Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Union

The headline on the match recap at MLSSoccer.com says it all: “Late collapse leaves Union recalling 2010“. Here are some post-game quotes from Saturday’s sodden draw:

Peter Nowak:

“I think at some point we need to realize that we don’t have to be afraid to score some goals…It seems like we try to give our players the option to go forward and the freedom to create chances and have a good possession game. But maybe in some capacity in the back of their heads [they feel] that we are still winning the game and that’s all well and good. But winning doesn’t mean you go ahead and then defend for the rest of the game.”

More from Peter Nowak:

“I think we did a better job today, but there are still the cases we don’t see the openings we’re supposed to see.”

Carlos Ruiz:

“Our fans deserve to see exciting matches where we score a lot of goals. That hasn’t happened and it should have – especially in weather like this.”

Sebastien Le Toux:

“We are constantly moving in position and changing where we are on the field and that can get frustrating. It’s a workout every day and we are trying to get it right for the games, but as you can see we still have a lot we need to work on. The most important thing is that we are getting points and we are getting results, but we have to start scoring.”

Faryd Mondragon;

“Today was one of those things that can happen in soccer. A last-minute goal with a lot of rain and a slippery ball, and we just found ourselves in an unfortunate situation.”

Danny Califf’s face:

“I wish I could take credit but it was the shoulder.”

Says Goal.com’s match report, “It was sloppy, it was ugly, and in the end it was two less-than-perfect goals that would decide the match. With the draw, the Sounders earned a point and continued their point streak. The Union continued their early season success and have started to make believers out of their critics.”

From the Union website, a reminder that the Union has conceded only two goals in four games (both off of set pieces). Seattle had only one shot on goal on Saturday. Said Jordan Harvey, “We were dropping deep at times and we got a little unfortunate. It was a scramble off a corner. We have given up two goals this year off set pieces. We need to clean that up, but other than that, we had a decent game. But we can’t give up a goal in the [91st] minute.”

Local reaction to Saturday’s draw:

• ASN Philly has player ratings.
• Philly Union Talk looks for the silver lining.
• The Union Dues looks on the bright side.
• The Brotherly Game looks at Danny Califf’s face.
• Philly Soccer News has a match report.

For those who enjoy picking at wounds, here’s a roundup of reaction from Seattle:

• Opta-enhanced stats from Sounder at Heart.
• Postgame quotes and stats from the Sounders FC blog at the Seattle Times. Says RealSigiSchmid, “I think a tie was a fair result for the game”
• Match recap from the Seattle Times. Says RealSigiSchmid, “I think based upon the last 15 minutes we deserved to get an equalizer.”
• Praise for Alvaro Fernandez from the Seattle Times.
• Match recap from Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Independence

The Independence home opener at Widener, scheduled for a 7pm kickoff on Saturday, was postponed. As anyone who was at the Union game can attest to, the really heavy rain and blowing wind started shortly after the conclusion of the Union game, joined by the oh so jolly company of thunder and lightning. Independence keeper Val Henderson blogs on the rain out.

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Local

The Harrisburg City Islanders home opener against Pittsburgh on Saturday was postponed because of the weather.

Houston Dynamo academy product Alex Dixon played for Union-partner Reading United in 2010. Dixon talks about why he chose to play for Reading.

Reading is running a fantastic season ticket special in which $45 gets you tickets to all the home games, a scarf, a t-shirt and membership in the Locos, the Reading supporters group. Act fast—the offer is open to the first 50 purchases.

PDL side Ocean City FC play on some pretty impressive turf. Their field at Carey Stadium was recently relaid with the same grass turf that covered the artificial turf at the New Meadowlands for the USA v Argentina game.

MLS

The Union are still in first place in the Eastern Conference, two points ahead of the Energy Drinks, who beat San Jose 3–0 at home. Henry even scored. Also two points behind are Houston, who topped New England 1–0 on Saturday in a game that was not without some controversy, and Columbus Crew, who defeated Sporting KC 1–0 at home on Saturday. DC United trounced Toronto 3–0 away to and are only three points behind. Bottom feeding Chicago Fire lost 2–1 at home to LA Galaxy, their third loss in a row.

Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan called having the Timbers Army sing the national anthem at Thursday’s home opener a “civic joke” on ESPN’s Around the Horn. Here’s Timbers’ owner Merritt Paulson’s tactful reply: “Sportswriters are paid to create opinions, and they’re entitled to their opinions. I would say his (opinion) would be in the extreme minority on this. I find it to be a head-scratcher that anybody wouldn’t think that was one of the coolest national anthems they had ever seen.” Portland topped FC Dallas 3–2 on Sunday for their second home win.

I seem to have missed this one last week, but this ESPN columnist says MLS officiating is a joke.

Elsewhere

Two Swiss journalists were arrested in Qatar while filming a report on the 2022 World Cup. They were released after being held for 13 days thanks to the intervention of the Swiss Ambassador. So far, there’s been no comment from FIFA.

The Sampdoria team bus was attacked by the club’s own supporters when it arrived home in Genoa following the club’s 3–0 defeat to AC Milan.