Philadelphia Union
Peter Nowak says of Saturday’s win, “It’s a tribute to our boys. Even with two red cards, we didn’t give up much. We deserved to win.”
ProSoccerTalk says of the game, “Expect multiple suspensions for some late ugliness—and stupidity. Peter Nowak led the charge off his bench and onto the field as several players imposed themselves on a situation that referee Juan Guzman appeared to have in hand.”
Philly Soccer News’ Charles Cuttone says the Union’s performance on Saturday night “was nothing short of disgraceful,” and he isn’t talking about there only being four shots on goal. Writing, “The Union looked like a bunch of thugs,” Cuttone then criticizes Nowak for getting involved in the kerfuffle that followed the straight red to Gabriel Farfan. “At no time should a manager or coach ever set foot on the field during the game, regardless of what happens. But then, Nowak’s judgment has been questionable all year.”
Kerith Gabriel describes Saturday’s game as “a match where first-half discipline was replaced by second-half lunacy.”
MLSsoccer.com reports that the Garfan challenge on James Riley that resulted in a red card “split the shin guard of the veteran defender in half.”
In view of their inability to score goals, Chris Vito says the key to the Union staying the course will be Zac MacMath.
Much was made of the time needed for several of the newest Union players to settle in to their new lives in Philadelphia. Things may go more smoothly for Kai Herdling. “We brought him here, he likes it,” says Peter Nowak. “He came with his wife. His wife was here in Philadelphia last year, for eight months, so they are very familiar with the environment and the city.”
The Guardian says the Union are channeling their inner Rocky.
Match report from Philly Union Talk.
Section 133 says the Union are all bark and no bite.
Local
Harrisburg City Islanders kicked off the 2012 season with a 2–1 win over Charlotte Battery with goals from Andrew Welker and and former Union midfielder JT Noone. Antoine Hoppenot started for the Islanders and played 83 minutes with Chandler Hoffman coming on in the 63rd minute. Harrisburg then played Wilmington Hammerheads to a 0–0 draw on Saturday night, with Chandler Hoffman starting, as did Noone and former Union midfielder Morgan Langley. Tom Brandt, the Union 2012 Supplemental Draft pick, went the full 90.
This report describes how Starfinder Foundation uses soccer as a vehicle to provide kids with opportunities to enrich their lives.
MLS
The Union moved up to sixth place in the East with their 1–0 win over Chivas USA. First place Kansas City, who extended their winning streak to seven games with a 3–1 win over Vancouver last Wednesday, saw that streak end when they lost to Portland 1–0 on Saturday thanks to an own goal. A Chris Pontius hat trick helped power DC United to a 4–1 win over New York and propel them into second place with the Red Bulls dropping to third. Fourth place Chicago defeated last place and still winless Toronto 3–2. Fifth place Houston drew 2–2 with seventh place Columbus. Eighth place New England had the week off while Montreal all is in ninth place after drawing 1–1 with DC last Wednesday.
San Jose Earthquakes, who come to PPL Park this weekend, are top of the Western Conference following a 3–1 win over 9-man Real Salt Lake, who are now in second place.
With Kevin Hartman out with back spasms, Chris Seitz got his second start since joining Dallas last season. Dallas lost 1–0 to Vancouver.
While MLS is surely interested in his services, Goal.com thinks Raul may head to Qatar.
What can I say, this is simply hilarious.
Women’s Soccer
The Women’s Professional SuperGroup, the elite training program organized by former Philadelphia Independence coach Paul Riley that features several former Indy players, won its first two games in the Headers for Hope charity tournament, defeating Villanova 1–0 and crushing WPSL side Maryland Capitols 8–0. On Sunday they lost 3–2 to University of Virginia.
The Headers for Hope tournament was organized by former Independence GM Louise Waxler.
Former Independence striker Danesha Adams talks about playing in Sweden for Vittsjö GIK.
The W-League’s New Jersey Wildcats have announced an affiliation with former WPS club Sky Blue FC.
US
The New York Times looks at the possibilities the USMNT has on hand for forwards.
Jozy Altidore continues to be on fire, scoring the second half gamewinner for AZ on Sunday to make if five goals in five games. He hit the post twice in the first half.
Elsewhere
Patrice Muamba speaks about his collapse, saying, “I had no pain whatsoever.”
Brazilian club Vasco de Gama has been ordered by a judge to immediately suspend all activities at its youth training facilities after investigators found that youth players were being kept in “slave-like” conditions. More on the news from a personal perspective here.
Their team facing relegation and down 4–0 early in the second half half against Siena, Genoa ultras invaded the family section of the stadium and began throwing flares onto the pitch. The Siena manager took his players back to the dressing room. Genoa players and officials tried to negotiate with the ultras, who demanded that the players hand over their jerseys, as they were deemed unfit to wear them. Most of the players complied. Play finally resumed after a 45 minute delay. One Italian press report described the scene, “A chilling spectacle … right out of the dark ages.” Genoa lost 4–1.
Finally, Reading FC, who gained automatic promotion to the Premiership on last Tuesday, captured the Championship title on Saturday. PSP writer Mike Servedio was at the 2–2 draw with Crystal Palace that proved to be enough to finish in first. I received a couple of texts but haven’t heard from him since the news that Middlesborough defeated Southampton to assure Reading the title. Frankly, you wouldn’t hear from me for a while either if I was in Reading under the same circumstances.
Defense was good, Gaddis looks better than I thought. I am happy with the midfield, lets keep the consistency going for a few games.
Striker is still a problem, but look at the bright side. We want Pajoy gone because he has had a run of games and still looks bad. So lets give Mwanga a try.
But that’s a reasonable, rational situation in this sport and it’s nice to have that instead of “And Nowak has tried his 5th different lineup in 5 games yesterday!”
Unfortunately consistency cant happen now that Garfan and Keon were red carded. Welcome back Lopez for San Jose and maybe longer…
Daniel won’t hurt as much … we have midfield depth. Garfan? Hell I wouldn’t be surprised if we moved Williams or Gaddis to LB and put Albridge at CB. Lopez looked THAT bad.
C’Mon URRRZZZZ!!! The football gods were kind to me this weekend. A Philadelphia Union win on the West Coast AND Royals going to the Premier League as CHAMPIONS, very nice!
As for the extracurriculars on Saturday night, it’s difficult to argue the ref made the wrong decision in issuing red cards to Keon & Garfan. Keon’s kick was reckless and as much as I love the guy, Gabe’s challenge on Riley has no place in the game. The Farfans have shown they have quite a nasty streak in them. Two reds already this season when the team only had three all of last season.
Maybe I’m seeing something that isn’t there, but IMHO, these two incidents highlight the lack of leadership on the field. This team misses its captain. Thoughts?
I agree that both tackles were probably red cards, but I actually thought neither was particularly egregious. Farfan’s was worse, but even his tackle, while very hard and fast, and initially two-footed, was along the ground, and he got the ball. That’s not excuse-making, but I think the whole incident was blown out of proportion. If none of their players had come over to start shit, no one would be talking about it except that he was sent off. I think their keeper, in particular, probably deserves a retroactive yellow card, if such a thing exists, for shoving Garfan to the ground, etc.
Yeah, I just watched it again, and Garfan goes in for a 50-50, two-footed but on the ground, gets the ball and the man. Red card yes, but nothing awful. Their man was sliding in, foot off the ground, too, it should be noted. Tempest in a teacup, frankly. (Oh, and it was some other player of theirs that shoved GF to the ground, but the keeper was no hero, either.)
Kai Herdling was brought in to provide discipline and leadership to a young club that needs it.
Very bi polar game against the Goats. First half was a mess from my point of view, lucky to get the goal against the run of play…thanks to a poor mis-hit clearance we got a goal…in a long season were gonna need lucky breaks like that. Second half we looked amazing until we lost our cool. WTF! Both cards were deserved and Im not gonna be surprised when additional suspensions are handed out. Glad we started the same lineup as the Columbus game but now were gonna have to start a different squad against an amazing San Jose team…another solid game from Carroll.
I agreed with the red cards…both justifiable decisions by the Ref. The ref got the calls correct on the field, red cards, sent off, one-game suspension for Keon and Garfan. That’s the game of soccer, end of story.
My complaint will arise if the league DOES decide to give out additional games suspension. The other retroactive suspensions have been a result of the ref totally missing or blowing the call on the field and not dishing out the red (or even a yellow is some of the cases).
I agree that Chivas blew the Garfan tackle out of proportion more than was necessary…they were just pissed that they couldn’t break down our D. I do not agree with Nowak entering the field, that was just stupidity on his part. He may receive a “suspension” for mulitple games for that IMO.
Keon’s tackle was reckless and brainless, but (if I remember correctly) he did not commit a single foul prior to the red. Straight red card and ejection…correct call.
Garfan’s tackle was ridiculous and certainly deserved the red. However, one thing that hasn’t been talked about in detail is that it was definitely a 50-50 ball, and Riley came in hard and double-footed himself…not quite as agreesive. Straight red card and ejection…correct call again. No additional games….period.
**Small correction. Chivas did break down our D to some extent given the shots on goal…they were just frustrated they couldn’t get that clean SOG to tie it up.
You also forgot that the chivas player got right up when the scuffle started after he had been rolling around in “agony” so i dont think garfans challeng ereally had much to it, for sure a red, but nothing else