Posted by ian Clarke

September 22 , 2014 Email

Ian Clarke



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Into the fall/winter seasons, and down the final stretch of summer seasons, it’s an exciting part of the soccer calendar as pretty much every league around the world is in competition. It also offers the most Canucks to track overseas and with the state of the national team riding a small, but critical, wave of confidence, we are starting to see more regular minutes week in week out. From Simeon Jackson and Marcus Haber in England, to Charlie Trafford in Finland, Lucas Cavellini in Uruguay and Randy Edwini-Bonsu in Germany, there are a wide spectrum of players to monitor each week that are important to the national team in the next year. In Bulgaria

Unless you’ve been without internet for the past week, Canadians saw what would have been the most high profile match up since … well, three weeks ago when Atiba Hutchinson faced off against Arsenal. Regardless, considering Milan Borjan was without a club when he was seen last in Canada’s 3-1 victory over Jamaica, most would not have expected his next game to be at Anfield opposing Liverpool in the Champions League. Ludogorets have won the Bulgarian league the last three years and qualified into the group stage of the Champions League through a thrilling penalty kicks display where their defender had to replace the keeper to help them advance. With one keeper injured and suspended keeper, Borjan fit the bill to help them in their opening game of the group stage. Considering Borjan had only one training session in advance of the game, the Canadian by way of the former Yugoslavia did well for himself, making some good stops. Many would note the winning goal was a bit of a gaff, but on the back pass there was blame to share as it did not allow for clean distribution and in turn lead to a penalty kick. What comes next for Borjan however is a big question mark. @mr_zombi has three months @PFC_Ludogorets where he is going to give everything he can for the club and then we will see. #442 #442family — 442FootballMGMT (@442FootballMGMT) September 17, 2014

With the Champions League match behind them, Borjan did not get into the starting eleven this past weekend as they defeated Lovech 4-1 at home. From what Borjan’s representatives tweeted after the Liverpool match, it looks like he is on contract until the end of the year. With one keeper still injured, it will be a battle against Vladislav Stoyanov to try an earn more minutes before he looks to move on to a new club. In England

A player noted at the start of the season needing consistent minutes to be an essential part of the national team in the coming years, David Edgar continues to log 90 minutes each week for Championship side Birmingham City. Off to a bit of a rough start to the season, Birmingham are floating near the bottom of the table, finding real trouble securing three points. Mid-week they were downed 2-0 by Sheffield Wednesday, with Edgar going 90 minutes. On the weekend they were certainly gutted to lose a two-goal lead and valuable points as even though Edgar set up the insurance goal, it wasn't enough to hold off Norwich City in an eventual 2-2 draw. Other Canadians in England of note were Simeon Jackson playing the full 90 for Coventry City in their 1-0 loss to Rochdale, as well as Marcus Haber in Crewe Alexandra’s 6-1 loss to MK Dons. Another exciting prospect for Canada, Michael Petrasso, is into his third week on loan from Queen’s Park Rangers at Leyton Orient in League One. Getting minutes each week will be important for his development and it is an encouraging sign that Petrasso is a wanted commodity, now on his third loan in under a year. From Oldham United to Coventry City last year, now with Leyton Orient, Petrasso came off the bench in a 2-1 victory over Scunthorpe United this past weekend. In Turkey

As noted above, most recognize Atiba Hutchinson as Canada's top player at the moment, and one who consistently earns minutes at the highest level. His Besiktas side couldn't get past Arsenal into the Champions League group stage and as a result are straight into the group stage of the Europa League. Besiktas are in Group C with Greek club Asteras Tripolis, Serbia's Partizan and Tottenham Hotspur. Hutchinson has been a mainstay in the midfield so far this season and went the full 90 in the opening match against Asteras Tripolis in a 1-1 draw. In the Turkish Super Lig, Besiktas earned a huge win on Monday night defeating crosstown rivals Bursaspor 1-0 to put them in an early-season three-way tie for first place with Fenerbahce and Akhisar Belediye. Hutchinson once again was all 90 minutes and an 86 minute goal by Olcay Sahan secure all three points. With a home game approaching against Eskisehirspor next weekend, the following week will have them traveling back to London, this time to face Tottenham in the Europa League. David Edgar sets up the second goal, that wasn't enough as Birmingham tied Norwich City 2-2.



Charlie Trafford scores in the dying seconds to close the gap in a 3-2 loss to Jaro.



Here's how the rest of Canada's Internationals did Across the Pond: Milan Borjan – Ludogorets (BUL – D1):

Tuesday, September 16, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Liverpool in the Champions League.

Sunday, September 21, did not play in a 4-1 victory over Lovech. Keven Aleman – Herediano (CR – D1):

Thursday, September 18, did not play in a 4-2 victory over Isidro Metapan in the Champions League. Daniel Haber – Ayia Napa (CPR – D1):

Saturday, September 20, played 78 minutes in a 3-1 loss to APOEL. David Edgar – Birmingham City (ENG - D2):

Saturday, September 20, played all 90 minutes and had an assist in a 2-2 draw with Norwich City. Simeon Jackson – Coventry City (ENG – D3):

Saturday, September 20, played all 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Rochdale. Michael Petrasso – Leyton Orient (ENG – D3):

Saturday, September 20, subbed in at the 72nd minute in a 2-1 victory over Scunthorpe United. Marcus Haber – Crewe Alexandra (ENG – D3):

Saturday, September 20, played all 90 minutes in a 6-1 loss to MK Dons. Emmett O’Connor – Crawley Town (ENG – D3):

Saturday, September 20, did not play in a 2-0 loss to Preston North End. Charlie Trafford – KuPS (FIN – D1):

Friday, September 19, played all 90 minutes and scored A GOAL in a 3-2 loss to Jaro.

Monday, September 22, played all 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with FC Lahti. David Monsalve – AC OULU (FIN – D2):

Saturday, September 20, played all 90 minutes and kept A CLEAN SHEET in a 7-0 victory over Viikingit. Marcel De Jong – FC Augsburg (GER - D1):

Saturday, September 20, did not play in a 4-2 victory over Werder Bremen. Andre Hainault – Aalen (GER – B2):

Friday, September 19, played 86 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Sandhausen. Randy Edwini-Bonsu – Stuttgarter Kickers (GER – D3):

Friday, September 19, played 60 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Osnabruck. Nik Ledgerwood – Energie Cottbus (GER – D3):

Saturday, September 20, did not play in a 2-1 loss to Hallescher FC. Daniel Stanese – Augsburg II (GER – D4):

Friday, September 19, a 2-1 victory over Heimstetten. Tosaint Ricketts – Hapoel Haifa (ISR – D1):

Saturday, September 20, played all 90 minutes in a 2-0 loss to Ashdod. Tomer Chencinski – Ironi Ramat Gan (ISR – D2):

Monday, September 15, played all 90 minutes and kept a CLEAN SHEET in a 1-0 victory over Hapoel Jerusalem. Iain Hume – Kerala Blasters (IND – D1):

Next match, Saturday October 10 v North East United. Dejan Jakovic – Shimizu S-Pulse (JPN – D1):

Saturday, September 20, did not play in a 3-1 loss to Vissel Kobe. Pedro Pacheco – Santa Clara (POR – D2):

Sunday, September 21, played all 90 minutes in a 3-1 loss to Vitoria Guimaraes. Jordan Hamilton – Trofense (POR – D2):

Wednesday, September 17, subbed in at the 87th minute in a 1-0 loss to Martimo II.

Sunday, September 21, did not play in a 2-1 loss to Leixoes. Samuel Piette – Deportivo La Coruna B (SPN – D4):

Sunday, September 21 did not play in a 1-1 draw with Bergantinos. Kenny Stamatopoulos – AIK (SWE – D1):

Sunday, September 21, did not play in a 1-0 loss to Halmstad. Atiba Hutchinson – Besiktas (TUR – D1):

Monday, September 22, played all 90 minutes in a 1-0 victory over Bursaspor. Lucas Cavallini – Nacional (URU – D1):

Monday, September 22, played all 90 minutes and scored A GOAL in a 3-1 loss to River Plate.



ACROSS THE BORDER Tesho Akindele – FC Dallas:

Saturday, September 20, played 75 minutes in a 2-1 loss to LA Galaxy. Patrice Bernier – Montreal Impact:

Saturday, September 20, did not play in a 2-0 victory over San Jose. Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare – Montreal Impact:

Saturday, September 20, played all 90 minutes in a 2-0 victory over San Jose. Issey Nakajima-Farran – Montreal Impact:

Saturday, September 20, subbed in at the 69th minute in a 2-0 victory over San Jose. Rob Friend – LA Galaxy:

Saturday, September 20, did not play in a 2-1 victory over FC Dallas. Will Johnson – Portland Timbers:

Saturday, September 20, played all 90 minutes in a 3-0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps. Dwayne De Rosario – Toronto FC:

Sunday, September 21, subbed in at the 76th minute in a 3-0 victory over Chivas USA. Kyle Bekker – Toronto FC:

Sunday, September 21, did not play in a 3-0 victory over Chivas USA. Ashtone Morgan – Toronto FC:

Sunday, September 21, did not play in a 3-0 victory over Chivas USA. Doneil Henry – Toronto FC:

Sunday, September 21, did not play in a 3-0 victory over Chivas USA. Jonathan Osorio – Toronto FC:

Sunday, September 21, played 68 minutes in a 3-0 victory over Chivas USA. Russel Teibert – Vancouver Whitecaps:

Saturday, September 20, played all 90 minutes in a 3-0 loss to Portland Timbers.