Welcome to the first Northern Weekly Roundup! In this article, I will give a short review of the events around Canadian and North American footy from the past week. Be sure to check back each Sunday evening.

Whitecaps Rebound

The Whitecaps rebounded after the defeat in Kansas with a 1-0 victory over FC Dallas. Techera netted the winner after a stunning run by Manneh. Morales made his return to the starting lineup but he is still a shadow of his 2014 self. Rivero slump continues and the player is showing his frustration. If he and Morales can get on the same page, wow, watch out MLS. They have 8 games remaining (5 home, 3 road) and they are setup perfectly to challenge for the Supporters’ Shield. However, their 8 match month is beginning to show. I counted 4 players going down with cramp which means that we will see some squad rotation when they host Montreal midweek.

Kicked to the Curb

Giovinco, the Atomic Ant. The destroyer more like. This Saturday, Orlando SC provided a much needed punching bag for the Reds. When they are clicking, TFC has one of the best attacking formations in the league. The defense is another story, but the talking point before kickoff was the fact that Jozy Altidore started the match on the bench. That, and the fact they switched to a 4-2-3-1 showed Vanney isn’t afraid to make some tough decisions. Altidore would eventually come off the bench and net a brace as the Ontario club romped to a 5-0 victory over the expansion club.

Drogba Debut Spoiled

The buzz has returned to Montreal with the signing of Drogba. Fans had to wait to see the Chelsea legend but it finally came when the Impact hosted the Union on Saturday. Drogba took to the field to the sound of a thunderous roar but LeToux spoiled the party shortly after as the home side fell 1-0. The team is on a slide and they will be hard pressed to turn things around when they face Vancouver on Wednesday evening. The good news is that Mapp has returned. The bad news is that the locker room isn’t happy.

Laurent Ciman after #IMFC‘s 1-0 loss to Philadelphia: “When it’s bad, it’s bad. We showed nothing, we don’t have any philosophy”. #MLS — Nick Sabetti (@nicksabetti) August 23, 2015

Expansion Woes

New York City FC and Orlando City have very impressive marketing teams. The same cannot be said for the dudes who strap on the cleats and kick a ball around for 90 minutes. NYCFC and OCSC joined MLS with trumpets blaring in the background, confetti fell from the sky, while flamingos danced in synchronicity to Lady Gaga. Before the season started the two teams made it rain and stole headlines. Expansion teams have a history of struggling and so both teams spent big in the hopes of making the playoffs. This plan hasn’t paid off. Orlando suffered an embarrassing 5-0 hammering in Toronto and earlier today NYCFC were bent over a barrel by the Galaxy, falling 5-1. Both teams are on the wrong side of the red line and I will be very surprised if either makes the postseason.

FC Edmonton Suffer Home Defeat

The Eddies are building a young core of exciting talent. The NASL Fall Season has been good to them as they have climbed to 3rd in the rankings. Despite their recent form, they suffered a 2-0 home defeat on Sunday afternoon to the visiting Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Having played 10 games, more than most, they will be hoping that the teams chasing them stumble down the stretch.

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Kasey Hunter Growing up in family of footy lovers, Kasey became a fan and player as soon as he could walk. After suffering a leg injury in 2009, he has been forced to the sidelines and transferred his love of the game to writing. When he isn't writing about soccer he can be found studying psychology.

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