Photo: Nicolae Stoian

Union

Kerith Gabriel reports at the Daily News that, with Sheanon Williams out with a concussion, “As of now, midfielder Stefani Miglioranzi is slated to fill in at right fullback.” Deep breaths, people, deep breaths. The quote does include the words “as of now.”

Sporting Kansas City v Philadelphia Union match previews from the Brotherly Game, the Daily Wiz, SB Nation, AP, PhillyBurbs.com.

JP Dellacamera says that, with Williams injured, the Union will have their work cut out for them against Kansas City.

PSP writer Adam Cann was invited to offer his thoughts on Freddy Adu for the Shin Guardian’s preview of the weekend’s matches.

We said it on Tuesday and the Union website said it on Thursday afternoon: Morgan Langley is proof that local connections are paying off for the Union.

Asked if he’s gotten used to ordering around his teammates, a smiling Zac MacMath replies, “Not yet.”

Danny Califf speaks candidly about last season’s defensive woes. “Last year, I think the mentality was that we were going to go forward and we were going to play attractive soccer and only defend sometimes. I think that left us out to dry quite a bit in the back. I seemed to bear the brunt of that because I was the captain, I was the organizer. It was disappointing. I don’t think I ever outwardly showed it, but it was disappointing and honestly one of my most frustrating seasons as a pro.”

Marc Narducci looks at Kansas City’s run into the playoff picture.

Independence

Nicole Barnhart takes a look back at the Independence’s 2011 season and looks ahead to what the USWNT will be up to in the coming months.

Local

The Temple/Penn Tournament kicks off today. Temple’s match against Long Island Blackbirds has been moved to noon today at Penn’s Dunning-Cohen Champions’ Field due to the threatening weather forecast.

MLS

Soccer America proposes five MVP candidates.

Today’s winner of the Best Headline Award goes to metrofanatic.com for this chestnut: “Rafa Marquez, douchebag“.

More on the Rafa Marquez fiasco from SI’s Grant Wahl.

Reviewing the imploding Energy Drinks, The New York Daily News says, “[Tim] Ream has certainly regressed this season, while another young American, Juan Agudelo, has stagnated amid inconsistent playing time. For the sake of their development and the future of US Soccer, it’d be best if they transferred.” Ha, ha, ha..I mean “Ouch.”

US

Some 18,570 fans packed Jen-Weld Field on Thursday night to watch the USWNT top Canada 3–0. Abby Wambach scored a brace in front of the largest crowd to see the USWNT play in the States since the farewell tour of Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy and Joy Fawcett in 2004.

Elsewhere

After a breach in safety regulations at a recent match, Iraq has been ordered by FIFA to play its home games for qualification for the 2012 Olympics and the 2014 World Cup outside of the country in a neutral venue.

The Brotherly Game goes Dutch.

The Swedes have taken fan protests to a new level. Upset about sensationalistic reporting in the press and strong arm tactics aimed at crowd control from the Swedish FA, fans at the AIK and Djurgarden derby earlier this week sat silently for the first ten minutes of the match before erupting in a gloriously loud tifo display. And they didn’t stop there. At the start of the second half, supporters at both ends of the pitch ignited a massive flare display. The resulting smoke enveloped the pitch and the match had to be halted. Djurgarden eventually one 1–0. Don’t mess with the Swedes.

Footy on the Telly™

Friday, September 23
Stuttgart v Hamburg 2:30pm ESPN Deportes
Brighton v Leeds 2:30pm Fox Soccer Plus
Sporting Kansas City v Philadelphia Union 8:30pm Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes

Saturday, September 24
Manchester City v Everton 7:30am ESPN2, ESPN Deportes
Mainz v Dortmund 9:30am GolTV
Arsenal v Bolton 10am Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes
Chelsea v Swansea 10am Fox Soccer Plus
Sevilla v Valencia 12pm GolTV
Bilbao v Villarreal 12pm DirecTV
Bologna v Inter Milan 12pm Fox Soccer Plus
Stoke City v Manchester United 12:30pm Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes
Bayern Munich v Leverkusen 12:30pm ESPN Deportes
Real Madrid v Vallecano 2pm GolTV
Wigan v Tottenham 2pm Fox Soccer Plus
AC Milan v Cesena 2:30pm Fox Soccer
Arsenal v Bolton 2:30pm Fox Deportes
Dallas v Houston 4pmTelefutura
Barcelona v Atletico Madrid 4pm ESPN Deportes
Watford v Nottingham Forest 4pm Fox Soccer Plus
Liverpool v Wolverhampton 5pm Fox Soccer
Flamengo v America MG 5pm GolTV
Queretaro v Monterrey 6pmTelefutura
Cruz Azul v Chivas 6pm ESPN Deportes, Azteca America
Notre Dame v Louisville (NCAA men) 7pm Fox Soccer
Cartegena v Millonarios 7pm GolTV
DC United v Real Salt Lake 7:30pm Direct Kick
Columbus v Los Angeles 7:30pm Direct Kick
New York v Portland 7:30pm Direct Kick
Tigres v Jaguares 8pm Telemundo
Tecos v Pumas 8pm Galavision
Pachuca v San Luis 8pm Telefutura
Colorado v San Jose 9pm Direct Kick
Dorados v Vera Cruz 9pm GolTV
Atlas v Atlante 10pm Telefutura
Vancouver v Seattle 10:30pm Direct Kick
Chivas USA v Toronto 10:30pm Direct Kick

Sunday, September 25
Chievo v Genoa 6:30am Fox Soccer Plus
Cardiff v Leicester 8:30am Fox Soccer Plus
Catania v Juventus 9am Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes
QPR v Aston Villa 11am Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes
Werder Bremen v Hertha Berlin 11:30am. GolTV
Granada v Osasuna 12pm DirecTV
Toluca v Morelia 1pm Telemundo
Puebla v Santos Laguna 1pm Fox Deportes, Azteca America
Gijon v Santander 2pm. GolTV
Parma v Roma 2:30pm Fox Soccer
Rennes v Saint Etienne 3pm Fox Soccer Plus
North Carolina v Virginia (NCAA women) 3pm ESPNU
Chicago v New England 4pm Direct Kick
Zaragoza v Malaga 4pm ESPN Deportes
Botafogo v Sao Paulo 4pm GolTV Premiere
America v Tijuana 5pm Univision
Middlesbrough v Ipswich 5pm Fox Soccer Plus

Monday, September 26
Norwich v Sunderland 3pm ESPN Deportes
Getafe v Real Betis 3pm DirecTV