Canada Corner: TFC warns Arena, Canadian expansion and more

By: KURTIS LARSON

For Toronto, it's the story behind the MLS' 5-2 loss to Manchester United.

TFC head coach Preki let it be known Tuesday, following a CONCACAF Champions League match with Motagua, that under no circumstances should Dwayne De Rosario play in the MLS All-Star exhibition in Houston.

Still, All-Star head coach Bruce Arena defied TFC's request that De Rosario rest ahead of Toronto's busy week, bringing on the TFC playmaker 15 minutes from time with Galaxy star Landon Donovan.

What's worth mentioning is that Arena elected to rest L.A. target man Edson Buddle for the entire match while only playing the Galaxy's Omar Gonzalez a mere 45 minutes even though Gonzalez didn't see time the previous night in a 4-1 embarrassing loss to the Puerto Rico Islanders.

The organization of the 2010 All-Star game was a disaster to begin with and dressing/playing top players on absolutely no rest is irresponsible of the coach and the league.

The idea of MLS sides hosting exhibitions with EPL sides is fine as it helps grow the game and create interest around the league. But handicapping MLS teams who are in the midst of playoff battles and Champions League qualifiers by shipping in players for a meaningless game doesn't make much sense during this portion of the season. MLS has matured past the point where an All-Star game is a necessity.

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Victoria, Hamilton and Ottawa will reportedly submit formal applications to join the NASL as part of an initiative involving aggressive soccer expansion in Canada. The announcement follows planned expansion ne! xt year with FC Edmonton beginning play at the start of the 2011 season.

Victoria and Ottawa currently sport PDL teams and are targeting entry into the USSF-2 between 2012 and 2013.

"It's no secret we've contemplated moving up levels," Victoria (B.C.) PDL GM Drew Finerty said Wednesday. "Where we will end up is still to be determined."

Finerty and Victoria's PDL side will host FC Edmonton in a friendly to get a "sense" of whether or not the people of Victoria want professional soccer. The Victoria GM says he hopes to draw at least 2,000 at the game.

In Hamilton, CFL team owner Bob Young will submit a bid for entry ahead of the 2013 season. The city of 500,000 is an hour drive from Toronto and stadium plans are in the works as they relate to the 2015 Pan-Am Games in the Greater Toronto Area.

The likelihood of at least two of the three teams coming in is high meaning an assortment of changes to the Canadian soccer set up will be in store. An expanded Nutrilite Canadian Cup tournament will be among the obvious changes with the possibility of youth academy systems being adopted by each of the new franchises.

Victoria, Hamilton and Ottawa would potentially join Toronto FC, Vancouver and the Montreal Impact, who will be in MLS by 2012. Add in FC Edmonton, who begins play in 2011, and it brings the total to seven professional teams in Canada by 2013.

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Toronto FC travel to the midwest Saturday to face a confident Kansas City side that's coming off two road results and a shock win over Manchester United. Three points for either team would be massive as Toronto FC look to catch New York while KC hopes to slip past Chicago and into third place in the east.

With a Champions League return leg in Honduras Tuesday, it will be interesting to see how Preki shuffles his lineup. Regular starters Nick LaBrocca, Amadou Sanyang and Dan Gargan saw limited action in the first leg so they should be ready! to go i n Kansas. That said, if TFC hopes to advance to the group stages, a strong starting 11 is a must against Motagua as they protect a slim one-goal lead.

Vancouver Whitecaps can't be stopped in Montreal, winning for the second time in as many tries thanks to a Greg Janicki goal in the 88th minute that sent the 12,355 on hand home with their heads down. Vancouver remains undefeated against their arch rivals in five games this season, winning twice and drawing the rest.

A tough stretch for the 'Caps lies ahead with their next four games on the road against Carolina, St. Louis, Minnesota and Tampa Bay. If they can come away with at least five points from the road trip, Vancouver will be in great position to finish top of the table in the NASL Conference. Montreal fell seven points behind their Canadian counterparts.

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What do you think of Canadian expansion? Will the success in Toronto be replicated in places like Hamilton and Victoria? What are your thoughts ahead of next week's Champions League second legs?

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