Union

With Saturday’s win over the Energy Drinks (ending their five-game unbeaten streak), Peter Nowak says, “We think we can compete with any team. The tag of an expansion team is long gone.” More reaction to the win from the Daily News, Goal.com (1) and (2), MLSsoccer.com, Soccer By Ives, Big Apple Soccer (Marquez blames tactics and “the condition of the field.” Wanker.) Why wasn’t Henry on hand? Couldn’t he handle the crowd? All we wanted to do is give him a hand for the many years of handsome play he has entertained us with.

The Goalkeeper (stupid name) has a Q & A with Union president Tom Veit.

Roger Torres beat out Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz and reliever J.C. Romero to win the “Best Hispanic Professional Athlete” award at the Philadelphia Hispanic Choice Awards Ceremony.

After being contacted by the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mwanga is still uncertain about his national team future.

Local

Two weeks ago, the KiXX announced on their website that their home opener would be on December 4. On Friday, the Major Indoor Soccer League said on their Facebook page that the KiXX would not be participating in the 2010-2011 season. So, for the first time since 1996, Philly will not have a professional indoor soccer team. My question is this: Does anyone give a toss?

MLS

Columbus Crew keeper William Hesmer becomes only the second MLS goalie to score with a stoppage time equalizer against Toronto. As if Toronto fans didn’t already have enough reason to be pissed.

US World Cup bid

The US formally dropped its bid to host the 2018 World Cup on Friday, an unsurprising move which allows the bid committee to focus its efforts on winning the right to host the 2022 World Cup. (Philadelphia is still on top of the leaderboard in the fan vote among potential host cities, adding 8,000 votes in the past two weeks. You can vote Philly here.)

But the big news is allegations of corruption in the FIFA executive committee, the group which will vote on December 2 on who will host the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. The Sunday Times reported that two senior FIFA officials, Nigeria’s Amos Adamu, the president of the West African football union, and Tahiti’s Reynald Temarii, the president of the Oceania Football Confederation, offered to sell their votes in exchange for money to reporters posing as representatives of a US business consortium hoping to help secure the 2022 World Cup for the US. (The two said they wanted to use the money to build soccer fields and academies.) FIFA is now being deluged with calls for a full ethics investigation and their are some who are saying that the December 2 vote should be delayed.

Elsewhere

Wayne Rooney has declared his intention to leave Manchester United, apparently because of an ongoing rift with Sir Alex Ferguson. Real Madrid and (snicker) Manchester City are rumored to be possible destinations. Or a whorehouse.

After Liverpool loses to Everton on Sunday, new owner John W. Henry says it won’t be easy to get his new club back on track.

Italy says it will not play a rematch with Serbia following widespread Serbian fan violence

Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union