Cool Island Breeze Canada come alive late in Puerto Rico, go atop WCup qual group It wasn’t the prettiest of games, but Canada found a way to grind out a 3-0 win over hosts Puerto Rico on Tuesday at Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel, vaulting Stephen Hart’s side to six points through their first two games in Group D of CONCACAF’s second World Cup qualifying round. Iain Hume struck late in the first half while substitutes Simeon Jackson and Tosaint Ricketts each scored at the end of the second half for the Canucks, who remain in first place with a two-point lead in the group. http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-09-06-puerto-rico-vs-canada/recap
TFC's Morgan among youth-infused side called by Canada Defender gets look for WCup quals; Hutchinson, de Jong omitted Young newcomers Ashtone Morgan and Joseph Di Chiara are among six changes to the Canadian national team roster ahead of World Cup qualifying matches against St. Lucia and Puerto Rico next month. FULL CANADA SQUAD GOALKEEPERS (2): Lars Hirschfeld (Vålerenga Fotball, Norway), Kenny Stamatopoulos (AIK, Sweden) DEFENDERS (6): Nik Ledgerwood (SV Wehen Wiesbaden, Germany), Ashtone Morgan (Toronto FC), Kevin McKenna (FC Köln, Germany), Adam Straith (FC Energie Cottbus, Germany), Ante Jazić (Chivas USA), David Edgar (Burnley FC, England) MIDFIELDERS (5): Julian de Guzman (Toronto FC), Will Johnson (Real Salt Lake), Josh Simpson (Manisaspor, Turkey), Joseph Di Chiara (FC Krylia Sovetov Samara, Russia), Terry Dunfield (Toronto FC) FORWARDS (5): Iain Hume (Preston North End, England), Tosaint Ricketts (FC Politehnica Timişoara, Romania), Simeon Jackson (Norwich City, England), Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United), Olivier Occean (SpVgg Greuther Fürth, Germany) http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/09/29/tfcs-morgan-among-youth-infused-side-called-canada
Jackson paces Canada in 7-0 rout of St. Lucia Striker gets hat trick, Occean, Hume each add 2 as Canada cruise A torrid opening 45 minutes from striker Simeon Jackson paved the way for a record-breaking victory for Canada against hosts St. Lucia on Matchday 3 of CONCACAF’s second round of World Cup qualifying on Friday. The Canadians cruised to a 7-0 win — their largest victory in an official match — powered by a first half hat-trick from Jackson, the 24-year-old attacker who had previously scored just three times for his national side. "We've got a big game [vs. Puerto Rico] in Toronto, and the whole second half [vs. St. Lucia] was about managing the game and managing our energy levels," Hart said, "because we know Puerto Rico are going to be looking for a result. This one's over with and we can breathe a little bit and enjoy it for the night, but back to busines tomorrow morning." http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/10/07/wcq-jackson-paves-way-canada-7-0-rout-st-lucia
Hainault declines Canadian call-up vs. Puerto Rico Defender chooses to stay with Dynamo for playoff stretch With the Houston Dynamo needing points fast, Andre Hainault picked club over country during this week's FIFA international dates. The Dynamo defender has declined Canada national team head coach Stephen Hart's call-up for the Canucks' World Cup qualifier against Puerto Rico at Toronto's BMO Field on Tuesday. Houston have a crucial trip to Portland on Friday that could make or break their playoff hopes, and Hainault decided his club needed him more. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/10/10/hainault-declines-canadian-call-vs-puerto-rico
Bummer At BMO Canada suffer first setback in qualifying, held by Puerto Rico Canada’s quest to qualify for the 2014 World Cup hit its first road bump on Tuesday in a 0-0 draw with Puerto Rico at BMO Field in Toronto. The visitors outplayed Canada for much of the game, which marked the first time in four CONCACAF second-round qualifiers that the Canucks failed to grab all three points. Canada still lead Group D with 10 points. They next host St. Kitts and Nevis on Nov. 15 back at BMO Field. http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-10-11-canada-vs-puerto-rico/recap
Canada in Group A for women's Olympic qualifying tournament Tournament starts January 19 at BC Place OLYMPIC QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT DRAW GROUP A: Canada Costa Rica Cuba Haiti GROUP B: Dominican Republic Guatemala Mexico United States http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2011/10/canada-group-womens-olympic-qualifying-tournament
Toronto FC's Stinson among 3 new faces called to Canada TFC youngster part of 6 MLS reps for Canucks' WCQs vs. St. Kitts CANADA ROSTER Goalkeepers (2): Lars Hirschfeld (Vålerenga Fotball, Norway), Kenny Stamatopoulos (AIK Fotbol, Sweden) Defenders (6): Nik Ledgerwood (SV Wehen Wiesbaden, Germany), Mike Klukowski (Manisaspor, Turkey), Adam Straith (FC Energie Cottbus, Turkey), Ante Jazic (Chivas USA), David Edgar (Burnley FC, England), Ashtone Morgan (Toronto FC) Midfielders (6): Julian de Guzman (Toronto FC), Matt Stinson (Toronto FC), Will Johnson (Real Salt Lake) Josh Simpson (Manisaspor, Turkey), Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault (SC Preußen Münster, Germany), Patrice Bernier (Lyngby Boldklub, Denmark) Forwards (4): Tosaint Ricketts (FC Politehnica Timişoara, Romania), Simeon Jackson (Norwich City FC, England), Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United), Olivier Occean (SpVgg Greuther Fürth, Germany) http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/11/03/toronto-fcs-stinson-among-3-new-faces-called-canada
Canada pick up Attakora for World Cup qualifiers Canucks replace injured Stinson with Earthquakes defender Canada announced on Monday that San Jose defender Nana Attakora has been called up to their national squad for the two upcoming World Cup qualifiers with St. Kitts and Nevis. The 22-year-old former Toronto FC player will replace TFC teenager Matt Stinson, who withdrew with an injury http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/11/07/canada-pick-attakora-world-cup-qualifiers
Small Steps Scoreless draw sees Canucks through to third round of WCQ In a match as bumpy and uneven as the Caribbean pitch it was played on, Canada held firm against a desperate St. Kitts and Nevis side in a 0-0 draw on Friday night that sees the Canadians advance to the third round of World Cup qualifying. http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-11-11-st-kitts-and-nevis-vs-canada/recap
Canada rout St. Kitts 4-0 in 2nd-rd. finale Canucks break goal drought, DeRo pulls even atop all-time charts TORONTO — If Canada had a point to prove after a couple of frustrating performances, they certainly did their best to do so with a resounding 4-0 victory over St. Kitts and Nevis on Tuesday night in the final World Cup qualification match of the year. Goals by Olivier Occean, Dwayne De Rosario, Josh Simpson and Tosaint Ricketts lifted the Canadians to the win, which capped off a second-round group stage that Canada had clinched prior to the kickoff at BMO Field. In stark contrast to the frustrating 0-0 draw between the two sides four days earlier in St. Kitts, this match was a much more open affair as the Canadians looked to put some goals on the board for the first time after going scoreless in two matches. Canada found lots of space up front and, through the hard work of forwards Ricketts and Simpson, created a few good runs into the attacking third in the opening stages. Despite the Canadians’ newfound enthusiasm for going forward, it was actually the visitors who got the first real chance of the match, as they rang a shot off Kenny Stamatopoulos’ left post after a quick counterattack at the quarter-hour mark. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/11/15/wcq-recap-canada-rout-st-kitts-4-0-2nd-rd-finale
DeRosario named Canada's Player of the Year D.C. United star honored for the fourth time, first since 2007 The accolades just keep coming for Dwayne De Rosario. After already having secured the Golden Boot and Most Valuable Player awards in MLS this past season, the D.C. United star was named Canada’s men's Player of the Year on Wednesday. De Rosario earned the honor based on a stellar year in which he scored 16 goals and 12 assists in league play. His goal total, split between three teams over the MLS season, was the highest of his illustrious career so far. In addition to the big numbers he put up at the club level, De Rosario also notched four goals for the Canadian national team in 2011, the most recent of which put the 33-year-old into a tie for top spot on Canada’s all-time goal-scoring chart. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/12/14/de-rosario-named-canadas-player-year
Canada's first test of 2012 to be against Armenia Hart expects stiff challenge for Canucks on Feb. 29 in Cyprus TORONTO – The Canadian national team will kick off its 2012 calendar with a friendly against Armenia on Feb. 29 in Cyprus, the Canadian Soccer Association announced on Tuesday. This will be the first ever meeting between the two sides. For Stephen Hart’s squad, the friendly will be the first test since a successful round of World Cup qualifying ended last November. The 46th-ranked Armenians – who were a last-minute replacement opponent after a scheduled friendly vs. New Zealand fell through – will provide a good challenge as Hart looks to prepare Canada for their next phase of World Cup qualification, which is slated to begin June 8 in Cuba. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/01/17/canadas-first-test-2012-be-against-armenia
Hart to meet with Jonathan de Guzman to discuss Canada future Julian de Guzman reveals younger brother keen on being a Canuck The wheels are still in motion for Villarreal midfielder Jonathan de Guzman to eventually don Canadian national team colors, according to his brother. Speaking at the annual Toronto FC media day on Thursday, TFC Designated Player Julian de Guzman told reporters that Canada head coach Stephen Hart will be heading to Spain to discuss the younger de Guzman’s possible integration into the Canadian program. “I was with my brother throughout the holidays and he’s still keen on being a part of the Canadian national team,” Julian said. “[The CSA is] sorting things out right now and hopefully sometime next week or hopefully next month we’ll see a final answer.” http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/01/26/hart-meet-jonathan-de-guzman-discuss-canada-future
Canada To Play Four At BMO National team unveils a new kit and commits to Toronto as WCQ destination Canada has announced that it will play four matches - a special Centenary match and three FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™ - at BMO Field in Toronto this 2012 season. The announcement was made on Thursday 2 February as part of the Canadian Soccer Association's 2012 Umbro Kit Launch in downtown Toronto. http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2012/02/canada-play-four-bmo Controversy In Canada Vancouver fans up in arms over national team's "home" stadium TORONTO – The Canadian Soccer Association's announcement on Thursday that all four men’s national team home matches in 2012 will be held in Toronto has sparked a passionate response across the country. When the news hit, fans took to social media and message boards to chime in on the decision, and the reaction was predictably mixed. While Toronto-area supporters were understandably elated to find out that they’d be able to see the national team in person four times this year, some fans from elsewhere in Canada questioned the move. I think that it’s kind of shameful that if you’re trying to grow the game across the country and get people to follow the Canadian game, and not their grandfather’s team of Italy or England, that these games aren’t in Vancouver or Montreal or Edmonton,” Graham said. “Let’s face it, why should I cheer for the Canadian national team if they never play where I live?” http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/02/03/csas-decision-bmo-field-splits-canadian-supporters
Canada face Movsisyan & improving Armenia Canada’s national team plays its first match of 2012 on Wednesday in Cyprus, meeting up with Armenia on neutral ground at Tsirion Stadium (12 pm ET, Rogers Sportsnet One). The two countries have never met before. Canada Roster Milan Borjan (Sivasspor), Nik Ledgerwood (SV Wehen Wiesbaden), Mike Klukowski (Manisaspor), Kevin McKenna (FC Köln), Adam Straith (FC Saarbrücken), Julian de Guzman (Toronto FC), Iain Hume (Preston North End), Pedro Pacheco (CD Santa Clara), Tosaint Ricketts (FC Politehnica Timişoara), Simeon Jackson (Norwich City FC), Josh Simpson (BSC Young Boys), Nana Attakora (Unattached), Atiba Hutchinson (PSV Eindhoven), Samuel Piette (FC Metz), David Edgar (Burnley), Rob Friend (Eintracht Frankfurt), Marcus Haber (St. Johnstone), Kenny Stamatopoulos (AIK Fotbol) Armenia Roster Roman Berezovsky (Dinamo Moscow), Stepan Ghazaryan (FC Banants), Arsen Petrosyan (FC Pyunik), Grigor Meliksetyan (Paykan FC); Sargis Hovsepyan (FC Pyunik), Hrayr Mkoyan (PFC Spartak Nalchik), Valeri Aleksanyan (Sanat Naft Abadan FC), Levon Hayrapetyan (Lechia Gdańsk), Robert Arzumanyan (Jagiellonia Białystok), Artak Edigaryan (FC Pyunik), Arthur Yuspashyan (FC Pyunik), Varazdat Haroyan (FC Pyunik); Hovhannes Hambardzumyan (FC Banants), Andranik Voskanyan (FC Mika), Gagik Daghbashyan (FC Banants), Arthur Yedigaryan (FC Banants), Karlen Mkrtchyan (Metalurh Donetsk), Gevorg Ghazaryan (Metalurh Donetsk), Marcos Pizzelli (FC Kuban), Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Shakhtar Donetsk), Zaven Badoyan (BATE Borisov), Edgar Malakyan (FC Pyunik), David Manoyan (FC Pyunik), Kamo Hovhannisyan (FC Pyunik), Valter Poghosyan (FC Banants), Masis Voskanyan (KSV Roeselare), Aras Özbiliz (Ajax); Yura Movsisyan (FC Krasnodar), Artur Sarkisov (Shinnik Yaroslavl), Norair Mamedov (FC Zwolle), Hovhannes Hovhannisyan (FC Pyunik) http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...ada-face-movsisyan-and-improving-armenia-side
Recap: Pizzilli, Armenia rally to beat Canada 3-1 in Cyprus Despite going up a goal in just the fifth minute of play, Canada fell 3-1 to a dominant Armenia side in a friendly played in Cyprus on Wednesday. Armenia put the nail in the Canadians’ coffin in stoppage time, when Aras Ozbiliz successfully converted a penalty kick that was the result of a poor challenge by Canada’s Mike Klukowski http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...-brace-leads-armenia-comeback-win-over-canada
Canada's Hart makes plea for more fan support in Toronto Canadian national team head coach Stephen Hart thinks his side has been missing something for a long time. No, it’s not Junior Hoilett or Jonathan de Guzman or another high-profile player who has yet to proclaim his loyalty to the Canadian program. Nor is it Joseph Di Chiara or Samuel Piette or some other new up-and-coming talent. Hart is hoping to see a fiercely partisan home support the next time Canada play a home game. The CMNT’s home games in 2011 were played predominantly in front of Canadian supporters, but they were against minnows Puerto Rico, St. Lucia and St. Kitts. However, BMO Field, at 21,140 capacity, was only about half full for each of those games. Historically, home games haven't felt that way, as smaller Canadian support has been drowned out by larger and more vocal visiting supporters. Canada’s upcoming home games this year include contests against the United States and Honduras – countries whose fans travel in much greater numbers and could drown out any Canadian support. Canada will be the underdog in most of those games and Hart knows that 12th man does make a difference. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/04/12/canadas-hart-makes-plea-more-fan-support-toronto
Canada’s professional soccer clubs declare their support for Rob Newman in CSA presidential elections EDMONTON, AB; MONTREAL, QC; TORONTO, ON; VANCOUVER, BC - Canada’s four professional soccer clubs – FC Edmonton, Montreal Impact, Toronto FC, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC – announced today their unanimous support for the candidacy of Mr. Rob Newman in the upcoming election for president of the Canadian Soccer Association’s (CSA) board of directors. The election will take place at the CSA’s Annual General Meeting in Ottawa, Ontario, on Saturday, May 5. As committed stakeholders in Canadian soccer, FC Edmonton, Montreal Impact, Toronto FC, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC stand together in the strong belief that there is massive potential to grow soccer at all levels in Canada. For this to be truly achieved, Canadian soccer requires a strong national governing body to build relationships between all stakeholders, enhance fiscal responsibility and growth, and deliver a clear pathway for player development that will result in improved on-field performance of national teams at all levels. CSA governance reform and the ensuing support of the corporate community are essential to achieving this growth, requiring a move from an operational to a skills-based governing board. http://www.impactmontreal.com/en/ne...support-rob-newman-csa-presidential-elections
Recap: Canada beat T&T 2-0 behind Ricketts, Johnson LAUDERHILL, Fla. – It was a one-sided game in every respect except on the scoreboard as Canada dominated their friendly match against Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday, coming away with a 2-0 win. Tosaint Ricketts, who is still without a club team at the moment, caused troubles all night and fittingly scored the winner in the 57th minute. Real Salt Lake's Will Johnson then scored a penalty with just a few minutes left as Canada tallied twice in a game for the first time since they beat St. Kitts and Nevis 4-0 at BMO Field in November of last year http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-08-15-can-v-tri/recap
Preview: Canada tune up for US with friendly vs. Denmark The national team squad that will be facing Denmark in Tucson, Ariz., on Saturday (LIVE STREAM on KICKTV in the USA and Sportsnet.ca in Canada) is a radically different Canadian side than the one that last played this past October in an 8-1 World Cup qualifying debacle. That closed the books on Canada’s hopes of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, and quite possibly on an era of players who never really lived up to their potential. Canada Roster: GOALKEEPERS (3): Lars Hirschfeld (Vålerenga/Norway), Roberto Stillo (Genoa CFC/Italy), Simon Thomas (unattached) DEFENDERS (6): Ashtone Morgan (Toronto FC), Nana Attakora (FC Haka/Finland), Dejan Jakovic (D.C. United), Doneil Henry (Toronto FC), Mason Trafford (IFK Mariehamn/Finland), Andres Fresenga (Racing Club de Montevideo/Uruguay). MIDFIELDERS (10): Nik Ledgerwood (Hammarby/Sweden), Philippe Davies (Richmond Kickers), Terry Dunfield (Toronto FC), Kyle Bekker (Toronto FC), Russell Teibert (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Jonathan Beaulieu-Bourgault (unattached), Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United), Emmanuel Gomez (Club Atlético Griffa/Argentina), Matt Stinson (Toronto FC), Evan James (unattached). FORWARDS (3): Tosaint Ricketts (Sandnes Ulf/Norway), Kyle Porter (FC Edmonton), Frank Jonke (FF Jaro/Finland). http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/01/25/preview-canada-tune-us-friendly-vs-denmark
