Union
Brad Knighton isn’t sure if he’ll get the start tonight against San Jose: “No, I mean you take every day as it is.”
Danny Mwanga has traveled with the team to San Jose after X-rays on his shoulder are negative.
Whatever happens with the goal keeper situation, the Union want payback for the extra time loss to San Jose earlier in the season. Just thinking about it, the Union’s first home defeat, makes me sick.
Needless to say, the Union still is thinking about making the playoffs.
The Union website profiles the recently acquired defender Sheanon Williams.
Harrisburg City Islanders goalkeeper Tomer Chencinski has played all over the place: Moldova, Israel, Canada and in the US. Now he’s training with the Union with a shot at becoming the number three keeper. Here’s a look at what he’s thinking.
The Inquirer profiles Zach Pfeffer, the 15-year-old from Upper Dublin who debuted for the Union in the 82nd minute of the recent friendly with Chivas Guadalajara.
In fake news, the estate of horse racing legend Seabiscuit is suing Sebastien Le Toux for “misappropriation of likeness.”
Independence
The Independence have finished the season third in the league. In attendance, they are last in the league, with an average of 2,965 on hand over twelve games. Location, location, location.
Local
Philadelphia has moved from sixth to third in the Bid City Leaderboard to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. Place your vote here.
Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer has launched a new website which includes instructional videos and a blog. Check it out here.
In men’s college soccer, a 3–1 win over Temple gives Drexel a share of the the Philadelphia Soccer Six title for the second year in a row (Penn is the co-champion). Penn revenged itself over George Mason for being knocked out of the 2008 NCAA Tournament with a 2–1 overtime win on Friday. Penn had a second overtime win when they beat Lafayette on Sunday 2–1. Success brings laurels: Penn’s Thomas Brandt was named to TopDrawerSoccer.com’s Team of the Week and keeper Ben Berg was named Philadelphia Soccer Six Co-Player of the Week along with Drexel’s Andrew Goldberg. Philadelphia University defeated Nyack College 3–1 and then topped West Chester 1–0. Widener lost 3–0 to Oneota.
Here’s a look at going to a Penn State soccer game. From a British website! Penn State soccer celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.
In women’s college soccer, Penn beat Saint Joseph’s 1–0 at the Penn Invitational on Friday night. Saint Jo’s then lost to Lehigh 4–1. Lehigh lost 3–2 to the University of Dayton. Drexel beat Wagner in a non-conference game 4–1. Widener destroyed Medgar Evans 13–0.
Widner’s men’s and women’s teams will play a double header at PPL Park on Friday. The men host Neumann University, the women host Wilkes University.
If Villanova’s American football program moves into the Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big East, they could end up playing games at PPL Park.
The Inquirer rounds up Pennsylvania boys’ soccer news.
In girls high school soccer, here’s a look at this season’s prospects for the very successful Lenape team from South Jersey.
MLS
The MLS Roster Freeze deadline is today at 5pm.
MLS will move to a 34-game schedule played over 32 weeks with no breaks in 2011.
The two highest paid players in MLS figured in last weekend’s action, with Henry scoring a lovely goal and Beckham returning to play for the first time since last spring. Here’s a recap that includes video.
Preki is fired as coach of Toronto.
CONCACAF Champions League
The Columbus Crew defeated Trinidad’s Joe Public 3–0 while a ten-men Seattle lost 2–0 to Costa Rica side Saprissa. The Crew have six points from three games, the Sounders zero.
WPS
Tonya Antonucci is stepping down as commissioner of the WPS. The team owners will take over more responsibility. The Washington Post’s Stephen Goff also reports that a team from western New York will join WPS next year. Currently playing as the Buffalo Flash in the W-League, the new WPS team will play in Buffalo and Rochester in 2011.
Hope “Crazy as a Loon” Solo is at it again! After Atlanta’s loss to Washington over the weekend, Solo used Twitter to vent her frustration with the match officials, accusing them and the league of bias. She has since been fined $2,500, suspended for one game (presumably to take effect next season) and ordered to do eight hours of community service for “prejudicial statements and public criticism.”
All White Kit looks at ten things learned from the 2010 WPS season.
NASL/USL
Jeff Cooper was supposed to take soccer in St. Louis to the big stage. Instead, things have been pretty much a disaster, with the WPS team S.t Louis Athletica folding mid-season and the prospects of AC St. Louis looking rather bleak. Change could be on the way in the form of new ownership.
US
With the FIFA inspection tour complete, US Soccer president Sunil Gulati discusses the bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup. There’s even more here. No surprise: the 2018 bid is likely to be dropped.
Here’s a look at why the NFL is essential to the US World Cup bids.
The US remains 18th in the FIFA rankings.
Former USWNT keeper Brianna Scurry, now with the Washington Freedom, is retiring. Scurry was the keeper for the 1999 World Cup winning team and the 1996 and 2004 Olympic Gold Medal winning team.
Elsewhere
The Togo team that lost 3–0 to Bahrain in a friendly last week was a fake. Seiyi Memene, the chairman of Togo’s interim soccer federation, said, “The players that took part in the friendly match against Bahrain were completely fake. We have not sent any team of footballers to Bahrain. The players are not known to us.”
Bayern Munich have issued criminal proceedings against two UEFA employees who accused the club of match fixing.
Diego Maradona is interested in the vacant manager’s job for Portugal.
France have dropped to 27th in the FIFA rankings, their lowest position since the rankings were introduced in 1993.
The football finance wiz at the Guardian looks at how the Glazer’s cost cutting at Tampa Bay Buccaneers bodes ill for Manchester United.
Footy on the Telly™
Zilina v Chelsea, 2:45pm on FSC (5pm on FSP)
Arsenal v Braga 2:45pm on FSP (7pm on FSC)
Real Salt Lake v Toronto FC (CONCACAF Champions League), 10pm on FSC
San Jose v Philadelphia, 10pm on Live Well HD Network
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