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Donovan diss, Soumare update, goalline tech, more

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Philadelphia Union

A Philadelphia Union spokesperson told PSP on Thursday that the club plans to have a live stream of Wednesday night’s US Open Cup semifinal match against Sporting Kansas City on the club’s website. Not that you care because you’ve already bought a ticket to see the game in person, right? Right?

Check out the preview of Sunday’s match against Toronto in the Guardian by PSP editor Dan Walsh. The Guardian’s Graham Parker will be doing live coverage of the game from 4pm and invites you to tweet or email your thoughts on the action. Send your comments to Graham at @KidWeil or graham.parker.freelance@guardiannews.com, and they just may show up in the Guardian.

Chris Vito writes at Union Tally of Jack McInerney’s sublime finish on Wednesday, “You know you’ve scored a sweet goal when the face of American soccer dismisses it.” Landon Donovan, who refers to McInerney as “the guy,” called his strike “a one-in-a-thousand goal.”

In an article from Dave Zeitlin highlighting the fine play from Michael and Gabriel Farfan on Wednesday, John Hackworth says, “I talked to them earlier in the day. And I said, ‘Look, make sure people at the Home Depot Center know there are a couple of Southern California boys that can play soccer on the East Coast.'” They know.

Michael Lahoud said of the win, “Massive win. We were talking, going into this game, saying that we’re going to have to pick up points in places that most teams wouldn’t expect to pick up points. Or, that we would have to pick up three points instead of one. We did just that. We played strictly for the result.”

ProSoccerTalk says, “The Union is 3-2 over two competitions under new manager John Hackworth. Having a say in the playoff race would take a mighty push over the coming weeks, but it’s not impossible.”

The “6 Things We Learned” slideshow at the Bleacher Report about Wednesday’s win may be from the Galaxy’s perspective but it does note this important tidbit: the Union “have four games in hand over the team above them in the MLS Eastern Conference, the Montreal Impact.”

More recaps of Wednesday night’s win from MLS Reserves and Soccerway.

Goal.com predicts a draw when the Union host Toronto on Sunday. “The midweek fixtures – especially Philadelphia’s three-point haul in Los Angeles – may influence the energy and the tempo of this match. With both of those qualities in some question, the conditions favor yet another draw for the visiting Reds.”

Kerith Gabriel compares how five Union players have fared under Peter Nowak and John Hackworth.

Gabriel also provides an update on Bakary Soumare, who he says “is a few weeks away from returning to MLS action.” Union trainer Paul Rushing, tells Gabriel that Soumare “is just getting back into shape and finishing up his rehab. It’s about a 3- to 4-month recovery, and he is a little over 3 months right now. He’s right on schedule.”

Gabriel Gomez is interviewed in this Spanish language article from MLSsoccer.com, rather clunkily translated here by Google Translate.

The winners at last weekend’s Second Annual Blue & Gold Cup at YSC Sports were Moxie FC (Men’s Division), Oakmont National Pub (Women’s Division), and Bananas (Co-ed Division).

The makers of the upcoming Sons of Ben documentary were doing interviews with Union players in LA. Danny Califf was interviewed and sent Philly fans a special message. Love that guy.

Philadelphia Fever

The Philadelphia Fever earned their first win of the season, defeating FC Indiana 2-0 on the road. Laura DiClemente scored a goal in each half, including one from a free kick.

Local

Harrisburg City Islanders are putting on some mileage this weekend. On Friday they visit Pittsburgh Riverhounds before returning home to host Antigua Barracuda at Skyline Sports Complex on Saturday at 7pm. Please note that, because of heat warnings, the start time for Saturday’s game has been changed to 8pm. Gates open at 6:30pm. If you can’t see Saturday’s match in person, you can watch it live at USLLive.com.

Carlisle, Pa. native Colin Zizzi has been a versatile player for Harrisburg, as this profile shows.

Reading United’s Deshorn Brown, PSP’s Player of the Week, was named to PDL’s Team of the Week. His teammates Stephen Okai and Greg Cochrane received honorable mentions, as did Ocean City’s Zoncher Dennis and Emmanuel Kollie.

Reading is on the road this Saturday to Westchester Flames. Ocean City Nor’easters host New Jersey Rangers tonight at home at 7pm. On Sunday, they host Westchester Flames, also at 7pm.

FC Delco defeated Shattuck-Saint Mary’s Soccer Academy 3-1 in their final group game at the Development Academy U-17/18 playoffs on Thursday but it was not enough to advance. PDA also failed to advance after losing 2-1 to Baltimore Bays Chelsea.

MLS

In what comes as a surprise to no one, David Beckham was only given an additional one game suspension to the one he served on Wednesday night against the Union for “confrontational and provocative behavior” in LA’s loss on Sunday to San Jose. It’s good to be the king.

ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle says one game is not enough.

In case you forgot, here’s the Beckham incident:

It’s official: Alessandro Nesta has signed with Montreal Impact. A report at MLSsoccer.com says, “The 36-year-old will officially be added to the roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and will not count as a Designated Player.” The Canadian Press reports, “Coach Jesse Marsch told reporters it would take two or three weeks for Nesta to be match-ready.” So, while it is unlikely that the Union will face Nesta when they host Montreal next weekend, they should see him when they play the Impact away on August 4.

New England Revolution have signed 25-year-old Honduran striker Jerry Bengtson as a DP.

Portland Timbers have acquired Kosuke Kimura from Colorado Rapids in return for allocation money and an international spot.

Danny Koevermans scored for the fifth game in a row in Toronto’s road draw with FC Dallas on Wednesday, which happens to correspond with the club being on a five-game unbeaten streak.

Speaking of Dallas, goalkeeper Kevin Hartman became the first MLS player to make 400 appearances in Wednesday night’s draw.

For the second time this season, Chris Wondolowski has been named MLS Player of the Month.

What do you know, Joey Chestnut, the guy who won the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest, is a San Jose Earthquakes supporter.

Women’s Soccer

The Boston Globe looks at the ups and downs of women’s professional soccer in the US and the efforts to start a new and sustainable league.

US

Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini says, “Work for Michael Bradley of Chievo is well underway and I want to make it clear that his capture is not a marketing ploy.” OK, Walter.

SF Gate wonders if Landon Donovan is the best US player ever.

The US Futsal national team will not be playing at the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Thailand after being defeated 2-1 by Guatemala in CONCACAF qualification on Wednesday in Guatemala City.

Elsewhere

In addition to giving the thumbs up to goal-line technology, the International Football Association Board approved the wearing of head scarves by Muslim women players and a proposal to implement a five-referee system to officiate matches, which would mean an official by each goal. IFAB member Patrick Nelson said the three decisions will be “long-lasting and resonate throughout the world.”

The AP reports, “FIFA said it will introduce the goal-line mechanism at the seven-team Club World Cup in Japan in December, with plans to use it in Brazil at the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup.”

FIFA lays out the skinny on goal-line technology here and here.

MLS executive vice president of competition and game operations Nelson Rodriguez said in a league statement, “MLS is eager to begin the process toward implementing one of these advancements, but we first need to research the installation, testing, staffing and training required. It is unlikely that either system could be in place for our games in 2012, but we will examine the feasibility of doing so by the start of our 18th season in 2013.”

Soccer America says goal-line technology cannot come soon enough.

Brazilian club Corinthian’s won the Copa Libertadores on Wednesday, defeating Boca Juniors 3-1 on aggregate. You can read PSP’s article about the English club from which Corinthian’s got their name and their time in Philadelphia here.

6 Comments

  1. Andy Muenz says:

    In addition to goal line technology, what FIFA really needs is an additional referee. Two refs on the field would allow them to be closer to the action and make it easier to see the difference between a flop (aka Brian Ching) and a dive (aka Landon Donovan). OK, I guess we really don’t need that difference. However, it would make it easier for them to see the difference between those and real fouls. The pitch is really too big for one ref to be able to see everything. Adding a second ref was definitely a win for hockey and I think it would be for soccer too.

  2. Jeremy L. says:

    My favorite part of that Beckham incident is how accurate he is, even when he’s pissed off and being a douchebag. I mean, that was 25 to 30 yards, and he drop-kicked that ball right into the downed player like it was nothing. I love that.

  3. Sean Doyle says:

    Much adu about nothing regarding Beckham. While his behavior was unsportsmanlike, the one match ban that he served during the Union match was sufficient in my mind. The kick was more naughty than violent, and I’d argue Cronin’s theatrics were just as provocative. My biggest pet peeve in soccer is a player who dives and play-acts (I’m looking at you LD and Kei Kamara) in order to con the ever gullible referees.

    • Andy Muenz says:

      The one match penalty was for yellow card accumulation. The only tie to the incident was that it happened to earn him the card that put him over the limit.

  4. Danny Califf: Nothing But Class!

  5. Matt Kirk says:

    Not only is Landon Donovan a diving little bitch, he can not even give credit to a nice goal, that is not one is one thousand of a goal, it was a deliberate use of Jack’s heel to put the ball on net. Hey Landon it is called skill; stop being such a bitch.

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