By Warren De Lima
warren@canucks-abroad.com

Asmir Begovic earns a shut-out and man of the match in his Yeovil Town debut.Asmir Begovic: www.canadasoccer.com

Dale Mitchell, put Team Canada’s 2 - 0 loss to Estonia behind you and turn your attention to the small English town of Yeovil because Canada’s soccer future in goalkeeping may be emerging over the South West English horizon. Edmonton, Alberta native Asmir Begovic debuted in goal on Saturday for League One’s Yeovil Town and had a stellar performance. He made several key saves to maintain a 0 – 0 draw against local rivals Bristol Rovers to earn man of the match honours.

The 20 year old Begovic entered Saturday’s Derby game with fellow Canadian and Yeovil Town team mate Jaime Peters, knowing a win or a tie was necessary for their team’s battle to secure their place in the Coca-Cola League One (Tier 3).

Begovic was forced to be attentive throughout the match, contending with a barrage of Bristol Rover shots. In the 11th minute, he reacted to a Rickie Lombert shot by making an impressive jump to punch the ball over the net. In the 78th minute, Begovic encountered a rushing Chris Lines, but Begovic won the dual and kicked the ball away with his feet. Bristol Rovers would continue the onslaught, but the Canadian U21 player was the brick wall between the goal posts that could not be battered down.

After watching his Canadian U21 team mate Jaime Peters leave the game in the 84th minute due to an injury, Begovic made the biggest and most important save of the match late in the game in the 87th minute, making a spectacular jump to stop a Stuart Campbell free kick.

Unfortunately, the Yeovil Town offence could not take advantage of Begovic’s fine performance that earned him man of the match and had to settle for a 0 – 0 draw, but the draw puts Yeovil Town in 15th place of the English League One (Tier 3) and a comfortable 9 points clear of relegation.

Yeovil Town manager Russell Slade, who acquired Asmir Begovic on loan from Premier League club Portsmouth on March 27th, highly praised Asmir Begovic for his debut performance. The Edmonton native, considered by his Portsmouth goal keeping coach as the next best goalkeeper in the world, looks to be a great acquisition and turning point in Yeovil Town’s season. Canadian soccer fans hope that Begovic’s spectacular play in goal will convince Canadian national team manager Dale Mitchell to fully cap the Bosnian born Begovic soon. Asmir has expressed an interest to play for Bosnia and after a great performance in Saturday’s game, Bosnia may take notice.
Elsewhere around the English football league, Canadians were in action with their respective clubs, playing matches that had promotion or relegation implications.

Mississauga, Ontario native Simeon Jackson of League One’s (Tier 3) Gillingham, was coming of an offensive performance last weekend, which included a goal and an assist in Gillingham’s 2-1 win over AFC Bournemouth. He continued his menacing play Saturday in Gillingham’s 0 – 0 draw against Carlisle.

A day after celebrating his 21st birthday, the £150 000 January signing from Conference side Rushden and Diamonds caused a lot of headaches for the Carlisle defence, constantly breaking through on goal with finesse, but unable to convert those opportunities into goals. The Canadian U21 player had a great chance to take the lead for Gillingham in the 56th minute. The 21 year old launched a 25 yard shot towards the Carlisle goal that swerved, but smash the cross-bar.

With the game ending in a 0–0 draw, Gillingham are in the relegation zone in 21st place of the Coca-Cola English League Two(Tier 3), 4 points behind Crewe for survival.

After captaining Canada to a 2-0 loss against Estonia on Wednesday, Fulham FC’s Paul Stalteri played 90 minutes in the 2-2 draw against Derby in Saturday’s Premier League action. It was a game that had serious relegation consequences, which were realised for Derby. A Birmingham win combined with Derby’s draw with Fulham, relegated Derby down into the Championship League for next season. Despite earning a point from the game, Birmingham’s win does hinder Fulham’s survival chances in the Premier League as well. Fulham now sit 6 points behind Birmingham, who hold the final safety place in the Premier league with 6 games remaining this season.

London, Ontario native Jason De Vos captained his Ipswich Town team to a 0-0 draw with Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. De Vos nearly scored with one of his patented thrusting headers from a corner kick, but QPR goalie, Lee Camp beat him to the punch. The draw has pushed Ipswich Town up the Championship table to the final promotional play-off spot for the Premier League.

Cheltenham’s Mike D’Agostino of Vancouver, British Columbia came in as an 87th minute substitute in their 1-1 draw with Northampton in League One (Tier 3) action on Saturday. Cheltenham are now 8 points clear of Simeon Jackson’s Gillingham for relegation.

Another Vancouver native, Terry Dunfield of League Two (4th Tier) Macclesfield town played 90 minutes in their 2-1 win over Accrington on Saturday. Despite the win, it would be a game the Canadian international would like to forget. Dunfield was booked for a rash late challenge on Accrington’s Phil Edwards and he skewed a pass attempt to two Macclesfield players open in front of the Accrington goal. With the win, Macclesfield are 10 points clear of relegation in League Two (4th tier) with 5 matches to play.

Canadian, Ross Smith of League Two’s Dagenham & Redbridge was at the bad end of a 3-0 drubbing in the hands of Chesterfield on Saturday. Smith only played the first half of the match. With the loss Dagenham and Redbridge are now 8 points clear of relegation.

Finally in the Premier League on Sunday, Canadian U21 player David Edgar made his second senior side appearance this season for Newcastle United for the second weekend in a row. Just like last weekend, he came into the match as a very late substitute, stepping onto the field in the 90th minute of Newcastle United’s 4-1 win over Tottenham.

There were a few Canadians who were not in action on Saturday, Leicester City’s goal scoring leader and Canadian international Iain Hume, did not dress for his team’s 1-0 win against Scunthorpe.

Canadian national team veteran Paul Peschisolido did not play in Luton Town’s 2-1 win over Crewe and Marc Bircham did not dress along side his fellow Canadian team mates Asmir Begovic and Jaime Peter’s in Yeovil Town 0-0 draw against Bristol Rovers.