Union

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Independence

Independence goalkeeper Val Henderson has a three point plan for the playoffs: beat Washington; beat Boston; beat FC Gold Pride. It’s so simple it just might work.

Here’s a look at Sunday’s playoff game in West Chester from Washington’s perspective. You can see the game live at 2:30pm on TCN (channel 8 on Comcast) with a pre-game show at 2pm. FSC is showing a delayed broadcast at 6pm.

Local

Drexel men’s team have traveled to Florida to participate in the Embassy Suites Kick-Off Classic hosted by Florida Gulf Coast University in Ft. Myers. They drew 1–1 with the hosts on Thursday night and face South Florida on Saturday. The women’s team plays George Washington today at 5pm.

The newly nationally ranked Penn men’s team faces Villanova (home – Sept. 17, 5 p.m.) and at Georgetown (away – Sept. 19, 1 p.m.) over the weekend. The women’s team is in California to play Cal State Northridge (Friday) and Loyola Marymount (Sunday).

On Thursday night, Temple men’s team traveled to New York to play Hofstra to a rainy and scoreless draw.

Philadelphia Biblical University women’s team lost 2–1 to PSU-Abington on Wednesday. The 1–4–0 PBU team face Centenary College in Hackettsville, NJ at 1:00pm on Saturday. On Tuesday, PBU men’s team trounced Baptist Bible College 4–1. They face Widener on Monday.

MLS

Thierry Henry was given a yellow card in last night’s 2–2 draw with Dallas. He could have been given two when, moments later, he kicked Dallas keeper Kevin Hartman and injured the medial collateral ligament in his right knee while celebrating an Energy Drinks goal. Dallas may ask for retroactive punishment. I might ask for world peace.

US

The US World Cup bid is looking better after the FIFA inspection of Qatar turns up “logistical challenges.”

FIFA.com has an extended interview with Stuart “I Really Have No Idea Why My Hair Is Always Sticking Up” Holden.

The old “what’s with this soccer thing?!?” perplexed and exasperated soccer-hating column never loses my interest, especially when the title of the piece is “Can Anyone Explain This To Me?”. Some knuckle-dragger in Kansas City doesn’t understand why the FIFA World Cup is bigger than FIBA World (Basketball) Championships. The best part is that the three responses to the piece are all informative, well thought out and well written. Snap! You’ve been explained!

Elsewhere

More alarm bells for Liverpool supporters as rumors circulate about the precarious state of Hicks and Gillett’s finances. A fire sale of players in January “cannot be ruled out. Reports now indicate that Hicks may go for sole control of the club.

Coming out against the use of goal-line technology, Former UEFA president Lennart Johansson says soccer is a game “humans and not for robots.” The interview with the 80-year-old Johansson was conducted via semaphore flags.

When Saturday Comes looks at tackling homophobia in soccer.

Footy on the Telly™

Friday, September 17
Eintracht Frankfurt v Freiburg, 2:30pm on GolTV

Saturday, September 18
Stoke v West Ham, 7:30am ESPN2
Bayern Munich-Cologne, 9:30am on GolTV
Tottenham v Wolves, 10am on FSC
Everton v Newcastle, 10am on FSP
Fiorentina v Lazio, 12pm on FSP
Sunderland v Arsenal, 12:30pm on FSC
Gijon v Bilbao, 2pm on GolTV
Hull v Nottingham Forest, 2pm on FSP
AC Milan v Catania, 2:30pm on FSC
Real Sociedad v Real Madrid, 4pm on GolTV
Blackburn v Fulham, 5pm on FSC
Aston Villa v Bolton, 6pm on FSP
Botafogo v Cruzeiro, 6pm on GolTV
Huila v Nacional, 8pm on GolTV
Los Angeles v DC United, 10:30pm on FSC

Sunday, September 19
Manchester United v Liverpool, 8:30am on FSP
Palermo v Inter Milan, 9am on FSC
St. Pauli v Hamburg,  10:30am on GolTV
Chelsea v Blackpool, 11am on FSC
Philadelphia Independence v Washington Freedom, 2:30pm on TCN (Channel 8 on Comcast), FSN
Sampdoria v Napoli, 2:30pm on FSC
Malaga v Sevilla, 3pm on GolTV
Bordeaux v Lyon, 3pm on FSP
Flamengo v Fluminense, 5:30pm on GolTV

Photo courtesy of Anna CC.