Today’s News, Thursday , Aug.28

[denime]

Ruiz excited by Reds move
Striker set for Toronto debut

Toronto FC striker Carlos Ruiz revealed he had interest from three other clubs in MLS but decided to join the Reds. Ruiz is set to make his Toronto debut in Saturday's game at Chivas USA (kick off 10:30 p.m. live on Rogers Sportsnet). "I heard a few teams wanted to sign me. There was interest from Real Salt Lake, Columbus, Chivas and Toronto. I spoke with my agent and we decided that Toronto was the best option and I'm excited by the move."

Read more (http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20080827&content_id=183701&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280)



Nana's injury frustration
Defender determined to make quick return

Nana Attakora-Gyan has been speaking of his frustration at being ruled out of action with injury. The Reds defender is set to miss the next month with a slight knee cartilage tear. "In the training session before the New York game I felt a pop in my knee, but I didn't think anything more of it and played in the game," said Attakora-Gyan. "The Friday before the New England game it started to swell up, so I was sent for an MRI and the results came back showing I've got a torn meniscus in my knee. It can heal by itself so I don't need surgery and I'm pleased about that because I'm young and I don't want to have an operation at this stage of my career."

Read more (http://toronto.fc.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20080827&content_id=183697&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280)



Impact win opener against Nicaraguan side
Gjertsen goal gives Montreal club edge in return leg Sept. 2

MONTREAL–Joey Gjertsen scored in the 42nd minute as the Montreal Impact defeated Real Esteli FC of Nicaragua 1-0 in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League series yesterday night.
Montreal will take its one-goal lead into the second leg of the series on Sept. 2 at Carlos Miranda Stadium in Comayagua, Honduras. Nicaragua doesn't have a venue that meets FIFA standards.
Gjertsen had missed a chance from the edge of the penalty area in the 24th minute and another when he was in too tight in the 29th before he found the goal.
A long, arced pass from Leo Di Lorenzo into the front of the net was misplayed by an Esteli defender onto the foot of Gjertsen, who put a low blast from 25 yards inside the left post.
The Impact wasted many other chances in a match in which they held a clear advantage in play over the smaller Nicaraguan club, and now must go into hostile territory with the slimmest of leads.

Read more (http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Soccer/article/486867)



Impact win in CONCACAF Champions League debut

The Montreal Impact got off to a good start in the preliminary round of the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League, but they may need an even better finish.
A goal in the 42nd minute from midfielder Joey Gjertsen gave Montreal a 1-0 win against visiting Real Esteli FC at Saputo Stadium on Wednesday, in the first game of the home-and-away series.
Despite controlling the ball in the midfield and creating numerous scoring chances throughout the match, that lone goal was all Montreal could muster in the home half of the preliminary round, which determines a winner using total goals.
As a result, the Impact will take just a one-goal advantage into hostile territory next Tuesday at Carlos Miranda Stadium, in Comayagua, Honduras. The game won't be played in Nicaragua as no stadium there met FIFA norms required for the tournament.

Read more (http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2008/08/27/soccer-concacaf-impact.html)



SUNSHINE (http://www.torontosun.com/SUNshineGirl/home.html)

[Fort York Redcoat]

Tic tac Tabernac?

[Shaughno]

How'd you lose to the L'Impact? :p

It's two legs though right?

[rocker]

How'd you lose to the L'Impact? :p

It's two legs though right?

ya, two legs... Montreal should have won 4-0... Esteli was awful.
but montreal couldn't finish. they'd dominate play and then make some stupid mistake in Esteli's end and fail to finish.

[canadian_bhoy]

How'd you lose to the L'Impact? :p

It's two legs though right?

Even more bizzare is - How do you lose to the impact without ever losing to the impact?

Woah! I just blew my own mind.

[Shaughno]

^^ Easy, you beat yourself. ;)

[canadian_bhoy]

^^ Easy, you beat yourself. ;)

The players should be doing that in the comfort and privacy of their homes - not out on the field. :D

[Oldtimer]

ya, two legs... Montreal should have won 4-0... Esteli was awful.
but montreal couldn't finish. they'd dominate play and then make some stupid mistake in Esteli's end and fail to finish.

Yeah, 1-0 was a terrible result for Montreal considering who they were playing.

Real Esteli came across as more like a street soccer team. No cohesion, just awful. If that's their best team I can't imagine what their last place team is like. No wonder MoJo didn't look much in Central America.

[Ron Manager]

ya, two legs... Montreal should have won 4-0... Esteli was awful.
but montreal couldn't finish. they'd dominate play and then make some stupid mistake in Esteli's end and fail to finish.

That sounds familiar.

[SteeltownBhoy]

How did Nana get an MRI so fast? Did they send him to the states and MLSE pay for it?
Because we never jump the Q in Canada!!!!!

[Roogsy]

Usually big corps have their own MRI machine. I wouldn't be surprised if the Leafs have one and TFC has access to it.

Or sometimes you have doctors that are specialists and practice in Toronto hospitals that are also on staff with the teams. I believe that is the case with the Leafs if I am not mistaken but I haven't really kept up on it. I just remember looking up all this info when I needed my own MRI on my knee.

Point is...Athletes have teams behind them that get them quick access.

[CoachGT]

How did Nana get an MRI so fast? Did they send him to the states and MLSE pay for it?
Because we never jump the Q in Canada!!!!!

Anybody can jump the queue if you are willing to pay for it. When I worked with a junior hockey team, we could get it done quickly, but it cost just over $1000 each time. Quicker to go to Buffalo and pay $3-500 and have the results emailed to you (another option).

[bangersandmash]

Or there's the old scam of going in at 3:00 in the morning. There was a huge outrage back in the 90s when it was discovered that Veterinarians were using MRIs and other machines on rich people's pets. Basically, if you can find a person skilled enough to use the machine, there is probably a time in the middle of the night where you can get access to it. (which gives me a great idea for a party... anyone wanna DJ an MRI night?!)

[O.T. 66]

some news from England:

Manchester City re-sign SWP
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=567015&sec=england&cc=5901

Steven Gerrard out for England Qualifiers
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=566920&sec=uefachampionsleague&cc=5901

[TicTacTabarnack]

How did Nana get an MRI so fast? Did they send him to the states and MLSE pay for it?
Because we never jump the Q in Canada!!!!!

Rumour has it that MLSE donated money towards getting an MRI machine for one of the downtown hospitals back in the day when they were too pricey for a publicly funded acquisition. Obviously this would have been done on the condition that they get immediate use should they need it for a player (Leafs, Raptors and now TFC).

If Nana wanted to use his OHIP route, he'd still be waiting for that MRI guaranteed!

[TicTacTabarnack]

It's interesting to see that the Canadian USL team faired better than the MLS teams.

[MG42]

Or sometimes you have doctors that are specialists and practice in Toronto hospitals that are also on staff with the teams.

BINGO!!!

[romburgundy]

How'd you lose to the L'Impact? :p

It's two legs though right?

Now that they're reppin Canada I hope they do well.