Major League Soccer has honoured Canadian goalkeeper Pat Onstad for making the MLS Degree Men Save of the Year. The Houston Dynamo goalkeeper earned the award for his save on 19 April against Colorado Rapids’ Conor Casey.
Onstad actually made two terrific saves on the play. First, Onstad stopped the Casey penalty kick with a diving play. Onstad was diving to his right when he reached high with his left hand to stop the shot. He then quickly got up and protected the opposite side of the net on an ensuing Terry Cooke rebound shot. Onstad’s saves helped maintain a 1-0 lead for the Dynamo.
Canada’s men’s national team concluded its 2009 schedule on Wednesday in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Canada finished the season with a record of four wins, one draw and three losses following an 0:1 loss to Poland.
“It was important for us to get the opportunity to be together and play some games,” said head coach Stephen Hart. “Overall, I think it is important for us to see each other, to work together and to see how the players are progressing.”
Thirty-two countries have booked their place for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. The last of the teams qualified on Wednesday 18 November, thus completing the field for the world’s biggest football tournament. Next up is the Final Draw on 5 December 2009.
From North America (CONCACAF), the three qualified nations are USA, Mexico and Honduras. From South America, the five qualified nations are Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay. From Oceania, the one qualified nation is New Zealand.
The second phase of ticket sales for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ has been extended until this 20 November 2009. Fans can purchase tickets to the world’s biggest tournament in this second sales phase via FIFA.com. This second phase of ticket sales began on 5 May.
During this phase, applications can be made via the FIFA website (FIFA.com) or at First National Bank (FNB) branches. Tickets will be allocated on a “first come, first serve” basis. Each applicant can apply for up to four tickets per match and up to seven matches in total. Ticket prices start at USD 20 (ZAR 140). For further information, customers can send an e-mail to enquiries@2010FWCTC.com or fax +41 43222 6800.
The Canadian men’s national team will close out their 2009 schedule when they face Poland on Wednesday evening in Bydgoszcz, Poland. The match is set to kick off at 17.00 local time (11.00 ET / 08.00 PT) from the Stadiom Miejski im. ZdzisÅ‚awa Krzyszkowiaka in Bydgoszcz. The international friendly will conclude Canada’s European camp which began on 9 November in FYR Macedonia.
For more information on the match, please visit the following fixture link.
Canada’s men’s national team opened the Poland stage of its European camp today in Bydgozscz. The team arrived Sunday afternoon on a charter direct from Macedonia. Canada is currently preparing for its match with Poland this coming Wednesday 18 November. The match will kick off at 17.00 local time (11.00 ET / 08.00 PT).
Canada trained hard on Monday as it looks to rebound from its disappointing 0:3 loss to FYR Macedonia on Saturday. Following training, the team signed autographs and posed for photographs with local youth players who had acted as ball boys for the team’s training session.
Canadian midfielder Dwayne De Rosario has been named to the annual Major League Soccer Best XI. This marks the fourth time that De Rosario has been named to the MLS Best XI, albeit the first time as a member of Toronto FC. De Rosario is the first player to be named to the MLS Best XI with three different teams (San Jose Earthquake, Houston Dynamo and Toronto FC).
De Rosario is also the first Toronto FC player to be named to the MLS Best XI. In his first season with his hometown club, De Rosario was also named Toronto FC Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot award winner.
Canada’s women’s national team concluded its most recent camp in Sunrise, FL. The 11-day camp featured a pair of exhibition matches against local university teams. Coach Carolina Morace had 23 players in camp from 3-14 November.
“Considering we were playing university teams, we were able to evaluate our play when we were in possession, but very little during the defensive phase,” said Morace. “It was a positive point that we had less unforced errors during possession. We switched the ball well and usually in two touches. We were able to take advantage of our set plays on the offensive side.”
L’équipe nationale féminine du Canada a récemment terminé leur camp d’entraînement qui s’est déroulé à Sunrise en Floride. L’entraîneur Carolina Morace a fait appel à 23 joueuses pour le camp de 11 jours ayant lieu entre le 3 et le 13 novembre. Les efforts de l’équipe pendant le camp ont porté des fruits, car les Canadiennes ont également disputé deux matchs-exhibitions entre leurs séances d’entraînement contre des équipes universitaires de la région et le Canada a remporté la victoire chaque fois.