We’re back with another packed AFTN Soccer Show. When we say it's a bumper episode we mean it, and there's something for everyone as we chat Vancouver Whitecaps, Major League Soccer, Leagues Cup, Vancouver FC, Canadian Premier League, League1 BC, and the women's World Cup.
We kick things off with the Whitecaps as we look back at their exciting and ultimately heartbreaking Leagues Cup loss to Mexican side Club Leon in a penalty shootout on Friday night. It was a great game on the pitch and a fantastic atmosphere off it. We also chat with 'Caps coach Vanni Sartini to get his thoughts on both the new tournament and the MLS All-Star game.
The other big Whitecaps news this week was the departure of Julian Gressel. We break down the trade to Columbus Crew and chat with Vancouver's Sporting Director and GM Axel Schuster about the transfer and what's next.
One man tipped to move into the Gressel-shaped hole in the side is Ali Ahmed and in our feature interview this episode we catch up with Ali to chat about a whirlwind year that's seen him sign a MLS deal, score his first Whitecaps goal, break into the national team, and that scare incident in the Pacific FC game.
We also look at the dramatic end of the regular League1 BC season, chat with TSS Rovers women's head coach Chelsey Hannesson after her side book their place in the playoffs, and talk to Victoria Highlanders head coach Steve Simonson after his side topped the regular season standings and booked their place in next year's Canadian Championship.
All of that plus Vancouver's FC's latest loss, the new signing mechanism for young players in the CPL, and look at the early games in the 2023 women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and the battle ahead for Canada to get out of their group.
Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode:
01.28: Intro
04.52: Whitecaps' Leagues Cup excitement and heartbreak
31.50: Vanni Sartini on what the Leagues Cup means to him
38.28: MLS All-Star game shellacking does league no favours
48.44: Julian Gressel traded to Columbus
62.30: Axel Schuster on Gressel trade
86.23: Ali Ahmed interview and discussion
108.45: Chelsey Hannesson interview and L1BC women's division chat
119.08: Steve Simonson interview and L1BC men's division chat
132.05: Vancouver FC and CPL discussion
158.14: Disappointing start for Canada at women's World Cup
168.32: Wavelength - Brian Clough and JJ Barrie - You Can't Win Them All
Episode 612 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Chasing The Dragon - Red Bulls v Whitecaps, Wrexham AFC head to Vancouver, Katie Collar interview)
Episode 611 - The AFTN Soccer Show (The Running of the Bulls - NYRB v Whitecaps preview, Brian White homecoming, Bovalina signing, CanChamp, Todd May)
Episode 610 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Bringing Back Rock and Roll Football - Seattle v Vancouver, CPL Commissioner Mark Noonan, Matteo Campagna, TSS Rovers)
Episode 609 – The AFTN Soccer Show (I Dreamt I Was Alone In A Crowded Place with special guest Callum Irving)
Episode 608 - The AFTN Soccer Show (No More Shuffling In The Shadows - Whitecaps demolish TFC, Vanni Sartini, John Herdman, CPL Season Preview)
Episode 607 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Ringing The Bell of Hope with guests Kamal Miller, Maxime Crepeau, Zach Verhoven and Moses Dyer)
Episode 606 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Listening To The Raindrops - Whitecaps vs RSL, Canada Copa bound, VFC preseason, sh!t kits)
Episode 605 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Sunlight Through Our Window with guests Matias Laborda, Elage Bah, and Afshin Ghotbi)
Episode 604 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Set Like Jewels In Eternity with guests Stuart Neely and Belal Halbouni)
Episode 603 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Is Blue The Colour Of The Season? with Axel Schuster and Scott Arfield)
Episode 602 - The AFTN Soccer Show (I Lay On My Bed With My Hands On My Head)
Episode 601 - The AFTN Soccer Show (It's All About To Kick Off)
Episode 600 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Here Until The Whistle Blows with guests Vanni Sartini and Gabriel Bitar)
Episode 599 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Let The Fun Begin with David Norman and Vanni Sartini)
Episode 598 - The AFTN Soccer Show (The Effects Unknown - CSB v Mediapro court battle, Gauld re-signs, Paris Gee, TJ Tahid)
Episode 597 - The AFTN Soccer Show (He Moves Like a Generator with special guests Fafa Picault and Grady McDonnell)
Episode 596 - The AFTN Soccer Show (So Many Colourful Rays with special guests Damir Kreilach and Ben Fisk)
Episode 595 - The AFTN Soccer Show (If Words Could Make Wishes Come True with special guest Axel Schuster)
Episode 594 - The AFTN Soccer Show (New Year, New Hope)
Episode 593 - The AFTN Soccer Show (Have Yourself A Messi Little Christmas)
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