With Norway a week away from starting their season, we are that much closer to seeing every Canadian competing abroad play each week. Until then, it was a positive showing for Canucks in Europe as the final stretch in domestic leagues competing fall/winter seasons is really heating up. The usual suspect in promotion/relegation battles all saw minutes as there are quite a few fixtures every weekend to keep an eye on with Canadian content.
In Turkey
For a moment it looked like all the good work Milan Borjan and Sivasspor put in for their Turkish Cup run was going to be undone by inconsistent play in the Super Lig. They could be Bursaspor in a meaningless match, but not when it counted to slip within a game of the relegation zone.
This weekend they were up against fifth placed Antalyaspor and delivered when it mattered. Borjan continues his impressive run between the posts and this time had help in the attack as Sivasspor netted two goals to secure a 2-1 victory. The race is still very tight in the Super Lig as there is still a one game gap between 10th placed Sivasspor and 16th placed Istanbul BB but still two games out of fourth. With no games coming up against the big Istanbul clubs, Sivasspor have a chance to climb up the table in the coming weeks.
In Germany
The Bundesliga is not where the action is right now as both Olivier Occean and Marcel De Jong have been absent in recent weeks for their respective clubs. Eintracht Frankfurt are slipping from their early season run and having trouble scoring in the process. A 0-0 draw with Hannover 96 didn’t even see Occean on the gameday roster. Augsburg look destined for relegation as they continue to slide in a 2-1 loss to Nurnberg.
It is in 2.Bundelsiga where there is a bit more action and drama as Kevin McKenna’s FC Koln have really made a comeback this season after starting slow and they now find themselves tied for third and the promotion playoff spot. A 3-0 win Saturday over Paderborn had McKenna go the full 90 and has FC Koln on an impressive 13-game undefeated run in the 2.Bundesliga.
In Netherlands
Just when it was going so good for everyone else, PSV once again lose their grip on first place in the Eredivisie. Despite their obscene scoring ratio, PSV struggle on the road, and especially against teams they should be able to dispatch. A 2-1 loss to Heerenveen this weekend, coupled with an Ajax victory switched places by one point as PSV are now tied with Feyenoord at 53 points in the table.
Andre Hainault is subbed in just before an epic winner for Ross County as they defeat Celtic 3-2.
Milan Borjan cannot do much on the 1v1, but Sivasspor come back with the winner in a 2-1 victory at home.
Here's how the rest of Canada's Internationals did Across the Pond:
Issey Nakajima-Farran – Alki (CPR – D1):
Saturday, March 9, played 60 minutes in a 1-0 victory over Nea Salamis.
Mike Klukowski – APOEL (CPR – D1):
Saturday, March 9, played all 90 minutes in a 2-0 victory over AEL.
Simeon Jackson – Norwich City (ENG - D1):
Saturday, March 9, did not play in a 0-0 draw with Southampton.
David Edgar – Burnley (ENG - D2):
Tuesday, March 5, played 53 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Barnsley.
Next match, Monday March 11 v. Hull City.
Iain Hume – Doncaster Rovers (ENG – D3):
Tuesday, March 5, played 59 minutes in a 3-0 loss to MK Dons.
Saturday, March 9, subbed in at the 88th minute in a 2-1 victory over AFC Bournemouth.
Marcus Haber – Stevenage (ENG – D3):
Tuesday, March 5, played all 90 minutes and scored A GOAL in a 1-0 victory over Brentford.
Saturday, March 9, played 58 minutes in a 2-0 loss to Preston North End.
Haidar Al-Shaibani – Nimes (FRA - D2):
Friday, March 8, did not play in a 1-1 draw with Tours.
Olivier Occean – Eintracht Frankfurt (GER - D1):
Sunday, March 10, did not play in a 0-0 draw with Hannover 96.
Marcel De Jong – FC Augsburg (GER - D1):
Friday, March 8, did not play in a 2-1 loss to Nurnberg.
Kevin McKenna – FC Koln (GER – B2):
Saturday, March 9, played all 90 minutes in a 3-0 victory over Paderborn.
Rob Friend – 1860 Munich (GER – B2):
Friday, March 8, played all 90 minutes in a 1-0 victory over Sandhausen.
Randy Edwini-Bonsu – Eintracht Braunschweiger (GER - D2):
Next match, Monday, March 11 v Kaiserslauter.
Julian De Guzman – Jahn Regensburg (GER – B2):
Friday, March 8, played all 90 minutes in a 3-2 loss to St. Pauli.
Adam Straith – Saarbrucken (GER - D3):
Saturday, March 9, subbed in at the 90th minute in a 3-0 victory over Stuttgarter Kickers.
Tomer Chencinski – Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR – D1):
Sunday, March 10, did not play in a 5-0 victory over Beitar Jerusalem.
Atiba Hutchinson – PSV Eindoven (NED - D1):
Saturday, March 9, played 81 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Heerenveen.
Pedro Pacheco – Santa Clara (POR – D2):
Sunday, March 10, played in a 3-1 victory over Sporting CP II.
Andre Hainault – Ross County (SCO – D1):
Satruday, March 9, subbed in at the 86th minute in a 3-2 victory over Celtic.
Stefan Cebara – NK Celje (SLV – D1):
Saturday, March 9, subbed in at the 46th minute in a 4-0 victory over Mura 05.
Milan Borjan – Sivasspor (TUR – D1):
Sunday, March 10, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 victory over Antalyaspor.
Lucas Cavallini – Juventud de las Piedras (URU – D1):
Sunday, March 10, played 63 minutes and scored A GOAL in a 4-1 victory over Cerro.
ACROSS THE BORDER
Dwayne De Rosario – DC United:
Saturday, March 9, did not play in a 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake.
Kyle Porter – DC United:
Saturday, March 9, subbed in at the 58th minute in a 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake.
Dejan Jakovic – DC United:
Saturday, March 9, played all 90 minutes in a 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake.
Patrice Bernier – Montreal Impact:
Saturday, March 9, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 victory over Portland Timbers.
Will Johnson – Portland Timbers:
Saturday, March 9, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Montreal Impact.
Ashtone Morgan – Toronto FC:
Saturday, March 9, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City.
Terry Dunfield – Toronto FC:
Saturday, March 9, played 82 minutes in a 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City.
Kyle Bekker – Toronto FC:
Saturday, March 9, subbed in at the 88th minute in a 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City.
Emory Welshman – Toronto FC:
Saturday, March 9, did not play in a a 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City.
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