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HIGHLIGHTS: MacNaughton scores late equalizer for Pacific in 1-1 draw with FC Edmonton

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 21:22:35 +0000

Pacific FC stole a point at the last gasp in Edmonton on Tuesday night, as they scored a late equalizer to earn a 1-1 draw with FC Edmonton after trailing for much of the second half. With usual starter Connor James given the night off, FC Edmonton gave Darlington Murasiranwa the nod in goal, with a centre-back pairing of Amer Didic and Ramon Soria playing in front of him and the fearsome trio of Easton Ongaro, Tobias Warschewski, and Azriel Gonzalez starting up top. Pacific's squad stayed relatively consistent to what they've used in recent weeks, although Thomas Meilleur-Giguère stepped in at centre-back for just his fourth start of 2021. After a fairly back-and-forth first few minutes, with Pacific controlling the ball but the Eddies pressing well, FCE coach Alan Koch saw fit to make an early substitutios, taking left-back Paris Gee out of the game in favour of Jeannot Esua -- Koch revealed postmatch that Gee had entered the match with a slight injury, and the early stages suggested he wasn't quite fit enough to play.

MORE COVERAGE: Match Analysis: FC Edmonton 1-1 Pacific FC | Sights & Sounds: FC Edmonton 1-1 Pacific FC

Changes aside, the first half ended up being fairly uneventful; Edmonton had the only shot on target, despite Pacific playing with 60% possession and making over 100 more passes than their foes. Both sides' defenders were quite busy in transition, though; Didic made an incredible tackle to cut off what looked like a three-on-two counter from Pacific, and Lukas MacNaughton broke up a spate of Eddies attacks at the other end. Alejandro Diaz had the best opportunity of the first frame, with a shot from distance that beat Murasiranwa but caromed off the post for a rebound that Terran Campbell couldn't quite finish. Coming out of halftime, the match had a similar flow -- plenty of possession for the visitors, and some dangerous counters by the Eddies. From that back-and-forth, it was Edmonton who found the net first, in the 57th minute. Warschewki found the ball in space along the right flank, and he outstripped his marker before whipping in a low cross behind the Pacific defenders that Ongaro got on the end of for a forceful strike to make it 1-0. The Eddies very nearly made it 2-0 just 10 minutes later, as a long free kick found Shamit Shome at the back post for a header but Pacific 'keeper Callum Irving made a phenomenal reaction save on the goal line to keep his team alive. Pacific made a late push to equalize, with one chance in particular that saw Diaz apparently all alone in the box -- only for Didic to come barreling in to kick the ball to safety for Edmonton. It took them until deep into stoppage time to find their equalizer, but it did come eventually: With their tenth corner kick of the game, the ball came to Lukas MacNaughton, who picked up the rebound from his own header and flicked a volley over traffic and past Murasiranwa to make it 1-1. With the point, Pacific increased their lead at the top of the CPL standings to four points ahead of Cavalry FC, while the Eddies improved to 18 points as they fight to stay alive in a tight playoff race. BOX SCORE Goals 57' -- Easton Ongaro (FC Edmonton) 90+2' -- Lukas MacNaughton (Pacific FC) Discipline 59' -- Yellow: Josh Heard (Pacific FC) 77' -- Yellow: Jamar Dixon (Pacific FC)

HIGHLIGHTS: FC Edmonton snatches 2-2 draw against Pacific FC with 2nd half goals

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 21:29:21 +0000

FC Edmonton put on a clinic in "finish your chances" football Saturday, clawing back from two goals down to draw Pacific FC 2-2 at Starlight Stadium. Back-to-back goals – on impressive finishes – from lumbering strikers Easton Ongaro and Tobias Warschewski came on two of the side’s three shots and erased the work done by the Tridents who outplayed their opponents on the day. Pacific fielded a rotated roster with coach Pa-Modou Kah making eight changes from their midweek tilt against Valour – one forced, as Callum Irving was suspended due to a red card in the previous match. They shined despite the lack of on-paper familiarity, keeping 63% possession and recording 11 shots on the afternoon. Edmonton still got the better chance of the first 40-odd minutes with a quick counter-attack but it was called back for offside. Ongaro got the match’s first shot on target, too, with a short angle attempt. Matteo Polisi scored the opener just before halftime when Terran Campbell flicked the ball past a defender and fed the attacking midfielder at the top of the box. Polisi neatly hesitated before curling the opener into the top right corner. Campbell got his goal on the other end of halftime with a smart pressing play, ripping possession off Mele Temguia and slotting home an insurance marker. He was lucky not to score another, with back-to-back headed efforts leaving Eddies’ fans clenching their teeth. Ongaro would also make due on some early chances too when, in the 57th minute, he slashed in a smartly-taken answer back to Campbell’s goal. PFC grappled the match tighter and tighter and it seemed destined to go in their favour until the Eddies struck again. Tobias Warschewski, who assisted on Ongaro’s goal, broke behind and let a handful of PFC defenders and ‘keeper Nolan Wirth chase him to the byline before placing an unlikely finish to equalize for the Eddies. Late pressure from PFC came, with top-rated replacements like Jamar Dixon, Kadin Chung, and Alejandro Díaz adding an attacking boost. But nothing came of it, leaving the spoils even in a compelling West Coast affair.

BOX SCORE Goals 42′ -- Matteo Polisi (Pacific FC) 54' -- Terran Campbell (Pacific FC) 58' -- Easton Ongaro (FC Edmonton) 76' -- Tobias Warschewski (FC Edmonton) Discipline 15′ -- Yellow: Ollie Bassett (Pacific FC) 35' -- Yellow: Amer Didic (FC Edmonton) 62' -- Yellow: Fraser Aird (FC Edmonton) 65' -- Yellow Shamit Shome (FC Edmonton) 83' -- Yellow Tobias Warschewski (FC Edmonton)

Black History Month: Kyle Porter on impact of Martin Luther King, Bob Marley

Mon, 15 Feb 2021 23:36:30 +0000

Black History Month runs from Feb. 1-March 1, 2021. CanPL.ca will feature articles throughout the month profiling the Canadian Premier League’s many outstanding players of colour, as well as stories about their views on the importance of Black History Month.

FC Edmonton midfielder Kyle Porter carries the words – and maybe a melody or two – from his heroes wherever he goes. The 31-year-old midfielder has highlighted musician Bob Marley and Martin Luther King Jr. as two of his heroes for Black History Month – as they both used their respective platforms to push for social justice. "Martin Luther King Jr. stood for change, he stood for justice – back then he was fighting against what’s happening right now," said Porter, referring to the Black Lives Matter movement and subsequent protests that occurred last summer, including at The CPL’s Island Games in PEI.

RELATED READING: Black Lives Matter - Helpful reading and video resources

Porter has followed the example set by Dr. King and Marley in trying to bring about change, and in addressing the issue of racism and equality. "No matter what walk I am in life, no matter what I'm doing, I can dream big and as long as I take the first step in faith, I can accomplish and do anything and promote change via my platform. To be the best person that I can possibly be, really," Porter said. Porter led his former team, York9 FC (now York United) in a series of powerful anti-racism movements last year, including this video which featured York players discussing heartbreaking instances of racism: "These are things that us players are standing for, because what's happening or what happened last Summer and is still happening today is unacceptable," Porter said. "There's there's too much of a separation between the people in this world and Martin Luther King Jr. was the beacon of hope to change that in that moment in time." Porter, born to a Jamaican family in the Toronto suburbs, recalls dribbling a ball in his childhood home to the music of Bob Marley – one of Jamaica's greatest exports and a pioneer in reggae music. "My dad would be in the basement and he would be playing all types of Bob Marley music," Porter recaled. "I was five, maybe six. Every time it came on it just it brought us to a point where we're dancing. That was a big moment in my life for sure." Marley – who had an affinity for soccer – was a political force in the 1970s, using his music and lyrics for good. "He not only used his platform, and his music, to spread love and fight for injustice… he used his music to motivate," Porter said. "Marley is very special. His music is still listened to today." "He found so much joy, love, and passion through the game of football, too. That’s a huge inspiration to me, too."

Hometown goal-scorer Easton Ongaro makes good at FC Edmonton

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 12:14:53 +0000

The Canadian Premier League is built on the promise of building the future of soccer in Canada. THE NEXT GEN celebrates this promise by showcasing and honouring the best young Canadian soccer talent from coast to coast in the Canadian Premier League. Welcome the NEXT GEN CLASS OF 2020, an eight-part video series celebrating the best young Canadian talent on display during the Canadian Premier League 2020 season. These incredible young players’ performances demonstrated their talent and grit at the Island Games in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and are proof that professional soccer is now attainable in Canada.

Would it surprise you to learn that Easton Ongaro is among the top all-time goal scorers in the CPL? Former Forge FC star Tristan Borges won the Golden Boot during the 2019 season with 13 goals, while HFX Wanderers FC forward Akeem Garcia, this year’s Golden Boot winner, has 13 goals over two seasons. Occupying a position right next to Borges and Garcia atop the league’s goal-scoring charts is Ongaro, a 22-year-old forward who has bagged 13 goals in 28 CPL games for his hometown club FC Edmonton. It’s an amazing goal-scoring record, especially when you consider how Ongaro’s CPL career began. A product of the University of Alberta, Ongaro was selected 15th overall during the 2018 CPL-U SPORTS Draft by Cavalry FC, but he was later released by the Calgary-based club and he signed with FC Edmonton in May 2019. Ongaro made his CPL debut on July 27, 2019 in a 1-1 draw against Forge FC, marking the occasion by scoring the tying goal in the 89th minute. He went on to finish third in the Golden Boot race with 10 goals in 21 CPL games for FC Edmonton during the 2019 CPL season. Incredibly, Ongaro didn’t even start a game for the Eddies until the Fall season, as he suffered a broken hand in training during the Spring campaign, limiting him to just 95 minutes of playing time. Not lacking in confidence, Ongaro was already talking about winning the CPL goal-scoring race in 2020 after finding the back of the net in FCE’s 3-1 loss to York9 FC on Sept. 21, 2019 "Hopefully it’s something that continues over the last few games here and, definitely next season, I think I’ve got to have my sights set on the scoring title," Ongaro said at the time. The Eddies were so impressed with Ongaro that they signed him to a new multi-year contract last November, rewarding him for his solid 2019 campaign. This past February, Ongaro was named to Canada’s provisional under-23 team roster for the Olympic qualifiers, but in March, on the day Canada Soccer was supposed to reveal the final squad, the announcement came that the Concacaf Olympic qualifying tournament was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The IOC eventually postponed the Tokyo Games until 2021. He followed that up by scoring a team-high three goals for the Eddies in 2020, logging 480 minutes of playing time in seven appearances at The Island Games. Ongaro’s goal-scoring prowess in the CPL didn’t go unnoticed by clubs from abroad, as Daish outfit Vendsyssel FF signed him to a loan deal in October. As part of the agreement between the two clubs, Vendsyssel FF, who competes in Denmark’s second division, has the option of buying Ongaro’s rights from FC Edmonton and signing him to a permanent contract once the loan deal ends at the end of this year. Beyond his goal-scoring prowess, Ongaro is noted for using his six-foot-six frame to great effect and was called the soccer version of former Edmonton Oilers great Ryan Smyth on account of his ability to get in front of the net and score from close range. Those traits were just some of the reasons why former FCE coach Jeff Paulus was such a big fan of Ongaro, and referred to him as "a natural goal scorer" and "a rare talent." "He is a player who has the ability to be in the right place at the right time," Paulus said. "He’s also a unique individual because he possesses great height, but he’s got great feet and exceptional pace."

Catching up with new FC Edmonton coach Alan Koch: ‘There’s a lot of work to do’

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 17:27:27 +0000

In the above video, newly-minted FC Edmonton coach Alan Koch speaks to CanPL.ca’s Marty Thompson about upcoming plans, his relationship with Pacific FC coach Pa-Modou Kah, and more.

Alan Koch has learned to take what he can get in the age of COVID-19. FC Edmonton’s newest coach planned to visit Alberta’s capital and his new team this week, but travel restrictions have kept him and his family in British Columbia. It’s an improvement for the Koch clan, who faced a similar situation this summer when Alan and his wife were stranded while he was coaching USL side Colorado Springs Switchback FC. "Speaking with [FC Edmonton general manager] Eric Newendorp, I’m going to try to get there next week for a few days to see and do as many things as we can," Koch told CanPL.ca. "There's a lot of work to do. I don't think we're shy about saying that." Koch, 45, was recently unveiled as the replacement for Jeff Paulus, who stepped down in September after the Eddies went winless (with six losses) in seven matches and finished in last place at The Island Games in PEI. Koch’s first week on the job, while not in Edmonton, has seen him catching up with FCE players on the 2020 squad to see who will return, a job left to him by newly-hired GM Eric Newendorp.

RELATED READING: New FC Edmonton coach Koch hopes to make club 'fall in love with winning'

"We’re assessing the playing group, really, before starting to figure out exactly what we need player-wise to bring them in and create a hybrid group, to be quite frank," Koch said. "There are some good pieces in place in Edmonton. We want to retain some and supplement with other players that can get us over the hump. "We're trying to get through as many assessments as quickly as possible. There are a lot of players out of contract, obviously, so there are no guarantees that even if we want them that they want to stay." Koch is also evaluating his backroom staff, saying: "We want to put our staff in place... We're trying to assess what we have and see if we can source others." The South African gaffer has previous MLS and USL coaching experience with FC Cincinnati, and he also coached at Simon Fraser University. Mix in two seasons with Whitecaps FC 2, a program that’s produced dozens of CPL players, and you have a CV that’s perfect for the CPL. While his alma mater Simon Fraser competes in NCAA, Koch acknowledged the impact players from universities have had on FC Edmonton – CPL-U SPORTS Draft picks Easton Ongaro and Connor James are at the top of that list. "This league is so new that we have to be open to wherever we can get players from," Koch stated. "That's definitely the mentality for us. We're going with an open mind and open hearts, and we're going to go look for places and try sourcing from wherever we can." As for Koch’s time in MLS, he’s rightfully reserved about how he parted ways with FC Cincinnati last May after the team started the 2019 season with a 2-7-2 record. Before that, he led Cincinnati to a USL Regular Season Championship and a spot in the playoffs, and he was also named USL Coach of the Year at the end of the 2018 season. "The only time I have been unsuccessful as a coach was those 11 games in MLS," Koch said. "You can learn by winning, but you can learn by when you have tough moments, too. That probably was my toughest moments on this coaching journey."

RELATED READING: CPL off-season roster tracker: Who’s in and who’s out for 2021?

Koch has deep connections in Canadian soccer, specifically in the Western provinces. He also has the rare experience of blooding Canadians to the professional game with Whitecaps 2. Along with famously giving Alphonso Davies his professional debut, Koch also worked alongside Marco Bustos, Terran Campbell, and Victor Blasco. He brought current Pacific FC coach Pa-Modou Kah to FC Cincinnati in 2019 as an assistant. "We really struggled with that group in Year 1," Koch explained. "A lot of the guys realized what professional football was about. In 2016, we took that young team to the USL Western Conference final, and I think that was a big, big part of their development." Koch has been impressed by Kah’s impact on the CPL after taking Pacific FC to round two of The Island Games. "I’m very happy and proud of the work that he's done. He has a great heart as well. I'm sure we'll have some good laughs when we face each other. We may yell at each other during the game, but we'll definitely hug and make up afterwards," Koch said.

CPL Fan Awards: Breaking down the Allstate Good Hands Award nominees

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 16:56:31 +0000

To vote in the 2020 CPL Fan Awards, click here.

The Canadian Premier League's 2020 Fan Awards are underway with nine categories in all, including the return of the Allstate Good Hands Award for the best save of the year. All eight CPL teams were served well by their goalkeepers at The Island Games, with plenty of great saves from which to choose. However, the long list of great stops has been refined to just the following three finalists. Here's a breakdown of the three nominees: defending champion Marco Carducci of Cavalry FC, Callum Irving from Pacific FC, and FC Edmonton's Connor James.

RELATED READING: VOTE IN THE 2020 CPL FAN AWARDS

Marco Carducci, Cavalry FC — vs. Pacific FC, September 9 (2nd Round)

The CPL's reigning Goalkeeper of the Year was busy again in 2020, making a number key saves in helping Cavalry on their run at The Island Games. This particular stop, which preserved Cavalry's second-half lead in a crucial second-round match against Pacific, left Alejandro Díaz shaking his head. After a blistering run from Pacific's Marco Bustos, Díaz saw a fantastic opportunity to shoot from near the top of the penalty area, and he fired an impressive effort that seemed destined for the top corner. Carducci, however, was more impressive, as his outstretched right hand managed to parry the shot over the net to safety. Thanks in part to Carducci's handiwork, the Cavs held on to win this game (adding another goal along the way).

Callum Irving, Pacific FC — vs. Atlético Ottawa, September 2 (1st Round)

The first-ever meeting between these sides wasn't one we'll soon forget. With both teams in the thick of a race for spots in the top four in the first round, they traded blows for almost 90 minutes while the score stayed at 0-0. On the brink of stoppage time, Pacific faced a barrage of chances from Ottawa, including this pair of opportunities at the doorstep. Ottawa's Mohamed Kourouma took the first shot, which Callum Irving fended off from point-blank range, and the 'keeper was then forced to dive and push away the rebound, which had bounced off his own defender toward the goal. Unfortunately for Irving and Pacific, Atlético Ottawa did end up finding the winner, scoring off a corner kick just seconds after this save. Still, kudos to Irving for coming up big with this stop.

Connor James, FC Edmonton — vs. Cavalry FC, August 20 (1st Round)

The only Al Classico we saw in 2020 was, well, a classic. The Eddies, playing with 10 men since just after halftime, were fighting hard to equalize throughout the last 45 minutes, and their campaign was kept alive at this late moment by their goalkeeper's brilliant reflexes. When a perfect cross from Mo Farsi fell at the feet of Marcus Haber in front of goal, Cavalry looked all but certain to go up 2-0. Haber's first touch was a good one, tapping the ball back across goal as Connor James dove the opposite way. What Haber didn't count on, though, was James' ability to kick his left leg out and knock the ball away just in time. The athletic save, which stunned even Haber, kept Edmonton in the game right up until a 95th-minute penalty kick secured a win for Cavalry.

Jeff Paulus on his future: ‘I will act in the best interest of FC Edmonton’

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 23:03:31 +0000

Did we watch Jeff Paulus' last match as coach of FC Edmonton? The already-eliminated Eddies were agonizingly close to playing spoiler on Sunday, taking a lead against Pacific FC, only to concede two second-half goals in their sixth and final defeat in Prince Edward Island. Paulus and FCE depart The Island Games winless but proud, emphasizing the slim margins of tournament football. "It's details of the game – I really don't feel like we've been severely outplayed and I know there are some supporters who'll call me daft for saying it," Paulus said. "And I've been fighting for players since day one here. Right from the first game against Forge, I thought we could have got results." FCE's gaffer previously mentioned a "new voice" might be needed in the dressing room next season. Paulus confirmed he'll be meeting FC Edmonton owner Tom Fath to discuss the team’s future. "We'll decide the best way for this club to move forward," Paulus stated. "I absolutely love this club, I've been here a long time, and I will act in the best interest of FC Edmonton – whatever that means. "But that's a decision I'll make with Tom. I want this club to succeed and I'm willing to do my part to see that happen." The Eddies ran neck-and-neck with Pacific on Sundsy from the opening kickoff. Half chances from Jeannot Esua and Prince Amanda looked promising as FCE out-shot a desperate Tridents side 3-0 in the first half. A 59th-minute opener from Easton Ongaro – which put him joint-top of the CPL's all-time goalscoring list with 13 goals – gave the Eddies the lead. Edmonton held tough, forcing Pacific to the outside as panic set in from their opponents. But back-to-back goals – from a free kick and Marco Bustos' wand of a left foot – handed the Eddies’ their sixth loss in seven matches. "I thought we had another good game," Paulus said. "Again, it was the details. Even today: the free kick we gave up on a ball that rolled backwards – a foul we didn't need to take. That stuff has cost us at this event. But, we have committed players at this club." "The one time Bustos got free, he got a shot off. That was Chance Carter's first start and he had good control of Bustos for the majority of the game." Striker Tomi Ameobi was quick to point to FC Edmonton's offensive struggles at The Island Games, with a league-worst five goals. "We've have that fight and you saw that today – we left everything out on the field," Ameobi said. "The attitude and fight from this group has been good every game. "That's something we can build on. We know we're solid at the back but going forward, scoring goals, that hasn't gotten us over the line when we needed it." Regardless of Paulus' future at the helm of FC Edmonton, you can't deny his influence on this squad. Young local talents Amanda, Carter, Marcus Velado-Tsegaye, David Doe, and Anthony Caceres featured heavily in Sunday's tilt. "There's a lot to build on here. This is a process and I think is going to stated with the base of players who featured in this event," Paulus concluded.

Paulus commends FC Edmonton for fighting spirit, ‘to a player,’ despite elimination

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 03:58:33 +0000

You learn a lot about a team when its fate is already decided. FC Edmonton entered Tuesday's game against York9 all but officially eliminated from The Island Games, but coach Jeff Paulus called on his players to show some spirit in the penultimate game of their 2020 CPL campaign. Ultimately, they fell 1-0, beaten only by a spectacular Manny Aparicio free kick. But did Paulus see the fight he was hoping to see? "Absolutely. To a player," he affirmed. "Thought they've had a good game. Honestly, people will be sick of hearing me saying that when we're not winning, but I'm proud of the players. "That's all you ask for at this point. They're not quitting, they're not giving up, and I know they won't quit the next game either." The Eddies certainly didn't make it easy on a York9 side under serious pressure to win for their own top-four campaign. Paulus' side out-possessed Jimmy Brennan's, and they won 56 per cent of the duels. They didn't manage to put any of their six shots on target, but the energy was high.

RELATED READING: Healthy York9 FC ‘riding a wave’ following win over FC Edmonton

Looking back on the six games played in PEI, Paulus lamented how his side was out-done in set-piece situations — they've been scored on via free kicks, penalties, and corners, but they've failed to capitalize on their opportunities. "You look at some of the different things and what are some of the different moments; why is FC Edmonton sitting on one point and other teams are at 10?" he pondered. "At the end of the day our set-pieces have not been good enough. If you're not beating the first defender on a corner in senior professional football, then you're not given a chance to win. So many professional games are decided by a set-piece when the teams are tight, and we don't give ourselves a chance to win because we don't give a ball in the box to players like Amer Didic or Easton (Ongaro)." Nonetheless, Paulus reiterated the pride he has in his players. He commended his young players, many of whom saw time in Tuesday's match (teenagers Marcus Velado-Tsegaye and Prince Amanda starting on the wings), and he revealed that all of them had earned their time — Amanda wasn't originally going to start, but he earned his place in Monday's training session. He also singled out Didic, the towering defender who made his return to the lineup after suffering an ankle injury in Edmonton's first game. Didic, who told reporters he'd first believed he could be out weeks or months, worked his way back much earlier than expected. "His injury was severe enough to rule him out for the rest of the tournament, but he won't accept that," said Paulus. "I really wish that people could see how hard he's worked on his own time, every minute he put in with our trainer, just doing everything he needed to get back and play." Didic himself explained some of the process, revealing that his ankle required near-constant attention to rehabilitate it so quickly. He thanked Eddies doctor Terry DeFreitas — contacted virtually from Edmonton — and physiotherapist James Greene, as well as the environment of the CPL bubble in PEI. "I took it as a challenge, and right when I got back to the hotel I started the process ... the process was every day, especially in this type of environment in a bubble. Watching the guys playing day in and day out, you just want to be out there" he recalled. "Waking up today it was nice knowing that there was a game, I think that motivated me enough. Then once you step on the field it's crazy how your mind can wander off and not think about the pain that you're fighting through." Paulus used Didic's recovery as an example of how he's seen his players in a new light in PEI. With the luxury of seeing them almost 24/7, he explained he's gotten a clearer picture of their off-field habits and character. He offered, for instance, that 20 of his 22 players had shown up for an optional gym session this week. "You see who shows up late, you see who skips breakfast," he said. "Even though you made it optional, you still see who skips it. Things like this, so you get to learn a bit more about the personalities and characteristics and habits of everyone... "For a lot of reasons I'm proud of the lads, but we've made our notes on maybe some struggles or who's maybe not using their time wisely when they're away from the group." Not one to pass blame, Paulus added: "And that goes for staff as well, I've got a lot of things to fix myself." Now, it's onward to Edmonton's last game of the 2020 season. They take on Pacific in the last match of The Island Games' first round, and the Eddies will be desperate to leave with a win.

FC Edmonton vs. York9 FC: Eddies still searching for 1st win of Island Games

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 22:31:54 +0000

2020 CPL regular season (The Island Games) — Match #22 FC Edmonton vs. York9 FC September 1, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. ET/9:00 p.m. AT UPEI Artificial Turf Field in Charlottetown, PEI Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca

FC Edmonton will attempt to win their first match of The Island Games when they take on York9 FC on Tuesday night. But beyond three points, and maybe just as important, the Eddies will also be looking to earn some respect, while also giving a boost to their embattled coach. Following a 2-1 loss to Valour FC over the weekend, FCE bench boss Jeff Paulus lamented his team's poor start to the CPL season (just one point from five games), hinting that management might have to make a coaching change in 2021 in order to set the franchise on the right path. "I really want to pull the focus away from our players, because I think our players have done well here. I want to support them, and I think just own where we’re at, and where we’re at starts with me," Paulus said after the game. Tuesday offers Paulus' players their first chance to respond to his honest self-criticism with a command performance on the pitch. But it won't be so easy, as York9 is undefeated in PEI (one win and four draws) and currently sits fourth in the table after settling for a 1-1 draw with HFX Wanderers FC on the weekend. A loss or draw against Y9 would officially eliminate FC Edmonton from contention in terms of qualifying for the second round at The Island Games. Notably, York9 FC midfielder Joseph Di Chiara, who leads the team in scoring with three goals, is suspended for Tuesday's tilt due to yellow card accumulation.

RELATED READING: 2020 CPL regular season: The Island Games

3 THINGS TO WATCH

FCE's response: After the loss to Valour, coach Jeff Paulus spoke openly about how Edmonton might need to make a coaching change for next season. "I’ve been here since December of 2011, and yeah, I love the club. Of course. But the reality is, though, I want this club to succeed, and right now we think we’ve got a better roster than where we are in the standings shows," Paulus said. "If it takes someone else coming in with a new voice to get this club and this group of the players over the top, then I’m just open to that." How will FCE respond after Paulus' honest assessment of himself?

Y9's final product: Against 10-men HFX, the Nine Stripes enjoyed 65 per cent of possession, outshot the Wanderers 11 to five, and completed nearly double the amount of passes (583 to 310). But for all of their dominance, they couldn’t put the game away when they had the chance and struggled to create much from open play – Manny Aparicio's goal came off a free kick. All of that possession and all of those shots have to lead to something concrete.

York conceding late: Instead of collecting three points against HFX, the Nine Stripes had to settle for one point after Omar Kreim's late equalizer. They also conceded late against Pacific FC in their second game of the season. Had Y9 held on both games, they'd have four more points in the back and be tied for first place with Forge at the moment. With the table so tight at the moment, Jim Brennan's side has to close out games if it wants to assure itself a spot in the second round

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

"We don’t want to let down ourselves, these players are playing for themselves as well. This is professional football, so whether it’s me whose job is on the line, whether it’s a player fighting for their next contract, we’re all professionals here, and we have to see this out professionally." – Edmonton coach Jeff Paulus, after the Valour game. "We haven’t created much from the run of play and that’s something we’re working on. That goes from attack all the way back to the defence. It’s gonna come, we signed good forwards in the off-season. Those goals will come." – York midfielder Manny Aparicio, after the HFX game.

ALL-TIME SERIES

Edmonton wins: 1 || York wins: 3 || Draws 2

PREVIOUS MEETING

September 21, 2019: FC Edmonton 3, York9 FC 1

REFEREES

Referee: Myriam Marcotte ARs: Sean Hornsby & Michael Hood 4th Official: David Barrie

Paulus sticks up for players, reflects on himself after FCE loss: ‘We won’t look for excuses’

Sat, 29 Aug 2020 20:03:51 +0000

It seems that the first club to fall at The Island Games is FC Edmonton. Although they weren't technically eliminated by losing to Valour FC on Saturday, the mood among the Eddies squad was somber as they found themselves all but out of it with five games played in PEI. Despite out-shooting and out-possessing Valour, FCE fell 2-1 as a penalty scored on the second chance and a moment of quality from Masta Kacher overruled Easton Ongaro's excellent goal. After the game, Edmonton coach Jeff Paulus caused a stir by reflecting upon himself in a campaign where very little has gone right for his club. He reiterated his belief in his players, and pointed out that the Eddies played very well at times in Charlottetown, but there seems to be something not quite right. "I'll just accept responsibility that that little piece could be me at the end of the day," Paulus said. "I've been here since December of 2011, and yeah, I love the club. Of course. But the reality is, though, I want this club to succeed, and right now we think we've got a better roster than where we are in the standings shows. "If it takes someone else coming in with a new voice to get this club and this group of the players over the top, then I'm just open to that." He continued: "I really want to pull the focus away from our players, because I think our players have done well here. I want to support them, and I think just own where we're at, and where we're at starts with me." The Eddies were a team that made some major changes in the past off-season, although a lot of the core remained from 2019. Expectations were fairly high for the club, but the blink-and-you'd-miss-it gauntlet of The Island Games has not been kind to them. It didn't help that defender Amer Didic went down to injury in their first game, but they just seemed to land on the wrong side of close games. Paulus, of course, won't be the one pinning the club's failure on anything like injuries or bad luck. Nor is he going to stand for unwarranted criticism of his players. "I get to see them on the training ground, I get to see them in the hotel," he said. "They handle themselves with such class. They're doing the right things when it comes to social injustice, and what they put on the pitch is their heart and soul. "I want to talk about how much they're giving right now, our group of lads," Paulus added. "We won't look for excuses. What I said earlier there is just me not looking for an excuse, and I'm not gonna look for one now. At the end of the day we're in the same position as every other team in this event, and the other teams have more points than we do." The players are similarly unwilling to blame anything, or anyone, in particular. Ramón Soria, who wore the captain's armband for Edmonton on Saturday, also gave his coach a vote of confidence after Paulus seemed to question his role at the club. "He means a lot (to the club)," Soria said. "He's our coach, he has put a lot of work in for the team to be prepared. I think we've had a very good plan every game to win the game, it's just small moments in every game... Every game we've had issues that's not because of the coach, I don't think it's because of the players, it's in general. I don't want to make excuses, but it's true that I'm feeling in some moments we deserved more." Looking ahead, with two games left to try and play spoiler for other sides at The Island Games, Paulus won't allow his team to throw in the towel. They'll play both York9 and Pacific, and the Eddies could certainly turn the league table on its head with six points there. "We have to own where we're at and fight the negativity that can build up seeing our results, and come out with two good performances," he said. "We don't want to let down ourselves, these players are playing for themselves as well. This is professional football, so whether it's me whose job is on the line, whether it's a player fighting for their next contract, we're all professionals here, and we have to see this out professionally."

FC Edmonton on social justice stance at Island Games: ‘Things like this transcend sport’

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 15:55:25 +0000

In a departure from tradition, the post-game press conference after Thursday's Cavalry FC-Atlético Ottawa match featured players from neither team. After CPLers from all eight clubs came together prior to the Cavalry-Ottawa matcg to protest against racial discrimination, and show support for the Black Lives Matter movement, FC Edmonton's Tomi Ameobi and Connor James took questions from the media to provide an additional perspective on the emotions of the day. The CPL players' decision came in the wake of monumental decisions North American athletes — spearheaded by NBA players — to sit out their games on Wednesday. "I know that there's players here who have been affected by (racism) at one point or another during their lifetime," Ameobi said. "I think it really hits home for a lot of players. Not even just for the black players here, but players of all different races, I think it really did hit home." The league's players, coaches, and front office discussed the issues at length on Thursday morning, ultimately coming together for the actions they took at the afternoon's match. James, for his part, insisted that something had to be done, and he was happy with the ultimate result. "My initial reaction was, we as a league need to ensure that we're doing something to meet the precedent that's being set by the other leagues who have been acting, such as the NBA," he said. "So I'm really happy that we as a league community really, between the players and the league, came to a conclusion and got to a good resolution." Of course, the Eddies didn't have to play a football match after it all. Players from Cavalry and Atlético were quick to say that they'd had a lot on their minds before and during the game, which may have made it difficult focus solely on the sport. "Things like this transcend sport. They transcend most of the things we do on a day-to-day basis, and so if this didn't affect you one way or another, I'd have to question what really goes on in your head," Ameobi said. "For the players who played today, the Cavalry and Ottawa players, you've got to take your hat off to them for being able to dial themselves back in and manage to get through the game." At the end of the day, it's important to all the players involved that this movement doesn't stop here. James, as someone who isn't a person of colour, gave his perspective on his role in supporting his fellow players and human beings, both now and in the long run. "You have to show that you're somebody who's willing to understand what the whole movement is about, and willing to understand what you can do as an individual or as a member of a team to make things better," he said. "I think support is really the most important principle there."

Valour FC vs. FC Edmonton: Can Valour deny the Eddies their 1st win?

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 15:20:09 +0000

2020 CPL regular season (The Island Games) — Match #18 Valour FC vs. FC Edmonton August 29, 2020 at noon ET/1:00 p.m. AT UPEI Artificial Turf Field in Charlottetown, PEI Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca

Two sides clinging to their chances of advancing at The Island Games will open up this third weekend of CPL games in PEI, as Valour FC and FC Edmonton square off in a match with massive implications for both sides. Valour, who lost 2-0 to Pacific FC on Tuesday, sit seventh in the league table, although they're just one point back of fourth place. They've won just once, but it was in emphatic fashion — a rampaging 4-0 win over Atlético Ottawa — and as such they'll be desperate to rekindle that magic against the Eddies. They'll be looking for the goalscoring acumen it showed in that game, rather than the stunted attack that's kept them scoreless in their other three. Meanwhile, Jeff Paulus' FC Edmonton side is hoping to get out of the basement. They've shown well in their Island Games campaign at times, but they're still without a win, having lost three and drawn once. Their best result, again, came against Ottawa, when they battled back from 2-0 down to steal a 2-2 draw at the death. A win here would help both teams get back into the conversation (in fact, it would put Valour back into the top four), and a loss would be very dangerous. A draw might help Rob Gale's Winnipeg-based club, but FC Edmonton would still be in a very tough spot with one point. Following this one, the sides will look ahead to the midweek slate for their penultimate fixtures. Edmonton will play Tuesday against York9 FC (8:00 p.m. ET/9:00 p.m. AT), while Valour takes on HFX Wanderers FC on Wednesday (1:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. AT).

3 THINGS TO WATCH

Who's playing left-back? Three games out of four, Valour FC have seen their left fullback forced to leave the match with injury. First it was veteran Arnold Bouka Moutou, then it was Brett Levis, and finally it was Federico Peña this past Tuesday. It's unclear if any of the three will be fit to play on Saturday, but having somebody reliable in the spot will be crucial for Valour — especially with Keven Alemán bearing down on that side.

Get Ongaro into it: FC Edmonton hasn't yet seen the merciless Easton Ongaro of 2019 at The Island Games. He's had impressive moments, and he certainly looks as quick and athletic as ever, but his only goal wasn't exactly a vintage strike.If he starts, he needs more touches in the box and more opportunities to run at the Valour backline.

Play with desperation: The first round is drawing quickly to a close, and it'll be on both teams to show that they don't want to go home yet. We saw it from the Eddies at the end of their game with Atlético Ottawa, but both sides will need to play like their season depends on it for 90 minutes — because, well, it might. There's sure to be an edge to this one for that reason, so this will also be an exercise in balancing intensity with discipline.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

"We’ll tidy up some of the little errors today. It was maybe a game too many with some with heavy legs in maybe their decision making with the ball. But the longer the game went on we overtook the game and I felt we were unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet and level." – Valour coach Rob Gale, after the Pacific game. "It’s a difficult loss, and it has made it very difficult for us moving forward, but hopefully these young players can be bright spots for years to come." – Edmonton coach Jeff Paulus, after the HFX game.

ALL-TIME SERIES

Edmonton wins: 1 || Valour wins: 3 || Draws 1

PREVIOUS MEETING

October 5, 2019: Valour FC 3, FC Edmonton 1

Jeff Paulus addresses FC Edmonton’s mistake and frustrations in HFX loss

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 03:54:10 +0000

FC Edmonton sunk further down the Island Games pecking order on Wednesday, suffering a 3-1 loss to HFX Wanderers in Charlottetown. A missed penalty in the first half from Tomi Ameobi gave the Wanderers momentum they needed to put three goals past the Eddies, who now have only one point from four matches. "We didn’t punish them for their mistakes, and they punished three of ours," coach Jeff Paulus said. "We gave them the ball on all three goals from our possession." "We played a team that was good on the counter, quick to break lines… in the first half we did a good job at stopping that, but they carved us up after. Individual mistakes."

RELATED READING: HFX attack starts clicking vs. Edmonton: ‘Like we’ve played a long time together’

It was a frustrating night for Paulus, who saw his above-average defensive structure wilt away with those mistakes and clinical finishing from the Wanderers. Paulus addressed a particular moment of passion caught by OneSoccer cameras and covered by analyst Terry Dunfield: Keven Aleman was seen "shushing" a teammate who wanted a pass after he fired a shot over the crossbar. "It’s our fourth game, you see the minutes Keven has played, his transition to defending, willingness to get back, getting on the ball, his desire. He trains the same way," Paulus said of Aleman’s work rate. "This has been talked about a player who’s been influential for us, and plays the game how it should be played, then I think we should be talking about a different Keven, one that’s committed to training and be a top performer for us. "That’s the Keven I want to talk about." FC Edmonton’s lone bright spot came in the 87th minute when Marcus Velado-Tsegaye fired off a laser beam straight into the top-left corner from 25 yards out. The 19-year-old recorded a team-high three shots in just 30 minutes of action, impressing Paulus. "He had a difficult pre-season, took a couple of injuries, so he never got in a rhythm," Paulus said of Velado-Tsegaye’s first start of the 2020 season. "I told him he has my complete confidence, I knew he would impress and he went out there flying. He came on, made an impact, and got that confidence boost. That’s what you like to see from young players." The Eddies sit five points out of the fourth and final second-round berth after this loss – a daunting hole that sets up must-win scenarios in their remaining three matches. Paulus doesn’t deny the hill to climb, with their single point coming from a two-goal comeback against Atlético Ottawa last weekend. "It’s a difficult loss, and it has made it very difficult for us moving forward, but hopefully these young players can be bright spots for years to come," Paulus said.

FC Edmonton vs. HFX Wanderers FC: Both clubs searching for 1st win at Island Games

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 01:09:02 +0000

2020 CPL regular season (The Island Games) — Match #15 FC Edmonton vs. HFX Wanderers FC August 26, 2020 at 8:00 p.m ET/9:00 p.m. AT UPEI Artificial Turf Field in Charlottetown, PEI Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca

Could something finally give when FC Edmonton and HFX Wanderers FC clash at The Island Games on Wednesday night? Both teams are still looking for their first victory of the 2020 CPL season after going winless through their first three games -- HFX has two draws to its credit and holds down fifth place in the standings, while Edmonton sits bottom of the table with a single point. The Wanderers put in a valiant effort last time out against Cavalry FC, but ultimately fell short 2-1. The Eddies must be feeling pretty good about itself after erasing a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw vs. Atlético Ottawa over the weekend, marking the first time they scored at The Island Games. The good news for HFX or FCE is that despite their lack 0f wins that neither is out of contention, as a mere three points separates the bottom six teams in the table who are fighting for the last two playoff spots. A win on Wednesday would see either side move up the table and bolster their playoff chances, so expect a hotly-contested battle between two clubs in desperate need of three points.

RELATED READING: 2020 CPL regular season: The Island Games

3 THINGS TO WATCH

HFX and the press: Wanderers ambitiously set out to press Cavalry FC over the weekend, giving the Calgary-based club famous for its smothering pressing play a taste of its own medicine. HFX played the Cavs very close as they pressed them high up the park, ultimately losing 2-1, but the game-plan was effective. Cavalry coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr. said: "It’s probably been the toughest game of the tournament so far in terms of, it was a very close game in possession, duels won and lost. Credit to Halifax, they’re a bloody good team." It’ll be interesting to see if Stephen Hart sticks with the high press vs. Edmonton.

90-minute performance: Both teams have looked solid for long stretches in matches throughout The Island Games – especially the Wanderers, and the way they made things very uncomfortable for Cavalry. What we haven’t seen from HFX or FCE is a complete 90-minute performance (which is one reason why both teams are still looking for their first wins). Putting in a 90-minute effort could be the difference between a win and a loss on Wednesday night.

More goals from Ongaro: Easton Ongaro netted his first goal of the campaign over the weekend, scoring late to help the Eddies earn a 2-2 draw vs. Ottawa. Ongaro finished 2019 with 10 goals and told CanPL.ca after the season was over he had his eye on winning the 2020 scoring race. With only four first-round games left for Edmonton, Ongaro has to start scoring on a regular basis if he’s going to claim the Golden Boot.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

"I think we need to get nine points total (to advance to the second round), so seven more. If we get that, we’ll be okay." – HFX coach Stephen Hart, after the Cavalry game. "I think we started to find a bit of flow and creativity – it’s something we’ve struggled with so it’s definitely good progress. We knew we needed a result and going down two-nil so early on… that’s a hard thing to come back from." – FCE forward Easton Ongaro, after the Ottawa game

ALL-TIME SERIES

Edmonton wins: 2 || HFX wins: 0 || Draws 2

PREVIOUS MEETING

September 28, 2019: HFX Wanderers FC 1, FC Edmonton 1

REFEREES

Referee: Filip Dujic ARs: Gabrielle Lemieux & Micahel Hood 4th Official: Mathieu Souare

Atlético Ottawa vs. FC Edmonton: Old rivalry reignited in crucial Island Games tilt

Sat, 22 Aug 2020 16:44:06 +0000

2020 CPL regular season (The Island Games) — Match #12 Atlético Ottawa vs. FC Edmonton August 23, 2020 at 1:00 p.m ET/2:00 p.m. AT UPEI Artificial Turf Field in Charlottetown, PEI Watch Live: OneSoccer.ca/CHCH

The Ottawa-Edmonton soccer rivalry will begin anew ON Sunday, as FC Edmonton faces Atlético Ottawa for the first time. Supporters in both cities fondly remember tilts between the Eddies and Ottawa Fury in the Canadian Championship, as "default quarter-finalists," and in NASL play. While Atlético Ottawa is a different club entirely, the strange Canadian soccer rivalry still stands – and it’s never been more interesting as both sides are desperate for points. The Eddies return to play less than 72 hours since a comprehensive Al Classico loss. Jeff Paulus’ side was competing with Cavalry FC until Terique Mohammed’s second-half sending-off sealed their fate. FCE are the lone CPL side without a point and sit bottom of the eight-team first-round standings. Ottawa comes into this game with a similar back-against-the-wall attitude after an embarrassing 4-0 loss to Valour FC. Milovan Kapor’s sending off sent Mista’s squad into a downward spiral, making their first match in Atlético’s famous red-and-white stripes a forgettable one. Ottawa sits on one point from their first two matches as a club. Their debut, as you may recall, featured a similar red card scenario. After this, FC Edmonton will be back in action on Wednesday when they face HFX Wanderers FC (8pm ET/9pm AT, OneSoccer). Atlético Ottawa returns on Thursday when they face Cavalry FC (8pm ET/9pm AT, OneSoccer).

RELATED READING: Paulus hopes to rekindle ‘special’ Edmonton-Ottawa rivalry in 1st CPL meeting

3 THINGS TO WATCH

Generate chances: The stats speak for themselves: FC Edmonton has yet to score at The Island Games – and have recorded a league-low two shots on target. As Paulus stressed on Thursday, their lack of offensive product let them down against Cavalry, not dodgy refereeing decisions. Perhaps we need to see more from wingers Hanson Boakai and Keven Alemán, promising creators who could have yet to make an impact in PEI.

Keep it clean: Atlético Ottawa has had players sent off in both of its matches. Sure, there have only been two red cards (via double yellows), but they’ve cost Ottawa points, with all six goals conceded coming after they had a player sent off. Ottawa needs to ensure a more disciplined approach – Vashon Neufville’s needless bump of Joe Di Chiara and Milovan Kapor’s shoulder-tugs weren’t exactly signs of a club in control of the moment.

Intensity: If either side wants a result ON Sunday, they’re going to need to show some urgency. Ottawa, while down a man, looked a beaten side early against Valour. The Eddies had similar mental issues against Cavalry, though spirited runs by Easton Ongaro showed some promise.

INJURIES

FC Edmonton Amer Didic (day-to-day)

Atlético Ottawa None

SUSPENSIONS

FC Edmonton Terique Mohammed (One game)

Atlético Ottawa Milovan Kapor (One game)

ALL-TIME SERIES First meeting

REFEREES Referee: Myriam Marcotte ARs: Gabrielle Lemieux, Stefan Tanaka-Freundt 4th Official: Juan Marquez