Steven Sandor's Blog, page 95

Floro: Lack of Canadian content on Canadian MLS teams puts national team in “bad position”

Benito Floro

There are 10 MLS players on Canada’s roster for the upcoming Gold Cup.

But national-team coach Benito Floro lamented how few of those 10 players are actually seeing regular MLS minutes when he spoke to media on a conference call Monday evening.

“The big problem is most of the young players are not starting in MLS,” he said.

And he wasn’t shy to point out that the Canadian MLS teams aren’t carrying their weight. The Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact contributed one player each to the Gold Cup roster — Russell Teibert and Maxim Tissot, respectively. But neither is a put-it-in-ink starter for their respective clubs. To put it in perspective, FC Dallas (Tesho Akindele and Kyle Bekker) had more Canadians selected for the national team than the Whitecaps or Impact. And Bekker is by no means a regular, and Akindele has seen his MLS minutes reduced of late.

Floro said that, in most countries, there are domestic leagues — where the teams in the top two divisions nurture rosters that are 70 to 80 per cent populated with domestic talent. We have no such league in Canada — but what we do have are Canadian teams in MLS and NASL. And Floro suggested that the Canadian MLS teams could do more.

“We have three teams who are playing in MLS,” said Floro. “But only two or three players are starting. That’s a bad position for us, no?”



And Floro said that, when he sees young Canadian talent, it stacks up against youth players from the rest of the world. But he said the big difference is the meaningful playing time that Canadians receive — as in, the Canadians don’t see enough first-team minutes. And, while, Floro was having the questions translated for him, it was clear that he was speaking about first- or second-division minutes. Not reserve teams. Not satellite clubs.

Canada kicks off its Gold Cup Wednesday in Carson, Calif. against El Salvador. Then, on Saturday, Canada will be in Houston to face FC Edmonton star and NASL MVP candidate Lance Laing, along with his Jamaican teammates. Canada wraps up the group stage July 14 with a match against Costa Rica at Toronto’s BMO Field.

For Canada, a good performance at the Gold Cup is necessary in order to qualify for the centennial edition of the Copa America. Because there are other variables at play, Canada doesn’t quite yet know how far it needs to progress to cement a spot in the tournament.

But, despite the inexperience of his team, Floro won’t rule out a shock run at the Gold Cup for Canada.

“We play against strong teams, but, in soccer, nothing is impossible,” he said.

Quintessentially Canadian Power Rankings, MLS Week 18/NASL Week 12

Wandrille Lefevre

With just days to go before the Gold Cup, you’d think this would be a slow news week in MLS and NASL in regards to Canadian players.

Mason Trafford scores. Hanson Boakai scores. Sadi Jalali scores. Jay Chapman gets his first start. Jordan Hamilton makes his first MLS appearance. Nana Attakora is sent off. FC Edmonton gave a whopping 512 minutes of playing time to Canadians in a 4-0 win over San Antonio.

And, Montreal Impact defender Wandrille Lefevre got his Canadian citizenship, and, because he never appeared for France at any level, is eligible to play for Canada. Because splitting his pre- and post-citizenship minutes would be a terrible chore, we’re just going to add him into this week’s power ranking as if we were a Canadian citizen from the start of this MLS season.



MLS AND NASL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS (MLS AFTER 18 WEEKS, NASL AFTER 12 WEEKS):?

1. Ashtone Morgan, TFC, MLS, 1099 (13)

2. Jonathan Osorio, TFC, MLS, 1028 (14)

3. Carl Haworth, OTT, NASL, 965 (11)

4. Tesho Akindele, FCD, MLS 927 (15)

5. Mallan Roberts, FCE, NASL, 900 (10)

6. Russell Teibert, VAN, MLS, 852 (143)

7. Cyle Larin, ORL, MLS, 846 (13)

8. Eddie Edward, FCE, NASL, 840 (10)

9. Dominic Oppong, ATL, NASL, 833 (11)

10. Kyle Porter, ATL, NASL, 821 (11)

11. Julian de Guzman, OTT, NASL, 710 (8)

12. Nana Attakora, SAS, NASL, 672 (8)

13. Adrian Cann, SAS, NASL, 630 (7)

14. Sam Adekugbe, VAN, MLS, 615 (7)

15. Marcel de Jong, SKC, MLS, 589 (8)

16. Allan Zebie, FCE, NASL, 551 (7)

17. Mason Trafford, OTT, NASL, 540 (6)

18. Frank Jonke, FCE, NASL, 515 (7)

19. Karl Ouimette, NYRB, MLS, 502 (6)

20. Will Johnson, POR, MLS 444 (4)

21. Wandrille Lefevre, MTL, MLS, 360 (4)

22. Maxim Tissot, MTL, MLS 346 (5)

23. Drew Beckie, OTT, NASL, 343 (7)

24. Patrice Bernier, MTL, MLS 325 (11)

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

26. Kyle Bekker, FCD, MLS, 313 (8)

27. Michael Nonni, FCE, NASL, 276 (7)

28. Mauro Eustaquio, OTT, NASL, 250 (5)

29. Hanson Boakai, FCE, NASL, 233 (7)

30. Sadi Jalali, FCE, NASL, 214 (4)

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

32. Kianz Froese, VAN, MLS, 161 (6)

33. Jay Chapman, TFC, MLS, 117 (5)

34. Anthony Jackson-Hamel, MTL, MLS 91 (4)

35. Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare, MTL, MLS, 18 (2)

36. Philippe Davies, OTT, NASL, 11 (2)

37. Jordan Hamilton, TFC, MLS, 4 (1)

MLS AND NASL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIAN MAYBES — PLAYERS WHO COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR CANADA, BUT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR OTHER NATIONS AND HAVE NOT COMMITTED TO CANADA (MLS AFTER 18 WEEKS, NASL AFTER 12 WEEKS):

1. Ethan Finlay, CLB, MLS 1476 (18)

2. Steven Vitoria, PHI, MLS 810 (9)

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

FC Edmonton, NASL, 3854/11 GP (350.4) (+16.2)

Ottawa, NASL, 2985/11 GP (271.4) (+0.2)

Atlanta, NASL, 1654/11 GP (150.4) (-6.0)

Toronto FC, MLS, 2248/16 GP (140.5) (-4.4)

San Antonio, NASL 1302/11 GP (118.4) (+3.8)

Vancouver, MLS, 1628/19 GP (85.7) (-4.7)

Columbus, MLS, 1476/18 GP (82) (+0.5)

Montreal, MLS, 1140/14 GP (81.4) (+21.9)

FC Dallas, MLS, 1241/18 GP (68.9) (-4.1)

Orlando City, MLS, 846/18 GP (47) (-2.8)

Philadelphia, MLS, 810/19 GP (42.6) (NC)

Sporting Kansas City, MLS, 589/16 GP (36.8) (NC)

New York Red Bulls, MLS 502/17 GP (29.5) (-1.9)

Portland, MLS, 444/19 GP (23.4) (+3.7)

TO READ STEVEN SANDOR’S COVERAGE OF THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP, GO TO SPORTSNET.CA

Sinclair rescues Canada at Women’s World Cup

Canadian women looking for World Cup redemption

Canada prepared for all World Cup scenarios

Canada held to stalemate by Kiwis at World Cup

USA blanks Colombia, off to World Cup quarters

Sweltering heat mars Japan’s win over Australia

Japan all business ahead of semi vs. England

Japan reach World Cup final on England own goal

Hit the North! Eddies rout nine-man San Antonio

Thanks to an injury crisis, FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller took a bare-bones team to Fort McMurray. He dressed three goalies for Sunday’s fall season opener, and back-up keeper John Smits was actually in an outfield player’s kit.

Miller joked that Smits said he was ready to go in and take penalties if need be. As in, taking them, not saving them.

It was so bad, that using Smits as a sub was not out of the question.

But, while the Eddies started off the game shorthanded, it was the San Antonio Scorpions who finished with just nine men on the field. And they faced a sombre 4,000-km-plus trip home to Texas from oil-sands territory after receiving a 4-0 hiding from the Eddies to open the NASL fall season.

This game offered plenty of talking points. Playing the first of two “home” games in Fort McMurray, the Eddies set a new CONCACAF standard; hosting the northernmost professional game in the region’s history. As well, the play of the Eddies’ young players — thrust into more prominent roles because of the injuries to the vets — had to be noted. Sadi Jalali scored on a penalty, Hanson Boakai scored a goal while on his back, and Allan Zebie put in another yeoman’s performance at fullback, neutralizing the threat of Scorpions speedster Billy Forbes.



And, then there was Lance Laing, who got permission from the Jamaican Football Federation to play in this match before heading to Los Angeles to join the Reggae Boyz for their Gold Cup preparations. He drew a penalty kick; he converted a penalty; and then he scored on a brilliant free kick — just another one for the highlight reel from, dare we say it, the best player in the league.

“It’s the result of practice,” Laing said. “I take a lot of free kicks in practice. It’s the repetition.”

Coach Colin Miller hailed the character of the players who came into the match. He said that many of his young charges took the chance to start the game — and, well, made the most of it. He hailed Boakai’s performance after the youngster was shifted from midfield to striker late in the first half. And he said that Zebie deserves praise for another confident shift at the fullback position.

As well, it needs to be noted that Matt VanOekel, who had been the subject of criticism in the first half of the season, made two vital saves — both on Omar Cummings — when the score was just 1-0.

In fact, at halftime — and trailing 1-0 — Scorpions coach Alen Marcina lamented his side’s lack of finish.

“We have to bury these chances,” he said. “We were the better team; we could be up two or three goals by now.”

But referee Yusri Rudolf’s work will also be questioned. In the second minute, he whistled Scorpions fullback Marvin Chavez for clipping Laing’s heel in the box. Laing had been sprung thanks to a fantastic through ball by Jalali — and Jalali was rewarded by getting the chance to convert the penalty. He sent Scorpions goalie Daryl Sattler the wrong way, and the Eddies were up a goal before some of the people had got to their seats or had settled into the luxurious row of private boxes in SMS Equipment Field at Shell Place.

How much contact was there? Well, let’s just say it started a slow burn amongst the Scorpions players.

Then, early in the second half, Canadian defender Adrian Cann bundled a ball into the goal off a corner kick; but the linesman’s flag was waving. Since there were two Eddies on the goal line, offside was out of the question. Was there a shove? To be fair, Cann put the ball in a second or two after the whistle, and VanOekel had already stopped playing. But it was hard to pick out why the play was stopped.

The Scorpions went from frustrated to incensed when Rudolf awarded the Eddies their second penalty of the game. Michael Nonni got behind the Scorpions Canadian centre-back tandem of Cann and Nana Attakora. Attakora reached out and grabbed Nonni by the shoulders. Nonni went down, and Attakora was sent off for the professional foul. But Attakora had to be restrained from going after the linesman who had flagged for the infraction. Was it a professional foul? Likely. Was it in the box. Not close. Not close at all. If you’ve followed my Women’s World Cup columns for Sportsnet, you know I’ve defended referees when they award penalties when the fouls occur inches outside the area. But, in this case, there was yards between the spot of the foul and the top of the box.

Laing stepped up, dispatched the penalty, and things got heated. As Laing celebrated with Boakai, Sattler kicked the ball directly at the two players. Rudolf sent him off.

Now down to nine men and back-up Matthew Cardone in net, the Scorpions could barely keep their composure. A ball was booted out of the stadium after a call. Rafael Castillo saw yellow for slamming the ball into the turf after a call went against him.

In the meantime, the Eddies took advantage. Boakai was knocked down by Cann in the area, but stayed with the ball and, from his back, swung at it with his boot. The result? A perfectly placed shot that froze Cardone.

Finally, Laing finished things up with a wonderful curler of a free kick, a curler that truly gave Cardone no chance.

I guess John Smits will just have to wait till the game to get his chance to play striker.

TO READ STEVEN SANDOR’S COVERAGE OF THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP, GO TO SPORTSNET.CA

Sinclair rescues Canada at Women’s World Cup

Canadian women looking for World Cup redemption

Canada prepared for all World Cup scenarios

Canada held to stalemate by Kiwis at World Cup

USA blanks Colombia, off to World Cup quarters

Sweltering heat mars Japan’s win over Australia

Japan all business ahead of semi vs. England

Japan reach World Cup final on England own goal

FCE promotes Canadian midfielder Bruno Zebie on an emergency basis

Bruno Zebie

For the first time, FC Edmonton could have brothers on the field, playing the ball to each other, in an NASL game.

The team announced Friday, just hours before the players are to take the five-hour bus trip north to Fort McMurray, that it has promoted 19-year-old midfielder Bruno Zebie from the academy to the senior club.

Bruno is the younger brother of FCE fullback Allan Zebie.

Bruno has been inked on a week-to-week, emergency basis. On Wednesday, Coach Colin Miller called FCE’s current injury crisis the worst he’s seen in over 30 years of pro soccer. As of Wednesday, he had just 14 players who would be healthy enough to play — and that includes two goalkeepers.

“We’re delighted that Bruno has agreed to join our team on a week-to-week basis,” FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller said in a release issued by the club. “Bruno has spent time playing with our Academy and trained last year with our first team. We are grateful that he is able to step in and help us in this injury crisis.”



On Sunday, the Eddies will face the San Antonio Scorpions in the heart of the oilsands, the first of two league games FCE will “host” in Fort McMurray this season.

It’s not the first time that brothers have appeared for FCE; both John and Frank Jonke have played for the Eddies. But the Jonkes were signed to FCE at different times and never played together. In the case of the Zebies, they could potentially be making passes to each other in a league game.

TO READ STEVEN SANDOR’S COVERAGE OF THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP, GO TO SPORTSNET.CA

Sinclair rescues Canada at Women’s World Cup

Canadian women looking for World Cup redemption

Canada prepared for all World Cup scenarios

Canada held to stalemate by Kiwis at World Cup

USA blanks Colombia, off to World Cup quarters

Sweltering heat mars Japan’s win over Australia

Japan all business ahead of semi vs. England

Japan reach World Cup final on England own goal

Laing: “I know FCE is doing its best to keep me here”

Lance Laing accepts congratulations for a goal. PHOTO: NASL

Midfielder Lance Laing says that he’s hopeful that he can play in FC Edmonton’s NASL fall-season opener before he needs to report back to the Jamaican national side.

Laing is supposed to leave for Los Angeles on Sunday to join the Jamaican national side ahead of the Gold Cup. But he’s hopeful he can leave after the Eddies play the San Antonio Scorpions in Fort McMurray. Laing had four goals and four assists in the spring season — and if voting were taken for league MVP at this moment in time, he’d be in the race. He just returned to Edmonton after playing three Copa America matches with the Jamaican national side.

Laing said that the Jamaican team is allowing its MLS-based players to participate in this weekend’s league play, and then leave to report to the national side. He hopes to get the same dispensation so he can play in his NASL game. The Jamaicans play their first Gold Cup match on July 8.

While Laing is hopeful to be an Eddie on Sunday, he knows that the Jamaica call-ups, plus his excellent play in NASL and against MLS opposition in the Amway Canadian Championships, has raised his profile. What does that mean for his future? His contract with the Eddies is up at the end of the year.

“We will see what will happen,” said Laing. “I know the club is doing its best to keep me here.”



But he admitted he “doesn’t know what is going to happen” and that he hopes “the solution will be beneficial to both myself and the club.”

Laing said that FIFA rules allow players to start contacting other clubs when they have six months or less remaining on their contracts. He says that, even though he thinks the option is open to him, he has not contacted other teams.

As for the Copa America, which included a game against Lionel Messi and his Argentine side, Laing called it “the best experience of my life.”

“I would not turn that opportunity down if I ever got the chance to play in a tournament like that again.”

And, he admitted that in that Argentina game, it took a few minutes for him to accept that, yes, it was really happening.

“For the first 20 minutes I was like, I was in awe. I was thinking, ‘is this real?’ I was playing against (Pablo) Zabaleta, from Manchester City and, of course, Messi, from Barcelona. It was amazing.”

And he joked that he didn’t chase Messi all of the time. “There were times when I had him playing back towards his goal!”

TO READ STEVEN SANDOR’S COVERAGE OF THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP, GO TO SPORTSNET.CA

Sinclair rescues Canada at Women’s World Cup

Canadian women looking for World Cup redemption

Canada prepared for all World Cup scenarios

Canada held to stalemate by Kiwis at World Cup

USA blanks Colombia, off to World Cup quarters

Sweltering heat mars Japan’s win over Australia

The Walking Eds: Injuries may force FCE to bring a skeleton squad to Fort McMurray

Colin Miller PHOTO: FC EDMONTON/TONY LEWIS

FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller has been involved in professional soccer for more than three decades. He said Tuesday that, at no time in his career, has he been involved in an injury crisis as severe as the one FC Edmonton is in right now.

The Eddies open the NASL fall season schedule Sunday against the San Antonio Scorpions in Fort McMurray. On Friday, the team will be taking the five-hour drive north on the bus. But, considering who can play and who’s on the shelf, well, a minivan might be all the Eddies will need.

Miller said that, as it stands, he would only have 14 players available for Sunday — and two of them would be keepers. So, unless he’s planning to use a keeper as a sub for an outfield player, he won’t have enough to make three changes.

“It’s bad enough that myself and (goalkeeping coach) Darren Woloshen might have to go in,” joked Miller.

It’s good that Miller could joke about the situation; because if he wasn’t laughing, he might be crying.



Forwards Tomi Ameobi and Frank Jonke are working their way back from injury. Midfielder Ritchie Jones is out. Newly signed midfielder Thiago tweaked his hamstring and was held out of Tuesday’s scrimmage. Forward Daryl Fordyce was on the training table. Defender Kareem Moses is recovering from injury, but Miller used the words “limited minutes” in reference to his availability. Newly acquired midfielder Pablo Cruz has not yet been cleared to play, and his paperwork won’t come in until after July 8. So he’s not available this weekend. Winger Sainey Nyassi is working his way back from injury.

And, of course, left winger Lance Laing will be off Sunday to join the Jamaican national side for the Gold Cup. But Laing said he’s hopeful that he can play for the Eddies in Fort McMurray, and then join the Jamaican squad after the NASL match.

Miller said that he’s still got his eye on one player who is representing his country at the Gold Cup. He’s also talking to a defender; but that player, like Cruz, wouldn’t be eligible to play for the Eddies after July 8 — if he signs, that is.

The Eddies are currently maxed out on international roster slots, with all seven allowed under NASL rules being filled.

But, with the players he will have in tow, Miller said he hopes the trip north will be good for the club.

“We will prepare exactly the same as we would for a game in Edmonton. We hope there will be a good crowd there, a lot of people who will be seeing the Eddies for the first time.”

Of course, Miller has little sympathy for the San Antonio Scorpions, whose long road trip to Edmonton has been extended another 435 km north.

“They get to feel what it’s like to be us on every one of our road trips,” said Miller.

But, according to the online ticket retailer, it looks as if less than 1,100 tickets have been sold for Sunday’s game in Fort McMurray. Eighteen of the 20 sections have more than 20 tickets remaining; six of those 20 sections — according to the interactive seat map — have no seats taken.

TO READ STEVEN SANDOR’S COVERAGE OF THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP, GO TO SPORTSNET.CA

Sinclair rescues Canada at Women’s World Cup

Canadian women looking for World Cup redemption

Canada prepared for all World Cup scenarios

Canada held to stalemate by Kiwis at World Cup

USA blanks Colombia, off to World Cup quarters

Sweltering heat mars Japan’s win over Australia

Quintessentially Canadian Power Rankings, MLS Week 17/NASL Week 11 (summer break)

Ashtone Morgan

With the Canadian women’s national team losing a heartbreaking quarterfinal Saturday at BC Place to the English, this might be the week of weeks where our readers say “oh yeah, I guess MLS had games this weekend. Let me check the phone to see what the scores were.”

And, of course, we can assume many of our readers are probably done with soccer for a while, taking the time to decompress.

But, for those paying attention, this weekend marks the end of the NASL hiatus.The league’s fall season begins next weekend, which includes FC Edmonton hosting the San Antonio Scorpions in Fort McMurray, where the stands were not exactly full for this past weekend’s Canadian Football League opener between the Argos and the Eskimos. And, right, now, every section but one at Fort Mac’s SMS Equipment Stadium at Shell Place is showing more than 20 tickets are available.

Even with NASL playing six fewer weeks (including the break) than MLS; five NASL players remain in the top 10 in terms of minutes played by Canadians. That’s a rather shocking number.

In terms of MLS action, we’ve seen very little player movement this week; Vancouver managed to get through its weekend match by giving no minutes to Canadians, which was the most disturbing trend of the 17th week of the power rankings. The no-Canadian-minutes game, a 2-1 win over New England, came just a week after Canadian midfielder Kianz Froese scored his first-ever MLS goal for the Whitecaps. So a high mark for Canadians is followed by a low mark in Vancouver.



MLS AND NASL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS (MLS AFTER 17 WEEKS, NASL AFTER 11 WEEKS):

1. Ashtone Morgan, TFC, MLS, 1099 (13)

2. Jonathan Osorio, TFC, MLS, 1028 (14)

3. Tesho Akindele, FCD, MLS 927 (15)

4. Carl Haworth, OTT, NASL, 875 (10)

5. Russell Teibert, VAN, MLS, 852 (143)

6. Cyle Larin, ORL, MLS, 846 (13)

7. Dominic Oppong, ATL, NASL, 825 (10)

8. Mallan Roberts, FCE, NASL, 810 (9)

9. Eddie Edward, FCE, NASL, 750 (9)

10. Kyle Porter, ATL, NASL, 739 (10)

11. Julian de Guzman, OTT, NASL, 710 (8)

12. Sam Adekugbe, VAN, MLS, 615 (7)

13. Nana Attakora, SAS, NASL, 606 (7)

14. Marcel de Jong, SKC, MLS, 589 (8)

15. Adrian Cann, SAS, NASL, 540 (6)

16. Frank Jonke, FCE, NASL, 515 (7)

17. Karl Ouimette, NYRB, MLS, 502 (6)

18. Allan Zebie, FCE, NASL, 461 (6)

19. Mason Trafford, OTT, NASL, 450 (5)

20. Will Johnson, POR, MLS 354 (4)

21. Maxim Tissot, MTL, MLS 346 (5)

22. Drew Beckie, OTT, NASL, 343 (7)

23. Patrice Bernier, MTL, MLS 325 (11)

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

25. Kyle Bekker, FCD, MLS, 313 (8)

26. Michael Nonni, FCE, NASL, 200 (6)

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

28. Kianz Froese, VAN, MLS, 161 (6)

29. Mauro Eustaquio, OTT, NASL, 160 (4)

30. Hanson Boakai, FCE, NASL, 157 (6)

31. Sadi Jalali, FCE, NASL, 124 (3)

32. Anthony Jackson-Hamel, MTL, MLS 84 (3)

33. Jay Chapman, TFC, MLS, 47 (4)

34. Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare, MTL, MLS, 18 (2)

35. Philippe Davies, OTT, NASL, 8 (1)

MLS AND NASL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIAN MAYBES — PLAYERS WHO COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR CANADA, BUT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR OTHER NATIONS AND HAVE NOT COMMITTED TO CANADA (MLS AFTER 17 WEEKS, NASL AFTER 11 WEEKS):?

1. Ethan Finlay, CLB 1386 (17)

2. Steven Vitoria, PHI 810 (9)

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

FC Edmonton, NASL, 3342/10 GP (334.2) (NC)

Ottawa, NASL, 2712/10 GP (271.2) (NC)

Atlanta, NASL, 1564/10 GP (156.4) (NC)

Toronto FC, MLS, 2174/15 GP (144.9) (-0.6)

San Antonio, NASL 1146/10 GP (114.6) (NC)

Vancouver, MLS, 1628/18 GP (90.4) (-5.3)

Columbus, MLS, 1386/17 GP (81.5) (+1.1)

FC Dallas, MLS, 1241/17 GP (73) (-2.7)

Montreal, MLS, 773/13 GP (59.5) (+1.7)

Orlando City, MLS, 846/17 GP (49.8) (+1.2)

Philadelphia, MLS, 810/19 GP (42.6) (-5)

Sporting Kansas City, MLS, 589/16 GP (36.8) (+2.7)

New York Red Bulls, MLS 502/16 GP (31.4) (-4.5)

Portland, MLS, 354/18 GP (19.7) (+3.2)

TO READ STEVEN SANDOR’S COVERAGE OF THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP, GO TO SPORTSNET.CA

Sinclair rescues Canada at Women’s World Cup

Canadian women looking for World Cup redemption

Canada prepared for all World Cup scenarios

Canada held to stalemate by Kiwis at World Cup

USA blanks Colombia, off to World Cup quarters

Sweltering heat mars Japan’s win over Australia

Quintessentially Canadian Power Rankings, MLS Week 16/NASL Week 11 (summer break)

Kianz Froese

The revealing good news/bad news scenario in this week’s Quintessentially Canadian Power Rankings is found in this past weekend’s Vancouver Whitecaps match.

Kianz Froese came on as a sub and scored his first ever MLS goal in a 2-1 win over the New York Red Bulls.

But, in that same game, Froese and fellow Canadian Russell Teibert played a grand total of 21 minutes; and the average number of minutes that the Whitecaps give to Canadians on a per-game basis continues to slide. After giving just 21 minutes out of a potential 990 to Canadians this past weekend, the Whitecaps’ Can-con numbers took a beating. On the same weekend that Froese scored, the Whitecaps’ Canadian-minutes-per-game slipped below the 100 mark.

For the next month, the Power Rankings will be somewhat imbalanced, as the MLS players continue to rack up minutes while the NASL players are on a break till the 20-game fall season kicks off in July. But, really, will any MLS teams be able to get up to the 334.2 minutes-for-Canadians-per-game average that FC Edmonton posted in the 10-game spring season?



MLS AND NASL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS (MLS AFTER 16 WEEKS, NASL AFTER 11 WEEKS):?

1. Ashtone Morgan, TFC, MLS, 1009 (12)

2. Tesho Akindele, FCD, MLS 897 (14)

3. Carl Haworth, OTT, NASL, 875 (10)

4. Jonathan Osorio, TFC, MLS, 860 (12)

5. Russell Teibert, VAN, MLS, 852 (143)

6. Dominic Oppong, ATL, NASL, 825 (10)

7. Mallan Roberts, FCE, NASL, 810 (9)

8. Cyle Larin, ORL, MLS, 777 (12)

9. Eddie Edward, FCE, NASL, 750 (9)

10. Kyle Porter, ATL, NASL, 739 (10)

11. Julian de Guzman, OTT, NASL, 710 (8)

12. Sam Adekugbe, VAN, MLS, 615 (7)

13. Nana Attakora, SAS, NASL, 606 (7)

14. Adrian Cann, SAS, NASL, 540 (6)

15. Frank Jonke, FCE, NASL, 515 (7)

16. Marcel de Jong, SKC, MLS, 511 (7)

17. Karl Ouimette, NYRB, MLS, 502 (6)

18. Allan Zebie, FCE, NASL, 461 (6)

19. Mason Trafford, OTT, NASL, 450 (5)

20. Drew Beckie, OTT, NASL, 343 (7)

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

22. Kyle Bekker, FCD, MLS, 313 (8)

23. Maxim Tissot, MTL, MLS 289 (4)

24. Will Johnson, POR, MLS 264 (3)

25. Patrice Bernier, MTL, MLS 245 (9)

26. Michael Nonni, FCE, NASL, 200 (6)

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

28. Kianz Froese, VAN, MLS, 161 (6)

29. Mauro Eustaquio, OTT, NASL, 160 (4)

30. Hanson Boakai, FCE, NASL, 157 (6)

31. Sadi Jalali, FCE, NASL, 124 (3)

32. Anthony Jackson-Hamel, MTL, MLS 84 (3)

33. Jay Chapman, TFC, MLS, 23 (2)

34. Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare, MTL, MLS, 18 (2)

35. Philippe Davies, OTT, NASL, 8 (1)

MLS AND NASL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIAN MAYBES — PLAYERS WHO COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR CANADA, BUT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR OTHER NATIONS AND HAVE NOT COMMITTED TO CANADA (MLS AFTER 16 WEEKS, NASL AFTER 11 WEEKS):

1. Ethan Finlay, CLB 1206 (15)

2. Steven Vitoria, PHI 810 (9)

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

FC Edmonton, NASL, 3342/10 GP (334.2) (NC)

Ottawa, NASL, 2712/10 GP (271.2) (NC)

Atlanta, NASL, 1564/10 GP (156.4) (NC)

Toronto FC, MLS, 1892/13 GP (145.5) (+2.3)

San Antonio, NASL 1146/10 GP (114.6) (NC)

Vancouver, MLS, 1628/17 GP (95.7) (-4.7)

Columbus, MLS, 1206/15 GP (80.4) (+0.3)

FC Dallas, MLS, 1211/16 GP (75.7) (-2)

Montreal, MLS, 636/11 GP (57.8) (+5)

Orlando City, MLS, 777/16 GP (48.6) (+2.8)

Philadelphia, MLS, 810/17 GP (47.6) (-3)

New York Red Bulls, MLS 502/14 GP (35.9) (-2.7)

Sporting Kansas City, MLS, 511/15 GP (34.1) (-2.4)

Portland, MLS, 264/16 GP (16.5) (+4.9)

TO READ STEVEN SANDOR’S COVERAGE OF THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP, GO TO SPORTSNET.CA

Sinclair rescues Canada at Women’s World Cup

Canadian women looking for World Cup redemption

Canada prepared for all World Cup scenarios

Canada held to stalemate by Kiwis at World Cup

Roberts: The thrill of playing for Canada took a couple of minutes to kick in

Mallan Roberts came to Canada as a nine-year-old, fleeing Sierra Leone with his father.

It took nearly 14 years for him to get his citizenship. And, shortly after, his first Canada call-up. This past week, late in the second half of Canada’s 4-0 win over Dominica in World Cup qualifying, national-team coach Benito Floro sent Roberts onto the pitch at Toronto’s BMO Field.

One could only imagine what was running through Roberts’s head as he sprinted onto the pitch. Well, believe it or not, there wasn’t a flood of emotion as he headed to his spot in the centre of the defence.

“It really took a couple of minutes on the field for it to really kick in,” Roberts said Friday, as FC Edmonton trained north of the city in St. Albert. “Once I got past that, was able to make a couple of plays, then it really began to feel good.”

Roberts was called into the Canadian camp as a replacement for the injured Dejan Jakovic. But Roberts has also been placed on the 35-man preliminary roster for the Gold Cup — so he’s hopeful that he’ll be wearing the Canadian jersey in short order.

“I don’t want to be the player who was only called into one game,” he said. “The experience, it was huge. I gained a lot of experience from it. There are so many players there who have careers in Europe, from around MLS and other teams in North America. I can see what I want to become, where I want my career to go, what I need to do.”



In the spring, when FC Edmonton was visiting the Ottawa Fury, Eddies coach Colin Miller met with Floro, and he brought up the name of several FCE players who he thought could help the national side.

“He’s taken real notice of the standard of the league [NASL],” Miller said.

Roberts then got the call. And, two weeks ago, FCE midfielder Hanson Boakai was informed he would be representing Canada at the Pan Am Games. The official announcement was made Friday. Boakai said he will be leaving to join the national side on July 5.

But, now that Roberts has got that first cap, he’s asked if he looks back and thinks about what it took to get to the national team, including the long wait for citizenship. In fact, last year, before the passport arrived, he said that he might entertain a call-up from his native Sierra Leone. Of course, getting into a World Cup qualifier for Canada kills the Sierra Leone speculation dead, dead, dead.

“I’m really not the kind of person who likes to dwell on the past,” he said. “I’m the kind of person who likes to look forward not back. In the past, I’ve had some ups and downs. But, even though I like to look ahead, I am very proud of where I’ve come from. I’m grateful to my Hussein Shabdi, my father, my mom for giving birth to me, Jeff [assistant coach Jeff Paulus] for believing in me and bringing me into the academy, and Colin for bringing me into the pro team.”

Why was Hussein Shabdi listed so prominently? He’s the technical director at Xtreme FC, one of Edmonton’s elite developmental clubs. He took Roberts under his wing, and, even though the boy has grown into a man, Shabdi still takes the extra time out of his schedule to work with the defender. Roberts says that Shabdi is like “another father” to him. When he got to the pro level, he gave his first jersey to Shabdi.

“I hope one day to be a coach,” he said. “But before you can coach, you have to learn.” And he says he’s continuing to learn the game; from FCE, from Shabdi, from Floro and his staff. In fact, he says the learning curve is steeper than it’s ever been, because he understands it’s exceptionally difficult to hang on to a national-team shirt.

WALKING WOUNDED

Midfielder Lance Laing continues to be on Copa America duty for Jamaica.

Meanwhile, FC Edmonton began training for the fall season with far less than a full complement of players.

Forwards Frank Jonke (hamstring) and Daryl Fordyce, with a suspected hernia, weren’t on the field. Defender Kareem Moses is out with a sprained MCL. Both defender Albert Watson and midfielder Tomas Granitto are on the way back from concussions. Winger Michael Nonni has the flu. Midfielder Sainey Nyassi is still nursing a bad ankle. Forward Tomi Ameobi should be back soon after suffering a foot injury almost a month ago.

Miller joked that a triage unit could have been set up at the team’s practice field in St. Albert.

TO READ STEVEN SANDOR’S COVERAGE OF THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP, GO TO SPORTSNET.CA

Sinclair rescues Canada at Women’s World Cup

Canadian women looking for World Cup redemption

Canada prepared for all World Cup scenarios

Canada held to stalemate by Kiwis at World Cup

FCE adds midfielders Cruz and Thiago de Freitas, as Miller woes poor defensive record

FC Edmonton has brought in two midfielders, American Pablo Cruz and Brazilian Thiago de Freitas.

Both were on hand at FCE’s south-side headquarters Thursday as they were unveiled to the media. Cruz — who has played in NASL for the Atlanta Silverbacks and the San Antonio Scorpions — has long been admired by FCE head coach Colin Miller. Thiago is expected to help FCE in the possession department, as giveaways were a massive problem for the team in the spring season, and contributed to the Eddies’ league-worst defensive record.

“We gave away the ball far too easily, far too often,” Miller said.

As for Cruz, Miller called him a “game changer,” a player he wanted make an Eddie as far back as two years ago. He said Cruz will help mitigate the loss of Lance Laing, who is tied for the team lead in goals and leads the team in assists. Laing will likely be on Gold Cup duty with Jamaica when the NASL fall season begins in early July.

“His first thought is to go forward; he enjoys running at people,” Miller said of Cruz.

Cruz said he’s wanted to come to Edmonton for a while. “But, for different reasons, it didn’t work out before,” he said. “But I am happy to be here now.”

Thiago flew in from Rio de Janeiro two days ago. He most recently played for Greek second division side AOT Alimos. He also has played for Israeli side Hapoel Ironi Rishon Lezion FC, and previously played in the Hungarian league for Vasas.



“We have a saying in Brazil that a team is like a family,” said Thiago, who speaks five languages. “A family cares about each other.”

With the signing of Thiago, FCE is once again maxed out with its permitted seven international roster slots. Miller did bring up the possibility of bringing one or two more players — and had previously stated that one of the targets would likely be playing at the Gold Cup.

FC Edmonton begins its pre-fall-season training camp on Friday, and Miller said he’ll be bringing the “belt” to the first training session. He said he’s dismayed that the team has averaged giving up more than two goals per game so far this NASL season.

“It’s been very disappointing, given my background as a defender, to give away such comical goals,” he said. When he looks back at the video of the goals the Eddies have conceded, the mistakes have been so farcical that Miller said he felt like kicking his laptop out the window.

But if there has been one bright spot on defence, it was Canadian national-team coach Benito Floro’s decision to bring centre back Mallan Roberts into World Cup qualifying. Roberts got his first cap earlier this week in a qualifier against Dominica — and is also on the preliminary Canadian Gold Cup roster.

Miller said that FCE doesn’t do enough to trumpet its own achievements – that it should be proud of the fact that a player that came up through the academy ranks got the call-up. Unlike the two other NASL players on the Canadian roster — Julian de Guzman and Nana Attakora, who had extensive MLS and/or international résumés — Roberts is an NASL player who is the product of an NASL academy.

Miller said it should be a cue for Roberts to work harder than ever, because Canada is quite deep at centre back.

“He still has a lot of work to do, he’ll be the first to admit that,” said Miller. “But this carrot has been dangled in front of him, and now he knows he has to work harder than he’s ever worked in his life.”

TO READ STEVEN SANDOR’S COVERAGE OF THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP, GO TO SPORTSNET.CA

Sinclair rescues Canada at Women’s World Cup

Canadian women looking for World Cup redemption

Canada prepared for all World Cup scenarios

Canada held to stalemate by Kiwis at World Cup