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Post by epjr on Sept 5, 2011 21:59:41 GMT -6
Countdown: Canada @ Puerto RicoAfter a critical victory Friday night over St. Lucia, Canada looks to build momentum in the Second Round of World Cup Qualifying as they travel south to the fortress that is known as Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium to take on Puerto Rico. Canada went through some trying moments in their opening fixture, but in the end getting the important three points is all that matters, as does the fact their two other competitors drew their match to put them clear on top of the table. Puerto Rico will be glad to be at home and look to make a statement as they have been showing signs that they will begin to take international football competitions more seriously. Canada once again needs to be weary going into this match, but most importantly have to start showing more confidence in their play. Puerto Rico will present a much more professional looking side than St. Lucia, but the quality is still in the Canucks favour who should be able to see how valuable a win will go in getting through this round, and put out the display to ensure they remain first in Group D. www.rednationonline.ca/CountdownCanadaPuertoRico9611.aspx
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Post by epjr on Sept 6, 2011 21:34:07 GMT -6
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. www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-09-06-puerto-rico-vs-canada/recap
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Post by epjr on Sept 29, 2011 13:32:02 GMT -6
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) www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/09/29/tfcs-morgan-among-youth-infused-side-called-canada
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Post by epjr on Oct 7, 2011 20:52:25 GMT -6
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." www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/10/07/wcq-jackson-paves-way-canada-7-0-rout-st-lucia
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Post by epjr on Oct 10, 2011 11:16:49 GMT -6
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. www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/10/10/hainault-declines-canadian-call-vs-puerto-rico
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Post by epjr on Oct 11, 2011 19:36:23 GMT -6
Bummer At BMO Canada suffer first setback in qualifying, held by Puerto Rico[/COLOR] 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. www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-10-11-canada-vs-puerto-rico/recap
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Post by epjr on Oct 25, 2011 12:50:41 GMT -6
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Post by epjr on Nov 3, 2011 14:10:53 GMT -6
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 Timiþoara, Romania), Simeon Jackson (Norwich City FC, England), Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United), Olivier Occean (SpVgg Greuther Fürth, Germany) www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/11/03/toronto-fcs-stinson-among-3-new-faces-called-canada
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Post by epjr on Nov 7, 2011 14:59:42 GMT -6
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 www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/11/07/canada-pick-attakora-world-cup-qualifiers
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Post by epjr on Nov 11, 2011 21:34:09 GMT -6
Small Steps Scoreless draw sees Canucks through to third round of WCQIn 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. www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-11-11-st-kitts-and-nevis-vs-canada/recap
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Post by epjr on Nov 15, 2011 20:28:44 GMT -6
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. www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/11/15/wcq-recap-canada-rout-st-kitts-4-0-2nd-rd-finale
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Post by epjr on Dec 14, 2011 16:58:03 GMT -6
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. www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/12/14/de-rosario-named-canadas-player-year
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Post by epjr on Jan 17, 2012 18:01:06 GMT -6
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. www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/01/17/canadas-first-test-2012-be-against-armenia
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Post by epjr on Jan 26, 2012 21:54:25 GMT -6
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.” www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/01/26/hart-meet-jonathan-de-guzman-discuss-canada-future
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Post by epjr on Feb 3, 2012 21:49:46 GMT -6
Canada To Play Four At BMO National team unveils a new kit and commits to Toronto as WCQ destinationCanada 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. www.torontofc.ca/news/2012/02/canada-play-four-bmoControversy In Canada Vancouver fans up in arms over national team's "home" stadiumTORONTO – 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?” www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/02/03/csas-decision-bmo-field-splits-canadian-supporters
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