Mornin'


Handling the pressure
Ryan Johnston
The two incidents happened 40-odd minutes apart, but in their own way provided insight on how different players learn the game of soccer.
To begin, observe the still frame evidence to the right (For the record, there is perfect video evidence, but the digital rights to show such things far exceed the value of this blog):


LEFT: Sam Cronin | RIGHT: Marvell Wynne

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De Rosario's scoring appetite satisfies TFC

`You know he's hungry,' says coach Cummins of midfielder's return from hamstring injury
Daniel Girard
Asked what's behind the stellar performances Dwayne De Rosario has turned in since returning from injury, Toronto FC coach Chris Cummins has a simple explanation.
"I think it's down to coaching if I'm honest with you," Cummins deadpanned yesterday as TFC finished preparations for tonight's second game of the Nutrilite Canadian Championship against the Montreal Impact at BMO Field.

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De Rosario determined to avoid last year's collapse by TFC
PAUL ATTFIELD
TORONTO — One down, three to go.
Toronto FC got the 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship campaign off to a cracking start with last week's 1-0 home win over the Vancouver Whitecaps, and will be looking to complete the BMO Field double over their Canadian rivals with tonight's game against the Montreal Impact.
Of course, as they know only too well, the Reds were in exactly the same situation last year, having won their first match of the competition at Montreal. But that's when things started to go awry, and the team failed to register another victory on its way to finishing runner-up in the three-team tournament it was widely expected to run away with against lower-league opponents.

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Toronto FC ready for Montreal
Canadian Championship continues Wednesday
By Mark Polishuk / MLSnet.com Staff
TORONTO -- The Montreal Impact are a walking reminder of what might have been for Toronto FC. If only the Reds had converted one of several late-game opportunities in a 1-1 draw with the Impact last July 22. If only TFC had done a better job of defending the corner kick that the Impact converted to equalize the game after an early Reds goal. If only TFC had been able to overtake Montreal and win the Nutrilite Canadian Championship, then it might well have been 55,000 fans at Toronto's Rogers Centre in February, rather than at Montreal's Olympic Stadium for the Impact's CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal home tie with Santos Laguna of Mexico.

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Upset stomach, upset result?
By STEVE BUFFERY
Toronto FC coach Chris Cummins plans to unveil the club's secret weapon for tonight's Nutrilite Canadian Championship match against the Montreal Impact at BMO Field.
A gigantic bottle of Pepto-Bismol.
Actually, the Reds apparently are recovered from a bout of food poisoning that levelled at least four players prior to the club's game last Saturday against DC United at RFK Stadium, although Cummins admitted yesterday that forward Danny Dichio still was not feeling great, nor was midfielder Carl Robinson, who was forced to miss the enthralling 3-3 draw.

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Toronto FC does not worry impact
Last Year's Winners
Eric Koreen,
John Limniatis is fine if soccer fans belittle the hope of his Montreal Impact in their quest to repeat as victors in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship tournament.
"Toronto is the favourite, but at the same time, all the pressure is on them to represent Canada," Limniatis, the head coach of the Montreal Impact, said yesterday. "Last year Toronto didn't put much [energy] into the tournament but I think they quickly realized they missed the boat."

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Ibrahim selected to U.S. U-20 squad
Forward named to 20 man roster for camp
Toronto FC announced Tuesday that forward Fuad Ibrahim has been selected to the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team domestic training camp roster.
Ibrahim, 17, will join up with the national team departing after Toronto FC's game against New England on May 23. He will return to the team and be available for selection for their match in Houston on Saturday May 30,

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Impact has Grande plan for Toronto FC
By Randy Phillips,
MONTREAL — Sandro Grande is back in the Montreal Impact’s good graces, and just in time.
The veteran midfielder — one of the team’s key players — has returned to the club after being fined and suspended for a week for undisclosed reasons. He could be in the starting lineup when the Impact faces Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC at BMO Field in Toronto on Wednesday night as the Impact begins another run for a spot in CONCACAF Champions League.

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CSL commissioner has expansion dreams
By STEVE BUFFERY
Canadian Soccer League commissioner Cary Kaplan unveiled aggressive plans for his league yesterday.
Kaplan shocked onlookers at the annual CSL kick-off media conference by announcing that he hopes to expand his 17-team league by 13 more teams, including at least six in western Canada -- most likely Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg and Red Deer.

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SUNSHINE