Daily news roundups

Kleberson unveiled tonight, HCI brings back 3, Gomez sinks Sounders, FIFA GLT named, more

Photo: Courtesy of futebolbahiano.com

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Philadelphia Union

If you happen to be in the Horsham area this evening, don’t forget the Kleberson unveiling at na’Brasa, located at 680 N. Easton Rd., 5pm-7pm.

On the Union website, Kevin Kinkead looks back on the history of the Union against Columbus. It’s not a particularly pretty one, with the Union 2-5-0 all-time against the Crew, 0-3-0 in Columbus.

No Union players made this week’s Castrol Index Top 20. In the full Castrol Index, the top five Union players are Jack McInerney (No. 15), Sebastien Le Toux (No. 18), Amobi Okugo (No. 31), Michael Farfan (No. 53) and Jeff Parke (No. 112).

More Power rankings? At ProSoccerTalk, the Union come in at No. 13, a four spot drop since the win over New England. At MLSsoccer.com, the Union fall one spot to No. 15. The Union are currently in 11th place in the full league table.

Zolo Times writes that the Union’s problem right now is that, like a donut, the team lacks a middle.

Local

The Harrisburg City Islanders’ roster continues to shape up with the news that Stephen Basso, former Union draft pick and University of Penn grad Tom Brandt, and Yann Ekra will be returning for 2013.

Midfielder Taylor Racioppi (PDA Clash; Ocean Township, N.J.) has been called up for the USWNT U-17 squad that will travel to Costa Rica April 21-29 for a tournament that will feature the US, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Japan.

Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Assocition have announced that Jim Kuntz has been elected the associations new president.

MLS

A Herculez Gomez goal was enough for Santos Laguna to defeat Seattle 1-0 in the first game of their CONCACAF Champions League semifinal series. At Goal.com, Kyle McCarthy has more on the game.

Gomez says, by the way, “I love the [United States]. This is my home. But to this day, there hasn’t been one MLS club to approach me with an offer. So the ball’s in their court.”

LA Galaxy host Monterrey in the first round of their semifinal series tonight (10pm, FSC).

FC Dallas goalkeeper Raul Fernandez says there is no controversy about whether he or former Union man Chris Seitz is the No. 1 keeper on the club. “I work hard to be the No. 1,” the Peruvian international said after his club’s 1-0 win over New England on Saturday. “I was the No. 1 here today and there were no goals.”

The Florida Senate wants competition among initiatives asking for state money to help fund sports teams, such as Orlando’s bid to receive state aid for the construction of a soccer specific stadium in the hopes of joining MLS. Says Senate President Don Gaetz, “I think it’s better that we look at these sports facility issues as economic development issues because that’s the way they are being sold. All the teams and all the owners who have come to my office have tried to sell their initiatives on the basis of jobs created.” More on this development here.

On Monday, the New York Cosmos announced that tickets will go on sale on April 12 for their abbreviated first season in the NASL, which will begin on Aug. 3.

The folks in Elk Grove, located outside of Sacramento, are hoping that the relocation of WPSL club California Storm to their city will aid their quest to land a MLS franchise.

NWSL

At Bloomberg Business Week, Allison McCann writes that the new league might actually have a chance at succeeding.

At The Oregonian, Geoffrey Arnold looks at the return of the Cristine Sinclair-Alex Morgan partnership, which first took the pitch for Western New York Flash in the WPS in 2011. Portland could end up scoring buckets of goals.

Elsewhere

FIFA have adopted the GoalControl goal-line technology system for use at the 2013 Confederations Cup and 2014 World Cup.

In today’s UEFA Champions League play, it’s Real Madrid vs. Galatasaray (2:30pm, FSC) and Malaga vs. Dortmund (2:30pm, Fox Soccer Plus).

On Tuesday, Paris Saint-Germain came from behind twice to draw 2-2 at home with Barcelona in a game that saw Lionel Messi pick up a hamstring injury and the final equalizer come from the last kick of the game. Bayern Munich won easily at home 2-0 over Juventus.

10 Comments

  1. “Zolo Times writes that the Union’s problem right now is that, like a donut, the team lacks a middle.”
    And more seriously, the player we have dead locked as a 90 minute starter and our captain is playing horribly in this position yet there is no chance we actually do what we need to and sit him.

  2. “Gomez says..to this day, there hasn’t been one MLS club to approach me with an offer. So the ball’s in their court.”
    .
    Shocking! Are you hearing this Hack and Nick?!?

  3. Could MLS allocation rules be holding Herc back from getting a call from MLS? Which teams are at the front of the allocation order, and are they out of their minds?

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