Photo: Paul Rudderow
Union
Playoff tickets are now on sale!
Kerith Gabriel reports in the Daily News that Faryd Mondragon, who is a finalist for Soccer America’s Goalkeeper of the Year, will start against Toronto. “I am not used to being out, so it felt like forever,” Mondragon said. “But I feel really, really good, and it’s going to feel fantastic [to be back on the pitch], especially to be back at home in the last home game.
Noting the fact that the Union will be meeting a very different Toronto team on Saturday from the one they trounced in May, on Tuesday?
on Tuesday? Anyway, John Hackworth tells Narducci, “I don’t fear a letdown because we realize that Toronto is a different team.”
Goal.com predicts a Union victory on Saturday.
PhillyBurbs.com notes that Toronto’s defense has had a hard time keeping the ball out of their own net, allowing 56 goals so far this year.
Buzz On Broad doesn’t have a Union tab on their navigation bar but they’re getting behind the Union. “This Saturday gives the fans a chance to take part in something special. The ‘blue collar’ attitudes of Sheanon Williams and Danny Califf. The added flair of Roger Torres and Michael Farfan. Even the slick French accent of Sebastien Le Toux. This team is one that you can get behind, and they can potentially deliver the goods.”
MLSsoccer.com profiles Sheanon Williams. He describes the physical grind of his first full season as a defender in MLS: “Anybody that plays defense knows you’re gonna take your bangs. And when you play right back and add all that running into it, you’re in for a good physical game, especially in this league.” It blows my mind every time I remember he is only 21-years-old. He is awesome.
CSN Philly has praise for two rookie draft picks who have proven vital for the Union’s playoff prospects, Zac MacMath and Michael Farfan. Can you name two other draft picks who have made such important contributions to the success of their team as rookies? If you can, were they on the same team?
This chronological look at the MVP race includes the recent victory over DC United in which Sebastien Le Toux scored a brace as one of its key games.
The Union remain in fourth place in Soccer America’s power rankings.
Union academy goalkeeper Cameron Keys is among the 36 players named to the US Under-15 Boys’ National Team training camp to be held in The Home Depot Center October 16–23. Well done, lad!
Unholy Union takes a stab at the playoff picture.
Union Dues predicts a 2–0 win over Toronto and a 1–0 win over New York.
Saturday will be Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Awareness Day at PPL Park. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Hall of Fame will also be collecting winter coats for their Coats for Chester drive at all gates into the park.
Toronto watch
Toronto didn’t play over the international break, although several of its players did, meaning the team hasn’t played since October 1. With an important CONCACAF Champions League match coming up on Tuesday against Dallas, what kind of side will TFC field? Coach Aron Winter says, “If you’re going to think that you’re going to save and spare a lot of players in the game in Philadelphia, it could also be negative for the game after. I want to have a good feeling for the whole team…because most of the players haven’t played for two or three weeks, only training. That’s not good to get the feeling back. Of course, I always want to play with the strongest team, but in my mind, I’m always thinking if during the game it is possible to take some players off, then I’m going to do it for sure.”
Toronto forward Ryan Johnson, who joined the team over the summer, says of the upcoming CONCACAF match, “It’s nice when you get these kinds of games every year where a lot rides on it. You think about it weeks in advance. But I’m not looking past Philadelphia. You want to have a good performance going into games like [the one at Dallas].”
Johnson also said, “I feel like if this squad was together from the beginning of the year, we would definitely be in the playoffs.”
The Toronto Observer notes TFC needs a win against the Union to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
Goal.com writes, “Winter will likely juggle his lineup to keep some first-team regulars fresh after the international fixture date. Even a small amount of turnover could benefit a Philadelphia side that won at Seattle last weekend and could place one hand on the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a victory here.” They predict a Union win.
This just in from The Department of Whatever, Toronto defender Andy Iro says Rio Ferdinand should sign with MLS.
Local
Ocean City Nor’easters will be hosting tryouts for their Super Y-League and Pre Super Y-League Summer Teams.
The Inquirer rounds up Southeastern PA boys’ and girls’ results and does the same for South Jersey boys’ and girls’.
US
Next Wednesday, ESPN, Fox and NBC are expected to bid on the English-language broadcasting rights in the US for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Grant Wahl looks at why just who wins the rights is a big deal.
US supporters group American Outlaws have chartered an airliner to travel to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Elsewhere
Sir Alex Ferguson has urged Manchester United supporters not to sing Hillsborough songs at Saturday’s match against Liverpool. “I always consider this to be the game of the season in English football. We need each other. Respect should be adhered to. Shouts of Hillsborough don’t do either club any good.” No word on whether Kenny Dagliesh has urged Liverpool supporters not to sing Munich songs. You can join the PSP writing staff at 7:30am at the 700 in Northern Liberties to watch the game.
UEFA has increased the punishment for Wayne Rooney’s red card, received in Friday’s Euro 2012 qualifying match against Montenegro, to a three game suspension. This means Rooney will miss all of the group stage matches in the summer tournament. Everton manager David Moyes calls the punishment a “joke.”
Footy on the Telly™
Friday, October 14
Werder Bremen v Borussia Dortmund 2:30pm GolTV
Doncaster v Leeds 2:30pm Fox Soccer Plus
UMBC v New Hampshire (NCAA men) 7pm Fox Soccer
Morelia v igres 7pm Fox Deportes, Azteca America
Arizona State v Stanford (NCAA women) 10pm Fox Soccer
Colorado v Real Salt Lake 10:30pm ESPN2, ESPN Deportes
Portland v Houston 10:30pm Direct Kick
Saturday, October 15
Liverpool v Manchester United 7:30am ESPN2, ESPN Deportes
Bayern Munich v Hertha Berlin 9:30am ESPN Deportes
Manchester City v Aston Villa 10am Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes
Norwich v Swansea 10am Fox Soccer Plus
Getafe v Villarreal 12pm DirecTV
Catania v Inter Milan 12pm Fox Soccer Plus
Real Madrid v Betis 12pm ESPN Deportes
Chelsea v Everton 12:30pm Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes
Barcelona v Santander 2pm GolTV
QPR v Blackburn 2pm Fox Soccer Plus
AC Milan v Palermo 2:30pm Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes
Kansas City v New York 4pm Telefutura
Philadelphia Union v Toronto FC 4pm CSN
Granada v Atletico Madrid 4pm GolTV
Wigan v Bolton 4pm Fox Soccer Plus
Stoke v Fulham 5pm Fox Soccer
Monterrey v America 6pm Telemundo
Jaguares v Atlante 6pm ESPN Deportes, Azteca America
Ceara v Flamengo 6pm GolTV
DC United v Chicago 7:30pm Direct Kick
Santos Laguna v Toluca 8pm Telefutura
Chivas v Tecos 8pm Telemundo
Tijuana v Pachuca 8pm Azteca America
Irapuato v Atlante Neza 8pm GolTV
Dallas v Vancouver 8:30pm Direct Kick
Portsmouth v Barnsley 9pm Fox Soccer Plus
San Luis v Cruz Azul 10pm Telefutura
Quindio v Millonarios 10pm GolTV
Seattle v San Jose 10:30pm Fox Soccer
Sunday, October 16
Melbourne Heart v Perth 2am Fox Soccer
Cesena v Fiorentina 6:30am Fox Soccer Plus
Arsenal v Sunderland 8:30am Fox Soccer Plus
Chievo v Juventus 9am Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes
Zaragoza v Sociedad 10am ESPN Deportes
West Brom v Wolves 10:30am Fox Soccer Plus
Newcastle v Tottenham 11am Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes
Schalke v Kaiserslautern 12pm GolTV
Levante v Malaga 12pm DirecTV
Birmingham v Leicester 12:30pm Fox Soccer Plus
Pumas v Atlas 1pm Telemundo
Puebla v Queretaro 1pm ESPN Deportes, Azteca America
Palmeiras v Fluminense 2pm GolTV
Missouri v Oklahoma (NCAA women) 2pm ESPNU
Lazio v Roma 2:30pm Fox Soccer, Fox Deportes
Rennes v Lorient 3pm Fox Soccer Plus
Sevilla v Gijon 4pm GolTV
Georgia v Kentucky (NCAA women) 4pm ESPNU
Los Angeles v Chivas USA 9pm ESPN, ESPN Deportes
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