Ryan James, Rochester, USL, 78 (2)

45. Matthew Baldisimo, WFC2, USL, 66 (2)

46. Benjamin McKendry, WFC2, USL, 65 (2)

47. Giuliano Frano, WFC2, USL, 61 (2)

48. Heikel Jarras, FC Montreal, USL, 59 (3)

49. Mark Anthony Gonzalez, Swope Park Rangers, USL, 47 (3)

50. Liam Fraser, TFC II, USL, 25 (1)

51. Fabrice Mbvouvouma, FC Montreal, USL, 16 (2)

T52. Robert Boskovic, TFC II, USL, 11 (2)

T52. Josh Heard, Bethlehem Steel, USL, 11 (2)

54. Terren Campbell, WFC2, USL, 10 (2)

55. Amer Didic, Swope Park Rangers, USL, 9 (2)

56. Nevelo Yoseke, FC Montreal, USL, 8 (1)

57. Jonathan Grant, Swope Park Rangers, USL, 4 (1)

58. Mackenzie Pridham, Sacramento Republic, USL, 3 (1)

USL TEAM RANKINGS, MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2016, RANKED BY AVERAGE MINUTES PER GAME:

FC Montreal, 2557/3 (852.3)

WFC2, 1725/3 (575)

TFC II, 1678/3 (559.3)

Orlando City B, 726/4 (181.5)

Rochester Rhinos, 335/3 (111.7)

Wilmington Hammerheads FC, 360/4 (90)

Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 164/2 (82)

Swope Park Rangers, 154/3 (51.3)

Louisville City FC, 169/4 (42.3)

Bethlehem Steel 11/4 (2.75)

Sacramento Republic 3/4 (0.75)

Same player, different team: A Heinemann goal beats the Eddies… again

Tom Heinemann

Did you know that, in Edmonton, if you say “Tom” (or “Tommy”) and “Heinemann” three times, a curly haired, bearded striker will appear behind you and end your life?

The slump in oil prices? Tom Heinemann’s fault. The Leap Manifesto? Tom Heinemann. The LRT line to NAIT? Tom Heinemann designed that.

Tom Heinemann has scored game-winning goals against the Eddies as a member of the Vancouver Whitecaps and Ottawa Fury. In the NASL and/or the Amway Canadian Championship, Heinemann has been FCE’s scourge of God.

And, Saturday, as a member of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Heinemann struck again. He got the head on the end of an Eric Avila cross, and his goal stood as the winner — though the Eddies will lament Tomi Ameobi’s last-gasp penalty-kick attempt that didn’t go in.

“The funny thing is that he didn’t do much all night,” FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller of Heinemann. “But the one time he gets the better of us, he punishes us. I thought that (centre backs) Albert (Watson) and Pape (Diakite) did a very good job on him most of the night.



“We didn’t set up well after the throw-in. We didn’t get tight to the cross, and Heinemann was able to cut in front of Pape.”

Heinemann said the Rowdies knew that they had to get three points at home after drawing their first two games of the season.

“We knew deep down inside that we should have had more,” he told the Tampa broadcast team.

Heinemann’s goal gave the Rowdies the 1-0 lead at home to the Eddies, while Matt Pickens’s 95th-minute save on Ameobi’s penalty preserved the win — and ensured that FC Edmonton has now gone through three NASL games without a goal.

The consolation, if I can call it that, is that FC Edmonton got closer to scoring Saturday than in either of the club’s previous two NASL games this season.

Jake Keegan, given his first start of the season, was robbed by Tampa Bay keeper Matt Pickens early in the first half, after the FCE striker pounced on a giveaway by Rowdies defender Juan Guerra. And FCE midfielder Cristian Raudales came close to an Olimpico; but his corner-kick effort on goal was cleared off the line by Avila.

And, the Eddies will be plagued by visions of Ameobi’s penalty kick being smothered by Pickens, after Rowdies defender Neill Collins was nabbed for a handball in the box.

“I don’t think we deserved to lose, especially in the manner we did,” said Miller. “The attitude of the players was absolutely fantastic. I feel sick for them.”

Miller tried to bring life to the team with a series of changes; Keegan was handed his first start; Johann Smith came in at left back and Dustin Corea was placed into the midfield. And, maybe the most eye-catching move of all was Canadian teenager Shamit Shome being given his first-ever professional start.

“I thought he had an excellent debut,” Miller said of Shome. “I think he will remember it for a very long time. I feel that the future is very bright for a real national-team prospect.”

Australia match could be crucial for Canada at the Rio Olympics

Australian fans celebrate at a Women’s World Cup match in Winnipeg. PHOTO: CANADA SOCCER/RUSTY BARTON

There was absolutely no way that the Canadian Women’s National Team was not going to be in a Group of Death.

Eight of the 12 national sides that were in the Olympic draw are currently in the top 12 of FIFA’s rankings. So, the process of mathematical probability told us before the Thursday’s draw that all three Olympic groups would be as tough as nails.

Canada will open the Olympics against No. 5 Australia. The group also features No. 2 Germany and Zimbabwe, the team Canada will be expected to beat handily — even though women’s national-team coach John Herdman cautioned that the level of soccer in Africa is rapidly improving.

Herdman compared Canada’s group to what the team faced at the 2012 London Games, where it finished with a bronze medal. In Canada’s group was No. 3 Japan and No. 5 Sweden.

But a lot will ride on that opening game vs. Australia. Canada may indeed get out of the group even if it loses that opening match — as three teams will advance from two of the three groups — but that game will also influence the seeding. The lower Canada finishes, the harder the route to the semifinals.

Canada hasn’t faced Australia very often; in 2015, Canada beat the Aussies 2-0 in a closed-door friendly. But Herdman said that game can’t be treated as a serious assessment of the competition.



Herdman, though, coached the New Zealand team before he took the Canada job. And his New Zealand squad faced Australia — a lot.

“When I was with New Zealand, they were the only team we could afford to play at the time, travelling over the ditch,” Herdman said.

And his assessment of the Aussies?

“They have a real fighting spirit, like the Canadians.” And, he says the Aussies can burn you with plenty of scoring threats around the park.

Of course, Australia was one of the darling teams at the 2015 Women’s World Cup, getting to the quarterfinals after knocking Brazil out of the tournament at the Round of 16 stage.

For the CONCACAF Championships, Herdman went with a very young group that included strikers Janine Beckie and Deanne Rose. A lot of veterans — including defender Lauren Sesselmann, who became the scapegoat for Canada’s World Cup quarterfinal loss to England, and midfielder Kaylyn Kyle — have been supplanted by the kids.

In 2015, the women’s program ran two teams; the “A” squad that went to the World Cup, and the younger squad that represented Canada at the Pan Am Games. This was done so the young charges would get real-national-team experience and then challenge to join the “A” group for the Olympics.

That’s left some of the senior players on the outside looking in. Adriana Leon and Jonelle Filigno are also on the outside of that bubble.

Herdman said the play of Beckie and Rose “is making it very hard for us to look outside of the current group.” But he said he has an “open mind” when it comes to the vets; they can play their way back onto the national side.

“They have to let their careers tell their story,” he said.

Kyle and Leon are with NWSL teams, but Herdman said in the case of veteran players, it’s up to them to find clubs and show they deserve another look. He said the Canadian program has already done lots for them in terms of helping them find clubs in the past — and developing their skills. Now it’s their turn to take 100 per cent control of their destinies.

Execution needs to improve for the scoreless Eddies

From Sunday: Minnesota’s Damion Lowe leaps to head the ball away from FCE’s Daryl Fordyce. PHOTO: TONY LEWIS/FC EDMONTON

Think back to two weekends ago; FC Edmonton played its NASL season opener in Oklahoma City. Before the Eddies went down to 10 men, they had a fantastic chance to open the scoring. Sainey Nyassi took the ball down the wing, as the Eddies were on a two-on-one break. Striker Daryl Fordyce was streaking into the penalty area.

Nyassi’s cross missed Fordyce badly — and the Eddies and Rayo OKC went on to play a 0-0 draw.

Last weekend, at Clarke Field, the Eddies were down 1-0 to Minnesota. Pablo Cruz threaded a ball into the penalty area for FCE striker Tomi Ameobi. But, Ameobi was only able to flash his boot at the ball, and couldn’t redirect that pass into the goal. Had the Eddies equalized, it could have been a momentum-changer. Instead, Minnesota only grew stronger and went to a 2-0 win.



Those two chances are prime examples of what FCE coach Colin Miller is seeing go wrong with his team’s attack; the Eddies are getting into good, dangerous areas. But when the chance comes, the quality of that final ball is disappointing. It’s a habit the players hope to correct when they visit the Tampa Bay Rowdies Saturday.

So, how does the team improve? Practice. And then, practice some more.

“Repetition. Put the players in the same areas,” said Miller after the Eddies training session Wednesday. “Even here this morning, the blue team played against the orange and got into some fantastic areas, but once again, the pass was overhit, the cross was short, the strike wasn’t on target, whatever it is.”

But scoring goals is instinctual; it can’t be as easily mapped out on a whiteboard as, well, preventing goals.

“The easiest part of the game, I believe, is organizing the team defensively,” said Miller. “The hardest part of professional sports is putting the ball in the net or the puck in the net. And we’re, for the most part, doing the defending right, although big Matt (keeper Matt VanOekel) made three or four very good saves on Sunday. But all we can do is put the players that we hope will be key players in the same areas and repeat these opportunities.”

Fordyce admitted that going through 180 minutes of NASL play without a goal is frustrating.

“Not getting on the score sheet, as a team, so far, we have to forget about the last two games and move on. The first game we were playing with 10 men but we had a couple of chances when we had 11 men. But it was just the final ball. And, Sunday we just didn’t show up and we were beaten by the better team. But we have to put all of that behind us, now, and focus on Saturday’s game against Tampa.”

Fordyce said that even in the top levels of world football, the best teams and best players go through slumps.

“As long as you keep working hard, doing the right things, eventually it will come.”

Overwhelmingly Canadian Power Rankings: MLS Week 6/NASL Week 2/USL Week 3

Kyle Bekker scored for the Impact this past weekend.

The Montreal Impact is an enigma wrapped in a riddle.

The Impact is well behind the Whitecaps and Toronto FC when it gives to offering playing time to Canadian players. But, out of those three Canadian MLS organizations, it leaves TFC and the Whitecaps in the dust when it comes to giving domestic players time on the pitch at the USL level. As the stats below show, FC Montreal — even though it’s awfully early in the season — is far more likely to play Canadians than WFC2 or TFCII.

In the end, the effectiveness of the academy program is determined by how many of its products earn first-team opportunities or develop into players who have solid careers elsewhere. With the USL programs still being in their infancies, it’s too early to judge them.

Here are this week’s rankings… USL stats are ranked separately because NASL and MLS have similar rules when it comes to treating Canadians as imports on the U.S.-based teams; meanwhile, USL treats Canadians as domestics, no matter if they’re signed to American teams or clubs north of the border. If you look at the number of Canadians playing for Orlando City B (three, including former FC Edmonton striker Michael Cox, who scored his first USL goal this past weekend) or Swope Park Rangers (four Canadians have appeared in game for coach Marc Dos Santos), it’s hard to argue that allowing Canadians to be treated as domestics does nothing but increase job opportunities for this country’s players.

MLS AND NASL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS

1. Fraser Aird, Vancouver, MLS, 495 (6)

2. Will Johnson, Toronto FC, MLS, 449 (4)

3. Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC, MLS, 331 (4)

4. Karl Ouimette, NYRB, MLS 315 (4)

5. Cyle Larin, Orlando City, MLS, 259 (4)

6. Kyle Bekker, Montreal, MLS, 190 (3)

7. Tesho Akindele, FC Dallas, MLS, 182 (5)

T8. Drew Beckie, Carolina, NASL, 180 (1)

T8. Marcel De Jong, Ottawa, NASL, 180 (2)

T8. Eddie Edward, FC Edmonton, NASL, 180 (2)

T8. Nik Ledgerwood, FC Edmonton, NASL, 180 (2)

T8. Kyle Porter, Ottawa, NASL, 180 (2)

13. Julian de Guzman, Ottawa, NASL, 160 (2)

14. Mallan Roberts, FC Edmonton, NASL, 142 (2)

15. Kianz Froese, Vancouver, MLS, 140 (3)

16. Allan Zebie, FC Edmonton, NASL, 100 (2)

17. Mo Babouli, Toronto FC, MLS 93 (3)

T18. Nana Attakora, Fort Lauderdale, NASL, 90 (1)

T18. Mason Trafford, Miami FC, NASL, 90 (1)

20. Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Montreal, MLS, 68 (4)

T21. Mozzi Gyorio, Ottawa, NASL, 61 (1)

T21. Russell Teibert, Vancouver, MLS, 61 (1)

23. Marco Bustos, Vancouver, MLS 45 (1)

24. Ashtone Morgan, Toronto FC, MLS, 28 (4)

25. Sam Adekugbe, Vancouver, MLS, 21 (1)

26. Patrice Bernier, Montreal, MLS, 18 (1)

27. Mauro Eustaquio, Ottawa, NASL, 6 (1)

28. Jay Chapman, Toronto FC 4 (1)

TEAM RANKINGS, MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2016, RANKED BY AVERAGE MINUTES PER GAME:

FC Edmonton, NASL, 602/2 (301)

Ottawa, NASL, 587 /2 (293.5)

Toronto FC, MLS, 905/5 (181)

Vancouver, MLS, 762/6 (127)

Carolina, NASL, 180/2 (90)

Fort Lauderdale, NASL, 90/1 (90)

New York Red Bulls, MLS, 315/5 (63)

Orlando City, MLS, 259/5 (51.8)

Montreal, MLS, 256/5 (51.2)

Miami FC, NASL, 90/2 (45)

FC Dallas, MLS, 182/6 (30.3)

USL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS

T1. Zachary Ellis-Hayden, Orlando City B, USL, 270 (3)

T1. John Smits, Wilmington, USL, 270 (3)

3. Daniel Haber, WFC2, USL, 256 (3)

4. Brett Levis, WFC2, USL, 243 (3)

5. Richie Laryea, Orlando City B, USL, 219 (3)

T6. Janouk Charbonneau, FC Montreal, USL, 180 (2)

T6. Kadin Chung, WFC2, USL, 180 (2)

T6. Raheem Edwards, TFC II, USL, 180 (2)

T6. Sean Melvin, WFC2, USL, 180 (2)

T6. Anthony Osorio, TFC II, USL, 180 (2)

T6. Skylar Thomas, TFC II, USL, 180 (2)

12. Aron Mkungilwa, FC Montreal, USL, 177 (2)

13. Mark Anthony Kaye, Louisville City FC, 169 (2)

14. Dominic Samuel, Rochester, USL, 167 (2)

15. Alphonso Davies, WFC2, USL, 159 (2)

16. Louis Beland-Goyette, FC Montreal, USL, 145 (2)

17. Aidan Daniels, TFC II, USL, 144 (2)

18. Thomas Gardner, WFC2, USL, 137 (2)

19. Mastanabal Kacher, FC Montreal, USL, 135 (2)

20. Jordan Haynes, WFC2, USL, 104 (2)

21. Chris Serban, WFC2, USL, 98 (2)

22. Adam Bouchard, TFC II, USL, 91 (2)

T23. Mo Babouli, TFC II, USL, 90 (1)

T23. Maxime Crepeau, FC Montreal, USL, 90 (1)

T23. Jackson Farmer, WFC2, USL, 90 (1)

T23. Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare, FC Montreal, USL, 90 (1)

T23. Wandrille Lefevre, FC Montreal, USL, 90 (1)

T23. Chris Mannella, TFC II, USL, 90 (1)

T23. Thomas Meilleur-Giguere, FC Montreal, USL, 90 (1)

T23. David Paulmin, FC Montreal, USL, 90 (1)

T23. Ballou Jean Yves Tabla, FC Montreal, USL, 90 (1)

32. Yacine Ait-Slimane, FC Montreal, USL, 89 (2)

33. Mitch Piraux, WFC2, USL, 86 (1)

34. Tyler Pasher, Swope Park Rangers, USL, 84 (1)

35. Marco Leonel Dominguez-Ramirez, FC Montreal, USL, 82 (1)

36. Jordan Murrell, Pittsburgh, USL, 74 (1)

37. Shaan Hundal, TFC II, USL, 70 (1)

38. Michael Cox, Orlando City B, USL, 67 (1)

39. Matthew Baldisimo, WFC2, USL, 66 (2)

40. Benjamin McKendry, WFC2, USL, 65 (2)

41. Giuliano Frano, WFC2, USL, 61 (2)

42. Ryan James, Rochester, USL, 60 (1)

43. Mark Anthony Gonzalez, Swope Park Rangers, USL, 47 (3)

44. Charles Joly, FC Montreal, USL, 44 (2)

45. Malik Johnson, TFC II, USL, 41 (2)

46. Heikel Jarras, FC Montreal, USL, 40 (2)

47. David Choiniere, FC Montreal, USL, 35 (1)

48. Liam Fraser, TFC II, USL, 25 (1)

49. Fabrice Mbvouvouma, FC Montreal, USL, 16 (2)

50. Terren Campbell, WFC2, USL, 10 (2)

51. Amer Didic, Swope Park Rangers, USL, 9 (2)

52. Nevelo Yoseke, FC Montreal, USL, 8 (1)

T53. Robert Boskovic, TFC II, USL, 4 (1)

T53. Jonathan Grant, Swope Park Rangers, USL, 4 (1)

USL TEAM RANKINGS, MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2016, RANKED BY AVERAGE MINUTES PER GAME:

FC Montreal,1580/2 (790)

WFC2, 1725/3 (575)

TFC II, 1095/2 (547.5)

Orlando City B, 556/3 (185.3)

Rochester Rhinos, 227/2 (113.5)

Wilmington Hammerheads FC, 270/3 (90)

Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 74/1 (74)

Louisville City FC, 169/3 (56.3)

Swope Park Rangers, 154/3 (51.3)

Lance Laing on his Edmonton return: “I tried not to cry”

The sight of Lance Laing galloping up and down the left wing at Clarke Field is not an unfamiliar one.

But, doing it in the charcoal grey jersey of Minnesota United — that’s still going to take some getting used to.

Minnesota’s 2-0 win over FC Edmonton was bittersweet for Laing. The Jamaican international and two-time winner of the Edmonton supporters’ MVP award, decided to move to the Loons in the off-season.

In Laing’s own words, this is home he felt about his Edmonton homecoming:

On the anticipation: “I got up every day — since last Saturday’s game after we lost versus Carolina — thinking about this game. Every single day. I didn’t sleep much. I’ve probably got six hours sleep every day since last week. To get this one out of the way, I’m very happy, especially with a victory.”



On stepping back on the Clarke turf. “I tried to not cry, but it was pretty emotional for me. Obviously I felt a little bit away, before the start of the game I greeted everyone. But, within my heart I know I left something special behind, a good group of lads, good coaching staff. But, overall, I was really emotional for this game. It’s out the way know and I am wishing them (FCE) good luck for the rest of the season.”

On Minnesota’s win: “We have a very good team and we know that once everyone starts clicking, as you can see today, it feels like things are falling into place. We know what we have to do. The coaches, they sent us out with instructions and we followed the game plan and today it came out perfect. It’s a good season, I think, especially for me. I’m going to be at the top on this team is going to be very good.”

On the supporters chanting “What a waste of money!” when he touched the ball: “I did (hear it). But it’s expected. I left them behind and, obvioiusly, they had me voted as MVP twice within two years. They’re obviously disappointed to see me go. But it’s part of the game. I’ve moved on and I have new teammates, a new family. That’s where my mind is right now — Minnesota United.”

Speas scores twice as Minnesota dominates FC Edmonton

FCE’s Sainey Nyassi, left, tries to keep the ball away from Minnesota’s Ben Speas. PHOTO: FC EDMONTON/TONY LEWIS

FC Edmonton lost its home opener by a 2-0 count to Minnesota United, Sunday. But, on the day, the gap between the teams deserved to be emphasized by a margin of greater than two goals.

The Loons, coming off a season-opening loss to Carolina, created chance after chance after chance. Two goals was actually a modest return based on the visitors’ dominance. Keeper Matt VanOekel was easily the best Eddie on the day — yet his heroics couldn’t prevent Minnesota from walking away with three points. Ben Speas scored in each half to give the Loons their margin of victory.

“We were second best for most of the game, to be honest,” said Eddies coach Colin Miller after the match.

After a 0-0 draw at Rayo OKC — with the Eddies playing with 10 men for just over an hour — spirits were high going into the game. But Minnesota quickly took advantage of the absence of Eddies’ captain Albert Watson, who got a red card last week and was out for Sunday’s game.

Just a few minutes in, centre back Mallan Roberts, in for Watson, sent a poor pass to left back Allan Zebie, who was in for the injured Adam Eckersley. Zebie was moving away from the ball, and didn’t see it coming. It was picked off by the visitors and Minnesota striker Christian Ramirez streaked into the penalty area, only to have his drive directed away from goal by VanOekel’s hand.



But the giveaways kept coming — and in the 15th minute, the Eddies were punished. Eddies defender Pape Diakite was the culprit, with a poor pass that was picked off by Minnesota’s Kevin Venegas, who then slotted the ball to Speas. The Minnesota forward made no mistake, tucking a shot off the post and in.

“I saw Viva (Venegas) running in,” said Speas. “The ball, it actually deflected off the defender and then came into my path. I just wanted to get the shot off quick.”

Damion Lowe’s headed effort off a set-piece struck the bar in the 39th minute. The Loons defender — who came on a sub for the injured Tiago Calvano — headed the ball into the turf and it came up and caught the frame of the goal. It was only 2 C at game time; had it been warmer — which would have softened the artificial turf a little bit — that ball likely would have snuck in under the bar.

Ramirez had another golden chance stopped just before halftime. Speas lofted a pass into the box over the head of Roberts. Ramirez ran onto it and had a chance to volley it home, but VanOekel came off his line to block the effort.

The Loons had a 1-0 lead at half, but it could have been, should have been, so much worse.

“We were aware that we needed to put the game away,” said Speas. “We looked at it as 0-0 coming into that second half.”

“If you run beside people, not put a tackle in, that what will happen,” Miller said at half.

Speas put the game away in the second half. His second goal will likely be replayed several times on soccer-highlight shows. He received a throw-in with his back to goal. Roberts was right behind him. So, Speas flicked the ball into the air, then turned and sped around the Eddies’ defender. With his next touch, Speas put a low shot into the corner of goal.

“I’ve tried it a lot of times and it doesn’t work,” said Speas. “The one time it works was today.”

Ramirez had yet another chance to score, to add an exclamation point to the victory. But his late-game effort went over the bar after he received a great pass from Stefano Pinho.

“We knew it was going to be tough from the get-go,” said Eddies forward Tomi Ameobi, who was the FCE player who came closest to scoring with a first-half headed effort. “I just don’t think we got started like we have in the past last season — and we gave away a couple of sloppy goals as a team.”

FC Edmonton notes: Gearing up for Minnesota, weighing in on red cards, the terrible turf in OKC

Lance Laing in action against Minnesota last season. Will he play FOR Minnesota this weekend? PHOTO: TONY LEWIS/FC EDMONTON

Some news and notes from FC Edmonton’s Wednesday training session at Clarke Field:



FC Edmonton’s home opener should create a lot of talking points. Minnesota United, loaded with new signings as the club prepares to move to MLS, is in town. Minnesota United signed FCE fan favourite Lance Laing in the off-season. The two teams have enjoyed a great rivalry, with lots of close games.

But Laing didn’t start in Minnesota’s season-opening 2-1 loss to Carolina. And, judging from the comments from Loons coach Carl Craig, who spoke openly about his disappointment in the Jamaican’s fitness level, Laing’s appearance as a sub in that game hasn’t erased the doubts. So, now the question isn’t how the Eddies will react to Laing — but if Laing will be on the pitch Sunday afternoon.

FCE coach Colin Miller said he can’t speak to the Laing situation. “Not my player. Lance was terrific for us, but we’ve moved on.”

But what he can say is that he expects an angry and motivated Minnesota team to arrive in Edmonton.

“They’ve always been good games, even down in Minnesota. We’ve had some cracking games that are a real good advert for the league. We know they’ve spent a lot of money in the off-season, they’ve brought in some quality, it seemed like every couple of weeks that they were signing more and more players. It’s a very well-run organization.



“They will be hurting, because it’s their expectation to win every game. But we’re at home, and we have to build on the tremendous defensive performance on Saturday night in Oklahoma. We have to try and keep 11 players on the park, for sure.”

PRO REFEREES

A lot has been said and written (including on this site) about the low-tolerance directive from PRO to its officials; the refs have been told to call games closely and not be afraid to brandish red cards. In March, PRO head Peter Walton said he felt his refs missed 28 per cent of red-card infractions last year.

And, it’s not just an MLS issue. PRO assigns referees for NASL and USL games. In NASL, PRO assigns refs for all games on U.S. soil, while the Canadian Soccer Association is responsible for the game officials in Ottawa and Edmonton.

Edmonton played with 10 men for an hour in Saturday’s season-opening 0-0 draw with Rayo OKC after captain Albert Watson was sent off for a last-man-back foul on Marvin Chavez.

Miller said he wasn’t sure if the call on Watson was part of the directive. He said he’s heard a lot about the crackdown in terms of MLS, but not much has been said to him — even though PRO administers officials in both leagues.

“I heard about it, but no one has spoken to us. But I did miss a (league) conference call when I was in Scotland (for preseason). It may have been discussed at that point. But no one has spoken to me about it.

“I think Albert’s decision on Saturday, now that I’ve seen it a few times, the lad makes a meal of it. There is a debate whether or not he’d regain control of the ball when he made the first touch past Albert. But, it would be one we would have been claiming for, as well. So, I can’t fault the referee. But the lad has made a meal of it as some players in our league and in the MLS do. But, we just have to be careful — as long as the message is consistent.”

What Miller does like is the get-tough attitude being taken with simulation. He applauded MLS for handing Whitecaps forward Masato Kudo a ban for simulation; his pratfall led to a penalty kick in a win over Houston earlier this season. In Miller’s mind, the leagues should do whatever they can to punish diving.

“When I watched the Whitecaps play Houston, when (Endo) went down for the penalty, my initial reaction was that it was a dive. I think it’s great that the leagues are cutting down on that. For me, it’s cheating, it’s the scourge of the game, something we have to weed out. I despise it. I won’t tolerate it here at our club. We want people to stay on their feet as much as possible. No faking injuries and all that nonsense. I’m very happy that the leagues are going to clamp down on cheating and diving. We’ve been done a couple of times in the Amway Championships with that sort of thing, like Camilo (then a Whitecap) back at Commonwealth Stadium. Nobody touched him and he went down screaming. I got sent off for that one. I’m all for people staying on their feet; it’s a terrible advertisement for young players playing the game to see people cheating.”

Miller was referring to Camilo’s flop that led to the Whitecaps’ game-altering penalty in the first leg of the 2013 Canadian Championship semifinal.

OKC TURF NOT OK

FCE didn’t only have to deal with having to play with 10 men at Rayo OKC; the team was also concerned about the sorry state of the pitch at Miller Stadium.

The new artificial surface was laid just days before the NASL season opener. Midfielder Nik Ledgerwood said a long nail was found on the pitch during the pre-game warm-up. And Ledgerwood pulled no punches in his critique of the surface.

“The turf down there was terrible, to be honest. It looked good from afar, but it was just five-by-five squares that were all Velcroed together. It was brand new, no rubber on it. There was no real grip. I think they’re going to struggle down there with those big players not being happy playing on that turf. It was slippery. You can go the middle of the pitch and lift up corner because it was all Velcroed together.”