#canMNT Club Recap: From 8-14 May 2012
Posted on 14 May 2012 in Around the Soccer World
With Men’s National Team Head Coach Stephen Hart set to announce Canada’s squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™ later this week, there were a number of Canadian internationals who stepped into the spotlight with their clubs around the world from 8-14 May 2012.
Milan Borjan earned yet another clean sheet as FC Vaslui posted a ninth straight victory to move into first place in the Romanian top flight; Simeon Jackson scored for Norwich City in the final game of the team’s return season in the English Premier League; and 11 Canadians featured in week two of the Amway Canadian Championship.
Romania
Liga I.
Canadian goalkeeper Milan Borjan has continued a remarkable run of from with FC Vaslui in Romania’s Premier Division as the club have vaulted into first place with only two matches remaining in the league.
Borjan and Vaslui have strung together a run of nine consecutive wins, featuring three clean sheets by the Canada goalkeeper.
Since transferring from Turkish club Sivasspor in January, Borjan has laid an undisputed claim to the number one role at Vaslui, making 14 appearances while helping the club on an improbable run to first place in Romania.
With two matches remaining in the campaign, Vaslui will be looking to clinch the league title and book a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League qualifiers with a top-two finish.
Borjan’s most recent performance was rewarded with a clean sheet as Vaslui shut-out Sportul Studenţesc 1:0 on 13 May.
England
Premier League
Simeon Jackson capped off his debut season in England’s top flight by scoring the second goal in Norwich City FC’s 2:0 win over Aston Villa on a dramatic final day of play in the Premier League.
The Canada striker finishes the 2011-12 season with Norwich with five goals in 26 appearances for the Canaries in all competitions.
Jackson was selected to start in both of Norwich’s final two matches of the league campaign, signalling that the Mississauga native should be in top form to help Canada along its way as the squad enters FIFA World Cup Qualifiers™ in June.
North America
Amway Canadian Championship
Toronto FC featured five Canadians in a 2:0 win over Impact Montréal in the second leg of the semi-final of the Amway Canadian Championship.
Adrian Cann, Doneil Henry, Ashtone Morgan and Julian De Guzman started the match for Toronto; midfielder Terry Dunfield came into the game in the 57th minute. Patrice Bernier played the first half for Impact Montréal.
FC Edmonton fielded a squad that featured six Canadians in a 3:1 loss to Whitecaps FC in the other semi-final second leg in the Canadian Championship.
David Monsalve, Shaun Saiko, Paul Hamilton, Chris Kooy and Matt Lam started the match for Edmonton; Kyle Porter entered play as a substitute in the 55th minute.
Major League Soccer
Canada defender André Hainault played 90 minutes as the Houston Dynamo edged out Dwayne De Rosario and DC United with a 1:0 win.
Will Johnson played 90 minutes in a 1:0 win for Real Salt Lake over the Seattle Sounders.
Ante Jazic played 90 minutes in a 1:1 draw for Chivas USA away to the San Jose Earthquakes.
Around the World
Norway: Eliteserien
Canada goalkeeper Lars Hirscfeld was on the losing end of a 3:1 result as Vålerenga were defeated away from home by Tromsø.
Hirschfeld has started all eight of Vålerenga’s league matches so far in the 2012 season as the clubs currently occupies the sixth position in the Norwegian table.
Portugal: Liga de Honra
Pedro Pacheco had the dubious honour of scoring an own goal in Santa Clara’s 5:1 away loss to Naval 1º de Maio in the Portugese second division.
Sweden: Allsvenskan
Kenny Stamatopoulos saw action between the pipes in Scanadinavia over the weekend as AIK suffered a 1:0 away defeat to Elfsborg.
Stamatopoulos has featured in three of AIK’s nine matches thus far in the league campaign.
Switzerland: Super League
Josh Simpson started and played 65 minutes a 2:2 away draw for Young Boys away to Thun.
Young Boys are currently holding on to third place in the Super League which would be good enough for a spot in the 2012-13 UEFA Europa League.
