Union

Danny Mwanga on not being named Rookie of the Year: “I’m going to prove to people that maybe I should have been the Rookie of the Year.” That’s the spirit!

Local

How sweet was Philly native Bobby Convey’s performance in San Jose’s 3–1 elimination (3–2 agg.) of the Energy Drinks last night? There are so many ways to look at it. As both a Philadelphian and a Reading supporter, I’m torn between “Philly native Convey knocks out New York” and “Ex-Premier League stars knocked out of MLS play-offs by former Reading winger.”

Check out the highlights.

The local Ivy League derby between Princeton and Penn is always a big thing. This Saturday, it will be huge.

The No. 13 Penn and No. 16 Princeton men’s teams, who play at 7pm at Roberts Stadium, are both tied in the Ivy League standings. The winner of the match will earn at least a share of the Ivy League title and the league’s automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. Should the match end in a draw, nothing will be decided until each team’s final game of the season next week.

If the Penn women’s team gets either a win or a draw against Princeton when they play at 4pm, they will win the Ivy League title and a bid for the NCAA College Cup.

Mirroring the larger trend of soccer’s increasing popularity in the US, attendance at college soccer matches has been up all across the country, with 35 Division 1 teams drawing more than 1,000 spectators. Expect a huge crowd for both games.

John Bartram topped Northeast 1–0 to win the Public School championship on Wednesday night.

The 17th annual Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Tournament is taking place this weekend at West Chester University’s South Campus Soccer Complex.

Philadelphia has become the first city to pass the 100,000 signatures mark on the U.S. Bid City Leaderboard for the 2022 World Cup. Philly is now ahead by more than 20,000 signatures. You can add your signature here—you can vote as often as you like!

MLS

Do you think there should be more transparency in the voting for MVP and other awards? Steve Davis does. Dis-je, «d’accord».

A Whitecaps supporters group accuses the club of price gouging after the announcement of ticket prices for its first MLS season.

WPS

The Chicago Red Stars have become the latest team to announce they are seeking new investors.

US

While there is still no official word from US Soccer, it looks like the US will play Argentina in a friendly on March 26 in Seattle.

Elsewhere

The leaders of England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup fear that their chances are fading thanks to the interference of the British media.

Wayne Rooney will not feature in next Wednesday’s Manchester Derby (2:55pm on ESPN2). Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan says, “What we’re intending to do with Wayne is send him to Nike Town in America for a week’s conditioning training.”

The appropriately named American billionaire Robert Rich, Jr. did some genealogical research and learned his people came from Bedlington, a small town outside of Newcastle in England. So he’s decided to invest in the local amateur team, the Bedlington Terriers. “Could the Bedlington Terriers become an international brand—even an international icon?” Rich wondered in an interview before adding, “We’re having fun.” Says Terriers club secretary David Collop, “Mr. Rich said he wants to help the underdogs and he wants to help Bedlington achieve what they are capable of. This is like a fairytale come true with him getting involved.”

Your Weekend Footy on the Telly™ listings

Friday, November 5
Rochdale v FC United of Manchester, 3:30pm on FSP
Memphis v University of Alabama, Birmingham, 8pm on FSC
Stanford Women v Oregon State Women, 11pm on FSC

Saturday, November 6
Bolton v Spurs 8:30am, on ESPN2
Schalke v St. Pauli, 9:30am on GolTV
Manchester United v Wolves, 11am on FSC
Fulham v Aston Villa, 11am on FSP
Sunderland v Stoke, 1pm on FSC
Bologna v Lecce, 1pm on FSP
Derby v Portsmouth, 3pm on FSP
Real Sociedad v Racing Santander, 3pm on GolTV
Inter Milan v Brescia, 3:30pm on FSC
Columbus v Colorado, 4pm on Telefutura
Blackpool v Everton, 5pm on FSP
Atletico Mineiro v Santos, 5:30pmon GolTV
Wimbledon v Ebbsfleet, 6pm on FSC
Harrow Borrough v Chesterfield, 7pm on FSP
Once Caldas v America, 7:30pm on GolTV
Middlesbrough v Crystal Palace, 9pm on FSP
Millonarios v Tolima, 9:30pm on GolTV
Real Salt Lake v Dallas, 10pm on FSC

Sunday, November 7
Fiorentina v Chievo, 6:30am on FSP
Arsenal v Newcastle, 8:30am on FSP
Lazio v Roma 9am FSC
Blackburn v Wigan, 10:30am on FSP
Liverpool v Chelsea, 11am on FSC
Cardiff City v Swansea City, 12:30pm on FSP
Stuttgart v Werder Bremen, 1pm on GolTV
Palermo v Genoa, 2:30pm on FSC
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid, 3pm on GolTV
PSG v Marseille, 3pm on FSP
West Brom v Manchester City, 5pm on FSC
Southport v Sheffield Wednesday, 5pm on FSP
Sao Paulo v Corinthians, 5pm on GolTV
Burton Albion v Oxford, 7pm on FSP
Los Angeles v Seattle, 9pm on ESPN