Daily news roundups

Top of the East

Union

Two games, two wins, two shutouts, two goals and the first time the team has won two in a row as well as the first time the team is first in the Eastern Conference. Here are some quotes of note (Thanks to Kerith Gabriel for Nowak, Califf and Harvey; Kate Harman for Ruiz):

Peter Nowak on the start of the season: “We’ve accomplished more in the past two weeks than we accomplished all last season.”

Danny Califf on Eric Hassli: “In Toronto [last weekend in a 4-2 Whitecaps win] they gave him a heck of a lot more space than we did. He started to try and get the upper hand in there and throw the body a little. We gave it right back and he got upset with it. It was kind of funny.”

Jordan Harvey on the improved defense: “We communicate well and we are all comfortable with one another. Last season it was sort of a revolving door in the back, but this year we are really working well with one another. I think it starts with Faryd. He orchestrates our backline and having that much experience running the show as our last line of defense has been huge.”

Carlos Ruiz on playing his first game at PPL: “The fans in L.A. do not feel the passion of the game like the fans of Philly.”

Match Reports from:

Player Ratings:

Photo essays:

From the Union website, while the team is ecstatic about winning the first two games of the season, they know there’s still a lot of hard work and many games to go. How the improved defense and Mondragon’s leadership makes the difference. JP Dellacamera says, “whether it’s a beautiful win, an ugly one, or one in between, it’s still three points that any team would be happy to take.”

Video of Peter Nowak’s post-game comments.

The sights and sounds from Section 133, otherwise known as IllegitimateS country.

The Goalkeeper pulls out the virtual yellow pen and explains why Carlos Ruiz was onside when he scored.

The debut of the new white kit on Saturday leaves the Brotherly Game wondering if a marketing opportunity was missed. I think wins and shut outs make for the best marketing.

The Delco Daily Times looks at the return of matchday to Chester.

Meanwhile, Vancouver is looking for the positives. More reaction from the Canadian press including Vancouver’s The Province, the Victoria Times Colonist, cbcsports, Metro Canada – Vancouver and the Ottawa Citizen. Cool quote from Vancouver coach Teitur Thordarson about Eric Hassli in the last piece: “I don’t (care) what he did last week — that doesn’t count today. I told him straight away I wasn’t happy with it, so he knows exactly my feeling about that.” Hassli tells the Vancouver Sun, “I feel bad because I punished the team.”

The Union has been named as one of three MLS teams that will host Sueño MLS 2011, “the premier nationally televised search for the best undiscovered soccer talent in the United States.” Sueño MLS 2011 comes to YSC Sports in Wayne on April 23-24. You can register at www.SuenoMLS.com.

MLS

In Eastern Conference news, New England Revolution topped DC United 2–1. Columbus could only manage a 0–0 draw against a depleted Energy Drinks. Toronto enjoyed some revenge over an expansion team with a 2–0 win over Portland. The Fire topped ten-man Sporting KC 3–2. Houston got the weekend rolling with a 1–1 draw against Seattle.

Real Salt Lake trounced LA, 4–1.

Are temporary stadiums a permanent solution in MLS? Chris Savino, a contributor to the Brotherly Game, explores that question on Goal.com.

US

ESPN rates the players after the 1–1 draw with Argentina.

Here’s the post-game quote sheet from US Soccer.

Union fans, we can all support Juan Agudelo…when he’s wearing the USA jersey.

WSJ has a plan to improve US Soccer: a Confederation of the Americas.

4 Comments

  1. Thanks for the plug! DOOP!

  2. Hassli played like a dirt bag, really great to see a coach come out and chastise a player for being a prick rather than blaming the official. Ups to Teitur Thordarson.

  3. Random question, but has any news come out about where Orozco is playing? He still is not on San Luis roster.

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