It’s been some time since a weekend like this where a handful of Canadians were on the scoresheet for their domestic clubs. Now into the full swing of the fall/winter seasons across Europe, and the last international break behind them, it appears everyone is beginning to shift into fifth gear and the players to watch through the 2013/14 season are starting to emerge.
Many of the faces one would expect are getting minutes needed to remain factors with the men’s national team moving forward. The likes of Marcus Haber, Lucas Cavellini and Adam Straith have settled into consistent minutes and are just a few who are doing well early on this season.
Goals were scored across the continent as Frank Jonke had a strong outing in a 2-1 loss to Roger Thompson's Mariehamn, scoring a goal in the process. Rob Friend has continued to show positive displays since moving to Munich 1860 as he scored the insurance goal in a 3-1 win over Erzgebirge Aue, and finally Marcus Haber has steadily looked to be a solid centre-forward as he scored the second goal in Notts County 2-0 win over Tranmere in England's League One.
In Turkey
When Atiba Hutchinson moved to Turkey from PSV in the Netherlands, there was some justifiable concerns. A league marred with match-fixing as well as financial issues were likely in the forefront. However, extreme passion resulting in violence is not something Canadians have seen much of via the likes of Josh Simpson, Mike Klukowski and Milan Borjan. However, none of those players have been in the cauldron that is Istanbul and amoungst the intensity of competing cross-town against the likes of Fenerbahce and Galatasaray.
Hutchinson’s Besiktas got their first real test of the year in an Istanbul derby against Galatasaray. Besiktas look to be the real deal this season and at minimum should be challenging for a Champions League position. With that in mind, this match went on to set an attendance record of 76,127, suprassing the previous derby match of Galatasaray-Fenerbahce in 2003.
Down 2-1, in the final minutes a red card to Galatasaray’s Felipe Melo set off violence in the stands and lead to supporters storming the pitch, resulting in the match being suspended in the final minutes.
Another Canadian competing in Turkey is striker Tosaint Ricketts. Ricketts has had issues settling into a groove since leaving Romania’s Politecha Timisoara. After a short spell in Norway, Rickettts has arrived at second division Bucaspor and has made an early impact. The attacking-first approach to Turkey might well suit Ricketts who has athleticism to spare and he was able to net a brace this past weekend in a 5-4 loss. Both goals were headed in and this could be something to monitor through the year as to best use Ricketts should he remain a component of Canada moving forward.
Tosaint Ricketts nets a brace for Bucaspor, but they were unable to hold off Adana Demirspor in a 5-4 defeat.
Marcus Haber gets the insurance goal, and nearly nets a brace minutes later in a 2-0 win for Notts County over Tranmere.
Frank Jonke has several chances prior, and finally finishes Jaro's only goal in a 2-1 loss to Mariehamn.
The Canadian Tower climbs above his opponent for the third goal as 1860 Munich win 3-1.
Things get ugly in Istanbul after Felipe Melo is sent off and the Besiktas v Galatasaray match ultimately suspended.
Here's how the rest of Canada's Internationals did Across the Pond:
Issey Nakajima-Farran – Alki (CPR – D1):
Monday, September 16, did not play in a 3-1 loss to Ermis.
Sunday, September 22, did not play in a 4-0 loss to Anorthosis..
Daniel Haber – Apollon Limassol (CPR – D1):
Next match, Monday, September 23 v Omonia Nicosia.
David Edgar – Burnley (ENG - D2):
Saturday, September 21, subbed in at the 69th minute in a 2-1 victory over Leeds United.
Iain Hume – Preston North End (ENG – D3):
Saturday, September 21, played 75 minutes in a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United.
Marcus Haber – Notts County (ENG – D3):
Saturday, September 21, subbed in at the 75th minute and scored A GOAL in a 2-0 victory over Tranmere Rovers.
Frank Jonke – Jaro (FIN – D1):
Saturday, September 21, played all 90 minutes and scored A GOAL in a 2-1 loss to Mariehamn.
Roger Thompson – Mariehamn (FIN – D1):
Saturday, September 21, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 victory over Jaro.
Marcel De Jong – FC Augsburg (GER - D1):
Saturday, September 21, did not play in a 2-1 loss to Hannover 96.
Simeon Jackson – Eintracht Braunschweig (GER – D1):
Friday, September 20, subbed in at the 83rd minute in a 4-1 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach.
Kevin McKenna – FC Koln (GER – B2):
Friday, September 20, did not play in a 0-0 draw with Kaiserslautern.
Rob Friend – 1860 Munich (GER – B2):
Saturday, September 21, played 88 minutes and scored A GOAL in a 3-1 victory over Erzgebirge Aue.
Olivier Occean – Kaiserslautern (GER - D1):
Friday, September 20, played all 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw with Kaiserslautern.
Andre Hainault – Aalen (GER – B2):
Saturday, September 21, did not play in a 2-1 victory over Bochum.
Adam Straith – Wehen Wiesbaden (GER - D3):
Saturday, September 21, played 45 minutes in a 3-0 loss to Elversberg.
Julian De Guzman – Skoda Xanthi (GRE – D1):
Next match, Monday September 23 v Aris.
Tomer Chencinski – Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR – D1):
Friday, September 20, did not play in a 1-0 victory over Maccabi Haifa.
Roberto Stillo – Perugia (ITA – D3):
Saturday, September 21, did not play in a 2-0 loss to Grosseto.
Lars Hirschfeld – Valerenga (NOR – D1):
Sunday, September 22, did not play in a 1-0 loss to Viking.
Pedro Pacheco – Santa Clara (POR – D2):
Sunday, September 22, played in a 1-0 victory over Pinhalnovense.
Kenny Stamatopolous – AIK (SWE – D1):
Next match, Monday September 23 v IFK Goteborg.
Nikolas Ledgerwood – Hammarby (SWE – D2):
Thursday, September 19, played all 90 minutes in a 3-1 victory over Gais.
Sunday, September 22, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 victory over Jonkopings Sodra.
Atiba Hutchinson – Besiktas (TUR – D1):
Sunday, September 22, played in a suspended match vs. Galatasaray.
Milan Borjan – Sivasspor (TUR – D1):
Saturday, September 21, did not play in a 2-1 loss to Kasimpasa.
Tosaint Ricketts – Bucaspor (TUR – D2):
Sunday, September 22, played all 90 minutes and scored TWO GOALS in a 5-4 loss to Adana Demirspor.
Lucas Cavallini – Nacional (URU – D1):
Sunday, September 22, subbed in at the 65th minute in a 1-0 victory over River Plate.
ACROSS THE BORDER
Dwayne De Rosario – DC United:
Saturday, September 21, played 66 mintues in a 2-1 loss to New England.
Kyle Porter – DC United:
Saturday, September 21, subbed in at the 80th minute in a 2-1 loss to New England.
Dejan Jakovic – DC United:
Saturday, September 21, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss to New England.
Patrice Bernier – Montreal Impact:
Saturday, September 21, played all 90 minutes in a 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Will Johnson – Portland Timbers:
Friday, September 20, played all 90 minutes in a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids.
Ashtone Morgan – Toronto FC:
Saturday, September 21, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City.
Doneil Henry – Toronto FC:
Saturday, September 21, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City.
Jonathan Osorio – Toronto FC:
Saturday, September 21, did not play due to suspension in a 2-1 loss to Sporting Kansas City.
Russel Teibert – Vancouver Whitecaps:
Saturday, September 21, subbed in at the 66th minute in a 3-0 victory over the Montreal Impac.
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