Episode 690 – The AFTN Soccer Show (Playing On - Kevin Egan, Whitecaps-Philly, Jayden Nelson, Anja Heiner-Moller, Heidi Smith)

We’re back with another AFTN Soccer Show packed full of Vancouver Whitecaps, Major League Soccer, Vancouver Rise, international and women's football chat and interviews.

There's so much football on at the moment, we just had to bring you a second episode this week ahead of the big clash between the Whitecaps and Philadelphia Union. We preview the match with Apple TV's MLS360 host Kevin Egan and talk about how the last few months have looked for the 'Caps from afar, what might be in store in the season run-in, and the exciting action this weekend across the league.

We also chat with Whitecaps winger Jayden Nelson about his time away with Canada, the run-in, learning from a great like Thomas Muller, and talk next week's Canadian Championship semi-final with Forge.

The other pro team in the city, Northern Super League side Vancouver Rise, are making a strong push for a championship themselves. We chat with head coach Anja Heiner-Møller about the highs and lows of the season so far, the learning curves of a new league, travel, injuries, star performers, and more. Plus keeping on the subject of women's soccer, we chat with author Heidi Smith about her new book Play On, which takes a look at the struggles, challenges, and rise of the women's game over the last 140 years.

Music-wise, Hazel O'Connor continues her residency as our Album of the Month, we've 'Britpop' song from Spare Snare and the late, great Kirsty MacColl features in Wavelength.

Here’s the rundown for the main segments from the episode:

01.25: Intro - World Cup qualifiers and Whitecaps internationalists
19.02: Jayden Nelson interview
31.20: Anja Heiner-Møller interview and NSL chat
62.35: Interview with author Heidi Smith
99.55: MLS 306's Kevin Egan talks Whitecaps v Philly
126.45: Wavelength - Kirsty MacColl - England 2 Columbia 0