Episode 508 - The AFTN Soccer Show (It’s My Ball And I’m Taking It Home with Jay Herdman, Nick Dasovic, and Christine Sinclair)

We're back with another packed episode of the AFTN Soccer Show for your listening pleasure, with lots of Vancouver Whitecaps, Major League Soccer, MLS Next Pro, Canadian Premier League, and Canadian national team chat, after a very busy couple of days of football across the country.

We kick off by talking Whitecaps and delve into their first home loss of the MLS season in a 3-2 defeat by Portland Timbers. Poor defending and the inability to convert their numerous chances cost them dear, but what positives can they take away from the match heading into a tough three games on the road and should they look at new tactics, new players, or both?

Turning our attention to MLS Next Pro, we look at how Whitecaps FC 2's home opener went against the Timbers, get some postgame thoughts from head coach Nick Dasovic, and sit down for a chat with attacking midfielder Jay Herdman about signing his first pro deal, his step up from the academy, his first call up into the Canadian U20 set up, and an eventful time for the Herdman household.

Keeping it international, we look at the Canadian women's match against Nigeria at BC Place on Friday, chat with Christine Sinclair about her post playing plans and what the launch of League1BC means to women's soccer in the province, and newly minted Hall of Famers Rhian Wilkinson and Martina Franko talk about the urgent need to get women's club teams and leagues in Canada.

All of this, plus we round up the opening week's action in the Canadian Premier League and look at how the weekend's action went in the MLS West.

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

02.40: Whitecaps v Timbers postgame analysis
49.38: WFC2 home opener and Nick Dasovic interview
58.29: Jay Herdman interview
73.03: Wavelength - Halftime Oranges - Single Leather Football
77.41: CanWNT chat
85.55: Christine Sinclair audio
92.10: Rhian Wilkinson and Martina Franko on Canadian club football
98.52: CPL opening weekend round-up