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Premier [VMSL Premier] Predictions, Results & Banter 2017/2018

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Canucks4Ever

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Last but not least, let's take a look at how things are shaping up in the VMSL Premier Division as we make the final turn:

Rovers Tigers Utd.
Current Standing: 1st
Pre-Season Prediction: 2nd

It has all gone according to plan for the Surrey boys as they have sat atop the pile since day one. It took until Week 10 for them to drop any points at all when they lost to Peg 2-1. Since then they have shown some fallibility, but they have never been overtaken at the top and, thanks to slip-ups by their rivals, a six point cushion at the top, though Pegasus could narrow that gap to three if they win their game in hand. It will not be an easy run to the finish line as Rovers still have rematches to come with the top three teams chasing them, including Peg who beat them as mentioned and Croatia who help them to a 0-0 draw. They must also play the other Tigers, Rino's, who will be eager to prove that their newly re-minted team is deserving of the respect of the league as well as desperate, former champions Coquitlam who have turned a corner. Still, Rovers have can likely only be realistically caught by Pegasus and I think they will have enough to hold off their local rivals down the stretch, though that late season match will surely be appointment viewing!
Final Prediction: 1st

Pegasus FC
Current Standing: 2nd
Pre-Season Prediction: 4th

Peg have dispelled the notion that they are too old to be top contenders with a wonderful display of veteran football. The Surrey crew sit second and are within striking distance of their local rivals, Rovers Tigers, atop the table. They are also one of only two teams to beat Rovers and will likely need to do it again if they have serious title aspirations. It has been inconstant form against relegation threatened EDC Burnaby that has ultimately hurt Pegasus, as they have taken only one of the six points on offer from the team that currently sits second bottom. If Peg can avoid further slip-ups however, their late season battle with Rovers Tigers could well be a title decider or, perhaps, even position things for a winner take all playoff after the schedule concludes. In the end though, given Pegs recent record against other top teams, perhaps they will just be happy with a spot in the Provincials. This group understands that if you cannot finish first then there is really no difference between second and fourth - all are guaranteed to be in the dance regardless of what happens in the Imperial Cup. With two young teams charging hard behind them, we might just see the Surrey boys fall back slightly in a case of saving themselves for the games when they matter.
Final Prediction: 3rd

Rino's Tigers
Current Standing: 3rd
Pre-Season Prediction: 9th

Well this has certainly been a much better account of themselves than they gave the last time the were in Premier as they went down with barely a wimper, becoming the first team in memory to manage an entire season without a win at this level. This edition of Rino's boasts some of the best talent on offer in the lower mainland as they have enticed players from UBC, SFU, TSS and former professionals to join their ranks. Many have speculated about just how they have achieved this and asserted that there must be nefarious dealings at the heart of matters, but as far Tigers are concerned it is just a case of "haters gonna hate." This team looks nearly unstoppable and must surely have their fixture with league leaders Rovers circled on the calendar for two weeks time. They are full value for their climb up the table and, had they had this roster from day one, they likely would have cruised to a title themselves. As it stands the eight point gap between them and Rovers with seven games to play looks too much to overcome, though is they were to manage it, they would all but certainly need all three points when the sides meet. While the title may be just beyond their reach, watch out for them in the cup competitions!
Final Prediction: 2nd

Croatia SC
Current Standing: 4th
Pre-Season Prediction: 5th

Croatia have managed to pick up essentially where they left off last season. They need two extra weeks of summer before they got going, dropping a combined four points to the two teams currently occupying the relegation places to begin the season, but have since been on an absolute tear. They have taken points off every team in the league, save for Inter whom the lost their only meeting against. They will need to continue to play at this level to bag a guaranteed Provincial place by finishing inside the top four and it is likely the reverse fixture against Inter that they will need to win in order to consolidate that place. It was a tough finish just before the break, losing two on the spin, but they return to play three of the relegation threatened teams over their next four matches and will be confident of getting back to winning ways.
Final Prediction: 4th

Club Inter
Current Standing: 5th
Pre-Season Prediction: 7th

The "Italians" had an excuse for their slow start this year as they had a National Championship to contend for and while that one did not go the way they would have hoped, they have returned and look a good bet to qualify for the Provincial Cup and attempt to defend their title. It is not a sure thing by any means though and they will need to recapture their usual second half form as they find themselves mired among three teams fighting for the final two Provincial places. Those places are only on offer assuming the Imperial Cup finalist come from the teams in the top six, though historically they tend to, so finishing in the top half will likely do the trick for Inter. To that end, they have a massive game against one of their main competitors to be in the top six, the resurgent Coquitlam Metro Ford, as soon as play resumes and another game against Metro Ford to be made up from when Inter were at Nationals. Those results will likely be vital to the Vancouver crew's hopes of defending their title. Inter's biggest concern has to be their vaunted offence's lack of production. They have been held to one goal or less in nine of their 14 games to this point and 10 of their 25 goals for have come in their two matches against last placed CCB. I think they will have to wait with baited breath for the Imperial Cup results though to know their fate for sure.
Final Predicition: 6th

West Van FC
Current Standing: 6th
Pre-Season Prediction: 3rd

The fall from grace has continued for this one time juggernaut. Last season they were off the pace at the top, but so was almost everybody else and perhaps that inflated their standing somewhat. This year there has been no such luck as the league appears to have taken a step forward while West Van has remained stagnant. Only their defensive record has seemingly kept them afloat in mid-table as their six clean sheets (seven if you include CCB's forfeit) have allowed them to keep pace with the other Provincial Cup hopefuls. They themselves have been kept off the score sheet four times this season however, as it seems that usually the first goal is decisive in matches involving the former Trollers. If you deduct the three goals that they were credited courtesy of that aforementioned forfeit, they have scored the fewest times in the league save for bottom of the table CCB. All ominous signs and now, thanks to some inconsistent form against teams from the lower half of the table, their top six fate is no longer in their own hands with Coquitlam only two points back and having two extra games to play. It is looking bleak on the North Shore and one cannot help but wonder if the program is beginning to follow the same path as other former giants such as Westside and Columbus.
Final Prediction: 7th

Coquitlam Metro Ford
Current Standing: 7th
Pre-Season Prediction: 1st

What on Earth went on for the first half of the season out in the Tri-Cities? An utterly disastrous start to the campaign saw the two time defending champions saw them occupying a relegation place at one point. Since then however, they have pulled up their socks and got back to playing the level of football that we have come to expect from Metro Ford. They have now won six straight matches are are the top form team in the league. They do have a decent amount of football to play in the second half of the season given that they have played the fewest matches of any team in the league, but given the performances they were putting in at the time, playing some extra games on the back end of things might in fact be for the best. Climbing the table for a guaranteed berth in the Provincial Cup might be a tough ask, but their fate is certainly in their own hands with games to come immediately against their nearest rivals in Inter and West Van. Fourth might be a tough ask, but look for this group to continue climb the table and to be a surly lot come the Imperial Cup.
Final Prediction: 5th

Richmond FC
Current Standing: 8th
Pre-Season Prediction: 8th

It has been far from champagne football from Richmond and they were in serious relegation danger in the middle of November. Since then results massive results against their relegation rivals EDC, Westside and Campo have seen them alleviate the pressure, but they are far from out of the woods. They sit only three points above the drop and will now play fine in a row against teams from the top half. Survival is the only goal at this point and Richmond's veteran crew should have the experience to see this out. Hibs have alternated between a good season (mid-table and in Provincial contention) and a bad season (relegation fight), since their return from a one year absence when they were relegated six seasons ago. So, should they stay up, things reckon to be brighter next year.
Final Prediction: 8th

Campo Athletico
Current Standing: 9th
Pre-Season Prediction: 12th

If nothing else Campo have proven that they deserved their shot at playing at this level. From opening day when they stunned West Van, and the league as a whole, to fighting for a sensational comeback against Westside to playing close matches with the top teams, Campo have held their own. Their four wins have left them in a position to fight to stay in the league for another season and, given everything this group has show to this point, there is no reason to believe that they won't fight all the way to the finish. It is almost now or never for Campo though as they will face the two bottom teams over the next three weeks and, after that, finish off with games against the top half and the teams fighting to extend their seasons with Provincial Cup berths. It's not impossible, but, based on the strength of schedule, it does look like an uphill battle.
Final Prediction: 11th

Westside FC
Current Standing: 10th
Pre-Season Prediction: 6th

A season that started with so much promise and two big wins and the club looking to continue where they left off after a Provincial Cup semi final berth has quickly spiraled into a nightmare. True they have caught some bad breaks along the way, but overall the team has been simply much too beatable. Their goal difference doesn't lie and they haven't kept a clean sheet since that opening day win. If they are to avoid a third relegation in seven seasons, they will need to keep the ball out of their net much more often down the stretch. Certainly a task that is easier said than done, but, given this group's reputation as a second half team over the past few seasons perhaps they can find the formula.
Final Prediction: 10th

EDC Burnaby
Current Standing: 11th
Pre-Season Prediction: 11th

Chile have been quite the enigma this season. While their miserable form has landed them arguably exactly where they deserve to be, they have pulled some stunning results out this season, including taking fully four points off second place Pegasus. They have beat Croatia and, just before the break, show some great resolve getting a draw out of West Van. It has been their form against their nearest rivals in the relegation race that has hindered them with losses to Westside, Richmond and Campo along with a draw against CCB. The great news for Chile is the fact that they will get to play all of those teams again down their final stretch and if they can match the form that they are currently in there are certainly enough points on the table to climb to safety.
Final Prediction: 9th

CCB LFC
Current Standing: 12th
Pre-Season Prediction: 10th

Almost not even worth the time. CCB have been awful and it is a trend that has been going on for a couple of seasons now. Despite their heavy hitting roster, this team has simply never gelled and the players could best be said to represent the definition of "fair weather." It is not mathematically over for CCB as they are seven points back with seven to play, but they will face all the teams directly above them in the relegation battle between now and the end of the year. The reality is they certainly have the players to pull it off, but do they even remotely care? After forfeiting to West Van rather than travel to Ambleside, the signs would seemingly point to no. They dodged relegation despite woeful performances during this part of the schedule last season mostly because North Delta and Columbus were so bad at the beginning of the season that they just could not catch up. If they were to pull themselves out of it this year it truly would be a great escape.
Final Prediction: 12th
 

Canucks4Ever

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Well it looks like the ice and snow has melted just in time for play to resume. Nothing has been decided at all in the VMSL's Premier Division as everything from the champion, the Provincial Cup places and the relegation spots are all still to be determined. So let's get back into it:

Completely Baseless Predictions for Week 16:

Rovers Tigers v EDC Burnaby
Top at Christmas is always a key benchmark and a scrappy 2-1 win over local rivals, last place CCB, ensured that Rovers Tigers achieved this standing, irrespective of Pegasus and their game in hand. Though hardly out of sight at the top, Rovers will be confident of capturing their first league title after undergoing several evolutions and transformations to reach their current incarnation. I believe, once upon a time, this spot belonged to Sapperton Rovers before crossing the bridge from New West and partnering with Hurricanes, CCB and Langley at various times, among possibly others. It all gets blurry sometime around the mid-2000s, but the point is Sapperton Rovers won their only VMSL title in the 96-97 season and, if nothing else, should the Surrey boys to hold on and claim the trophy this year, it will be, at the very least, the first time a team with the moniker "Rovers" has won it since then. Chile are at the opposite end of the table but their form of late has shown a real fighting spirit. They could quite well have been dead and buried after a mid-November loss to Richmond, which, at the time, saw them slip to the foot of the table. They have picked up seven points from the four games since then and against big time opposition as well. They beat both Pegasus and Inter 1-0 before closing out the pre-holiday schedule with a spirited 3-3 against West Van. A 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Croatia is best forgotten sandwiched in among those better results, but that form overall has lifted EDC to within a point of safety. It looks like they are really up for this fight and, while Rovers will obviously be favoured in this one, they would best beware this desperate Chile side.

West Van v Rino's Tigers
Not long ago these clubs seemed just about neck and neck in the table and fighting for a Provincial Cup spot. Now they are trending in different directions and Rino's have shot up the table. These kids look nigh impossible to beat and might well still make noise in the title race if they can continue their current torrid pace. Perhaps their students will still be away enjoying the holiday break but, short of that, they would seem to be favourites in this one. West Van were on a dreadful run, having picked up only one point from four games, before they stunned the league with a 1-0 win over leaders Rovers. That sort of low scoring affair, either for or against, is definitely the North Shore boys' modus operandi, as fully 11 of their matches this season have seen either only one or neither team score. Furthermore, six of those matches have been 1-0 scorelines. Defense is the name of the game for the former Trollers, or so it would appear, as they look to be tight at the back and ride the league best defensive record of only 13 goals against before then trying to knick a decisive one when they get a chance at the other end. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The last time these two met it was 0-0 and that marks the only time Rino's have been kept off the board during this campaign. They have risen to the top of the table in terms of goals for, setting the high water mark currently with 46, and while West Van were able to smother the also prolific offense of Rovers back in October, I just can't see them bottling up Rino's again.

Croatia v Westside
The nightmare goes on for Westside who are now without a point in five games. Croatia themselves are suffering a mini-blip in form at the moment as well, having lost two on the spin for the first time this season. Two teams then, it would seem, looking for a bounce or a bit of magic leftover from the holidays to get them going back in the right direction. Based on everything so far this season you would think that it is most likely to turn up in the Croatian camp. Third leading scorer Emile Saimovici and his seven goals on the season will be enjoying an extended Winter Break as he appears on the hot sheet for yellow card accumulation this week. Fortunately for the Europeans, you would expect them to soldier on given the offensive prowess of the Malamura brothers. Mark has netted eight times this year while David leads the league with 12 goals from 15 games. Perhaps the best news for Westside is that the majority of their relegation rivals also have tough games this week, though they will need to start finding "bonus" points themselves somewhere given their rivals all seem to be doing just that. Their only point to come from a team outside the bottom five was via a draw against Croatia in the reverse fixture; maybe lightning can strike twice, though I wouldn't bet on it given the season Croatia is having.

Pegasus v Richmond
Two wins on the bounce, and three in their last five, has seen Richmond put some distance between themselves and the drop since they provided bottom of the table CCB with their only with of the season back at the beginning of November. Hibs are now three points up on the relegation places but they would do well not to sit on their laurels as they have a tough run of fixtures over then next five weeks before getting a chance to make amends for that blunder out in Surrey. Pegasus will be less than welcoming hosts, one imagines, given that they are nearing must win territory if they are to catch their Newton rivals, Rovers Tigers, at the top of the table. Back to back losses against Chile and Rino's followed by a fog-out in Coquitlam has allowed Rovers to build a small cushion between Peg and themselves, so there is no room for error for the horsemen in this one. They did manage to right the ship against lowly Westside before the break so no doubt they will be hopeful that will have them back on song south of the river. Peg don't exactly overwhelm their opponents with goals, their 27 for the year are well off the goal scoring pace of the other top four sides, which would point to this one being a rather cagey affair. That will suit Richmond just fine and they may well be confident of coming away with a point out in Surrey, but, first game back after the holidays, I'll give the slightest edge to Peg having home field advantage.

Inter v Coquitlam Metro Ford
MOTW in this one as two one time superpowers battle it out for Provincial Cup places. Defending Provincial Champions Inter are no stranger to clawing their way into the Provincial Cup. Last season it took them until the last game of the year to book their spot, before catching fire and storming their way to a title. The year previous though, if memory serves, they lost a playoff game to the then Pacific Utd. and missed out altogether. The year before that they were in the final again, though I cannot recall their league standing that season. Point being, these guys generally do their best work when must win time comes around and always seem to do just enough to put themselves in a position to control their own fate. Perhaps Coquitlam could learn from them given that, despite their dominance in the league table over recent years, they always seem to come up short come playoff time. We certainly are not used to seeing Metro Ford having to scrap for their place in the post-season dance, but, given how their year began, it is actually a remarkable improvement. The Tri-Cities boys are the hottest team in the VMSL Premier division currently having won six in a row and are without a loss since October. Inter are certainly the more experience street brawlers, if you will, and know how to get the job done at this team of year, in this position in the table. Coquitlam, however, look unstoppable at the moment and Carlo Basso is back to his usual self, now up to eight goals- one more than Inter's Milad Mehrabi. Inter could use with their top men getting back to their "usual selves," as their dynamic, threatening offense has been a little limp this season. If you discount the 10 goals they have scored over two games against bottom of the league CCB, their average is just a shade over a goal a game. These two know each other well and both teams have plenty of veteran players with little love lost for those in enemy colours. It should be a cracker and the best part is they will meet again down the stretch when they make up their fixture from October when Inter were at Nationals. As for a prediction, I am wary of Inter's offensive output and, given Metro Ford's form of late, I think it will take more than one goal to win this game; I'll take the Tri-Cities boys to stay hot.

Campo Atletico v CCB LFC
Despite an almost unanimous preseason opinion that they would be cannon fodder at this level, Campo see the calendar turn with them having more than just a chance of staying in the league. With a tough schedule down the stretch though it is imperative that they take maximum points off CCB this week. After this week Campo play Peg before another massive tilt against a relegation threatened side in Chile. Beyond that they finish the season against teams from the top half and will not want to be needing to find the points they need to stay up in those matches. The good news is that CCB have been woeful to this point of the year and even worse away from Newton Athletic. CCB have not earned a single point on their travels and did not even bother with their last away game, instead opting to forfeit to West Van. Already seven points adrift of safety and rooted to the bottom of the table, if the Surrey boys are to pull off the great escape they will need to find some away form and quick. They play three of their next four on the road with a home date against the vaunted offense of Rino's Tigers jammed in the middle. By the time an arguably "winnable" home game against Westside rolls around at the beginning of February, it may be too late. In fact these next two games, away to Campo and Chile, two teams directly above them in the table, are ostensibly must win matches for CCB. A point is really no good for either team in this one so I would expect that they will both be "going for it," as it were, and it might just be one of the more high scoring, unpredictable and entertaining games of the season. Based on their inability to get results outside of Surrey, I will have to tip Campo in this one and what a result it would be for them.
 

Canucks4Ever

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Surely one of these weeks will prove decisive, but just exactly when that will be is anyone's guess. It looks to be now just a two way race at the top, but the relegation battle is wide open and so is the fight for the final two Provincial Cup places, with three teams locked on 25 points. Let's see if this weekend can supply us with any separation...

Completely Baseless Predictions for Week 17:

Pegasus v Campo Atletico
It was job done last week for Campo who got the three points they surely needed off bottom of the league CCB. It's all the more impressive when you consider that I have a source who says Campo trailed 2-1 in the second half. The Burnaby based outfit have a tough schedule to finish the league campaign, but have, for now, catapulted to the head of the back in terms of the teams that are vying to avoid the drop. That difficult schedule begins with a trip to Surrey to face second place Pegasus. Peg have righted the ship after some turbulent seas back at the start of December and come into this one on the back of a pair of wins over Campo's relegation rivals. The Newton outfit look now like the only team capable of catching Rovers at the top after Rino's faint hopes of a late season smash and grab look to have been dashed after they failed to come away with maximum points last weekend. Pegasus need these points as their schedule gets set to ramp up the intensity as well. After this weekend, the only game they have left against the bottom teams is their season finale against CCB and, if they've been mathematically relegated by that point, I will be impressed if CCB show up. The penultimate game on Peg's schedule is the one they will need to make count as that is when they play Rovers. Peg certainly cannot afford to be dropping points to the likes of Campo and, after getting the business done in a big way last time out, you can almost forgive Campo if they might be looking at this one as a "bonus points" situation, especially with another mammoth fixture on the horizon next week against Chile.

Richmond v Croatia
Croatia slumbered out of the break, squeaking past lowly Westside 1-0 last week. Still though, it stopped the rot after back to back losses leading into the holidays and kept them on track to finish in fourth place and the automatic qualification for the Provincial Cup that accompanies a top four finish. They will get a mulligan of sorts and a fresh opportunity to reignite their 2018 engines this week against another lower table team in Richmond. Hibs were well beaten in Surrey last time out against Peg and continue through a difficult part of their schedule now against fourth placed Croatia. After taking care of business in some serious relegation battles before the break, Richmond might just have an eye on weathering the next few weeks before they get an opportunity to consolidate their place in the league when they finish the season against CCB and Chile, who currently occupy those relegation places. Last time these two met I am not sure that Richmond were informed of the game as they essentially failed to turn up entirely in a 4-0 beat down. I am not sure that things will be quite so drastic this time around, however, I still think Croatia will get the job done.

Coquitlam Metro Ford v West Van
The train keeps rolling for Metro Ford who made it an impressive seven in a row with their win over Inter last time out. The Coquitlam comeback tour now gets set to welcome West Van to town who are in the midst of a bit of a streak of their own. After being famous for the 1-0 scoreline throughout the season, the former Trollers have seemingly adopted a new favourite result, the 3-3. They have tied two games in a row knotted at three and that has been the final score in three of their last four games played (there was also the "3-0" forfeit by CCB over that span). So it would seem that the North Shore boys have perhaps solved their goal scoring conundrum, though it may have come at the expense of their defensive record! We are used to seeing these two teams scrapping it out at the top of the table but, instead, this game is absolutely massive in terms of the race for Provincial Cup places. Both clubs enter in a three way tie with Inter for the final two Provincial Cup places, all on 25 points. Importantly though, Coquitlam have two games in hand over West Van, however one of those is against Inter. Regardless, it appears safe to say that these points are likely more valuable to West Van who risk losing serious control of their destiny if they come away with nothing from this one. What better way to reignite this rivalry than with an almost playoff like atmosphere? Hopefully this one gives us a classic and it is certainly hard to predict. Coquitlam are obviously red hot coming into this one and have tended to have West Van's number over recent years, especially when the stakes are highest. That being said, West Van have shown great resilience of late are are themselves unbeaten in their last four, or five if you count the CCB forfeit, and that includes a win over league leaders Rovers. Tough to pick a favourite and I have to think the law of averages in going to catch up to Metro Ford eventually. They are due an unlucky bounce or a bad call or some other act of the Football Gods. I'll go with a draw in this one and, given West Van's recent form, why not make it a 3-3!

EDC Burnaby v CCB LFC
An absolutely massive one at the wrong end of the table here as the two bottom teams meet with priceless points up for grabs. Chile can vault out of the relegation places Friday night with a win for the first time since slipping into the drop zone back at the start of November. Last time they had this opportunity they were beaten by relegation rivals Richmond 2-0. That loss, in fact, saw them slip to the very foot of the standings, however, they immediately showed their fighting spirit by beating Pegasus the next week who were, at that time, tied atop the table. The Burnaby boys have continued to plug away at it ever since and picked up a win over Inter and a draw with West Van right before the winter break. This has afforded them their escape opportunity this week and, while last week was no doubt humbling getting beat 4-1 by league leaders Rovers, surely they can take the points they so desperately desire off bottom of the table CCB. You can just about hit the lights on the Surrey boys who surrendered a second half lead at Campo last week en route to loss number 12 on the season. They remain seven points from safety and another loss this weekend will see them sitting, at minimum, nine points from survival with five games remaining. Adding to the misery for CCB is the fact that this game will take place in Burnaby and they have yet to earn a single point as the visiting team this year. The writing is just about on the wall for the Surrey boys, though, if they can come away with something they may yet have hope. After two difficult games against Rino's and Metro Ford they will face fellow strugglers Westside at home and, if the game means something for CCB, they will surely fancy getting a result. That presumes quite a few "ifs" though and, frankly, given EDC's much improved form, they are clear favourites in this one. They could only manage a draw out at Newton in the reverse fixture, but this time they simply must have all three points.

Rino's Tigers v Rovers Tigers
MOTW in this one as it is Round Two of Tigers versus Tigers. Round 1 went to league leaders Rovers back in October by a fairly convincing 4-1 scoreline. However, Rino's are almost a new team since that meeting and will now be keen to put the league on notice by claiming the head of the current top dogs (or perhaps cats...). Rino's were slow coming back off the break and that saw them drop points in a 3-3 draw with mid-table West Van. The Vancouver boys had fanned the flames of a potential shock, late season title charge after posting a 5-1-0 record since receiving an injection of top college talent. However, they were well off the pace after their early season form and this latest draw all but snuffs out what faint hope there might have been. That being said, those results have vaulted Rino's into a position where automatic qualification for the Provincial Cup is very much a possibility and they certainly won't want to be losing any ground, especially with the red hot Coquitlam Metro Ford having games in hand on the field. Rovers themselves will of course not be keen on any slip-ups either, with their local rivals Pegasus circling and within striking distance of the title. Those two do not meet until the second last week of the season and surely Rovers would rather that game be merely academic. In order to accomplish that, they will more than likely need maximum points along the way and that would obviously include a win this weekend. These two teams have scored the most goals in the league (Rino's - 49; Rovers - 47) so I wouldn't fancy being a goalkeeper in this one. It is almost a who's who of the VMSL goal scoring charts as Rovers will have Nick Soolsma (11), Ryan Dhillon (10), Pavi Dhillon (9) and Chetan "CJ" Jhooty (6); while Rino's will answer with James MacMillan (9), Declan Rodriguez (6) and Kristian Yli-Hietanen (6). Not to mention All-Star supporting casts that include, among others, Cam Hundal for Rovers and Matteo Polisi for Rino's. This game is sure to be worth the price of admission and then some, so if you are looking for something to do Saturday afternoon, might I suggest a stroll past Trillium? As for a prediction it is always difficult in a game like this. Rino's have proven that they can get the job done and will certainly have a chip on their shoulder as they look to continue to send a message to the league at large that they are, in fact, the real deal. On the other hand, you don't end up at the top of the table by accident and Rovers are full value for their current standing. Rino's draw against West Van gives me pause for concern and I am a fan of the mantra that if you want to be the best you have to beat the best, so I will make Rovers favourites here.

Westside v Inter
Westside could well find themselves in the relegation zone by the time kickoff roles around in this one, depending on results on Friday night. They slumped to a sixth consecutive loss last week at Croatia, though perhaps they can take heart in the fact that it was a tight 1-0. That being said, their last four losses have all been by a single goal, but I suppose you look for anything to cling to when you are on a run like this and maybe limiting the damage against can be a positive. Inter are certainly no strangers to one goal losses are are actually in a bit of a rough patch themselves. They have lost three straight and have only a solitary point to show for their efforts over their last four matches since a 6-1 drubbing of league basement dwellers CCB. That six goal outburst is the only time the "Italians" have manage to score more than a lone goal since they beat Croatia 2-1 back on November 3. Goal scoring has been an ongoing problem for Inter this season and if not for their 10 goals banked against lowly CCB, they would be well off the pace in terms of offense compared to the rest of the league. Fortunately, last time they played Westside they blew three past them as they took out some frustration after a tough go of things at Nationals. They also always seem to get up for playing their Vancouver rivals and that hatred might just be the perfect tonic for what is easily their worst stretch of form this season. Add to that the fact that Inter are now in a dog fight to qualify for Provincials and the opportunity to defend their crown and you have everything they love: a game that means something. Any other team and I might say that, given the recent records, this looks like a scrappy one and Westside might just fancy getting a draw out of it. Against Inter though, I have to tip the defending Provincial Champs.
 

GoF

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Rovers Tigers march to the title continued at Trillium this afternoon. 3-1 win over Rino's. Rino's carried the play for most of the match but Rovers Tigers were clinical in front of goal and pouncing on sloppy defending, going into a 3-0 first half lead that they never looked back from. Soolsma got a brace before having to head off somewhere before half time! His first goal was a beauty, rounding the keeper and then finishing from the tightest of angles. Rino's pulled one back from the spot before half time but Rovers managed the second half well, which was fairly dull to be honest.

Here's all the goals

 

machel

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Rovers Tigers march to the title continued at Trillium this afternoon. 3-1 win over Rino's. Rino's carried the play for most of the match but Rovers Tigers were clinical in front of goal and pouncing on sloppy defending, going into a 3-0 first half lead that they never looked back from. Soolsma got a brace before having to head off somewhere before half time! His first goal was a beauty, rounding the keeper and then finishing from the tightest of angles. Rino's pulled one back from the spot before half time but Rovers managed the second half well, which was fairly dull to be honest.

Here's all the goals



Tough day at the office for #60 o_O
 

Canucks4Ever

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Aha! As I suspected, @GoF headed over to Trillium so I saved myself the drive downtown and went over to Point Grey. As expected, Inter were able to get back to winning ways over one of their favourite opponents, though it wasn't totally straight forward and a bit of a goal fest as well. It was good that I was there right for kick off because Inter had the ball in the net within a minute as Milad and Milad combined to open the scoring. Mehrabi slipped through Rahmati who rounded the keeper for a nice finish. Inter should have doubled their lead off a sumptuous left footed volley from Mehrabi from the top of the 18, but it thundered off the underside of the crossbar and bounced the wrong side of the line. Inter were cruising and skied a clear opportunity to extend their lead again; they could have been out of sight within the first 15 minutes but instead were made to pay for their lacking of killer instinct. Westside took the game over and after some great pressure and chances, drew level on the half hour mark when their attacker slotted from the top of the area. Three minutes later they had the lead when the same attacker nodded in a lovely crossed ball back across the face of goal and into the far side netting. It was all the home side until a ridiculous error right before half-time. Their defender clearly intentionally redirected a shot towards the Westside goalkeeper who opted to dive on the ball and was whistled for handling a back pass. Judging by reports on here about their game at Richmond, it sounds like this is the second time this has happened to the Westside boys this season! It was completely needless as well, the keeper easily could have simply cleared the ball with his feet as he was under no pressure. I guess the argument would be that he though it was a deflection as opposed to a "pass" towards him?? Up 2-1 heading to half time, one would think you are better being sure than sorry, evidently not however; calamitous! Inter would convert from six yards and we were level at the break.

Second half was even, with nothing more than half chances either way until the big talking point on the hour mark. Inter were awarded a penalty when a Westside defender slid to clear the ball over the end line. He had good position on the ball and made clean contact just as an Inter attacker was coming across his path. Contact with the player seemed to be incidental and Inter certainly were not making any real full-hearted appeals, but never the less the whistle went. For a team fighting for their lives in the league, this no doubt felt like just another case of anything that can go wrong will and their bench was appropriately irate at the decision. Inter would slot the pk and find an insurance marker as Westside opened up to chase the game. Some credit to the home side as they battled to get back into it right to the final whistle and were kept from making things closer on a few occasions by some quality last ditch defending out of Inter. A big result for the "Italians" as they fight to keep pace in the race for provincial places. Westside are kept out of the drop zone thanks only to Chile's loss at CCB and the upcoming match between Chile and Westside in February looks likely to decide the relegation battle now.
 

GoF

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I think that number 60 may be new to the team but he didn't seem to want to listen to his teammates. Marcello Polisi was trying to explain something to him at one point and he just dismissed him. Was then told "that's how we play" and just made a face. Not what you want to make in a first impression.
 

Canucks4Ever

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Every week the picture gets filled in just a little bit more, but truly the battles for the league title, the top four automatic Provincial Cup places, the top six potential Provincial Cup places and the relegation fight remain all very much in flux. With make up games and the Cup schedule on the horizon, some of these battles may just trickle on for a few more weeks which will no doubt be agonizing for teams that are not in control of their own destiny and can only sit and watch. With two more weeks of a full league schedule before the cup begins, let see what direction things move this weekend.

Complete Baseless Predictions for Week 18:

CCB LFC v Rino's Tigers
It was no bueno for Rino's Tigers as the other Tigers, top of the table Rovers, all but officially ended any lingering title aspirations that Rino's may yet have harbored. The good news for Rino's is that Chile's loss officially confirmed their place in the division for next season and that always has to be goal number one for any newly promoted team, so congratulations. Tigers will now turn their attention to qualifying for the club's first ever Provincial A Cup appearance since it's split with Westside around a decade ago. Rino's currently sit fourth and that will be good enough to ensure them a place at the dance regardless of whatever happens in the Imperial Cup should they be able to maintain their current standing come the close of league play. In order to achieve this they will need to stay ahead of a hard charging pack of veteran teams, Coquitlam, Inter and West Van respectively, who are desperate to move up given that, as things stand, one of them will be missing out on the post season tournament. If Rino's plan to keep them at bay they will definitely need to have all three points against CCB this week, however, while the Surrey boys may still be propping up the table, they showed that they are not dead and buried just yet with a big 3-1 win over EDC last weekend. Only time will tell if this was the first step in an incredible escape act or if it really served more as a blow to Chile's survival hopes than anything else. As has been mentioned several times, CCB certainly have the roster to punch above their weight class or, perhaps more accurately, stop punching below it. This one will be a star studded affair with a litany of former pros and college players suiting up for each side. Rino's completely took the piss out of CCB in the reverse fixture racking up a 7-0 lead before the Surrey boys called it an early day. I cannot think that this one out at Newton will be as straight forward for Rino's given that CCB are, generally, better at home and have sparked a bit of desperation and survival instinct. That being said, I still think the Vancouver boys will get the job done.

Rovers Tigers v Coquitlam Metro Ford
Oh the drama abounds as the script writers surely planned this one. After bursting onto the scene with expectation and marquee names to take the VMSL by storm last year, Rovers were simply batted aside by Coquitlam en route to their second of back to back titles. Metro Ford took all six points off Rovers, including a complete thrashing in the early days of last season. How the tables have turned and the mighty have fallen this year though! After their absolutely dismal start to the campaign, a loss to Rovers this week will confirm what we have all known for a while now, Coquitlam Metro Ford will not be making it a "Three-peat". The Tri-Cities boys saw their scorching hot run of form come to an abrupt end when they were humbled at home 4-0 by West Van last weekend. That run of wins, seven in total, saw Metro Ford seemingly take control of the battle for the lower Provincial places, however, this loss, to a rival West Van team also competing for those same places, has seen CMF be dragged back to the bottom of this dog fight. Meanwhile, Rovers showed their pedigree and got the business done against an upstart Rino's team that was looking to send a message to the league. If the Surrey boys can win again this week it will officially reduce the title race to three teams and, if that is coupled with a Croatia loss, then it will be down to just two teams left vying for the title. Most importantly though, a win will keep second place Pegasus at bay and with their upcoming showdown looming, that is what is most important for Rovers. This one should be a cracker Friday night and I think there are good odds on these two splitting the points. I just think Metro Ford might be reeling slightly from having their bubble burst after that win streak and that is not a good time to play the league leaders when they are closing in on a championship.

West Van v Westside
It seems like Westside just keep finding ways to lose games. While they were over run by Inter early on last time out, their play the rest of the way certainly deserved a better fate than a 4-2 loss. At the end of the day though, no one is really interested in what you deserve. It's the results that count and Westside certainly are not getting those. It is now seven straight losses for the Vancouver boys and the signs are ominous as they are set to square off against a West Van team that just seems to have their number. They former Trollers did the double over Westside last season and added a cup win as well. Not only that, but West Van seem to have turned a corner and unlocked the mystery that was their offense for the first part of the season. After being among the league's lowest goal scorers for most of the campaign, the North Shore boys have hit for 10 over their last three matches. West Van also desperately need these points in order to keep pace in the battle for Provincial Cup qualification, so they definitely cannot afford a night off in this one. Two teams heading in opposite direction here, not really much to analyze, West Van should be relatively comfortable.

Croatia v Pegasus
MOTW in this one as second plays third. Both these teams technically still have a shot at the title, but, realistically, only Peg have a chance of catching their local rivals Rovers. To pull that off the Surrey boys cannot afford to drop any further points and, other than a date with CCB for Week 22 at the end of the schedule, it is a tough run in for Pegasus. They became the only team to tally eight goals in a single game this past week when they spanked Campo 8-1, but from here on out they will play only teams from the top half fighting for Provincial spots along with a titanic showdown against Rovers that could well decide the title. Croatia, though, are looking to lock down a top four finish and automatic passage to the Provincial Cup. The reverse fixture between these two was an solid enough 3-1 win for Croatia, though it is likely safe to expect another close and cagey affair this time out. Neither team will want to slip up, but certainly Peg will have more to lose given the title really is all but out of sight for Croatia. Azad Palani used that beat down of Campo to vault himself up the scoring chart for Pegasus, having now netted 11 for the season, but Croatia's David Malamura still leads the way in the Golden Boot race with 15 goals this year. He will likely need to continue to score if he hopes to keep last season's scoring champion, Nick Soolsma, at bay, though I am sure he is just focused on helping his team win. Can either of Palani or Malmura find the decisive marker to take all three points for their club? This one looks too tight to call; I'll say it ends in a draw.

Campo Atletico v EDC Burnaby
Both these teams laid complete eggs last weekend. After winning a massive game over bottom of the table CCB the week before, Campo seemingly did not even bother to turn up in Surrey to play against Pegasus. They were embarrassed 8-1 and those are the kind of performances that make you look like a relegation side. Fortunately for the Campo boys, goal difference does not matter in the VMSL as any tie in the standings that affects promotion, relegation, a division winner or a Provincial qualification is settled with a playoff. So I suppose 2-1 and 8-1 really work out to the same thing if you look at it that way. Despite this loss, Campo have a massive chance chance to move almost within touching distance of safety if they can rediscover their winning formula from two weeks ago back at home this week against Chile. A win would see Campo move fully seven points clear of the drop with only four games left to play. These points are even more vital when you look at Campo's run in to end the season as they will play three of the top four teams and the defending Provincial Champions, Inter. This is clearly Campo's last, best chance at points this year. Chile, on the other hand, could not beat CCB when afforded the opportunity last week, losing 3-1 and completely wasting a chance to escape from the drop zone while, at the same time, handing CCB life in their slim survival fight. All in all a terrible day at the office for the Burnaby boys, however, last time they missed a chance to get out of the relegation places they rebounded with a big statement win the next week. That time they needed to stun the then co-league leaders, Pegasus, but this time around it should be a much more straight forward task against Campo. EDC have to be desperate in this one and add in the fact that Campo looked woefully off the pace against Peg and I like Chile's chances in this one.

Inter v Richmond
Two veteran teams going at it in this one Saturday at Memorial. Inter stopped the rot last week with a win over Westside, though they were made to work for it. They will be looking to avoid the same sort of defensive lapses that forced them to come from behind last time out but, importantly, they did score four goals. The "Italians" will be no doubt hoping that can spur their beleaguered offense into life down the stretch as they have scored a single goal or less in 10 of their 16 matches this season. Of those other six two were against Westside, two were against bottom club CCB and one was on opening day when they banged in a late consolation in a 6-2 loss to Rovers Tigers. Richmond themselves know all about goal scoring drought as they suffered a stretch this season where they scored just once over a seven game span and that too was a consolation in a lopsided loss to Rover Tigers, this time the score was 5-1. After a couple of important results before the holidays, Richmond are now in a difficult stretch of their schedule and seem to be perhaps just trying to hunker down until a couple of winnable games at the end of the season against CCB and EDC. This one looks likely to be low scoring and Richmond might just sniff the opportunity of a "bonus" point if they can capitalize on Inter's offensive struggles. That being said, Inter are desperate for the points as they look to qualify for the Provincials and give themselves the chance to defend their crown. I think they will be able to find an extra gear and ensure they get an important win here.
 

big gk

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ccb might of beat the tigers but not sure. i was playing on the field behind and was trying to watch both games from my 18
 
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