The final weeks of fall/winter football in Europe is really heating up as most leagues are in their final month of play, and there are several Canadians in the midst of real battles for titles, promotion and relegation. Overall, it was good weekend for Canucks abroad as we saw it all from plenty of minutes played to goals scored as there is much to discuss in this busy time of the year.
In England
After a few weeks of getting consistent minutes for Burnley, David Edgar watched from the bench as the Clarets are making things exciting for Premiership promotion in a 1-0 loss to Middlesbrough. Sitting second behind Leicester City, and eight points ahead of Derby County, promotion looks like it’s in the bag, but Burnley will have some tough games ahead against Blackpool, Wigan, Ipswich Town and Reading. This will be a team to watch and see if Edgar, who has not been a regular this season, remains with the club or finds a new team in the Championship.
Further down, Simeon Jackson is getting minutes for Millwall, but the Lions are having a tough time keeping out of the relegation zone. A mid-week win over Wigan, where Jackson did not feature, pushed them up and this weekend Jackson was subbed in at the 62nd minute as they were able to draw 2-2 with Watford to be within a game of Blackpool of safety. The only really tough match they have in their final four, is in three weeks against Queen’s Park Rangers.
Finally, Iain Hume, loaned out to League Two side Fleetwood Town, has been making an impact and with them fighting for promotion, was able to score an important goal in a 2-2 draw with Morecombe. Fleetwood Town currently sit fourth, and if they can close down the five point lead Chesterfield has on them, would get into third and automatic promotion.
In Turkey
The most intense battle going on for Canadians abroad is Atiba Hutchinson’s Besiktas trying to get into the automatic Champions League slot, in second place. It has been an inconsistent season for the Istanbul club, who won’t catch Fenerbahce for the title, but are neck and neck with Galatasaray. This past weekend, Galatasaray lost 2-1 to Sivasspor, which allowed Besiktas to take advantage. Unfortunately they could not hold onto a 1-0 lead and while Hutchinson went the full 90, Besiktas surrendered the tying goal in a 1-1 draw.
This puts them one point ahead of their cross-town rivals with five games to go, however, one of which will be hosting Fenerbahce next weekend
Iain Hume nets the tying goal to keep Fleetwood Town in the promotion race into League One with a 2-2- draw.
Lucas Cavellini scores but it doesn't help the end result as Fénix lose 2-1
Here's how the rest of Canada's Internationals did Across the Pond:
Daniel Haber – Apollon Limassol (CPR – D1):
Sunday, April 13, subbed in at the 81st minute in a 4-0 victory over Ernis.
David Edgar – Burnley (ENG - D2):
Saturday, April 12, did not play in a 1-0 loss to Middlesbrough.
Simeon Jackson – Millwall (ENG – D2):
Saturday, April 12, subbed in at the 62nd minute in a 2-2 draw with Watford.
Michael Petrasso – Queen’s Park Rangers (ENG – D2):
Saturday, April 12, did not play in a 5-2 victory over Nottingham Forest.
Terry Dunfield – Oldham Athletic (ENG – D3):
Next match, Friday April 18 v Colchester United.
Iain Hume – Fleetwood Town (ENG – D4):
Saturday, April 12, played all 90 minutes and scored A GOAL in a 2-2 draw with Morecambe.
Marcel De Jong – FC Augsburg (GER - D1):
Sunday, April 13, did not play in a 2-0 loss to Hoffenheim.
Samuel Piette – Fortuna Dusseldorf (GER – D2):
Sunday, April 13, did not play in a 3-1 victory over Aalen.
Kevin McKenna – FC Koln (GER – B2):
Friday, April 11, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 victory over Union Berlin.
Olivier Occean – Kaiserslautern (GER - D1):
Friday, April 11, subbed in at the 86th minute in a 3-2 victory over St.Pauli.
Andre Hainault – Aalen (GER – B2):
Sunday, April 14, subbed in at the 59th minute in a 3-1 loss to Fortuna Dusseldorf.
Randy Edwini-Bonsu – Stuttgarter Kickers (GER – D3):
Saturday, April 12, played 61 minutes in a 2-0 victory over MSV Duisburg.
Nik Ledgerwood – MSV Duisburg (GER – D3):
Saturday, April 12, played 45 mintues in a 2-0 loss to Stuttgerter Kickers.
Adam Straith – Wehen Wiesbaden (GER - D3):
Saturday, April 12, did not play in a 3-0 loss to Jahn Regensburg.
Daniel Stanese – Augsburg II (GER – D4):
Saturday, April 12, played 44 minutes and given A STRAIGHT RED in a 1-1 draw with Ingolstadt II.
Caleb Clarke – Augsburg II (GER – D4):
Saturday, April 12, played 45 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Ingolstadt II.
Julian De Guzman – Skoda Xanthi (GRE – D1):
Saturday, April 12, played all 90 minutes in a 3-1 victory over Panathinaikos.
Tomer Chencinski – Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR – D1):
Friday, April 11, played all 90 minutes and kept A CLEAN SHEET in a 0-0 draw with Maccabi Yavne.
Roberto Stillo – Perugia (ITA – D3):
Sunday, April 13, did not play in a 1-0 victory over Pontedera.
Dejan Jakovic – Shimizu S-Pulse (JPN – D1):
Sunday, April 12, played all 90 minutes in a 2-0 victory over Omiya Ardija.
Pedro Pacheco – Santa Clara (POR – D2):
Sunday, April 13, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 victory over Maritimo II.
Atiba Hutchinson – Besiktas (TUR – D1):
Friday, April 11, played all 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Konyaspor.
Tosaint Ricketts – Bucaspor (TUR – D2):
Sunday, April 13, played in a 3-1 loss to Mersin Idmanyurdu.
Lucas Cavallini – Nacional (URU – D1):
Sunday, April 13, played and scored A GOAL in a 2-1 loss to Danubio..
ACROSS THE BORDER
Will Johnson scores the opening goal, but Portland cannot seem to catch a break as they tie Chivas USA 1-1.
Tesho Akindele – FC Dallas:
Saturday, April 12, subbed in at the 86th minute in a 3-2 loss to Seattle Sounders.
Patrice Bernier – Montreal Impact:
Saturday, April 12, subbed in at the 46th minute in a 1-1 draw with Chicago Fire.
Karl Ouimette – Montreal Impact:
Saturday, April 12, played all 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Chicago Fire.
Rob Friend – LA Galaxy:
Saturday, April 12, subbed in at the 79th minute in a 1-0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps.
Will Johnson – Portland Timbers:
Saturday, April 12, played all 90 minutes and scored A GOAL in a 1-1 draw with Chivas USA.
Dwayne De Rosario – Toronto FC:
Saturday, April 12, played 67 minutes in a 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids.
Issey Nakajima-Farran – Toronto FC:
Saturday, April 12, played all 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids.
Kyle Bekker – Toronto FC:
Saturday, April 12, played all 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids.
Doneil Henry – Toronto FC:
Saturday, April 12, did not play in a 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids.
Jonathan Osorio – Toronto FC:
Saturday, April 12, did not play in a 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids.
Russel Teibert – Vancouver Whitecaps:
Saturday, April 12, played all 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss to LA Galaxy.
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