Canadian Exports: Jackson leads Norwich to EPL

It’s fair to saySimeon Jacksonloves big games.

Two years ago, when he was with Gillingham in League Two, he scored the winning goal in a playoff final that propelled that team into the next rung of the English football ladder.

On Monday, he repeated his heroics, this time nodding home a cross to lift Norwich City into the Premier League, as the Canaries topped Portsmouth 1-0. Jackson has been on fire lately, scoring nine goals in the past seven matches as Norwich surged into the top flight for the first time since 2005.

The Canadian striker and his side have taken similar paths over the past few years. Norwich were languishing in League One as recently as last season, while Jackson was a star with Rushden&Diamonds in the English fifth division three short years ago. Both have risen quickly through the ranks and earned their ticket into the biggest league on the planet.

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Another Canuck striker found himself on the score sheet last weekend.Tomasz Radzinski(at right), the 37-year-old former Canadian international, is still going strong in Belgium, leading his side Lierse SK in scoring this past season.

Radzinski scored the second of Lierse’s goals in a 3-0 win over Cercle Brugge in the Belgian postseason Europa League qualifying tournament. He also assisted on the opening goal, helping lead Lierse to the top of Group A.

A few other Canadians were part of winning sides in tournament play this weekend.Mason TraffordandLuca Bellisomoboth played the full match for their club IFK Mariehamn, who routed JIPPO 4-0 in Finnish Cup play.

Also, former MLSerChris Pozniakstarted for FK Haugesund in their 10-0 romp over lower-tier Vaulen IL in the Norwegian Cup.

Elsewhere in Scandinavia,Issey Nakajima-Farranplayed 70 minutes for AC Horsens, who battled Brøndby to a scoreless draw in the Danish Superligaen.

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Meanwhile in the Netherlands,Atiba Hutchinson(at right) went 90 minutes for PSV Eindhoven in a 2-1 victory over Vitesse. It was PSV’s final home match of the season, with the side sitting in third place in the Eredivisie. With one match remaining and three points out of first, PSV have an outside shot at catching league leaders FC Twente.

Over in Germany, FC Augsburg remain on pace to gain promotion into the Bundesliga.Marcel de Jongreturned from injury and logged 90 minutes at left back for the club as they drew 1-1 with FC Energie Cottbus. Fellow Canadian defenderAdam Straithwas on the bench for Cottbus.

Tosaint Rickettsstarted for Romanian side FC Politehnica Timişoara, who were 2-0 victors over Braşov. Ricketts played 85 minutes.

In Turkey,Josh Simpsonand Manisaspor won 3-1 versus Eskişehirspor in Superliga action, with Simpson going the distance in the midfield.

Over in Serbia, goalkeeperMilan Borjanallowed a couple of goals in FK Rad’s 2-0 loss to Vojvodina on Saturday.

Half a world away, midfielderMatt Lamwent 77 minutes for JEF United Ichihara Chiba in a J. League 2 loss to Tokushima Vortis, 1-0.

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Healthy Cronin making up for lost time with DC

WASHINGTON– Adjusting to a new team can prove a difficult process for any player during preseason. Add an early season injury, and the challenge is that much greater, especially when there’s competition for playing time.

Such was the fate ofD.C. UnitedgoalkeeperSteve Cronin. Acquired in the offseason in exchange for Troy Perkins, Cronin suffered a fractured wrist early in preseason, forcing assistant coach Pat Onstad out of retirement and into the starter’s role for a few weeks.

After being placed on Injured Reserve at the start of the season, Cronin was automatically ineligible for the first six games of the campaign. Last Friday, for the first time all year, he was back in a D.C. uniform and made the trip to Houston, taking a seat on the bench asBill Hamid’s back-up.

“It was good,” Cronin told MLSsoccer.com of making his first road trip. “When you’re {out with an} injury, especially one you pick up when you’re fairly new to a team, you can feel pretty disconnected.

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“I didn’t see them {D.C. teammates} for the majority of preseason, and you’d get to see them a couple days throughout the weeks and you’d miss road trips, it’s hard to stay connected. It was definitely good to get back on the road.”

Cronin suffered his injury back on February 10, only a few weeks into what was a long preseason. Since then, he’s mostly had to work out on his own, although he returned to full training a month ago and even played in a reserve match against the University of Maryland back in April.

While he’s expected to serve as Hamid’s backup – at least for the time being – Cronin will do what he can to help the team right now.

“We have some work to do as a team, and first and foremost I want to help the team get our legs under us a little bit, start moving in the right direction,” Cronin said. “As part of that, I’m always pushing to better myself every day and doing the little things to make sure I stay healthyand help this team the best way I can.”

Cronin admitted that he’s fine with serving in a support role for now, but that he’s also ready to go if he’s called upon by the coaching staff.

“Every day I feel sharper and I feel like I’m about 99 percent there.”

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Possession the name of the game for Revolution

CARSON, Calif.– Every New England player knew it would take a good night of ball possession to secure a result this past weekend againstChivas USA.

The three previous meetings– all victories by the Goats without a Revolution goal scored – reinforced the consequences of giving the ball away. Revolution coach Steve Nicol even harped upon the importance of keeping the ball against the possession-oriented home side in the buildup to the match.

Despite those entreaties and a few promising signs early in the contest, the lessons did not take hold in a's 3-0 defeat at the Home Depot Center.

At a couple of points during the contest, it appeared that theRevs– presumably bolstered by pairing Benny Feilhaber andShalrie Josephin central midfield as part of a 4-4-2 setup– might just heed the advice.

“I think early on, we had a couple of decent bits of movement,” Nicol told MLSsoccer.com after Saturday’s match. “Zack {Schilawski} had a header and {Zak Boggs} put a couple of balls in, so early on in the first part of the first half, we had a wee bit of the play.”

Those positive indications soon faded away as the Revs gave away a goal after 22 minutes and struggled to reproduce their competent opening period in its aftermath.

Chivas USA grew in confidence after the goal and stamped its will on the match, while the Revs failed to bring Feilhaber and Joseph into the match and struggled to string together passes as they tried to alter the course of the game.

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“I think not trusting each other in tight spots and tight spaces {hurt us},” Joseph said. “We started to go away from that early in the game. We started to find feet in the first five or 10 minutes but, as the game went on, we just went away from that. That's going to kill us, especially against a good team like Chivas and on such an open field and a big space to play in.”

The inability to retain possession and push numbers forward hurt New England as the match progressed. By failing to keep the ball on a regular basis, the Revs were forced to assume a more defensive posture. Even when they managed to win the ball, they struggled to cobble together the necessary sequence of passes because they lacked the composure, the energy and the quality to do so.

“When you're under pressure for so long, eventually when you do get it, you don't have the strength to use the ball well,” Nicol said. “The longer the game went on, the harder it became for us because of that. We were doing all of the chasing and the running and that catches up with you eventually.”

The heavy defeat at Chivas USA provided yet another example of the peril facing the Revs when they cannot keep the ball. Joseph said his side must improve its work in possession in order to put itself in a position to secure a result against Colorado on Saturday.

“We didn't take care of the ball, we didn't move the ball well and we didn't create chances,” Joseph said. “We just weren't inventive enough to put one in the net. We're going to have to move forward from there and try to get one next week and try to win next week.”

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Colorado getting healthy ahead of Houston game

COMMERCE CITY, Col. - The bad news for Gary Smith and theColorado Rapidsis that they face two away games in the space of four days. The good news is that much of the injury crisis of recent weeks is beginning to clear up just in time for the upcoming trip.

Quincy Amarikwa, Caleb Folan,Marvell WynneandWells Thompson, all absent from the 1-1 draw against Chicago last weekend, will be making the journey to Houston for Wednesday’s game (8:30 pm ET, Direct Kick,MatchDay Live) and New England for Saturday (7:30 pm ET, Direct Kick,MatchDay Live).

“The four bodies back for this trip will give us a boost for all sorts of reasons because it just gives us a different dimension,” Smith said.

Thompson, who was suffering from food poisoning at the weekend, looks almost certain to start given thatSanna Nyassiwill not be making the trip because of a sore back. Smith said he is hopeful Nyassi will be able to make it out separately for the New England game.

Wynne is recovering from a hamstring pull and appeared to have few remaining symptoms at training this morning. He could start on Wednesday night in the center of defense, but Smith will be mindful of the New England game, too.

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Andre Akpancertainly grabbed his chance up front at the weekend with a Goal of the Week nomination {VOTEHERE}. Now, he faces competition from the returning Folan and Amarikwa. Both looked sharp in a small-sided game this morning, with Amarikwa netting two goals in customary energetic fashion and declaring he could do even more if his injured ankle wasn’t only at 85 percent.

Watch:Akpan's first MLS goal

With the two games so close to each other, though, it seems likely Akpan will start in the Houston game with potentially some role for either Folan or Amarikwa later on. Akpan was lining up Tuesday withOmar Cummingsin practice, while Folan and Amarikwa played together at the end of the session. Smith was just happy to have options again.

“Generally, I think the team has played well and there is nothing in the way they are playing to suggest that the addition of a couple of players cannot but help to push us on to success,” he said.

Notes:

One player absent for sure will beConor Casey. The forward is at least back at training but working out separately for the most part. Smith said he expects Casey, out since April 3 when he limped off with a hamstring injury againstD.C. United, to be back in full training next week.

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Crew Notes: Veeder trying to work himself into 18

COLUMBUS, Ohio– As much as defender Korey Veeder enjoys getting to know his new teammates, he’s disheartened he won’t be away from them for an extended period this summer.

Veeder was hoping to be at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Colombia from July 29-Aug. 20, but the US failed qualify after losing to host Guatemala on April 6.

“I’m very disappointed,” he said. “You’ve got to move on, look to the future. Hopefully the {2012} Olympics, we’ll be there.”

The 19-year-old from St. Petersburg, Fla., came to the Crew in mid-February through a weighted-lottery system and had to adjust not only to the colder temperatures but a schedule that didn’t afford him much training with the team until recently.

“It was difficult coming in the preseason, jumping right in, then leaving two weeks later for almost a month,” he said.

His transient status had teammates seeking answers.

“I had guys asking me who I was, if I was on the team or trying out,” said Veeder.

He definitely was on the team April 23 atToronto FC, when injuries and illness prompted coach Robert Warzycha to list him on the 18-player game roster.

“That felt really good to finally be on the bench for the first time,” Veeder said. “Hopefully I can work into the starting 11.”

Veeder’s not there yet, but Warzycha is encouraged by what he’s see from his player in practice and reserve games.

“I wouldn’t be afraid to put him on the field,” Warzycha said. “He’s doing well. He’s going to be a good player.”

HAT TRICK

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ForwardEmilio Renteriahas scored the Crew’s three goals in the past two games to open his account for the season.

He scored off a header at Toronto and, against Vancouver, he tallied via a penalty that he created then again with a left-footed strike, the first of his career.

The kick from the spot was well-placed to the right of goalkeeper Jay Nolly but didn’t have the velocity of the one against Charleston in the US Open Cup in July that ripped into the back netting so hard it lifted the goal of its moorings.

“The most important thing always is that the goal goes in,” Renteria said.

The Venezuelan international, who had five goals in 19 matches last season, likes the way the Crew (3-1-3) have played through a six-game unbeaten streak.

“Whatever happens on the field, whether we are winning or losing, we’re working together,” he said. “We have confidence in each other. Even during practice there is a lot of communication. Everybody is on the same boat to go in the same direction to win games.”

SLIP SLIDING AWAY

For the second time in three Tuesdays, incessant rain altered practice. Because the Obetz site is currently flooded, training was moved to an indoor facility north of Columbus.

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Comfy at home, Timbers hope to improve on road

PORTLAND, Ore.– The stark difference between the Timbers’ quality of play at home vs. on the road has been one of the team’s defining characteristics so far.

Portland beatReal Salt Lake1-0 last Saturday at JELD-WEN Field to improve to 3-0 in front of their energetic crowds, and home games against theSan Jose Earthquakesin a US Open qualifier on Tuesday and against thePhiladelphia Unionon Friday keep the Timbers in their favorite spot this week.

But coach John Spencer knows that in order for the Timbers to reach their goals, the team will have to find success away from the Rose City. Winning on the road seems like the next stage of development for the Timbers as an MLS franchise.

“I told the guys in the locker room that until we do something away from home we’re never going to get any credit for the good wins and good performances here at JELD-WEN Field,” Spencer said.

The coach loves the electric atmosphere created by Timbers Army, but he’s unwilling to credit anyone but the players for scoring goals and playing defense in wins against theChicago Fire,FC DallasandRSL.

“Do you think the fans got us nine points at home?” Spencer asked. “I don’t. I think the players got that. They’ve come out and run themselves into the ground {on Saturday}. It was a fantastic effort.”

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But does that effort rise to a higher level at home?

There probably isn’t enough evidence yet in the season to make that claim. The Timbers played their most formidable lineup on Saturday, which included a second start for goalkeeper Troy Perkins and first starts for Colombian import Diego Chará and top draft pickDarlington Nagbein the midfield.

“We’ve established something here,” captainJack Jewsburysaid.“We just don’t want people to start saying, 'Well, they can only get points at home.'”

The Timbers have outscored three opponents 8-4 at home so far. In road games, they are 0-3-1 and have been outscored 9-2.

“At the end of the day we need to get better on the road, and we know that as a group,” Jewsbury said. “To be successful, to make the playoffs, which is our goal, we have to pick up some points on the road.”

In the meantime, the team will enjoy what it has created in the friendly confines of JELD-WEN.

“Once again, it shows when we’re at home we’re a formidable team to beat,” Spencer said after Saturday’s victory, which snapped an 18-game regular season unbeaten streak by RSL. “If we sort out our home form and keep clean sheets on the road, we’ll be sitting in a totally different position in the conference.”

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Vancouver trying to cut mistakes against Impact

VANCOUVER, B.C.— TheVancouver Whitecapshost rivals Montreal Impact at Empire Field in the second leg of their Nutrilite Canadian Championship semifinal series on Wednesday, and with a 1-0 lead from the first leg, they're confident they can finish off their lower-tier opponents.

However, in order to complete their triumph, they’ll need to tighten up on the costly mistakes that have left them winless in their last seven MLS matches.

Last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by theColumbus Crewprovided the most recent examples. Columbus' first goal came off of a poor touch fromJonathan Leathers, which led to a questionable decision by goalkeeper Jay Nolly and a penalty for the Crew thatEmilio Renteriaconverted. The second goal also could have been avoided as a lapse in marking by center back Mouloud Akloul gave Renteria enough space to score another after a sustained build-up from Columbus.

Montreal Impact/Pépé

“Unfortunately at the moment, any little mistake we make we’re getting punished for,” said midfielder Terry Dunfield. “It is frustrating, but I think we need to learn from these mistakes now. We need to make teams really work for their goals.”

The‘Caps will have to do just that against the Impact. The Whitecaps hold the advantage, but only by the slimmest of margins. Montreal, meanwhile, come to Vancouver a confident bunch after earning their first win of the season, a 5-0 drubbing in NASL league play against fellow Canadian club FC Edmonton on Sunday evening.

“We needed a win and all the players answered well,” Impact head coach Marc Dos Santos told the team’s official website. “It’s an important win morally before Wednesday’s highly anticipated game against Vancouver.”

The sudden goal output by Montreal will have gotten the attention of Teitur Thordarson and his coaching staff. The problem for Thordarson, though, is that his team has had little time to prepare lately as they’re in midst of a stretch that sees them play seven matches in 18 days.

“You can say at the moment that there is not much space for real training,” the coach said of the busy schedule. “It is mostly recovery and light preparation before the game, so there are no real trainings at the moment.”

Evidently, this grueling gauntlet of matches has made it difficult for the‘Caps to correct their mistakes, but that’s exactly what they’ll need to do if they hope to not only win the Voyageurs Cup, but also to turn around their fortunes in MLS.

“I’m not unhappy with the team, absolutely not,” said Thordarson. “But we’ve been punished hard.”

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