Canada Soccer - News

Projected Starting XI: Colorado Rapids

Toronto FC return to action on Saturday when they will take on the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park 8 PM ET. 

Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore and Will Johnson will meet up with the squad in Denver after returning from the international duty.

Daniel Lovitz has returned to training after dealing with a concussion last week while Jonathan Osorio remains questionable as he continues to work his way back from a knee sprain. 

The Montreal Impact and the CSSMI unite to encourage youth to persevere and succeed

SAINT-EUSTACHE – The Commission scolaire de la Seigneurie-des-Mille-Îles (CSSMI) and the Montreal Impact leadership unveiled, during a press conference at Saint-Gabriel School on March 30, 2016, a partnership agreement to encourage youth to persevere and succeed. This event, a first for the CSSMI, was attended by sports-études students and by stakeholders such as Mrs. Paule Fortier, CSSMI president, Mr. Jean-François Lachance, CSSMI general manager, and Mr. Wilfried Nancy, Montreal Impact assistant coach.

The CSSMI is the 12th school board that has taken part in the Impact’s program since its inception, in 2005. This partnership agreement will open the door to various initiatives that will inspire youth to work and successfully complete their school year.

Examples of perseverance

“All the way with the Impact,” the program through which the two organizations have united, has pleasant surprises in store for our youth. To encourage students to persevere in school, star players from the Impact will, twice a year, meet the students at their school and share their life experiences. These examples and models of courage will inspire youth to adopt a healthy lifestyle and be physically active in order to succeed and achieve their dreams.

Great value for tickets to April 30 game

“Through this agreement, not only will we welcome star players twice a year in two of our schools, but students, relatives, employees and their friends will have the opportunity to purchase low-cost tickets for the Impact game on Saturday, April 30, at 4pm, at Stade Saputo against the Colorado Rapids,” said CSSMI general manager Jean-François Lachance. “Each ticket will thus cost them$13 instead of the $33 regular rate. From this amount, $11 will go to the Montreal Impact and $2 will go to the school board for the purchase of sports equipment for students.” The agreement also provides for two students – one girl and one boy – to be selected each year for their ability to succeed in school while adopting a healthy lifestyle. The Montreal Impact will give both students a $500 grant. Moreover, 18 students from CSSMI schools will have the pleasure of forming a guard of honour on match day. Tickets will be available online until April 15 throughcs.impactmontreal.com/cssmi/.

CSSMI president Paule Fortier took the opportunity to thank and congratulate the Montreal Impact and its athletes on this great initiative that shows their desire to promote perseverance and education among the Quebec youth!

This new partnership with the Impact will allow CSSMI students to take part in attractive events and encourage them to persevere in school and achieve their dreams.

International roundup: Bolaños, Waston lead Ticos to victory; Canada drops to third

Tuesday was a busy night in international play with four Vancouver Whitecaps FC players in action – as well as the Canadian senior men’s national team. See below for a summary.

CANADA SUFFER 2-0 DEFEAT IN MEXICO CITY

After falling 3-0 to Mexico on Friday in front of a record crowd at BC Place, Canada dropped the away leg 2-0 at Azteca Stadium after a pair of first-half goals, including a 17th-minute penalty.

The loss, coupled with Honduras’ 2-0 win over El Salvador, means Canada and Honduras are now level on points with two games remaining in the fourth round of World Cup qualifying in the CONCACAF region. Honduras has the better goal differential, which drops Canada to third in the group. The final two games of the group will take place in September.

Canada visit Honduras on September 2 before closing out the group stage at home against El Salvador on September 6 at a yet-to-be-determined location.

Meanwhile, Honduras will visit Mexico at Azteca in their group stage finale.

GROUP A
1. Mexico (4W-0L-0D / +10 GD): 12 points
2. Honduras (1W-2L-1D / -1 GD): 4 points
3. Canada (1W-2L-1D / -4 GD): 4 points
4. El Salvador (0W-2L-2D / -5 GD) 2 points

Note: the top two teams from each group advance to the final round

BOLANOS, WASTON START FOR COSTA RICA IN 3-0 WIN

Costa Rica cruised to a 3-0 home win over Jamaica in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday night.

Whitecaps FC centre back Kendall Waston started and played the full 90 minutes, his eighth cap for the Ticos, while Bolaños was subbed off after 74 minutes. Bolaños had a hand in Costa Rica’s first goal, playing a short free kick that culminated in a Celso Borges header. 

Of note, Waston has now started six matches for the Ticos since 2015.

In those matches, the ‘Caps defender has a goal and an assist and Costa Rica has conceded just three goals while posting a 3W-1L-2D record. Here he is coming up big in Tuesday's match. 

The Costa Ricans can clinch a spot in the Hex, the fifth and final round of World Cup qualifying in the CONCACAF region, with just one point from their final two matches in September.

GROUP B
1. Costa Rica (3W-0L-1D / +5 GD): 10 points
2. Panama (2W-1L-1D / +2 GD): 7 points
3. Jamaica (1W-2L-1D / -4 GD): 4 points
4. Haiti (0W-3L-1D / -3 GD): 1 point

Note: the top two teams from each group advance to the final round

PEREZ STARTS FOR PANAMA IN 1-0 WIN OVER HAITI

Whitecaps FC striker Blas Perez started and played 65 minutes for the Panamanians in a 1-0 victory over Haiti, which brings Panama to seven points after four matches – second to just Costa Rica in Group B.

Pérez holds the third-most senior international caps for Panama with 104 appearances and is Panama’s second all-time leading scorer with 39 goals in his career.

PARKER PLAYS 90 MINUTES IN HEARTBREAKING LOSS TO COLOMBIA U-23

The Olympic dream is over for Tim Parker and the U.S. U-23s.

The Americans, who were reduced to nine men by the end of the match, fell 2-1 to Colombia U-23 in the second leg of a last-chance Olympic qualifying playoff on Tuesday in Frisco, Texas.

Parker started and played the full 90 minutes for the second straight match, and by all accounts did himself a lot of good.