Toronto FC falters in Champions League
Toronto FC’s road woes continue.

Virtually unbeatable at home, TFC stumbled to a shocking 1-0 loss to Panamanian champions Arabe Unido Tuesday night in the CONCACAF Champions league.

With the win, Arabe Unido moves into a three-way tie with Toronto and Real Salt Lake for first place in Group A with three points each. Real Salt Lake, with a game in hand, visit winless Mexican outfit Cruz Azul on Wednesday.

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If the MLS ever wants to establish itself as a top professional League in this part of the world
(meaning CONCACAF) it will have to come up with some convincing scores in the round-robin group play of the Champions League.

MLS has four teams in the group stage, Columbus, Seattle, Real Salt Lake and Toronto and must get at least one of them into the final next spring in order to prove a point. It cannot be that Mexico keeps putting four teams into the semi finals, as it did last year, and make the Champions League final stages an all-Mexican affair.

There are four groups of four teams each in our Champions League and conceivably MLS can get all its four teams into quarter-finals, but so can Mexico!

In Group A, there are two MLS teams, Toronto FC and Real Salt Lake but both could advance as the top two teams in each group go to the knock out stage.

Three of the four MLS teams opened their campaign with victories as only Seattle Sounders suffered a 2-1 defeat at Marathon of Honduras, that club not necessarily being a household name.

With the second round of games coming up this week (Toronto is at Arabe Unido of Panama) we
will see how MLS teams do away from home. The three home games ended in MLS wins but playing away may tell a different story, as it did in the Seattle case.

With the MLS having improved its product, albeit slowly, in recent years it must now take the next step
and assert itself in CONCACAF play. In fact if its teams get stranded again one cannot help wondering why its image is still rather poor overseas.

Mexican team Guadelajara, finalist in this year’s Copa Libertadores, the South American Champions League, is not even in this tournament as it failed to qualify in the highly competitive Mexican environment. Mexican teams often compete in the Copa Libertadores as guest teams. At the end of this week we will see what the real MLS chamces are. Particularly Toronto has its work cut out at the Panama match tomorrow (Aug 24).

Toronto FC downs Mexico’s Cruz Azul
Who said Toronto FC shouldn’t take the CONCACAF Champions League seriously?

Toronto let its intentions be known early in its Champions League debut when midfielder Martin Saric scored in the third minute, pacing TFC to a 2-1 victory over Mexico’s Cruz Azul Tuesday night at BMO Field.

Toronto’s other goal came courtesy of Mista, the Spanish striker’s first for the Reds since signing with the Major League Soccer club last month.

TFC leads Group A of the CONCACAF tournament with three points. Real Salt Lake and Panama’s Deportivo Arabe Unido, the other teams in the group, meet Wednesday night in Utah.

Toronto was all over Cruz Azul from the opening kick-off.

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The 2010 format features eight teams separated into two groups, with Canada, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana in one group and USA, Costa Rica, Haiti and Guatemala in the opposite group. Matches will be played at Estadio Beto Ávila in Cancún and Estadio Unidad Deportiva in Playa del Carmen. The top-two teams advance to the final and qualify for Germany 2011; the third-place team qualifies for a qualification playoff against the fifth-place team from Europe.

Canada finished second at each of the last two CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cups, both times finishing runner-up to confederation champion USA. With each finish, Canada qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup (USA 2003 and China 2007), thus bringing its string to four consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cups. It previously qualified for USA 1999 by finishing first at the 1998 CONCACAF Women’s Championship and for Sweden 1995 by finishing second at the 1994 CONCACAF Women’s Championship.

Canada now has its sights set on a fifth-straight qualification with hopefully another top-two finish at the confederation championship.

Canada opens XXVII Torneo COTIF in Alcúdia, Spain
Canada’s men’s U-20 team played its first game at the XXVII Torneo COTIF in Alcúdia, Spain. The Canucks went up 1-0, but lost 1:2 to FC Santos of Brazil on account of two goals scored from set plays in the second half. This was Canada’s first of three group games over the next five days.

“We played a very tough opposition,” said national U-20 coach Valerio Gazzola. “Giving up two goals on set pieces are lessons to learn. Otherwise, the players acquitted themselves very well and this group shows extreme promise.”

Each match at the XXVII Torneo COTIF is 80 minutes in length. The eight-team tournaments features clubs and national teams. Canada’s next game is 15 August against Valencia CF of Spain.

Coach Gazzola’s starting XI featured Jordan Santiago in goal, Francesco Augustin at left back, Doneil Henry and Roger Thompson at centre back, Ashtone Morgan at right back, Jonathan Osorio, Ethan Gage and Matthew Stinson from left to right at midfield, Nicholas Lindsay and Russell Teibert on the wings, and Niall Cousens up front.

Canada maintained good possession and showed its speed throughout the match. The team created three good scoring chances in the first half, one of which hit the back of the net in the 19th minute.Gage won the ball and fed the ball to Osorio who then passed it over to Teibert. Teibert found Lindsay who finished for a 1-0 Canadian lead.

In the second half, FC Santos had the edge for chances and scored two goals on set plays – the first off a corner kick and the second off a free kick. FC Santos scored in the 47th and 72nd minutes.

Canada made two substitutions in the second half, first replacing Osorio for Chris Suta in the 51st minute and then replacing Stinson for Marco Rodrigues in the 78th minute.

Toronto edges Motagua, 1-0, in CCL start
TORONTO — Chad Barrett’s first half goal stood up to lead Toronto FC over CD Motagua 1-0 Tuesday, moving the Canadian champion closer to its first appearance in the CONCACAF Champions League group stage.

Toronto now takes a 1-0 advantage in the two-leg Preliminary Round aggregate goal series down to the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa for the second leg Aug. 3.

“It’s a great result, it’s a positive thing to take a win out of here. It’s better than last year when we lost to Puerto Rico,” said Barrett. “In Honduras, it’s going to be tough and we’re going to have to be just as good if not better on their own field as they have the thick grass, they got their fans. It’s going to be tough.”

The winner will advance to the group stage and join MLS champion Real Salt Lake, Arabe Unido of Panama and the winner of the series between Mexico’s Cruz Azul and San Francisco FC of Panama.

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While millions of fans were at the edge of their seats following the fortunes of Barcelona or Manchester United in European Champions League this week, there was another Champions League semi final, CONCACAF version, that went all but unnoticed.

Yes, this week four Mexican teams fought it out for the right to enter the final in our own domestic Champions League and Cruz Azul crushed Pumas Unam, 5-0, after losing the first leg, 1-0.
Then, the next day, Pachuca edged Toluca, 1-0, after the first leg had ended in a 1-1 tie.

Of course it isn’t all that exciting if four teams from the same country reach semi finals, but it is a reality at this time that Mexico simply has the best club teams in our confederation.

But it is also sad that no network carried these games and you can’t find the scores listed in our newapapers either. So how is a guy supposed to be aware of what happens in our own region and we may have to wait till a club like the Toronto FC reaches that plateau before anybody takes notice. Of course,which may be a long time down the road.

Until then the Champions League, CONCACAF variety, will be the best kept secret around even in Mexico the final is a two legged affair because they cannot attract a half decent crowd is that championship game would be staged on neutral grounds.

It marks the second-straight time that Canada has qualified for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. It also marks the first time that USA has been stopped from qualifying for the FIFA women’s competition at any level.

“I am happy for us to have qualified for the World Cup, we are all ecstatic,” said head coach Bryan Rosenfeld.

Canada’s five scorers from the penalty mark were Alison Clarke, Diamond Simpson, Yazmin Ongtengco, Nicole Setterlund and Chantale Campbell. USA ’s Morgan Brian, Abigail Dahlkemper and Havana Solaun all scored on their opportunities, but third shooter Clarissa Wedemeyer missed on her chance.

For the semi-final stage of the competition, Canada unveiled a brand new formation and lineup to oppose the heavily-favoured USA. The starting XI featured Sabrina D’Angelo in goal, Yazmin Ongtengco-Hintzen, Alison Clarke and Nicole Setterlund from left to right along the back, debutan Kinley McNicoll and recovered Ally Courtnall as the left and right backs, Diamond Simpson, Nour Ghoneim and Chantal Campbell from left to right in the midfield, and Haillie Price and Haisha Cantave up front.

“Our game plan going into the match was to contain them as much we could,” said Rosenfeld. “We focused on keeping their flank play in check and not letting them create chances up the middle. We wanted to catch them on a break or a counter attack. We created opportunities to score this way in the match. USA is an excellent team to have overcome, its unfortunate that such a quality team will not be going to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.”

Canada went closest to opening the scoring in an entertaining first half. The opening 20 minutes in particular were played at a torrid pace as both teams tried to score the all-important opening goal.

The USA, who had dominated its three group matches at the competition, were put on alert that Canada offered a different challenge inside the opening five minutes. Canada’s forwards ran at the USA defenders and put them under pressure at all times.

USA did register the first clear chance on goal as Canadian goalkeeper D’Angelo was caught off her line following a blocked clearance attempt. Fortunately for Canada, the Canadian defence reacted well and blocked two goal-bound attempts as D’Angleo scampered back into her goal.

Canada had the best chance of the first half, hitting the crossbar in the 20th minute. Price made a great run in the box and had a good shot stopped by USA goalkeeper Bryane Heaberlin. The rebound however, bounced off a defender and onto the crossbar before Heaberlin could cover it just in front of the goal line.

Clear scoring chances were at a premium in the second half as both teams presented well organized defensive formations. USA carried the majority of the possession throughout the half but was unable to break Canada ‘s defensive unit which was expertly marshaled by captain Setterlund.

Simpson was called upon to make a vital intervention in the 51st minute to knock the ball away from an USA attacker who was in an excellent scoring position.

In the 65th minute a long diagonal cross found USA forward Smith alone in the Canadian box but she failed to capitalize, sending her header wide of the goal.

Canada fashioned the best chance of match for either side in the 81st minute. A series of quick passes found Beaulne at the edge of the USA penalty area and after taking a touch to create space she rolled the ball through the USA defence to the on-rushing McNicoll. McNicoll hit a hard low shot which was stopped by Heaberlin.

The McNicoll chance was as close as either side would come to winning the match in regular time as the match moved into extra time.

USA came out flying to start the first period of extra time. In the 93rd minute, it had its best chance of the match. USA forward Smith escaped the Canadian defence for a breakaway from just inside Canada ‘s half. Smith raced in on goal, but goalkeeper D’Angelo was up to the task as she got an arm to Smith’s low shot.

Much of the remainder of the two extra time periods passed without incident. A brief burst of end-to-end action just before the end of the second period of extra time came to nothing and the match headed to kicks from the penalty mark.

Canada has now qualified for both FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cups. Two years ago, it reached the quarter-final stage of New Zealand 2008 while USA won a silver medal. This time, Canada returns with hopes of improving on that 7th place finish at Trinidad and Tobago 2010. Before it does, however, it will play in the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship final this Saturday 20 March.

Penalty Summary
CAN Clarke (goal), Simpson (goal), Ongtengco (goal), Setturlund (goal), Campbell (goal)
USA Brian (goal), Dahlkemper (goal), Wedemeyer (high), Solaun (goal)

CANADA Lineup
18-Sabrina D’Angelo; 5-Haillie Price (19-Abigail Raymer, 53), 6-Yazmin Ongtengco, 11-Alison Clarke, 17-Alexandra Courtnall (3-Sabrina Hemond, 87); 4-Chantal Campbell, 12-Nicole Sutterlund (Capt), 13-Kinley McNicoll; 8-Diamond Simpson, 10-Nour Ghoneim, 16-Haisha Cantave (9-Caroline Beaulne, 53)

Subs not used: 1-Rachel Beanlands, 7-Kylie Davis, 15-Shannen Jainudeen, 20-Zakia McIntosh
Not Eligible: 2-Sophie Therien, 14-Katherine Caverly,
Head coach: Bryan Rosenfield

USA Lineup
1-Bryane Heaberlin; 6-Olivia Brannon, 3-Abby Dahlkemper (Capt.), 2-Jaelene Hinkle; 5-Kaili Torres (16-Cari Roccaro, 87), 11-Clarissa Wedemeyer, 10-Morgan Brian, 8-Kaysie Clark, 7-Alex Doll; 12-Taylor Smith (25-Ashley Spivey, 111), 13-Lindsey Horan (9-Havana Solaun, 84)

Subs not used: 4-Laura Liedle, 14-Cassie Pecht, 15-Isabel Farrell, 18-Abby Smith
Not Eligible: 19-Jennifer Gonzalez, 24-Caroline Stanley
Head Coach: Kazbek Tambi

Statistical Summary USA/CAN
Shots: 13/6
Shots on Goal: 7/4
Saves: 4/7
Corner Kicks: 5/3
Fouls: 10/10
Offside: 4/0

Canada fell 0:1 to Mexico in the final group match of the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship. With both sides already qualified for the semi-final stage, Mexico won first place in the group thanks to a first-half goal by Anakaren Llamas off a free kick in the 42nd minute.

The outcome means Canada will face USA in the semi-final stage on Thursday 18 March while Mexico will face Costa Rica in the other semi-final match on that same day. The two semi-final winners not only advance to the confederation final on 20 March, but also qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Trinidad and Tobago 2010.

For this third match of the competition, coach Rosenfeld was forced to make one change to his starting lineup from two nights earlier because of an injury to defender Katherine Caverly. For the match against Mexico, Canada’s starting XI featured Sabrina D’Angelo in goal, Sophie Thérien at left back, Alison Clarke and Nicole Setterlund at centre back, Yazmin Ongtengco-Hintzen at right back, Chantale Campbell, Kylie Davis and Diamond Simpson at midfield, and Caroline Beaulne, Nour Ghoneim and Haisha Cantave up front.

The match started with both sides looking to maintain possession, but neither able to build much offence. Canada won a free kick and a corner kick in the first 15 minutes; Mexico countered with one of each over the next few minutes. In the 26th minute, Ghoneim made a good run to win Canada ’s second corner kick; one minute later, Mexico won its second corner kick at the other end.

For Canada, Chantale Campbell did well to win several challenges in the midfield. On defence, captain Setterlund made a great run back in the 28th minute to neutralize a Mexican run. In the 31st minute, it was centre back Alison Clarke outmuscling two Mexicans in the midfield and pushing forward past two more to get the ball in deep.

Through 45 minutes, neither side could keep it deep to sustain much in terms of offence. It was as such a split play that put Mexico up 1-0 before the half. On a free kick from 35 yards out, debutan Llamas struck her shot over D’Angelo and under the crossbar for the first goal of the match.

Before the start of the second half, coach Rosenfeld made his first change, replacing striker Cantave with the tall Haillie Price who came in to make her competition debut. Price played high up front in between Ghoneim and Beaulne.

Canada’s second substitution came in the 57th minute as Davis came off in favour of Sabrina Hémond. Midfielder Hémond, who scored in the opening match against Jamaica , was making her third entry in three matches.

Canada’s third and final substitution came just seven minutes later as right back Ally Courtnall made her return to the pitch for the first time since the opening match four nights earlier. Thérien came off and Ongtengco-Hintzen switched from the right side to left side so that Courtnall could take her natural position at right back.

In the second half, Canada did start to make some runs forward. In the 59th minute, Thérien played a ball through that Price nearly caught before Mexican goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago covered up. In the 65th minute, Ghoneim tried but couldn’t get a foot on a shot that might have been danger were it struck on target. In the 68th minute, Courtnall made her first run down the right side.

In the 71st minute, Simpson made a good push forward to win Canada its fifth corner kick of the game.

Just before the corner kick, Mexico made the first of two quick changes. It made its second change one minute later in the 72nd minute. Substitution number three came 16 minutes later in the 88th minute.

As the match drew near its end, Canada had two wonderful chances in the 86th minute following coach Rosenfeld’s decision to move Courtnall off the wing and up as an extra attacker in the middle. Simpson was again the catalyst as she won her challenge in the box and pushed the ball through the six-yard box. No Canadian could get a touch on the ball to put it in.

On the ensuing corner kick, the ball again returned dangerously into the Mexican box, with this time Setterlund trying to force her way ahead of goalkeeper Santiago’s cover up.

Canada maintained good possession late in the game, but would not find the equalizing goal against Mexico . The match closed out with Mexico the victor on the Llamas free-kick goal.

Canada finished second in group play with two wins and one loss. It advances to the semi-final stage for a date with USA on Thursday 18 March. That one match will decide Canada’s entry to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Trinidad and Tobago 2010.

The victory guaranteed Canada a spot in the semi-final stage against either USA or Costa Rica . Both group winners will be determined in the next two days, with Costa Rica facing USA on Sunday 14 March and Canada facing Mexico on Monday 15 March.

“I am pleased with the fact that we take away a result which puts us into the semi-final stage,” said national head coach Bryan Rosenfeld. “The team also has to take away a big learning lesson that it has to respect the opponent, regardless of what their past scores may have been.”

Panama was much improved following an 0:6 loss to Mexico on the opening day. Still, Panama’s performance was not enough on this day to advance to the semi-final stage. Both Panama and Jamaica (which lost 0:3 to Mexico) were eliminated from group play with their second-straight losses.

For Canada’s second match of the competition, coach Bryan Rosenfeld’s starting XI featured Sabrina D’Angelo in goal, Katherine Caverly at left back, Alison Clarke and Nicole Setterlund at centre back, Yazmin Ongtengco-Hintzen at right back, Diamond Simpson, Kylie Davis and Chantale Campbell at midfield, and Caroline Beaulne, Nour Ghoneim and Haisha Cantave up front. Unfortunately, coach Rosenfeld was forced to make an early substitution in just the 19th minute of the match, replacing an injured Caverly with left back Sophie Thérien.

Canada started the match brightly and created several chances within the first five minutes. First Davis received a pass in space, but her first-time shot was blocked by Panama ‘s goalkeeper Anyuri Montenegro . From the ensuing corner kick, a Panamanian defender nearly scored an own goal as her clearing effort looped just past the post.

Canada continued its early pressure and Nour Ghoneim nearly opened the scoring in the eighth minute, but her hard shot was hit straight at Montenegro. One minute later, Canada ‘s early dominance was rewarded with a goal. Cantave ran onto a through ball, saw Montenegro rushing off her line, and intelligently hit a low chip from outside of the box that rolled into the empty goal.

Panama seemed overwhelmed by the early Canadian dominance, but Cantave’s early goal seemed to awaken them as they slowly began to get back into the match. In the 22nd minute, Canada’s D’Angelo needed to be sharp as she won the ball off a Panamanian attacker who had gotten away in the box.

Canada finally doubled its lead in the 37th minute through a great individual effort from Simpson. On a seemingly harmless play, Simpson charged down and blocked a Panamanian clearance attempt. Simpson then reacted first to the loose ball and placed a low drive into the bottom corner of the Panama goal.

Canada started the second half in the same dominant fashion that it had started the match. Cantave, who was having a very strong match, was at the centre of Canada ‘s early scoring opportunities. First, Cantave beat her defender down the right and pulled the ball back to an open Beaulne, but her effort flew well over the Panama goal. Next, Cantave slipped in Davis down the right side, Davis steadied herself and looked to play a return the pass to an open Cantave in the box but the Panama defence held firm and cleared the pass.

As the half wore on, Beaulne was causing the Panama defence fits with her mazy runs down the Canadian wing. In the 56th minute, Beaulne picked up the ball just inside the Panama half and made a beautiful 30-yard dash all the way into the Panama box where her low shot was well stopped by Montenegro .

In the 71st minute, midfielder Campbell stepped forward and hit a long drive that had Montenegro beaten, but went just over the cross bar.

Cantave continued her fine play in the 80th minute when she elected to shoot across goal after turning her defender in the Panama box, but Montenegro was equal to the hard shot, tipping the shot around her post and out for a corner.

Two minutes later, Simpson nearly scored her second, shooting just wide under heavy pressure, after being set up beautifully by Beaulne in Panama box.

Beaulne, the provider for many of Canada ‘s second half-chances, missed an excellent opportunity to score when she directed her header just wide from a Canadian corner kick.

Despite creating numerous second-half scoring chances, Canada was unable to capitalize beyond its 2-0 lead heading into the final minutes. Panama duly made things interesting, pulling a goal back in the 88th minute after a corner kick evaded D’Angelo in the Canadian goal and fell softly onto the head of Panama ‘s Lisbany Alveo.

Despite the late goal Canada defended well to comfortably close out the match and earn its second consecutive victory at the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championship.

Canada will complete Group 2 play against Mexico on Monday 15 March.

“Jamaica came out stronger than they did when we played them eight days ago,” said national head coach Bryan Rosenfeld. “They were stronger and put pressure on us. Eventually, we were able to break them down.”

Canada’s previous 4:1 victory over Jamaica was on 3 March at the Women’s Under-17 Four Nation Tournament in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago.

For the opener of the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship, Rosenfeld’s starting XI featured Sabrina D’Angelo in goal, Katherine Caverly at left back, Alison Clarke and Nicole Setterlund at centre back, Ally Courtnall at right back, Kylie Davis, Diamond Simpson and Chantale Campbell at midfield, and Caroline Beauline, Nour Ghoneim and Haisha Cantave up front.

Canada attacked from the opening whistle, winning back-to-back corner kicks in the first few minutes. While Canada did not score on those first two opportunities, it did score on its third try. Following a great run down the wing by right back Courtnall , Canada won its third corner kick in the seventh minute. Campbell took the kick and Davis knocked it in for a 1-0 Canadian lead.

As the first half continued, Canada maintained plenty of possession. It had its fair share of chances, too. In the 10th minute, Beaulne broke in, but put her shot just wide. Then in the 15th minute, it was Simpson with a run, but she was stopped by the goalkeeper Shantel Graham.

In the 19th minute, Campbell struck a powerful shot from 25 yards out that hit the crossbar.

In the 32nd minute, Courtnall had another good run, but this time cut in and came down the centre. She nearly beat the goalkeeper Graham, but was tackled just in time.

In the 38th minute, Jamaica won what could have been a dangerous free kick, but the kick from 25 yards out was struck wide.

As the first half neared the end, Canada again forced Jamaica back on its heels. In the 42nd minute, Simpson and Davis combined well, but the return couldn’t meet an on-rushing Cantave. Just two minutes later, Davis in the penalty area played it perfectly over to Ghoneim who made no mistake for a 2-0 Canadian lead.

In the second half, it was more of the same as Canada continued its attack on Jamaica . Davis had the first good shot from close range in the 47th minute, but it was stopped by Graham. In the 54th minute, Beaulne got past the defence, but slipped before she could fire a shot. Then in the 58th minute, captain Setterlund fired a powerful shot that just went over the crossbar.

In the 63rd minute, Ghoneim made it 3-0 after taking a long pass from Caverly. Ghoneim made a touch to get around the goalkeeper and then fired it into the goal.

Up 3-0, Canada made its first of two substitutions, replacing Cantave for midfielder Sabrina Hémond. Canada’s second substitution was made shortly after it conceded the Jamaica goal, replacing Beaulne with Zakiya McIntosh.

Jamaica’s lone goal was scored in the 76th minute. A Jamaica long ball was played over the Canadian defence and won by Williams against an on-rushing D’Angelo. Williams stepped past a fallen D’Angelo and slid the ball into an empty net.

As for Canada’s fourth goal, it was scored in the 87th minute by Hémond.

“We stuck to the game plan and we played a great game,” said Canada’s first goal scorer Davis.

Canada now has two days of rest before it takes on Panama on Saturday 13 March. Canada’s third match of the group stage will be Monday 15 March.