Vancouver Whitecaps unveil ‘Sea to Sky’ secondary jerseys

The 2016 Major League Soccer season may be remembered as the Vancouver Whitecaps’ blue period.

The team introduced its ‘Sea to Sky’ secondary uniforms on Monday — and they are really blue. They’re nice. But quite blue.

Could they be any bluer? No, not possible. They’ve achieved maximum blue with these things.

“Inspired by everything that makes our city great, from the ocean to the mountains and beyond, the new jersey represents Vancouver and Whitecaps FC on every level,” a Whitecaps press release describes the jerseys.

Postmedia fashion writer Aleesha Harris had this to say about the new Whitecaps’ kit: “They are definitely on trend with the ombré fade of the blue tones. But by ‘on trend’ I mean I had to try very hard to find something nice to say about them because, as is the case with most sports uniforms, they’re kind of ugly. The blue is nice, though.”

(Word of the day: ombré.)

Caps Club members can order the secondary jersey online.

The Whitecaps play their first preseason game on Wednesday in Tucson, Arizona against the Seattle Sounders.

Vancouver opens the regular season on Sunday, March 6 in Montreal. The Whitecaps’ home opener is Saturday, March 12 (5:30 p.m.) against Sporting Kansas City.

What Craft Beer Best Describes Toronto FC?

The creator of the Free Beer Movement described every MLS team as a craft beer.

Dan Wiersema, creator of the Free Beer Movement, seems like he has a lot of free time on his hands. Judging by their bio right here, they are dedicated to growing the sport of soccer in North American through the use of beer. It’s a great cause, and one that surely lots of footy fans stateside can get behind. Plus they’re promoting great craft beer; it’s a win-win.

So with the MLS season fast approaching, the Free Beer Movement gave fans a guide as to which local product should be best enjoyed with their team. It was a special contribution to MLSSoccer.comwho then published it because it must’ve been a slow news day. Read on to find out what Toronto FC’s designated drink choice is!

The craft beer that best describes Toronto FC is called “Motley Cru” which is brewed in Trinity Bellwoods and is a play on the popular band Motley Crue. According to Wiersema, this is why it works:

Sebastian Giovinco, Michael Bradley, and Jozy Altidore were kind of like Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, and Tommy Lee for the Reds in 2015, when they led the club to its first playoff appearance ever. TFC fans might be a little sour that the Whitecaps and Montreal Impact both made deeper playoff runs in 2015. But with the “Atomic Ant” Giovinco, the reigning Landon Donovan MLS MVP, back for 2016, there are plenty reasons to be optimistic. It doesn’t hurt that this brewery is just a goal kick’s distance (that’s a measurement, right?) from BMO Field.

Not to mention, there is no better embodiment of “crew goals” in the MLS than our designated player trio.

Other details about the beer are that it’s a dark red – just like Rickards, but I imagine it tastes much better – and has a percentage of 8.7%. So if you’re watching a TFC game, a bottle of this will do the trick in a matter of minutes.

FC Montreal wins 4-0 against UQTR

TROIS-RIVIÈRES, QUE. – FC Montreal won its second game of the first part of the preseason 4-0 against UQTR in Trois-Rivières, Sunday night.

The first half was split between both teams. Trois-Rivières’ players started the game with a lot of pressure, but FC Montreal’s players held on. Just before halftime, an opposing defender got his second yellow and was ejected.

In the 78th minute, midfielder Mastanabal Kacher came up on the right side and pushed forward until the goal line. The goalkeeper grazed the ball, giving up the first goal.

Winger Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla scored a brace right after. In the 85th minute, he attacked from the left flank. After faking a shot, he dribbled past the defenderscoring on a low shot – doubling the lead. Then, in the 86th minute, winger Fabio Morelli found Tabla at the second post; he scored on his first touch.

Towards the end of the game, Kacher sent a through pass to Morelli and, facing the keeper, Morelli passed at the penalty spot to forward Jacques Haman, who scored. The game ended 4-0.

“It was an interesting game with more pace than last week,” said head coach Philippe Eullaffroy. “ [Our] attacking moves were better with more options and chances to score. We found the back of the net in the last 15 minutes. We are in a phase where we work a bit more individually than collectively. We are preparing the second part of the preseason.”

The first half was played by a majority of Impact U18 players, as well as FC Montreal defender Simon Lemire. When the second half started, it was only FC Montreal players on the field.

Sunday marked FC Montreal’s second game of the first half of the preseason. On February 7, the team will be in Quebec City to face Université Laval at 3:30pm.

LINEUP

XI in the first half: Charles Desrochers (U18); Simon Lemire, Juliano Cobuzzi (U18), Brandon Onkony (U18), Jackson Pickard (U18); Louis-Philippe Paquin (U18), Pierre Lamothe (U18), Matteo Rigoni (trialist), Jimmy-Shammar Sanon (U18), Alexis Stevens (U18); Rida Aboulhamid (trialist)

XI in the second half: Luca Leone; Nevello Yoseke, Jems Geffrard, Léonardo Kossaka (15’), Aron Mkungilwa; Philippe Lincourt-Joseph, Mastanabal Kacher, Heikel Jarras, Fabio Morelli, Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla; Jacques Haman

GOALS
FCMTL: Mastanabal Kacher 78e
FCMTL: Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla 85e
FCMTL: Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla 86e
FCMTL: Jacques Haman 89e