Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

Philadelphia Union

John Hackworth said after Saturday’s win against New England, “Those conditions are tough to play in and both teams had to gut it out today. I’m so proud of our team and how they found a way to win in a game like that. For the second straight week we didn’t play the prettiest soccer but in bad conditions we found a way to win. We’ve talked a lot about being Philly tough and we’re starting to show that we’re Philly tough.”

With two goals from corner kicks after three games, the Union have equaled the total number of goals from corner kicks they had in the 2012 season and have just one fewer then in 2011. John Hackworth said, “They had to start falling at some point,” adding, “To be fair, when we started practicing restarts earlier in the season, I don’t think anyone on the staff had the idea that Sébastien would be the guy taking corners. But to his credit, he’s been really consistent and serving a good ball.”

It was McInerney’s second game-winning goal on two games and his third game-winning goal against New England. Hackworth said of McInerney,

He’s always been a clutch player for me. He’s now doing it week-in and week-out in this league. He’s an example of the type of growth that this team is going through right now. Young players are stepping up and Jack is the epitome of that right now. He gets two game-winning goals, back-to-back, in tough circumstances. Those are the little progressions these young guys have to make in their careers and it helps our team.

“I don’t know what it is with [the Revolution], but I know I get in good spots against them,” McInerney said after the game of his record against New England. “They sit high up [on defense] and I like it because I can get balls played back in behind them in the box that amount to good goals.”

Sheanon Williams said of McInerney, “It’s something we talked about before the season—having that killer instinct, especially at home. It’s good to have Jack on a goal streak right now.” McInerney added, “It’s what good teams do. If we want to be a good team we have to win in these situations. Three points in Colorado and three points here, it’s good for confidence in this club. It definitely feels nice. Six points out of nine isn’t too bad. We’re happy and hopefully we can continue getting wins at home.”

Soccer America on McInerney, “With goals in back-to-back wins, Jack McInerney is one of the most underrated young American players in MLS.”

McInereny scored the winner but a big part of the win was a fine defensive performance, particularly from Jeff Parke. Hackworth said of Parke, “Jeff is exactly what we expected him to be coming here. You can see he’s so confident back there. He’s leading the back line. Amobi (Okugo) and him have formed a really good partnership right now. I think winning a game 1-0 is really important.”

For his own part, Parke is quick to point to the rest of the team, both in terms of welcoming him to the club and for their efforts on Saturday. “For sure, it goes off to the guys. The guys have welcomed me and made it easy for me to adapt and be a part of the group so they’ve a really good job making it comfortable for me. It doesn’t hurt that I’m in my hometown. That always is a plus…It wasn’t just the back four, it was the guys in front of them that made it difficult for them to get after us. Zac (MacMath) made some big saves to keep us in the game. Hats off to him, and it’s a good win for the group.”

Match reports from PSP, Philadelphia Union.com, MLSsoccer.com (1), MLSsoccer.com (2), Revolutionsoccer.net (1) Revolutionsoccer.net (2),Philly.com, Delco Times, CSN Philly, South Jersey Times, Boston Herald, Taunton Daily Gazette, SBI, MLS Talk, Philly Soccer News, Brotherly Game, Union Dues, New England Soccer Today, The Bent Musket, Goal.com, Sports Mole, Examiner, Sports Network, UPI, and the AP

In an article from Dave Zeitlin published before Saturday’s game, a revealing Zac MacMath said,

I’m not happy with my first two games. I think I’ve made a couple of critical mistakes. There’s stuff I’m still learning from in-game situations, stuff I need to pick up as a goalkeeper…I didn’t feel like I was completely ready for the first game of the season because of a little bit of injury stuff. I think I’m still striving to get to where I want to be.

Securing his first clean sheet of the season is surely a step in the right direction.

Speaking of steps in the right direction, we now turn to…

The Freddy Adu Situation

On Friday evening, Ives Galarcep broke the news that a deal is in the works fro Freddy Adu to join Brazilian first division side Bahia. Multiple reports out of Brazil (see below) confirmed that negotiations are underway but not yet finalized. On Saturday and Sunday, Bahianoticias and ESPN.br confirmed early reports with quotes from Bahia director of football Paulo Angiani saying a deal was in the works and could involve a move from former Brazilian national team midfielder Kleberson to the Union in exchange for Adu.

• futebolbahiano.com (crappy Google translation here)
• bahianoticias.com.br (crappy Google translation here)
• espn.estadao.com.br (crappy Google translation here)
• espn.estadao.com.br (crappy Google translation here)
• futnet.com.br (crappy Google translation here)
• futnet.com.br (crappy Google translation here)
• Yahoo! Esporte Interativo (crappy Google translation here)
• esportes.terra.com.br (crappy Google translation here)

Distilling the various reports from Brazil, the key information is that

1. A deal has not been finalized but could be completed this week;
2. The deal would begin as a loan until the end of the season;
3. The Union initially expressed interest in Kleberson and suggested Adu in exchange;
4. Bahia and Kleberson are interested in parting ways;
5. Adu’s salary with Bahia would be lower than what he is receiving from the Union and lower than what Kleberson is currently earning with Bahia;
6. The Union, Bahia, MLS, and Adu’s manager have talked but no contact has yet been made between Bahia and Adu himself;
7. One of the attractions of the deal for Bahia is that it will help raise the club’s profile in North America;
8. A deal has not been finalized;
9. A deal has not been finalized.

Here are some proper quotes, translated by Lavinia de Castro:

Marcelo Guimarães Filho, president of Bahia, on the deal: “It’s not closed, but negotiations are underway. We’ll see if it closes. I hope it works. I don’t think it will take too long for it to close.”

Paulo Angioni, director of football for Bahia, said of the deal, “It’s a situation that we’re trying. It would involve the coming of Adu in exchange for Kleberson until the end of the year. But it’s not yet concluded. It could be that we arrive an agreement before next week … Kleberson is very interested in this agreement. This situation happened in a moment in which Philadelphia has an interest in his football and suggested including Adu in the trade. A few aspects could get in the way. Like the player himself not understanding that coming to Brazil could be a benefit, or a medical exam, or some other little things.”

Bahianoticias.co.br notes that the announcement that Argentine Paulo Rosales has signed a contract with Bahia frees the club to let Kleberson go.

Asked about the Adu rumors after Saturday’s game, John Hackworth responded, “For tonight (Saturday), I’m just gonna concentrate on this game. So I respectfully decline to answer that. I’ll respond to that mid-week.” Does that mean a deal may be reached by the time of Hackworth’s weekly press conference on Wednesday? We shall see.

Local

At Patriot-News, Michael Bullock reports on Harrisburg City Islanders goalkeeper Phil Tuttle’s recovery from a knee injury that saw him miss the 2012 season and his fight to win back a spot on the team.

MLS

In Eastern Conference action, Montreal remains unbeaten and in first place with a 2-1 win over seventh place Toronto. The Union move into second place with their 1-0 over New England, who are now in eighth place. Columbus Crew is in third place after a 1-1 draw with San Jose. Kansas City is in fourth place after a 0-0 draw with Chicago, who find themselves in tenth place. DC is in fifth place following their 0-0 draw with ninth place New York. Houston is in sixth place after falling 3-2 to Dallas.

Soccer America recaps all of the Rivalry Week action.

Dateline Red Bull Arena: Did the ball cross the line?

After flying from Spain to play 20 minutes as a sub for his new club Seattle, Obafemi Martins will be flying even longer for his call up to the Nigerian national team.

Colorado goalkeeper Matt Pickens is out 3-4 months with a broken forearm, suffered in the fourth minute of the Rapids 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake.

The news that Tim Leiweke has left AEG came as a shock to the Galaxy.

Speaking at halftime during the New York vs. DC game, Don Garber stressed the need for the deal to put a 20th team in New York to be completed and that the movement in Orlando to join the league is becoming more and more attractive.

Garber’s comments caused Soccer America’s Paul Kennedy to ask, “Do we have an MLS expansion race?”

US

Jurgen Klinsmann will announce the roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico today. In the meanwhile check out these predicted lineups from ASN and Yanks Abroad and this discussion from the New York Times.

ASN adds a “rustiness report” into the roster discussion.

Clint Dempsey played the final 45 minutes in Tottenham’s 1-0 loss to Fulham on Sunday, his first minutes since suffering a calf injury nearly a month ago.

Jozy Altidore netted his 25th goal of the season in AZ’s 3-2 loss to Ajax.

Elsewhere

20-year-old AEK Athens midfielder Giorgos Katidis has been given a lifetime ban from all Greek National teams for giving a Nazi salute after scoring the game-winning goal against Veria on Saturday. Katidis claims he was gesturing at a teammate in the stands who is recovering from injury. AEK Athens manager Ewald Lienen, who happens to be German, backed Katidis, saying, “He is a young kid who does not have any political ideas. He most likely saw such a salute on the internet or somewhere else and did it without knowing what it means.”

Argentine club San Lorenzo wore images of new Pope Francis I on their kits during Saturday’s 1-0 win over Colon. The Pope is reportedly a supporter of the club but political or religious imagery on kits is a FIFA no-no.

The London Times has admitted it got the story about a Qatari-backed “Dream Football League” wrong.