Also: World Cup action, Leagues Cup QFs, Huntsville Strikers and MUFC updates, Arsenal fans excited, and C’mon Luton Town

I would normally lead with the Women’s World Cup, or English Premier League kicking-off, but since I’m vice president of the Huntsville Soccer Club, it was only right to feature our co-ed adult league playoffs.

On Thursday night, the Canvas Brewing Co. team put the exclamation point on an undefeated season with a penalty kick victory over Aimee Sinclair in the league final after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

Prior to their final victory, Canvas won 2-0 over Dr. Marc – Algonquin Orthodontics in the semi-finals. In the other semi-final, Aimee Sinclair edged by Best Life in penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw in regulation play.

In the third place match, Dr. Marc won 2-1 over Best Life.

Here are some photos from the final night . . . excuse the poor quality on the Canvas team photos.

hosts in tough at world cup

Though this World Cup will go down as one full of intrigue and upsets, two favourites go head-to-head on Saturday morning at 3:30 a.m. when the host Matildas from Australia take on Les Bleues from France.

As much as I want Australia to win, and as much as everyone with any quality football playing European background loves to see France lose, it won’t be easy.

France look strong, very strong and play beautiful football. The fifth ranked team by FIFA, they are built to win this tournament and have phenomenal players from across the biggest clubs in Europe.

And they’re motivated after falling 2-1 to the eventual champion U.S. four years ago as the 2019 World Cup hosts.

The Matildas are no slouches either and they have Sam Kerr back on the pitch. As one of the top five women players in the world, she has the ability to make a huge difference against a contender like France.

Plus, if Raso can keep up her scoring touch, this should be an exciting match with plenty of goals: Australia has nine goals for and three against in four matches, while France has 12 goals for and four against in their four World Cup matches.

Side note: On July 14, Australia defeated France 1-0 in a friendly match that served as a tournament warm-up. That match saw France take 15 shots (but only one on target) and keep 63% of the possession. On flip side, Australia took four shots with three on target and one finding the net.

Later Saturday morning, at 6:30 a.m. when many of us will be awake, the Lionesses from England take on Colombia in the last quarter-final match.

England will be without Lauren James after she suffered a red card for an accidental but dangerous play in the round-of-16 win penalty kicks win over Nigeria. The dynamic James, who had 3 goals and 3 assists in 3 group stage matches, was banned for two games for stepping on an opponent.

The good news is she can still play in the final if the Lionesses make it. Should they beat Colombia they will face the winner of Australia-France in the semi-final round on wednesday.

The other semi-final is set after Sweden stunned Japan 2-1 early Friday and Spain beat the Netherlands by the same score.

The Sweden vs. Spain match takes place very early Tuesday morning.

Visit FIFA Women’s World Cup for the full schedule and results.

All Matches are available on TSN channels and apps.

Leagues Cup QFS

The Leagues Cup Quarterfinals take place on Friday, August 11 with Lionel Messi and friends looking to take one step closer to winning the tournament

Inter Miami host Charlotte at 8:30 p.m. and are definitely the favourites. The winner of their match takes on the winner of Philadelphia and Querétaro.

Meanwhile, Toronto FC fans like myself have mixed emotions about the run Nashville is making featuring two Canadians who were traded away by former coach Bob Bradley earlier this year.

Kentville, Nova Scotia’s own Jacob Shaffelburg and US-born Canadian international Lukas McNaughton are contributing to their team’s run in this tournament, which included knocking out perennial Liga MX powerhouse Club America in the round-of-16. Nashville hosts Minnesota in the quarterfinals.

The winner of their match takes on the survivor from the LAFC and
Monterrey contest.

The third place match winner plus both finalists quality for the CONCACAF Champions League. Meanwhile, the champion gets a direct qualification into the Champions League round of 16.

MLS Season Pass on Apple TV airs all the Leagues Cup matches.

HUNTSVILLE STRIKERS ROUND-UP

On the Strikers rep development side of things, the U12 Girls beat Orillia 3-0 on Wednesday with Kaley Verheye, Claire Feltis, and Olivia MacKinnon providing the firepower for Huntsville.

The U10 Girls lost 4-0 to North Bay in their last match.

MUFC ROUND-UP

Both the Muskoka United FC U17 Boys and U15 Girls have kept up their strong league play through the HDSL season.

Hat tricks by both Johnny Fiorini and Alfie Napper, as well as two goals a piece from Zach Caplan and Tyler Horvath Thompson, led the way as the MUFC U17 B rolled to a 14-0 win over North Simcoe.

Andrew Walisser, Andres Alfaro, Noah Graham and Callahan Alexander added the other tallies for MUFC.

The U15 Girls beat North Bay 1-0 this week to move to 7-0-0 on the season. Leah Maxwell scored for MUFC.

The U17 Girls won 1-0 over Newmarket in I-Model C2 action on Wednesday.

The U15 Boys defeated Jarvis 5-4 in I-Model C2 action on Thursday.

The Muskoka United U13 Girls play in Ajax on Saturday.

The MUFC U13B play in Sudbury on Saturday.

Arsenal for the league?

The English Premier League Season is upon us and my friends David Caplan and Roman Hul are in their full Gooner glory after Arsenal defeated Man City to win the preseason Community Shield.

Talk of winning the league in 2023/24 was already being whispered about as the North London club fell off the EPL perch in the spring as the Man City machine hit another gear and did the treble (Champions League, EPL, and FA Cup) last season.

Can Arsenal win the league this year? Very much so. But, if they plan to do it with this squad, they need to put full focus on the league.

Trying to win every competition – unless you have two world class 11s on your club to call upon – is unrealistic.

And with virtually the same team that faded late in the season in all competitions, it would serve the club well to focus on winning just one.

C’mon luton town

Finally in the Premiership for the first time, Luton Town supporters are still in disbelief that the tiny club earned promotion to the top league of the English football pyramid.

Some had picked up a secondary team to support in the EPL over the years since it never seemed possible The Hatters would make it, but here they are and they’re as good a club as any to support.

Other than the fact my buddy Jez is from the town, we wrote about the club in earnest during the promotion playoffs in the spring.

Check out these stories for more …

Luton Town Dreams Big!

One Win Away!

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