Soccer Archives - The Canadian

VAN DIEST: Canadian Premier League heading to Prince Edward Island for tournament

30Jul

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VAN DIEST: Canadian Premier League heading to Prince Edward Island for tournament

Article content continuedThe tournament format will consist of three separate rounds. All teams will play each other in a round-robin format with the top four clubs advancing to the second round. The top two clubs from that round robin will go on to face each other in the final. The full schedule is expected to be released in the upcoming days.In playing its tournament in August, the CPL had the luxury of seeing how other league’s approached returning to play after pausing due to the pandemic. Germany, England, and Italy were all able to conclude its seasons, while Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League organized a tournament in a central location.“You watch behind the scenes and see the success and some of the hurdles some of those league faced,” Clanachan. “And the...

28Jul

By thecanadianNo Comments

Celebs, Heads Up, Heads Up FA Cup Final, Mental Health, Peter Crouch, Prince William, Royals, Soccer, That Peter Crouch Podcast

Prince William Joins Soccer Player Peter Crouch To Talk Mental Health In Special Podcast Episode

By Becca Longmire. 40 secs ago Prince William speaks about mental health as he takes part in a special episode of BBC Radio Five Live’s “That Peter Crouch Podcast”, in support of the Heads Up campaign. Titled “That Prince William Episode”, the podcast sees His Royal Highness, soccer player Crouch, journalist Tom Fordyce and British radio personality Chris Stark discuss mental health and the role that soccer can play in supporting people’s mental well-being. Ahead of the Heads Up FA Cup Final on Saturday, the conversation also covers the return of soccer during the coronavirus pandemic and the duke’s experiences of playing the game and watching matches as a fan. RELATED: Prince William, David Beckham And More Video Chat About Mental Health The episode was recorded in two par...

Toronto FC knocked out of MLS is Back tournament after a 3-1 loss to NYCFC

27Jul

By thecanadianNo Comments

0727beeztfc, MLS, Soccer, Toronto FC

Toronto FC knocked out of MLS is Back tournament after a 3-1 loss to NYCFC

Revenge may be a dish best served cold. But on sweltering Sunday night in Orlando, it was a hot dish of revenge served up by New York City FC against Toronto FC.Hot, as in NYCFC seemed to burn for a victory much more so than TFC.After losing to Toronto FC in the Eastern Conference semifinals last year and then dropping a 1-0 decision to Reds earlier this season at BMO Field, NYCFC stormed back on Sunday night to earn a 3-1 victory in MLS is Back tournament knockout stage play.NYCFC now advance to the MLS is Back quarterfinals next Saturday night against the winner of the Portland-Cincinnati match on Tuesday, while the Reds will next see action when the MLS regular season resumes in late August.It was a very disappointing loss for a Toronto side that had done well to advance to th...

Omar Gonzalez proud of how Toronto FC has come together

24Jul

By thecanadianNo Comments

Major League Soccer, MLS, Soccer, Toronto FC

Omar Gonzalez proud of how Toronto FC has come together

One of the nicknames for Orlando is O-town.Toronto FC defender Omar Gonzalez hinted that ‘Crazy Town’ might be also be a suitable name — at least in terms of the Major League Soccer tournament being held there.One feature at the MLS is Back tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando has been 9 a.m. matches, which have been a major point of contention for teams. TFC had to play two of them in the group stage. Gonzalez, a native of southern California who for years played in Mexico, had to leave the first match on July 13 in the second half because of cramping brought on by the heat and humidity. The veteran centre back is relieved that there are no more 9 a.m. starts as the Reds prepare to face Eastern Conference rivals New York City FC on Sunday night in the...

TFC finishes on top of group, may face same situation as Blue Jays

22Jul

By thecanadianNo Comments

MLS, Soccer, Toronto FC

TFC finishes on top of group, may face same situation as Blue Jays

The offence provided by Ayo Akinola and Alejandro Pozuelo has paved the way for Toronto FC to finish first in Group C at the MLS is Back tournament.TFC and the New England Revolution — who toiled to a 0-0 draw on Tuesday morning — finished tied for first in the Group C standings with five points apiece following the three group stage matches. Both have a goal differential of plus one, but because Toronto has scored more goals — 6 to 2 — it means TFC qualifies first in the group and gets an extra day to rest and prepare.The Reds will begin the knockout stage of the tournament on Sunday at 8:30 p.m. against a team still to be determined. Based on group stage matches still to be played, the Reds will play either New York City FC, Seattle Sounders, Chicago Fire, Vancouver Whitecaps, ...

Toronto FC advance to knockout stage with draw against Revolution

21Jul

By thecanadianNo Comments

MLS, Soccer, Toronto FC

Toronto FC advance to knockout stage with draw against Revolution

Toronto FC and the New England Revolution slogged to a 0-0 draw on Tuesday morning in MLS is Back Group C action, resulting in both clubs advancing to the knockout stage.After scoring six goals in its first two games at the tournament, and giving up five, the Reds were unable to find the back of goal but recorded a clean sheet against a defensively suffocating New England side at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando. Still, it was a solid performance by TFC under extreme weather conditions in central Florida.“These 9 a.m. games are brutal and we just grinded through another one,” said TFC coach Greg Vanney after the match. “I’d be hard-pressed to say that there’s another team in the tournament that’s had as difficult a schedule as we’...

21Jul

By thecanadianNo Comments

“Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby”, Celebs, LAFC MLS soccer club, Ricky Bobby, Soccer, Will Ferrell

Will Ferrell Brings Ricky Bobby Back In Order To Win Soccer Game

By Sarah Curran. 41 mins ago Will Ferrell channelled his “Talladega Nights” character Ricky Bobby to make sure that his soccer team were on the winning side of a game. RELATED: Conan O’Brien Returns To ‘Conan’ In Front Of 1-Person Audience, Welcomes Will Ferrell The actor, who is part-owner of the LAFC MLS soccer club, revealed the secret to the team’s success.Will Ferrell says LAFC scored whenever he wore his Ricky Bobby helmet 😂 @ESPNFC pic.twitter.com/cffQiZMC2y — ESPN (@espn) July 19, 2020RELATED: Will Ferrell And Rachel McAdams Play Icelandic Pop Stars In New ‘Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga’ Trailer During a half-time interview with ESPN at the LAFC versus L.A. Galaxy game on Saturday, July 18, Ferrell said that whenever his team needs to score a g...

Toronto FC relying on recent Champions League experience to prosper at MLS is Back tournament

19Jul

By thecanadianNo Comments

Major League Soccer, MLS, Soccer, Toronto FC

Toronto FC relying on recent Champions League experience to prosper at MLS is Back tournament

The Toronto FC players aren’t going to let abnormal and difficult conditions throw them for a loop at the MLS is Back tournament, such as:— Being prodded and poked and tested for COVID-19 every day.— Being confined to their hotel rooms for most of the day.— Playing in almost equatorial rainforest weather conditions.— Getting up at 5 a.m. to play two of their three games in the group stage.As TFC head coach Greg Vanney said last week, one of the keys to going deep in the MLS is Back tournament is being able to adapt to the various challenges at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando. And he feels his club is better suited to adapt than perhaps most teams, because the Reds have played in the Champions League the last two seasons.“I do thi...

VAN DIEST: Plenty of game left in Canadian veteran Diana Matheson

18Jul

By thecanadianNo Comments

Soccer

VAN DIEST: Plenty of game left in Canadian veteran Diana Matheson

It has been a long road back for veteran Canadian midfielder Diana Matheson.It was a road fraught with injury setbacks and heartbreak, but one Matheson was determined to trek, looking to represent Canada in one final Olympics and her club team in a unique summer tournament.“To be honest, I’m at a point in my career where I did think about whether it was time to retire or not,” said the 36-year-old product of Mississauga, Ont. “I think the fact that I play a team sport has been a part of it; teammates on the Canadian team that I still want to play with and hopefully win an Olympic medal.“I have teammates that are in similar circumstances like Erin McLeod, who also has kept going and hasn’t hung up the boots yet, and if she hasn’t hung up the boots then I won’t either. I felt like ...

Ayo A-OK as Toronto FC wears down Impact in wild shootout

17Jul

By thecanadianNo Comments

0717beeztfc, MLS, Soccer, Toronto FC

Ayo A-OK as Toronto FC wears down Impact in wild shootout

Thursday night’s 401 Derby — Disney Edition — was wildly entertaining with goals aplenty, coach Greg Vanney’s colourful vocal contributions on the TSN broadcast, a hat trick by the Reds’ 20-year-old scoring sensation Ayo Akinola and another outstanding performance by TFC midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo.TFC out-gunned its Canadian rival Montreal Impact 4-3 in a wild MLS Is Back match at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando. Brampton native Akinola now has five goals in two games at the tournament. Toronto native Richie Laryea also scored for the Reds. Pozuelo picked up three assists in the match and has five for the tourney.The Impact’s Saphir Taïder scored on a penalty kick in added time to make it a one-goal game after Reds defender Lau...

Toronto FC determined to rebound in 401 Derby match

15Jul

By thecanadianNo Comments

0715beeztfc, MLS, Soccer, Toronto FC

Toronto FC determined to rebound in 401 Derby match

Toronto FC right back Richie Laryea was wearing a mask when he did a Zoom media availability on Tuesday, but you could detect a grimace on his face when asked if he was worried that the Montreal Impact would be in better shape when the two sides meet on Thursday.The Impact played last Thursday and will have had a full week to recover and prepare for its 401 Derby match with TFC, which was in action on Monday morning and faces the prospect of two games in four days in the heat and humidity of central Florida.“We’ll be ready for the game, less rest or whatever,” said the Toronto native. “It’s a rivalry game, so guys aren’t going to use excuses. We’ll give everything we have. We have a group of determined and very focused, vigilant fighters on this team. It wouldn’t matter if we had...

13Jul

By thecanadianNo Comments

MLS, Soccer, Toronto FC

Toronto FC melts in Florida heat to blow 2-0 lead against D.C. United

Walt Disney World likes to say that “magic happens” at their resorts.That was on display Monday morning as a depleted D.C. United side magically came back from a 2-0 deficit late to tie a demoralized Toronto FC side 2-2 at the MLS is Back tournament.TFC was in control for the vast majority of the match but — as Reds fans witnessed far too often last season — the Toronto side broke down defensively late, resulting in three points magically turning to one.The draw ruined what had been a glorious performance by TFC youngster Ayo Akinola, who hadn’t played a game for TFC’s first team in over a year. The 20-year-old scored both of Toronto’s goals in Monday’s game — the first match for both teams at the MLS is Back event, held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in the Walt Disney...