Steven Sandor's Blog, page 86

FC Edmonton’s Corea says facing Canada will feel like “playing any other team”

FCE’s Dustin Corea in action against the New York Cosmos. PHOTO: TONY LEWIS/FC EDMONTON

After the Canadian men’s national team faces Honduras at BC Place on Nov. 13, it will travel to oh-so-friendly Central America for a Nov. 17 date against El Salvador.

And, there’s a chance that midfielder Dustin Corea, who earns his weekly wages as a member of FC Edmonton, will be part of the El Savadoran XI that will face Canada. He got the call to join his national side earlier this week.

Corea will join the El Salvador national side that’s in the midst of turmoil. Complaints about player wages has seen players turn down national-side invites; it’s been called a players’ strike, even though, in terms of being called up to represent one’s country, it’s a stretch to use that term.

Corea, responding via e-mail as he’s en route to join his national side, wouldn’t directly comment on the politics of the El Salvador team.

“I’ve heard of it, but it’s not in my power to speak of this,” he wrote. “I’m more than certain that the team will be united. We have to be in order to succeed in these qualifying games, and I believe we are missing some very good talent but I am sure that the guys that substitute them will be just as hungry and good.”



While Canada will open up this CONCACAF group stage of World Cup qualifying at home to Honduras, El Salvador travels to Mexico. Getting any points out of Mexico would be, well, the dream of dreams. So, El Salvador’s players know they need to get the maximum points out of their home matches. For Corea, he stated the fact he’ll play against Canada won’t play large in his mind.

“I feel the same as if I was playing any other team. If anything I have to play harder because it is a home game for us and we need all the home game points.”

But, Corea is thankful for the chance his Canadian club has offered him. He knows that without the significant playing time he earned with the Eddies, he would not have been recalled to his national side. After signing between the spring and fall seasons, Corea earned a regular place in the FCE starting XI; he played as a left-footed right winger, and would often shuffle into the middle of the field to create scoring chances.

“Playing on a constant basis was key for me to get back into the national team and my performance with FC Edmonton showed what I am capable of doing,” he wrote.

The top two teams out of Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Canada will go on to the hex. Canadian national-team coach Benito Floro has already conceded that Mexico will get one of those spots, so it will be between the other three for that other position.

SUPPORT OUR DRIVE FOR 500! SUPPORT CANADIAN SOCCER JOURNALISM! SUBSCRIBE TO PLASTIC PITCH TODAY!

Quintessentially Canadian Power Rankings: The final countdown

Kyle Porter

As MLS began its playoffs, NASL finished the final week of its regular season. So, this will be the final instalment of our power rankings.

Here’s a primer:

• Kyle Porter (Atlanta Silverbacks) is the top Canadian in terms of minutes played. His full 90 this past weekend against Ottawa got him the top spot.

• The top three Canadians in terms of minutes played (Porter, Mason Trafford and Eddie Edward) are all NASL players. Even though NASL teams play 30-game schedules — as opposed to MLS teams and their 34-game schedules — it was the Canadians in NASL who came out on top in terms of minutes played.

• The top MLS minute-getter (fourth overall) was Jonathan Osorio.

• Only five teams (FC Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto FC, San Antonio and Atlanta) had a Canadian minutes-per-game average higher than 90 (or one full match for a Canadian per game). Edmonton was the runaway leader, with an average of 282.6 Canadian minutes per game.

• Only 13 Canadians played 1350 minutes (15 full games) in NASL or MLS this season.

The wrap:



MLS AND NASL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS

1. Kyle Porter, ATL, NASL, 2319 (28)

2. Mason Trafford, OTT, NASL, 2250 (25)

3. Eddie Edward, FCE, NASL, 2238 (26)

4. Jonathan Osorio, TFC, MLS, 2236 (29)

5. Cyle Larin, ORL, MLS, 1905 (27)

6. Mallan Roberts, FCE, NASL, 1890 (21)

7. Nana Attakora, SAS, NASL, 1871 (21)

8. Carl Haworth, OTT, NASL, 1656 (25)

9. Allan Zebie, FCE, NASL, 1610 (21)

10. Ashtone Morgan, TFC, MLS, 1554 (19)

11. Adrian Cann, SAS, NASL, 1534 (18)

12. Tesho Akindele, FCD, MLS 1502 (28)

13. Mauro Eustaquio, OTT, NASL, 1462 (19)

14. Russell Teibert, VAN, MLS, 1325 (22)

15. Julian de Guzman, OTT, NASL, 1162 (15)

16. Will Johnson, POR, MLS 1046 (12)

17. Wandrille Lefevre, MTL, MLS, 900 (10)

18. Dominic Oppong, ATL, NASL, 846 (13)

19. Marcel de Jong, SKC, MLS, 822 (12)

20. Karl Ouimette, NYRB, MLS, 801 (12)

21. Drew Beckie, OTT, NASL, 718 (15)

22. Frank Jonke, FCE, NASL, 694 (16)

23. Michael Nonni, FCE, NASL, 678 (15)

24. Patrice Bernier, MTL, MLS 673 (20)

25. Sam Adekugbe, VAN, MLS, 646 (9)

26. Maxim Tissot, MTL, MLS 581 (11)

27. Sadi Jalali, FCE, NASL, 513 (8)

28. Kyle Bekker, FCD/MTL, MLS, 478 (11)

29. Hanson Boakai, FCE, NASL, 326 (12)

30. John Smits, FCE, NASL, 315 (4)

31. Kianz Froese, VAN, MLS, 208 (9)

32. Jay Chapman, TFC, MLS, 202 (10)

33. Tyson Farago, FCE, NASL, 180 (2)

34. Patryk Misik, OTT, NASL, 166 (5)

35. Anthony Jackson-Hamel, MTL, MLS 156 (8)

36. Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare, MTL, MLS/OTT, NASL 117 (4)

37. Philippe Davies, OTT, NASL, 104 (5-RETIRED)

38. Marcel DeBellis, OTT, NASL, 90 (1)

39. Marco Bustos, VAN, MLS, 29 (1)

T40. Jordan Hamilton, TFC, MLS, 13 (2)

T40. Bruno Zebie, FCE, NASL 13 (1)

?TEAM RANKINGS, MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2015, RANKED BY AVERAGE MINUTES PER GAME:?

FC Edmonton, NASL, 8477/30 GP (282.6)

Ottawa, NASL, 7705/30 GP (256.8)

Toronto FC, MLS, 4005/34 GP (117.8)

San Antonio, NASL 3305/30 GP (110.2)

Atlanta, NASL, 3166/30 GP (105.5)

Montreal, MLS, 2583/34 GP (76)

Vancouver, MLS, 2208/34 GP (64.9)

Orlando City, MLS, 1905/34 GP (56)

FC Dallas, MLS, 1816/34 GP (53.4)

Portland, MLS, 1046/34 GP (30.8)

Sporting Kansas City, MLS, 822/34 GP (24.2)

New York Red Bulls, MLS 711/34 GP (20.9)

PLASTIC PITCH. ISSUE 7 IS OUT! THE BEST IN CANADIAN SOCCER JOURNALISM…

The 500 club: The Plastic Pitch subscription drive

When  the Plastic Pitch Kickstarter campaign was launched in late 2013, the goal was to secure funding for at least a year’s worth of issues. Now, based on our quarterly schedule, we are working on issue 8, to be releasd in January 2016. That’s two full years worth of work. We’ve featured work from some of the top soccer writers in North America, and featured stories about Canadians playing here and abroad.

But, it isn’t easy. And expenses continue to pile up. I’ve crunched the numbers and it’s simple. To make this work, Plastic Pitch needs 500 new subscribers by the end of the year. Well, maybe “new” isn’t quite accurate — as renewals would be counted towards to this number.

Subscriptions costs just $15 Canadian — that’s four issues of what this editors feels is some of the best Canadian soccer content you’ll find. Long-form stories, insightful analysis and advocacy for the improvement of the Canadian game. Put it in perspective, $15 is less than the cost of one craft cocktail.

There are a number ways to subscribe; either through the Apple or Google apps, through our Shopify store (CLICK HERE) or directly via PayPal (teamworkpress@rogers.com is the payment address). If you subscribe through Shopify or PayPal, please specify if you want to have issues e-mailed directly to you. But, one word of caution: It is MUCH easier for us to refund your money (if we don’t hit target) if you go through Shopify or PayPal.

Of course, we think a subscription to Plastic Pitch would make a great Christmas gift. Or a way to say thanks to your coach or the volunteers in your soccer program.

Because we put the mag out in three ways; either by e-mail, or through Apple and Google apps, many of our expenses have to be paid out in US funds, even though we’re a Canadian mag. So, the plummeting dollar, well, it hurts. Really hurts. Basically, costs to do business have increased 25 per cent over the past two years.

If you haven’t discovered the mag yet, and want to read it before you buy, you can preview any of our seven issues for free in the apps. Each issue offers a free timed preview, which lets you browse the articles. Inside you’ll find how we were the first to report about the possibility of a Canadian Division 1A league (issue 2), our look at how real Canadian minutes played were on the decline in MLS (issue 1), plus our issue 5 dedicated to the fractured soccer relationship between Canada and the United States. Issue 6 was our Women’s World Cup review issue.

As well, from now till Christmas, you will be able to get our back issues (1-6) for just $1.99 each. You can take advantage of those offers through the apps.

PLASTIC PITCH SUBSCRIPTION DRIVE:

489 to go!

Larin speaks about the pros (and pros) of playing WCQ on artificial turf

Cyle Larin

Cyle Larin doesn’t love to play on turf. The shoo-in for MLS rookie of the year says that, like most of his fellow players, he prefers to ply his trade on grass.

But, he scored many of his 17 goals this season for Orlando City on turf. And he thinks that Canada will have an advantage over Honduras in the Nov. 13 World Cup qualifier at BC Place because of the artificial surface.

“It’s good for us to play on turf there; most of the guys played on turf when they were younger,” Larin said in a conference call with media on Friday.

Larin highlights a very different part of the grass-vs.-turf debate. A lot of us only focus on where the players are at the current stages of their careers; are they playing on turf or not in their current pro leagues? But Larin has underlined a Canadian truth; that if you grew up playing soccer in this country, you’ve played on turf. In fact, you’ve played on turf so, so much that you aren’t going to unlearn how the ball rolls and bounces on it. And that’s not the case in many of the other CONCACAF nations.

Whether it be on community fields or indoor soccer centres, turf is normal in Canada. And, for any of us who have played on Canadian community grass fields in the cold spring or frigid autumn, they can become as hard as concrete. Basically, we’re a nation of players who grow up getting used to crazy bounces and balls that don’t check up.



Larin said he didn’t watch when Canada was hammered 8-1 in Honduras to end the program’s hopes of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. He caught the highlights, and that was it. So, for Canada’s great scoring hope for 2018, there really is no emotional baggage.

“I want to go out and win games, to score goals for the team. This is a fresh start for Canada.”

He said he has a great connection with fellow Brampton, Ont. native Atiba Hutchinson, and that Canadian midfield veteran Julian de Guzman has been a great veteran influence on him. And he’s thrilled from what he saw of left winger Junior Hoilett in Canada’s recent friendly against Ghana — Larin was on MLS duty with Orlando City, so he didn’t play in that game.

And, if Hoilett is providing service, he pledges there won’t be a repeat of the Gold Cup, where he missed a gaping net in a group-stage match against El Salvador.

“I’ll make sure the next game I play for Canada, I’ll finish my chances.”

SUPPORT OUR DRIVE FOR 500! SUBSCRIBE TO PLASTIC PITCH TODAY!

Bernier’s wonderful night propels Montreal to rout of TFC

Patrice Bernier

Earlier this season, we wondered if Patrice Bernier had played his last game for the Montreal Impact. Once the face of the franchise, Bernier was pushed to the periphery by coach Frank Klopas.

But, at the end of August. when Mauro Biello replaced Klopas as head coach, Bernier was rediscovered. A Quebec coach began to put faith in the Quebec star; the minutes increased throughout the autumn.

And, in Montreal’s playoff match against their 401 rivals, Bernier was called upon to start. And, he stomped all over the hearts of Toronto FC fans. Thursday marked the team’s first-ever foray into the post-season. Well before the first half came to a close, it was basically over. The Impact was up by three goals, on the way to a 3-0 triumph. The second half became a glorified training session.

And Bernier’s role in the rout can’t be overstated; he scored the opener before the 20-minute mark. He then set up Didier Drogba for the third goal of the half, a lovely little cross that the Ivorian superman only had to nudge into the open goal.



Bernier’s first-half highlight reel bookended Ignacio Piatti’s goal; Piatti took advantage of TFC defender’s Josh Williams slip and then went in alone on goal. But it wasn’t all Williams’s fault. His centre-back partner, Ahmed Kantari, made an absolutely horrible decision to play a square ball across the top of the box for Williams, with Piatti in the vicinity. When you play such an ill-advised pass, you’re asking for bad things to happen.

Kantari was yanked at halftime by Reds’ coach Greg Vanney. It came 45 minutes too late.

Not since a rainy night in Giants Stadium, when TFC needed a win over the lowly New York Red Bulls to earn a playoff spot and failed so spectacularly, have the Reds kicked a do-or-die game away with such aplomb.

But, for those of us who want to see Canadian soccer players succeed, Bernier’s wonderful night will be the talking point —not the same old, same old refrain from Toronto FC. What the veteran showed us is that he still has plenty to offer his club and his city — that he can go into the middle of the park against Michael Bradley and win that battle. Bernier was dynamic, vibrant and a catalyst for his team. If anyone was watching the Impact for the first time, that person wouldn’t believe you if you told them that Bernier was pretty well a team afterthought in the summer.

At 75 minutes, Bernier was replaced by another Canadian who many have left for dead, Kyle Bekker. When Friday morning comes, that pair will be preparing for the next round of the playoffs. I know Patrice Bernier is too classy a man to say “I told you so.” But many of his fans won’t be shy to say those words.

SUPPORT OUR DRIVE FOR 500! SUBSCRIBE TO PLASTIC PITCH TODAY!

The 500 club: The Plastic Pitch subscription drive

When  the Plastic Pitch Kickstarter campaign was launched in late 2013, the goal was to secure funding for at least a year’s worth of issues. Now, based on our quarterly schedule, we are working on issue 8, to be releasd in January 2016. That’s two full years worth of work. We’ve featured work from some of the top soccer writers in North America, and featured stories about Canadians playing here and abroad.

But, it isn’t easy. And expenses continue to pile up. I’ve crunched the numbers and it’s simple. To make this work, Plastic Pitch needs 500 new subscribers by the end of the year. Well, maybe “new” isn’t quite accurate — as renewals would be counted towards to this number.

Subscriptions costs just $15 Canadian — that’s four issues of what this editors feels is some of the best Canadian soccer content you’ll find. Long-form stories, insightful analysis and advocacy for the improvement of the Canadian game. Put it in perspective, $15 is less than the cost of one craft cocktail.

There are a number ways to subscribe; either through the Apple or Google apps, through our Shopify store (CLICK HERE) or directly via PayPal (teamworkpress@rogers.com is the payment address). If you subscribe through Shopify or PayPal, please specify if you want to have issues e-mailed directly to you. But, one word of caution: It is MUCH easier for us to refund your money (if we don’t hit target) if you go through Shopify or PayPal.

Of course, we think a subscription to Plastic Pitch would make a great Christmas gift. Or a way to say thanks to your coach or the volunteers in your soccer program.

Because we put the mag out in three ways; either by e-mail, or through Apple and Google apps, many of our expenses have to be paid out in US funds, even though we’re a Canadian mag. So, the plummeting dollar, well, it hurts. Really hurts. Basically, costs to do business have increased 25 per cent over the past two years.

If you haven’t discovered the mag yet, and want to read it before you buy, you can preview any of our seven issues for free in the apps. Each issue offers a free timed preview, which lets you browse the articles. Inside you’ll find how we were the first to report about the possibility of a Canadian Division 1A league (issue 2), our look at how real Canadian minutes played were on the decline in MLS (issue 1), plus our issue 5 dedicated to the fractured soccer relationship between Canada and the United States. Issue 6 was our Women’s World Cup review issue.

As well, from now till Christmas, you will be able to get our back issues (1-6) for just $1.99 each. You can take advantage of those offers through the apps.

PLASTIC PITCH SUBSCRIPTION DRIVE:

492 to go!

FC Edmonton searches for new GM as Proudfoot’s three-year term comes to a close

Three years ago, Rod Proudfoot, left, became GM of FC Edmonton.

FC Edmonton is searching for a new general manager.

Rod Proudfoot, who held the post for the past three seasons, will be leaving the club at the end of the week.

“When [team owner] Tom Fath and I met in January of 2013 to discuss the GM position with FC Edmonton, I asked Tom for three years in order to achieve a number of business goals with the club. While we have achieved some of these targets such as improved branding, attendance growth and organizational development, there is still much left to do in growing the revenue areas of ticket sales, filling the stadium consistently and generating greater levels of corporate sponsorship., “ Proudfoot was quoted in a release. “My three years are up and we agree that now is the time for someone else with different skills and expertise to take FC Edmonton over the finish line.”



FC Edmonton ranked at the bottom of the NASL in terms of average attendance; it’s still a rarity to see the team crack the 4,000-spectator mark at the 4,500-capacity Clarke Field. There is an understanding between FCE and City Council that permission will be granted to expand the city-owned stadium if the team can show that it can regularly sell out home games.

The team hasn’t had a kit sponsor since its agreement with Sears Financial expired at the end of 2012.

Proudfoot had little influence in terms of player selection. Coach Colin Miller oversaw the personnel decisions.

SUPPORT OUR DRIVE FOR 500! SUBSCRIBE TO PLASTIC PITCH TODAY!

Smits, Jonke among the five players released by FC Edmonton

John Smits

Just before Sunday’s season finale against Jacksonville, FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller said he’d made up his mind about five players who were going to be released from the club at the end of the season.

On Wednesday, the team revealed the identity of those players who have been released; Canadian goalkeeper John Smits, Canadian striker Frank Jonke, defender Kareem Moses and midfielders Tomas Granitto and Thiago de Freitas.

Smits won the NASL Golden Glove Award last year, for having the league’s best goals-against average. He lost the starting job to Matt VanOekel at the start of the season. But Smits was loaned out to the Montreal Impact to serve as a back-up keeper for CONCACAF Champions League matches. He was given the chance to reclaim the Eddies’ No. 1 job but, in the team’s final game of the spring season, a 3-0 loss to the Indy Eleven, he was substituted out at half time and was relegated to the role of No. 3 keeper.

In two years with FC Edmonton, Jonke failed to score a goal in regular-season play.



Moses was a fan favourite but was part of a back line that gave up the most goals in the NASL spring season. He’s also struggled with injuries through 2015.

Both Granitto and de Freitas made their FC Edmonton debuts in 2015; despite showing real promise, both had their campaigns derailed by injuries.

In a release, Miller confirmed that 13 players are on the roster for 2016, and negotiations are underway with seven others. Of course, key in that group is left winger Lance Laing, who was the team’s sparkplug this season. Laing missed about a third of the season due to Jamaican national team duty, and the Eddies won just once without him. As well, captain Albert Watson and Daryl Fordyce will need new deals.

“I’ve never been a manager who wanted to reinvent the wheel and start from scratch again,” Miller said. “I think that would be quite foolish with our strong group of core players. Our job in the off-season is to bring in players that will add genuine quality to the group that is currently here.”

Current FC Edmonton 2016 Roster:

Goalkeepers

Matt VanOekel, Tyson Farago

Defenders

Mallan Roberts, Marko Aleksic, Allan Zebie, Johann Smith

Midfielders

Cristian Raudales, Michael Nonni, Ritchie Jones, Pablo Cruz, Dustin Corea

Forwards

Sadi Jalali, Tomi Ameobi

SUPPORT OUR DRIVE FOR 500! SUBSCRIBE TO PLASTIC PITCH TODAY!

Quintessentially Canadian Power Rankings, MLS season-end/NASL 1 week to go

Kyle Porter

If Kyle Porter plays 22 minutes or more for Atlanta in the final week of the NASL season, he is guaranteed to be the Canadian minutes leader in MLS or NASL this season.This is the penultimate instalment of the Power Rankings, with the MLS regular season having wrapped up this past weekend and NASL having just one week to go (save for FC Edmonton, which has a bye on the final week of the season).

But, Porter will also take it if he plays nine minutes or more and Ottawa’s Mason Trafford doesn’t play at least 78 minutes in his final game of the season next week. But, if neither Trafford or Porter put on minutes next week, Edmonton’s Eddie Edward — who has finished his season and currently has the lead — will be the minutes champ.

Because the MLS season has ended and our two “maybes” — Philadelphia’s Steven Vitoria and Columbus’s Ethan Finlay — never made a move to play for Canada, we have eliminated them from the list. Both — as players who could hypothetically play for this country — were put in a special category throughout the year. But, now that the year has done, the point is moot.



MLS AND NASL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS (MLS AFTER 34 WEEKS, NASL AFTER 28 WEEKS):

1. Eddie Edward, FCE, NASL, 2238 (26)

2. Jonathan Osorio, TFC, MLS, 2236 (29)

3. Kyle Porter, ATL, NASL, 2229 (27)

4. Mason Trafford, OTT, NASL, 2160 (24)

5. Cyle Larin, ORL, MLS, 1905 (27)

6. Mallan Roberts, FCE, NASL, 1890 (21)

7. Nana Attakora, SAS, NASL, 1871 (21)

8. Allan Zebie, FCE, NASL, 1610 (21)

9. Carl Haworth, OTT, NASL, 1566 (24)

10. Ashtone Morgan, TFC, MLS, 1554 (19)

11. Tesho Akindele, FCD, MLS 1502 (28)

12. Mauro Eustaquio, OTT, NASL, 1462 (19)

13. Adrian Cann, SAS, NASL, 1444 (17)

14. Russell Teibert, VAN, MLS, 1325 (22)

15. Julian de Guzman, OTT, NASL, 1162 (15)

16. Will Johnson, POR, MLS 1046 (12)

17. Wandrille Lefevre, MTL, MLS, 900 (10)

18. Dominic Oppong, ATL, NASL, 846 (13)

19. Marcel de Jong, SKC, MLS, 822 (12)

20. Karl Ouimette, NYRB, MLS, 801 (12)

21. Frank Jonke, FCE, NASL, 694 (16)

22. Michael Nonni, FCE, NASL, 678 (15)

23. Patrice Bernier, MTL, MLS 673 (20)

24. Sam Adekugbe, VAN, MLS, 646 (9)

25. Drew Beckie, OTT, NASL, 628 (14)

26. Maxim Tissot, MTL, MLS 581 (11)

27. Sadi Jalali, FCE, NASL, 513 (8)

28. Kyle Bekker, FCD/MTL, MLS, 478 (11)

29. Hanson Boakai, FCE, NASL, 326 (12)

30. John Smits, FCE, NASL, 315 (4)

31. Kianz Froese, VAN, MLS, 208 (9)

32. Jay Chapman, TFC, MLS, 202 (10)

33. Tyson Farago, FCE, NASL, 180 (2)

34. Patryk Misik, OTT, NASL, 166 (5)

35. Anthony Jackson-Hamel, MTL, MLS 156 (8)

36. Philippe Davies, OTT, NASL, 104 (5-RETIRED)

37. Marco Bustos, VAN, MLS, 29 (1)

38. Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare, MTL, MLS/OTT, NASL 27 (3)

T39. Jordan Hamilton, TFC, MLS, 13 (2)

T39. Bruno Zebie, FCE, NASL 13 (1)

TEAM RANKINGS, MINUTES PLAYED BY CANADIANS IN 2015 (INCLUDES BOTH SUREFIRES and MAYBES); RANKED BY AVERAGE MINUTES PER GAME:

FC Edmonton, NASL, 8477/30 GP (282.6) (+0.7)

Ottawa, NASL, 7265/29 GP (250.5) (+0.8)

Toronto FC, MLS, 4005/34 GP (117.8) (-0.9)

San Antonio, NASL 3215/29 GP (110.9) (-1.5)

Atlanta, NASL, 3076/29 GP (106.1) (-2.7)

Montreal, MLS, 2583/34 GP (76) (-1.9)

Vancouver, MLS, 2208/34 GP (64.9) (+0.8)

Orlando City, MLS, 1905/34 GP (56) (+1)

FC Dallas, MLS, 1816/34 GP (53.4) (-0.8)

Portland, MLS, 1046/34 GP (30.8) (-0.9)

Sporting Kansas City, MLS, 822/34 GP (24.2) (-1.5)

New York Red Bulls, MLS 711/34 GP (20.9) (-0.6)

PLASTIC PITCH. ISSUE 7 IS OUT! THE BEST IN CANADIAN SOCCER JOURNALISM…

Farago’s heroics, late equalizer mitigate poor season-ending effort from FCE

Ritchie Jones in action against Jacksonville before he was sent off. PHOTO: TONY LEWIS/FC EDMONTON

Mallan Roberts headed home an inch-perfect header off a Sainey Nyassi cross to allow 10-man FC Edmonton to fight back for a 1-1 draw with the Jacksonville Armada Sunday at Clarke Field.

What preceded was the wire-service-like lead. But, in truth, Roberts’ last-gasp heroics allowed FCE’s players to save their blushes in front of the home fans who turned out to see the NASL season finale.

After an 0-3-0 road trip that made the final game of the regular season about pride and not the playoffs, the Eddies responded to put together one of the worst 90-plus minutes that we’ve seen in franchise history. Make no mistake, if not for the heroics of keeper Tyson Farago, Jacksonville would have had a deserved three-goal lead before Roberts’s injury-time effort.

After the game, FCE midfielder Ritchie Jones apologized to team owner Tom Fath for his absolutely mind-boggling decision to lash out at Jacksonville’s Akeil Barrett. In the second half, already on a yellow. Jones turned and took a mighty backswing with his foot, then followed through in what could only be seen as an attempt to ruin Barrett’s chances of fathering a child in the future.



As Jones walked off the pitch, we watched FCE coach Colin Miller simply staring at his midfielder from the bench. Even though Miller had the glasses on, you could feel the iciness of his gaze.

And, despite the late equalizer, Miller was so disappointed in the Eddies’ effort, that he didn’t want to talk about what happened on the pitch.

“I want to say thank you to the fans,” he said. “I don’t want to talk about football; because that was one of the worst performances I’d seen.”

At halftime Miller said the Eddies were so bad, that they made it seem like the Armada has 16 men on the field. He talked about players being “colour blind” because they gave the ball away so much.

“We’re Jacksonville’s best player,” he said.

It took till 65:30 of the match for the Eddies to register a shot on the Jacksonville goal, a drive from Dustin Corea.

Meanwhile, Farago, making his second start of the year, was asked to make several outstanding saves. He stopped Jemal Johnson — who terrorized the Eddies down the left side all game long — from close range. He made a ridiculous leaping save to deny Jaime Castrillon’s header. He made a great near-post stop of Shawn Nicklaw’s drive.

But the best of the bunch was the save on Castrillon.

“That was my Hollywood save,” he said. “I knew the cameras were on.”

He was finally beaten after the Eddies were down to 10 men; an attempted cross from Johnson deflected off of FCE centre back Watson’s leg. The wicked redirection gave Farago no chance; after stopping shot after shot, Farago was undone by an own goal.

But, we have to take a hard look at the team — which laid an egg after that 0-3-0 road trip, including blowing a 2-1 lead at 10-man Jacksonville.

Yes, Lance Laing was away again on Sunday — this time it was an ankle injury, not international duty. So, the Eddies’ talisman ended up missing about a third of the season. When he was gone, the Eddies won just once. If you pro-rate the Eddies’ record with Laing in the lineup, it’s easily a playoff team. But you can’t simply depend on one player; and his absence doesn’t explain the defensive issues that were evident on the recent road trip or the team’s poor performance against Jacksonville at Clarke Field.

Before the game, Miller said he’s already made up his mind about five players who wouldn’t be back next year. Of course, with the NASL season not yet being over yet (everyone else has another weeks of games), he wouldn’t say who is on the way out. But, if any player outside of Farago was on the bubble on Sunday, he didn’t help his cause.

SUPPORT OUR DRIVE FOR 500! SUBSCRIBE TO PLASTIC PITCH TODAY!