While Atiba Hutchinson’s Besiktas fell just short of its goal of reaching the UEFA Champions League group stage – falling 1-0 to Arsenal in the second leg of the play-off round last Wednesday – the Canadian midfielder did win over at least one new fan with his play.
“The best player on Besiktas?” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said during the post-game press conference. “I was impressed by Hutchinson.”
After all the hype of that game, Hutchinson went right back to work on Saturday, playing the full 90 in his side’s 1-0 defeat of Mersin Idmanyurdu in Turkish league play. Since then, Hutchinson has joined Canada’s training camp ahead of a friendly against Jamaica on Sept. 9, in which the 31-year-old will likely once again play a crucial role for his team.
Elsewhere in Canada’s player pool, we can report for the third straight week that a Haber has scored for his club – but this time, it’s Daniel Haber. The 22-year-old scored his first goal for new club Ayia Napa in just his second appearance, helping to secure a 2-2 draw with Doxa in Cyprus on Sunday.
As for Marcus Haber (no relation), he was kept off the score sheet this week, though he went the full 90 for Crewe Alexandra in a 2-0 loss to Gillingham.
Lucas Cavallini, however, did find his way back on the scoresheet, scoring his third goal in three games of the Uruguayan season for Centro Atletico Fenix, in a 4-3 loss to Defensor Sporting. And while the 21-year-old is answering questions about whether he can score consistently, the question remains as to when Canadian fans will see him back with the senior national team (to whom, it’s worth noting, he is cap-tied).
Tosaint Ricketts also found the back of the net in Toto Cup Ligat Al play, scoring for Hapoel Haifa in their 2-0 victory against Hapoel Acre last Wednesday.
Jordan Webb scored his eighth of the season over in Singapore, helping Young Lions to a 3-0 win over Home United on Thursday. Teammate Sherif El-Masri also went the full 90 in the victory.
Strikers Simeon Jackson (Coventry City) and Randy Edwini-Bonsu (Stuttgarter Kickers) also saw action for their respective clubs this week, though neither found the back of the net. Canadian fans will surely be hoping they’re just saving up their goal-scoring prowess for next week’s friendly at BMO Field.
On the other end of the pitch, some of Canada’s veteran defenders were once again stalwarts for their clubs, with David Edgar (Birmingham City), Andre Hainault (VfR Aalen) and Dejan Jakovic (Shimizu S-Pulse) all putting in full-90 performances. In less positive news, Marcel de Jong (FC Augsburg) was an unused sub for the second straight week.
Over in Finland, goalkeeper David Monsalve put in a solid performance to earn his club, AC Oulu, a point in a 0-0 result against JIPPO, with teammate Dominic Oppong also going the distance in midfield.
Pedro Pacheco (CD Santa Clara) and Nik Ledgerwood (Energie Cottbus) both saw the field – and picked up yellow cards – for their respective clubs this week. Junior Hoilett saw prominent action for QPR in a pair of matches this week, including Saturday’s 1-0 win over Sunderland.
And we’ll finish up where we started, in Turkey – Tam Nsaliwa went the full 90 for Bucaspor in their season opener, a 1-1 draw with Altinordu on Friday.
