Steven Sandor's Blog, page 96

The super-optimistic match report: Why Larin and Akindele will lead us to Russia!

His name is Cyle Larin. He’s from Brampton, Ontario. He WILL score for Canada at Russia 2018.

It’s 2018. Canada is about to play its first match of the World Cup. A few of the Voyageurs are in the stands in St. Petersburg. FIFA Emperor For Life Sepp Blatter the First watches from the delegates’ box.

Russia of course, re-won it’s right to host the World Cup when FIFA took another vote. It received unanimous support — that is, from the delegates who didn’t abstain.

The Canadian team is introduced, with Cyle Larin and Tesho Akindele at the top of the formation. The Voyageurs sitting in the nosebleeds reminisce about the long qualifying campaign that led to this point. They wax poetic about the goal Akindele scored against the United States in the Hex; they also recall Larin powering through a group of Honduran defenders and then quieting the crowd in San Pedro Sula.

And, as the kickoff is taken, the Canadian fans watching in the stadium, and the millions back home hearing “The Voice of Canada,” Gavin Day, call the game, are thinking the same thing: We’re here. In a World Cup. And we might actually score.

And we do. A ball crosses the line, the linesmen’s flag stays down, and the referee points back towards the centre circle. There is drinking. Maybe a few arrests. A disappearing or two. But heck, we always knew that not everyone was going to come back from this World Cup.



OK, I get it. Canada only just beat Dominica 4-0 (6-0 on aggregate) in the preliminary rounds of World Cup qualifying. Dominica is a country so small, that many commenters watching the web feed of the first leg thought it was the same country as the Dominican Republic.

But sports are about hope? And, at Toronto’s BMO Field, we saw Akindele, a player who we weren’t sure was going to play for Canada or not just a few short months ago, rip a shot from outside the box into goal. We saw Larin, the No. 1 pick in this year’s MLS SuperDraft, turn and rifle a shot into goal in two quick and lethal movements.

And Akindele, from Calgary, laid a pass on a platter for Tosaint Ricketts (from Edmonton) to score the first of his two goals on the night. A made-in-Alberta pass-and-goal that just might make you want to go out and buy the least economical vehicle you can find and convert the exhaust so you can off rolling coal all day long.

To see Canada score from open play — to have multiple options up front — well, it’s been a long time, hasn’t it? Sure, all this victory does is put Canada into another preliminary qualifying round. But one of the reasons we keep gathering to watch our teams play is so we can get together and share one of our most irrational hopes. And, in a match against Caribbean minnows, we can look at two young forwards and say “maybe, just maybe.”

I write this as I watch the stream in the press area at Commonwealth Stadium; Australia and Sweden — in Women’s World Cup action — plays before me on the pitch. I am pretty sure I’m the only guy in press row who has the Canada stream going. And, on a night when the Australian journalists sitting next to me are cursing the cool weather — it’s nice to feel that hope growing in the gut.

And, of course, to see defender Mallan Roberts come on as a sub and claim his first Canada cap — a player I’ve followed since he came into the FC Edmonton ranks from the academy — well it’s just icing on the cake, isn’t it?

I promise, I’ll be cynical and mean in the next thing I write. I know you all expect it of me. But, the first step was a success. An expected success, but mission accomplished nonetheless.

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

Burt and FC Edmonton agree to end contract

Chad Burt in action.

FC Edmonton and midfielder Chad Burt have mutually agreed to part ways, so that the player can return home to Florida to tend to personal issues.

The Eddies announced the roster move Tuesday, three days before the players reconvene in Edmonton for their pre-NASL-fall-season training camp.

“The team has the best group of guys I’ve been around, talent-wise and on and off the field,” Burt said through a release issued by the Eddies. “I have nothing but good things to say about the guys and the team. It was a mutual thing between the Club and myself, there’s no bad blood or anything like that, they were happy to grant my wish. The organization is top-notch, the way you are treated there as a professional is a better than a lot of other places that I have been. I would like to thank the fans for all the support and I want to wish the best to the team, the staff and everybody in the organization.”



Burt played in nine games this season, including the Amway Canadian Championship.

“I would like to thank Chad for his time at the club, he is a terrific professional,” FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller said in the same release. “It was definitely a mutual decision, he had family concerns back in Tampa. When he approached me I had no hesitation, I approached Tom Fath about the situation and we all agreed it was best for Chad to head home. We wish him the very best of luck in his future.”

Over the weekend, Miller said he was looking at bringing in three new players; two of them would likely join the team in training camp, a third is expected to play for his country at the Gold Cup.

Of course, with the Gold Cup hint, we’ve got to speculate — here’s a list of the unattached players currently on the provisional 35-man rosters of the teams involved (at least, according to CONCACAF):

Andre Hainault, CAN

Simeon Jackson, CAN

Esteban Alvarado, GK, CRC

Kevin Santamarian, MF, SLV

Angelo Padilla, F, GUA

Rodolph Austin, MF, JAM

Gavin Hoyte, D, TRI

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

Quintessentially Canadian Power Rankings, MLS Week 15/NASL Week 11

Dominic Oppong

This weekly update to the minutes-played-by-Canadians list need to be taken with more than a few grains of salt.

With MLS on a skeleton schedule because of the international break — and many Canadians from both MLS and NASL on World Cup qualifying duty — there are a lot of players who have slipped in the rankings simply because they weren’t available for league play, or their teams didn’t play at all.

We will also see NASL players slip in the coming weeks, as their league has entered its summer break. The NASL schedule won’t resume till July. So, really, over the next several weeks, the numbers will be skewed because so many players will be inactive.

MLS AND NASL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS (MLS AFTER 15 WEEKS, NASL AFTER 11 WEEKS):

1. Ashtone Morgan, TFC, MLS, 926 (11)

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

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

4. Russell Teibert, VAN, MLS, 850 (13)

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

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

7. Jonathan Osorio, TFC, MLS, 770 (11)

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

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

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

11. Cyle Larin, ORL, MLS, 687 (11)

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, 268 (7)

23. Patrice Bernier, MTL, MLS 227 (8)

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

25. Maxim Tissot, MTL, MLS 199 (3)

26. Will Johnson, POR, MLS 174 (2)

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

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

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

30. Kianz Froese, VAN, MLS, 142 (5)

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 15 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) (+12.9)

Ottawa, NASL, 2712/10 GP (271.2) (+0.5)

Atlanta, NASL, 1564/10 GP (156.4) (-2.4)

Toronto FC, MLS, 1719/12 GP (143.2) (NC)

San Antonio, NASL 1146/10 GP (114.6) (-2.7)

Vancouver, MLS, 1607/16 GP (100.4) (NC)

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

FC Dallas, MLS, 1166/15 GP (77.7) (-0.3)

Montreal, MLS, 528/10 GP (52.8) (+2.7)

Philadelphia, MLS, 810/16 GP (50.6) (NC)

Orlando City, MLS, 687/15 GP (45.8) (-3.3)

New York Red Bulls, MLS 502/13 GP (38.6) (NC)

Sporting Kansas City, MLS, 511/14 GP (36.5) (NC)

Portland, MLS, 174/15 GP (11.6) (NC)

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

Goalkeeper sub the talking point of FCE’s spring-season finale

John Smits

It’s not something you see often. So, when it happens for a reason other than injury, it’s a talking point.

That’s why the analysis of FC Edmonton’s spring-season finale — a 3-0 loss on the road to the Indy Eleven — has to begin by looking at the decision to yank keeper John Smits at halftime.

Smits allowed a goal on a shot from well outside the area. Then, he committed a foul in the box after spilling a shot — and that led to a penalty-kick marker. When the Eddies emerged at halftime down two goals, Matt VanOekel was the new man in goal.

Coach Colin Miller said there was no injury; that it was his call to change things up.

He didn’t want to pile on after the game. He simply said the move pretty well spoke for itself, and he wouldn’t say much more about it than that.



A little less than a month ago, Smits replaced VanOekel as the starting keeper; that came right after the Eddies lost to Vancouver on a second-leg 97th minute-goal in the Amway Canadian Championship semifinal.

With 22 goals allowed in 10 regular-season games — and just one clean sheet in the spring season — the Eddies’ keepers have picked the ball out of the back of their net far more than any other NASL team’s net minders.

The Eddies started the game without the service of injured striker Tomi Ameobi. Defender Mallan Roberts, who had played every minute so far this season, was off on Canadian national-team duty. Left winger Lance Laing – four goals and four assists in nine games — played earlier in the day for Jamaica at the Copa America. Right winger Sainey Nyassi was on the bench, but wasn’t healthy enough to actually play. Same with defender Kareem Moses. Forward Daryl Fordyce’s groin injury would only allow him 10-15 minutes, max.

So, right back Eddie Edward was shuffled into Roberts’s centre back spot alongside Albert Watson. Allan Zebie and Johann Smith were the fullbacks. And Hanson Boakai finally got the start that fans have been baying for all season long. (Boakai, like Smits, lasted just 45 minutes).

Playing on a warm, humid in Indiana, the Eddies were immediately put under siege. Ten minutes in, Indy’s Erick Norales headed a ball off the top of the bar. Then, Victor Pineda was allowed to turn in the penalty area and fizzed a shot just wide of the far post.

Smits got fingertips to a Dylan Mares shot in the 23rd.

But, just as it was beginning to look like the Eddies were going to survive the siege — as the visitors began to get more of the ball as the half went on — a giveaway from Chad Burt began what would be a comedy of errors. After he turned the ball over at half, no Eddie midfielder picked up the run of Brian Brown right up the middle of the park. No defender stepped up, either So, Brown fired from about 25 yards out — and, after one hop, the ball nestled into the corner of the Eddies’ goal.

And, just before half, Smits spilled a shot from Mares right into the path of Indy’s Kyle Hyland. Smits wrapped his arms around Hyland’s ankles for what might be the least controversial penalty call in Eddies’ history. Mares converted the chance, and FCE coach Colin Miller had seen enough.

“I am disappointed, but we started the game by having to make so many changes,” said Miller. “That’s not to make a million excuses. But I had to make a back four that was unusual; the players, individually are very good but collectively, they aren’t that familiar playing with each other.”

It got worse for the Eddies in the second half. Cristian Raudales, who had come on for Boakai, got a straight red from ref Chris Penso for a blow to the head of Indy’s Marco Franco.

“I’ve had the chance to look at the replay three or four times, and I thought it the call was a bit harsh,” said Miller. “I think it deserved a yellow, at worst. I didn’t think it was a sending off.”

And, late in the match, Indy sub Duke Lacroix streaked past the back line and smashed the ball past Van Oekel.

Hours before the Eddies faced the Eleven, left winger Lance Laing made his Copa America debut. He came on as a 54th-minute sub for Jamaica, and had an influence on the game — providing two crosses that created scoring chances for the Reggae Boyz. The Jamaicans lost 1-0 to Uruguay, but certainly the gulf between the teams wasn’t what many would have expected before the match.

Remember that Laing is also expected to go to the Gold Cup with Jamaica; so, there’s a good chance that he won’t be available for the Eddies when the fall season begins.

The Eddies finish the spring season with just nine points. But, if there is a bright side, the team is only five points out of fourth spot. Remember that the NASL gives post-season spots to the winners of the spring and fall season, then to the next two teams with the best spring-fall combined records. So, it’s likely that fourth overall would be a post-season spot — and there are still 20 games to go in the fall.

The New York Cosmos, thanks to a 3-3 draw with Jacksonville, clinched the spring season title and one of the top two seeds in the NASL postseason.

Miller said there will be additions made in the break between the spring and fall seasons. Two players have signed letters of intent, and could be on the field when the Eddies launch their pre-fall-season camp. A third will be at Gold Cup with his country.

Miller said that he also will do what he can to make sure that Laing remains with the Eddies — but stressed he has not had any inquiries from other clubs. It’s simply a case of knowing where Laing’s long-term plans lie.

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

Don’t panic: Canada good enough to beat Dominica

The shadows of Dominica.

So, Canada’s World Cup qualifying campaign began by only beating Dominica 2-0, in a cricket stadium that looked on the web stream that was illuminated by a single floodlight. The ball would disappear into the shadows on the wings, and then get crossed into the light. And then back into the shadows again. All it was missing was someone’s mom to come out and yell for a player to come in for supper.

Yes, keeper Milan Borjan got sent off for a professional foul late in the game and won’t be available for June 16’s return leg in Toronto. And, being Canadian soccer supporters, a lot of us will follow our instinctive nature to point out all the negatives.

But, truth be told, Canada was always comfortable in this game, and baying for a 10-0 in the modern game often equates to wishful thinking. Cyle Larin scored on a break early into the game. Russell Teibert hiding in the dark on the right wing, was able to find acres of space and deservedly was the one who went to the spot to score the second-half penalty. Tosaint Ricketts had a series of chances on goal. Tesho Akindele got cap-tied to Canada.

At no point was Canada uncomfortable in this match.



“I think we played a very good game,” coach Benito Floro said after the match. “We proposed that we would be serious in this game and to play Dominica with a lot of respect. We developed a strong pressing game, and at the same time we have had at least 12 or 13 scoring chances. Unfortunately we only scored once from open play and the penalty. The result was not correspondent with the play but it was good.”

And, Floro said he hopes that he can introduce two or three players into the fray in the second leg; again, a chance to get more players capped through senior A games.

But, heck, nothing I write here won’t stop you from fretting. So, panic away. Personally, I’m saving up all my worry for the women’s team, right now.

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

Floro: Akindele, Roberts and Johnson all “new” to me

Benito Floro

Canadian national-team coach Benito Floro is working with three “new” players as the team prepares to begin its qualification process for the 2018 World Cup.

FC Dallas striker Tesho Akindele, FC Edmonton defender Mallan Roberts and, um, Portland Timbers midfielder Will Johnson are all new players, in Floro’s eyes.

Wait? Will Johnson? The Canadian national-team veteran?

Floro put him in the “new-to-me” category, because Johnson has just come back from a broken leg; and that injury has kept him away from the national side since Floro took over as the boss.

And Johnson’s role could be all the more important, considering that midfielder Atiba Hutchinson will be out of the June 11 qualifier at Dominica and the return leg June 16 at Toronto’s BMO Field. There is no plan to bring in a player to take Hutchinson’s roster spot.

“It is possible for all players [on the roster] to play some minutes,” said Floro. He said it was vital for the three players he has yet to see before to get integrated into the Canadian system, and learn how the team plays.



The curve will be especially steep for Roberts, the big centre back who was also a major football (as in, with the helmets and tackling) out of high school. Roberts, who came to Canada with his father from Sierra Leone, got his Canadian citizenship earlier this year. He was called into the national side on Saturday, as a late replacement for the injured Dejan Jakovic.

“I saw him play two or three games,” said Floro. “I was talking with Colin [FCE head coach Colin Miller], and he gave me a very good impression, that Roberts was a player who could play with us. He’s a young boy, physically good, technically it is possible for him to increase his level.”

Veteran midfielder Julian de Guzman said that Canada will take Dominica very seriously, but the players will also look at this as an opportunity to further adapt to Floro who, after a year, is essentially still new on the job.

“It’s something we don’t want to overlook; these are very important moments for our team, in terms of improving things we have to work on.”

The Canadian Soccer Association is hopeful that a stream will be available for the match in Dominica on Thursday, but nothing will be known for certain till the team and officials arrive in the Caribbean nation.

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

Quintessentially Canadian Power Rankings, MLS Week 14/NASL Week 10

Tesho Akindele

It was moving day on the Quintessentially Canadian Power Rankings.

Last week, we learned that FC Dallas forward had officially pledged his national-team allegiance to Canada, and that he’s on the roster for the coming week’s World Cup qualifiers against Dominica.

So, he went off the list of Canadian maybes, and was moved into our primary ranking, where he is now second only to Toronto FC’s Ashtone Morgan in terms of minutes played this season.

As well, FC Edmonton defender Mallan Roberts is in fourth place, with 810 minutes. The Eddies have played nine NASL games this season, and Roberts has played every single minute of them. Don’t think that’s not a major reason why national-team coach Benito Floro called him into the national team as a replacement for the injured Dejan Jakovic. First-team minutes matter. And that’s why we do this ranking.



MLS AND NASL MINUTES BY PLAYER, THE CANADIANS (MLS AFTER 14 WEEKS, NASL AFTER 10 WEEKS):?

1. Ashtone Morgan, TFC, MLS, 926 (11)

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

3. Russell Teibert, VAN, MLS, 850 (13)

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

5. Carl Haworth, OTT, NASL, 787 (9)

6. Jonathan Osorio, TFC, MLS, 770 (11)

7. Dominic Oppong, ATL, NASL, 735 (9)

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

9. Kyle Porter, ATL, NASL, 694 (9)

10. Cyle Larin, ORL, MLS, 687 (11)

11. Eddie Edward, FCE, NASL, 660 (8)

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

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

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

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

16. Adrian Cann, SAS, NASL, 450 (5)

17. Frank Jonke, FCE, NASL, 425 (6)

18. Allan Zebie, FCE, NASL, 371 (5)

19. Mason Trafford, OTT, NASL, 360 (4)

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

21. John Smits, FCE, NASL, 270 (3)

22. Patrice Bernier, MTL, MLS 207 (7)

23. Maxim Tissot, MTL, MLS 199 (3)

24. Kyle Bekker, FCD, MLS, 194 (6)

25. Will Johnson, POR, MLS 174 (2)

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

27. Kianz Froese, VAN, MLS, 142 (5)

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

29. Hanson Boakai, FCE, NASL, 112 (5)

30. Michael Nonni, FCE, NASL, 110 (5)

31. Mauro Eustaquio, OTT, NASL, 70 (3)

32. Anthony Jackson-Hamel, MTL, MLS 39 (2)

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

34. Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare, MTL, MLS, 6 (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 14 WEEKS, NASL AFTER 10 WEEKS):?

1. Ethan Finlay, CLB 1122 (14)

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, 2892/9 GP (321.3) (+9.3)

Ottawa, NASL, 2436/9 GP (270.7) (+1.2)

Atlanta, NASL, 1429/9 GP (158.8) (-4.8)

Toronto FC, MLS, 1719/12 GP (143.2) (+4.8)

San Antonio, NASL, 1056/9 GP (117.3) (+7.8)

Vancouver, MLS, 1607/16 GP (100.4) (-8)

Columbus, MLS, 1122/14 GP (80.1) (-2.3)

FC Dallas, MLS, 1092/14 GP (78) (+0.9)

Philadelphia, MLS, 810/16 GP (50.6) (-7.3)

Montreal, MLS, 451/9 GP (50.1) (+19.8)

Orlando City, MLS, 687/14 GP (49.1) (-1.9)

New York Red Bulls, MLS 502/13 GP (38.6) (+4.3)

Sporting Kansas City, MLS, 511/14 GP (36.5) (+1.7)

Portland, MLS, 174/15 GP (11.6) (+5.6)

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

No signal: NASL’s Canadian broadcast woes highlighted by FCE/Rowdies match

The Tampa Bay Lightning hosted the Chicago Blackhawks in the second game of the Stanley Cup Final. In Edmonton, the entire soccer community was riveted to the opening game of the Women’s World Cup at Commonwealth Stadium.

Saturday evening was the worst possible time for the Tampa Bay Rowdies to host FC Edmonton in NASL action; if there was ever a time for either team’s fan base to take a mulligan and miss a game, this was it.

Or, if there was ever a time for yet another embarrassing hiccup in the NASL’s Canadian broadcast plan, this was it. Already, Canadians can’t access games that pit American-based teams against American-based teams, because ESPN3 can’t be accessed in Canada. The plan is to have FC Edmonton’s road games available on TSN GO, but the Eddies’ road game wasn’t available on Saturday. Eventually, well into the first half of the Rowdies/FCE game, a feed was available through Takeitlive.TV.



So, this is the challenge. On Monday morning, when NASL executives get into the office, the first order of business is how to get the Canadian mess sorted it out. After all, it is the North American Soccer League, not American Soccer League. The league desperately needs a Canadian in the front office, close to commissioner Bill Peterson, who can help steer the league through some of the challenges it faces in the market north of the border. When NASL signed to get its games on ESPN3 for the 2015 season, it cut Canada out of the market; and the Band-Aid solutions to get games played in the United States to the Canadian fans aren’t working.

At best, Canadian fans deserve a solution. At worst, they deserve an apology from NASL.

As for the game that most of us didn’t see — or only saw portions of — the Eddies dropped a 2-1 decision in Florida; the win keeps the Rowdies mathematically alive for the NASL spring title. They trail the Cosmos by three points, and New York holds is six better in terms of goal difference.

In his final game with the Eddies before heading to South America for the Copa America, Lance Laing curled in a second-half goal, but that marker came after Darwin Espinal and Brian Shriver had scored for the Rowdies. Espinal’s goal came on a rebound from a shot from former Eddie Corey Hertzog.

The Rowdies were missing forwards Maicon Santos and Georgi Hristov, as well as defender Stefan Antonijevic, who all received red cards in last week’s game against the Indy Eleven.

“I commend our guys for in particular the second half,” FC Edmonton head coach Colin Miller said in a release issued by the club. “We finished the stronger team, we were chasing the game and getting after it. I said to to the guys that we’ve got to show that energy and commitment in the first half as well and if we do that we’ll be competitive in this league. I was very disappointed here tonight, I thought the way the game finished we could have got a draw out of it.”

TO READ MY 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

FC Edmonton’s Roberts called into Canada’s national side

Mallan Roberts

The Canadian Soccer Association has announced that FC Edmonton defender Mallan Roberts — who got his citizenship earlier this year — has been called up the men’s national team ahead of their June 11 and 16 World Cup qualifiers against Dominica.

Roberts and his father, Charles, came to Canada from Sierra Leone as refugees, and the quest for citizenship was a long, arduous process. While waiting for his paperwork, Roberts couldn’t travel to Australia to visit his mother and see his extended family there.

Roberts has started every NASL game this season for FC Edmonton at centre back.



Roberts will replace Dejan Jakovic, who is injured.

Two years ago, when FCE coach Colin Miller was also the caretaker boss of the Canadian national side, he wanted to give Roberts the chance to play in friendlies, but couldn’t because the citizenship paperwork hadn’t come through.

“It’s absolutely fabulous about Mallan being drafted into the Canadian squad,” Miller said. “It’s a testament to the progress the young man has made. He has had the opportunity to play beside [FC Edmonton team captain] Albert Watson who has had a big influence on him and he’s also developed in his own right. We’re proud of Mallan. Hopefully he can make a favourable impression to Benito [Floro, Canadian national team head coach].”

Like Lance Laing, who is off to play with Jamaica at the Gold Cup, Roberts will miss FCE’s final game of the spring season.

TO READ MY 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

CSA board member to propose motion that Canada pull out of FIFA, CONCACAF

Canadian Soccer Association board member Amelia Salehabadi-Fouques will submit a motion that the organization pull out of FIFA and CONCACAF.

In a statement made public on her website (CLICK HERE), the Quebec board member pledges to make a motion at Saturday’s CSA board meeting that would initiate a temporary separation between the CSA and FIFA. Of course, her motion calls for the separation to come only after the completion of the Women’s World Cup. The board meeting will be held in Edmonton, where the WWC opener is being held on the same day.

The first three points of her motion (translated from French):

1. FIFA: suspend CSA membership at the end of the World Cup of Women Canada until the time that full light and TOTAL cleaning are done in this organization.

2. CONCACAF: suspend CSA membership at the end of the World Cup of Women Canada, the time that light and cleaning are done in this organization.

3. Direct consequence of 1 and 2: the President of the CSA Board of Directors and all other persons (employees, officers, consultants, board of directors, etc.) of the CSA to immediately withdraw from setting on any committees of FIFA and/or CONCACAF especially as CSA is very busy with the World Cup for women in Canada and the establishment of even better practices in governance and transparency within our own association.



Salehabadi-Fouques, a Quebec based lawyer with expertise in international disputes, was appointed to the CSA board in 2013.

Her motion comes in the wake of the arrest of several key FIFA and CONCACAF figures by Swiss officials. Interpol has issued notification of arrest warrants. And the United States Department of Justice is expecting those charged, including disgraced former CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb, to stand trial in the United States. Traffic Sports, the Brazil-based superagency and soccer marketing firm, has already pleaded guilty to charges involving wire fraud.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter announced his intention to step down just four days after winning a fifth term and declaring “I am the president of everybody” to the FIFA congress.

Salehabadi-Fouques’s motion also calls for the CSA to publicize all gifts it has received from FIFA or CONCACAF in the last five years. The proposal would also limit the members of the board to only a single term; if passed without amendment, it would mean that CSA President Victor Montagliani would have to leave his post after his term is served.

If Canada pulled out of FIFA, it would likely mean an end to this country’s bid to host the 2026 World Cup.

In 2005, Salehabadi-Fouques was a subject of parliamentary debate. Then-Bloc Quebecois MP Johanne Deschamps asked why Salehabadi-Fouques was removed from the Canadian Commercial Corporation board.

From Hansard: “Mr. Speaker, Amelia Salehabadi, formerly on the board of directors of the Canadian Commercial Corporation, claims she was the victim of intimidation by board chair Alan Curleigh. She says that her term was not renewed because she had asked too many questions and had opposed a partisan appointment to the corporation.”

In 2011, after NHL enforcer Wade Belak took his own life, Salehabadi-Fouques issued a press release likening professional sport to the gladiators of Rome, saying that the “killing following sporting events” should have disappeared with the empires of the past.