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No Harvey appeal, Califf in doubt, more news

Union

Tweet from Jordan Harvey on Wednesday: “Bummed I’m not making it to Portland, but after a solid week of training I’m confident our guys will bring home 3 points.”

The Union decided not to appeal Harvey’s red card after speaking with league officials. Said Harvey, “I spoke with the coaching staff and they said they spoke with league officials, and the head of officiating informed them it wouldn’t be overturned had it been appealed because it’s a referee’s decision and we have to respect that. In the rules, it doesn’t get overturned unless it’s a mistaken identity case.”

If Harvey’s absence isn’t bad enough, the Delco Times reports that Danny Califf may not be able to play on Friday:

“The likelihood that Califf—who told the Daily Times Wednesday, “I’m just sick”—will travel to Portland while dealing with an unknown illness remains to be seen. A Union official confirmed Califf’s place within the team’s injury report, but declined to elaborate.”

It is unknown at this point if Califf traveled to Portland with the team last night.

The Portland game will be something of a homecoming for Danny Mwanga who, after leaving the Congo, spent his high school and college years there. “Coming back, playing in front of friends and family, it’s going to be a great moment for me,” Mwanga tells the Portland Tribune. “Every day, I think about (playing in Portland). That gives me motivation to push myself harder and harder in training. It’s going to be one of the best moments of my career, and I will remember it for the rest of my career.”

Further accolades for Union players with Faryd Mondragon and Carlos Valdes being named to the SBI Team of the Month for March/April. At American Soccer News, Amobi Okugo and Carlos Valdes are named to the MLS Best XI for week 7.

Chris Agorsor talks about his long path from a devastating knee injury to being on the Union. “I’m excited about everything. This is a great organization and I have learned so much already. When they need me, I’ll be ready.”

More thoughts on the San Jose Game from Broad Street Hooligans, The Brotherly Game, Union City Blue and the Union Dues.

PPL Park will host a double header of four college men’s lacrosse on October 22 as part of the day-long “Fall Brawl for a Cure” fundraising event to benefit cancer research.

Portland Timbers Watch

The Timbers sat all of their starters except for goalkeeper Troy Perkins for Tuesday’s US Open Cup loss to San Jose. Says coach John Spencer about that decision, “If you have half a brain in your head, you’ll understand there’s a game on Friday (against the Philadelphia Union), which is a massive game for this club. It’s Major League Soccer, there’s points on the table to be had. That’s the reason why we had so many guys not starting this game tonight.”

Kevin Kinkead scouts Portland in this report on the Union’s website.

The Brotherly Game talks with Stumptown Footy, the fellow SB Nation-affiliated Portland Timbers blog .

Local

Reading United will have a meet and greet at Body Zone Sports and Wellness Complex in Wyomissing, PA on Saturday March 14 beginning at 6:30pm.

The New York Cosmos U-23 team will play the Ocean City Nor’easters at 8 p.m. July 6 at Carey Stadium in Ocean City. The Cosmos are playing a series of exhibition games against PDL sides this year and will join the league in 2012.

Along with the news of the Cosmos match, Ocean City have announced some very reasonable group ticket plans, starting as low as $15 for four game day tickets .

The Cherry Hill Courier Post has a nice feature on the Camden Youth Soccer Club. Says the father of one of the young players, “These kids are Camden. It takes them from their other surroundings and puts them in the middle of something positive.” The article includes a photo gallery of the club. If your interested in helping out this urban youth soccer program, check out this post from the IllegitimateS website.

MLS

Is it me or has the MLS site undergone a face-lift in the past 24 hours? This, at least, I know: when you place your cursor over the “News” tab, a Bimbo ad appears under the list of links.

In mid-week Eastern Conference action, DC United tops Seattle 2–1 in front of a paltry 11, 254 at RFK on Wednesday. Houston lost to Colorado 2–1 at home.

To mark the launch of Soccer Night in America on FSC, MLS will make six matches available for free online on MatchDay Live this weekend including the Union match on Friday.

From the Department of Where The Fuck Did That Come From, Landon Donovan says he’d like to finish his career playing for Boca Juniors.

Rumors suggest that New England Revolution are interested in building a new stadium in the now defunct Wonderland Beach area of Revere, MA.

US

After being beaten to the punch by the PSP’s Eli Pearlman-Storch by more than a week, the New York Times has five players who should come home to MLS. The only player on the NYT list that isn’t on Eli’s is Celtic backup keeper Dominic Cervi.

The US Paralympic Soccer Team will face Ireland, Iran and Japan at the CPISRA 7-a-side World Championships this June in the Netherlands. The top seven teams at the tournament will qualify for the 2012 Summer Paralympic Games in London. To be eligible for Paralympic soccer, athletes must be ambulatory and have a diagnosis of non-progressive brain damage that is associated with motor control dysfunction such as Cerebral Palsy, traumatic brain Injury or stroke.

Looking for that perfect Mother’s Day gift for your favorite soccer mom? Check out these deals at the US Soccer online store.

Elsewhere

In addition to electing its next president, FIFA will consider a number of rule changes at the upcoming congress in June, including giving the executive committee more power to suspend member federations and tighten up the rules governing international friendlies. But the really interesting possible rule change is relaxing the rules on the naturalization of players, namely that a player over the age of 18 need only live in a new country for three rather than the current five years before he can play for its national team. The proposal was made by the United Arab Emirates. Hey, isn’t Qatar an emirate too?

Trying to wrap your head about the racial quota controversy with the French Football Federation? This article seems a good place to start.

Gino Coutinho, the goalkeeper for Dutch EreDivision club ADO Den Haag, has been convicted of growing marijuana.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

6 Comments

  1. Defensive depth talk has kinda died down recently with the positive form the team has displayed. Now we may be down two of our starting defenders. Our defensive depth will definitely be tested in Portland, they have been lighting up the score board in the northwest at home. Im really worried bout this game and imagine that Nowak will go back to two defensive mids.

    • Definitely.

      Mondragon
      Williams-Valdes-Gonzo-M.Farfan
      Nakazawa-Okugo-Carroll-Daniel
      Ruiz-Le Toux

      If it was my team, swap Mwanga for Ruiz, but otherwise I think this is mostly correct

      • I’m gonna predict a slightly out-of-the-box choice for CB with Nowak.

        Mondragon
        Williams-Valdes-Okugo-M.Farfan
        Le Toux-Miglioranzi-Carroll-Daniel
        Ruiz-Mwanga

        Personally, I would move Daniel or Le Toux inside and add Mapp to the lineup instead of Migs, but I don’t have the guts to make two unorthadox predictions.

      • I think if Mapp’s healthy he’d get the nod over Naka.

  2. Im think that Nowak will view leaving Portland with a tie as ideal, he isn’t gonna chase a win. They are playing a high powered offense (at home) in a hostile environment with possibly two defensive starters out. This game has got tie written all over it. I believe that the lineup will reiforce that type of game plan.
    Dragon
    Williams-MVP-Gonzo-M.Farfan
    Nakazawa-Migs-Okugo-Daniel
    Ruiz-LeToux
    This is not what I would put out there but what I believe Nowak would do. I think we should take it to them…they are still an expansion team!!! Their home form is directly related to the 12th man! Sending out a defensive lineup will invite Portland to attack, psychological advantage. That being said, I would absolutely luv this lineup against Portland:
    Dragon
    Williams-MVP-Gonzo-M.Farfan
    Okugo
    Torres-LeToux-Daneil
    Ruiz-Mwanga
    I want goals DAMMIT!!!!

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