Nutrilite Canadian Championship Schedule Released

[Oldtimer]

The CSA has released the schedule for this year's Nutrilite Canadian Championship. Edmonton FC has been added to the fold this season and will get the chance to host reigning champions Toronto FC at Commonwealth Stadium on April 27th. The Second Leg of the final will be played on May 25th, meaning that the tournament will not conflict with middle portion of the MLS season.

complete schedule:

http://www.canadiansoccernews.com/co...edule-Released

[Carefree]

^^Just beat me to it.

[Carefree]

I know this was the rumoured format for a while, but I was really hoping the powers that be would change their minds on this and keep the home-away format. this means we probably won't play the Limp Act this year.

[Darlofletch]

2 legged final? booo. I guess it means more fixtures for the sponsors, and probabaly a bit more money coming into the csa, but a one off is much better, and assuming we make it, that's just another game to have to fit in.

[Oldtimer]

I know this was the rumoured format for a while, but I was really hoping the powers that be would change their minds on this and keep the home-away format. this means we probably won't play the Limp Act this year.

I'm hoping that Montreal will beat Vancouver so that we can face them in the final.

We're already playing Vancouver in MLS.

2 legged final? booo. I guess it means more fixtures for the sponsors, and probabaly a bit more money coming into the csa, but a one off is much better, and assuming we make it, that's just another game to have to fit in.

2-legged is more fair, and is done world-wide, except so much in North America.

[Carefree]

I noticed the CSL website doesn't have the FC Edmonton logo on the schedule along with the others. Then I clicked on this:
http://www.canadasoccer.com/champion...s/edmonton.asp

FAIL!!

[Oldtimer]

I noticed the CSL website doesn't have the FC Edmonton logo on the schedule along with the others. Then I clicked on this:
http://www.canadasoccer.com/champion...s/edmonton.asp

FAIL!!

...yet another example of why the bunch at the CSA needs to go now, not in 4 years.

[Carefree]

...and for the Whitecaps they still have the old USL logo.

[Redcoe15]

I noticed the CSL website doesn't have the FC Edmonton logo on the schedule along with the others. Then I clicked on this:
http://www.canadasoccer.com/champion...s/edmonton.asp

FAIL!!

You mean,
FAIL!!!!!!!!!!

[phonzo]

twatted

[Canada72]

I'm hoping that Montreal will beat Vancouver so that we can face them in the final.

We're already playing Vancouver in MLS.



2-legged is more fair, and is done world-wide, except so much in North America.

I hope it's Montreal also

Where else in the world are two legged finals? South America? concacaf CL is the only one I know.

[pekduck]

^
AFC and CAF, most of the time it's 2-legged but not consistent

[Jeffro]

^well, certainly not in Europe, or at the World Cup for that matter....

[Technorgasm]

why not just post it:

2011 SCHEDULE SEMI-FINAL STAGE

27 April 2011
Impact Montréal (3) v Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2) at Stade Saputo

FC Edmonton (4) v Toronto FC (1) at Commonwealth Stadium

4 May 2011
Toronto FC (1) v FC Edmonton (4) at BMO Field
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2) v Impact Montréal (3) at Empire Stadium

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

The highest seeded team in the final will determine whether it opens at home or away

18 May 2011 - First Leg

25 May 2011 - Second Leg

[TFC/Everton]

Glad to see FC Edmonton in the group!

[Darlofletch]

they should just have a one off final at a neutral venue. the national soccer stadium sounds perfect for that purpose no?

[Oldtimer]

^well, certainly not in Europe, or at the World Cup for that matter....

In Europe it's not done in the final, but both the UEFA CL and the FA Cup use it in the lower stages.

[flatpicker]

they should just have a one off final at a neutral venue. the national soccer stadium sounds perfect for that purpose no?

Perhaps there's a bit of sarcasm to your statement... anyhow...
Can you imagine two of these teams playing in a city which is home turf for neither?
There would be maybe a few hundred people out to watch!

We're talking about soccer in Canada.
I don't love two-legged finals, but it's in the best interests of the game.
Imagine if it was Van-vs-Ed in the final at BMO... not exactly an electric atmosphere.

It is what it is... the set-up is probably the best solution.
At least it means the final game of the tournament won't be meaningless.
And you won't have teams throwing games when they know they're already eliminated from the competition.

[Fort York Redcoat]

At this stage of the tournament I'd rather be playing all these teams home and away. They are far more interesting than the other MLS teams but I understand the full schedule of the league.

Looking forward to facing FCE for the 1st time!!!

[brad]

At this stage of the tournament I'd rather be playing all these teams home and away. They are far more interesting than the other MLS teams but I understand the full schedule of the league.

This is better for TFC. Squads are thin and this is two fewer games for us to play than if we did home and away against each team.

[Darlofletch]

Perhaps there's a bit of sarcasm to your statement... anyhow...
Can you imagine two of these teams playing in a city which is home turf for neither?
There would be maybe a few hundred people out to watch!

We're talking about soccer in Canada.
I don't love two-legged finals, but it's in the best interests of the game.
Imagine if it was Van-vs-Ed in the final at BMO... not exactly an electric atmosphere.

It is what it is... the set-up is probably the best solution.
At least it means the final game of the tournament won't be meaningless.
And you won't have teams throwing games when they know they're already eliminated from the competition.

but imagine how much it'd piss off everyone else to have to come to Toronto every year, that'd be golden.

[Stouffville_RPB]

2 legged final? booo. I guess it means more fixtures for the sponsors, and probabaly a bit more money coming into the csa, but a one off is much better, and assuming we make it, that's just another game to have to fit in.

No, same number of games as before (6).

[james]

im happy with the set-up!

[Red CB Toronto]

I think once Canada gets to six pro teams at the MLS and D2 level, you will see two groups of three, playing each other home and away followed by a final.

[sidvan]

How does this play out for STH?

[Red CB Toronto]

How does this play out for STH?

The Edmonton semi-final on May 4th is included in our season ticket packages along with the potential home leg of the final vs. Montreal or Vancouver.

[leafsman]

i assume you would want to play away first?

[TorCanSoc]

I guess its too many games to play everyone twice, then declare the winner based on points? Its good for us, bad for Edmonton.

But of the losers how do they decide next year's fourth seed? So we beat Edmonton 4-0 on aggregate. Vancouver wins 4-0 on aggregate against Montreal. TFC-VAN determine next year's 1st and 2nd seed. But the other two teams don't play a third place final. So... base it on the original seeding? Edmonton could be stuck in the fourth seed for a while.

[Antonio Gramsci]

So, there goes the idea of linking a Nutrilite final with Canada Day. The Canada Day weekend now sees both Vancouver and Toronto idle - what genius scheduled their match for June 29th when July 1-2 was open for both teams?

[Keystone FC]

Glad to see FC Edmonton in the group!

They're lucky to be a tournament like this at all. Them and Montreal. The other NASL clubs (the Yanks) can't participate in the USOC this year due to the NASL was sanctioned so late.