Daily news roundups

Amobi says young veterans must be leaders, West Chester out of USOC qualifying, more

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Philadelphia Union

At The Full Volley, Brian Sciaretta talks to Amobi Okugo, who says, “Center back has grown on me.” Okugo believes the young veterans on the team must become leaders if the team is to continue to progress.

The younger guys, myself included, need to be more assertive. We can’t look to the older guys to babysit us throughout the season. We have to step up as leaders. We’ve been in the league long enough to know how it works. So I feel that if we want to take it to the next step we can’t rely on the veterans as much as have in the past. We need to be more assertive on the field.

Okugo was named to SI’s Team of the Week and ProSoccerTalk’s Team of the Week.

In the latest Inside Doop at CSN Philly, Dave Zeitlin makes this interesting observation: “Only 14 Union field players have played more than 10 total minutes this season, meaning Hackworth has pretty much settled on his 11 starters and three subs through the first five games.”

David Murphy underscores how impressive Conor Casey has been in his few appearances this season and asks what Casey’s strong play means for Sebastien Le Toux. “If Casey is to be the new go-to starter for the Union, however, one is left to wonder how far out of the picture this leaves Le Toux…Hackworth commented after Saturday’s 1-1 draw that it was great bringing a guy like Sebastien in off the bench for some last-minute punch. But if that’s to be the new role, over time, how will Le Toux respond?”

Jack McInerney gets a shoutout from ASN, who say he is “on pace for a career season.”

Power rankings: the Union stay at No. 11 at Goal.com after Saturday’s draw in Columbus. At ESPN, they move up one spot to No. 10. SI moves the Union up two spots to No. 11, who note, “The formula for the Union is pretty simple: Get Jack McInerney the ball in dangerous positions. When the blossoming young forward scores, the Union are 2-0-1. When he doesn’t, they are 0-2-0.”

The Union announced on Monday a new partnership with Redbox. For a $1 fee, fans can now purchase tickets to Union games at one of 700 Redbox kiosks in the Philadelphia region or online at the Redbox website.

Union trainer Kevin Miller has debuted his new Goal Oriented fitness column on the Union website.

Freddy Adu’s new club Bahia has named Joel Santana as their new coach after former head coach Jorginho resigned after Bahia lost its inaugural match at the new Fonte Nova stadium 5-1 to local rivals Vitoria. Santana has managed Bahia twice previously as well as the South African national team. Freddy moves to a new team abroad, new team gets a new coach—sound familiar?

Local

West Chester United gave up two goals in the first six minutes of play against New Jersey’s Icons FC and went on to fall 4-2 in the USASA Region I US Open Cup qualifying quarterfinal on Sunday.

Union fan Barry Evans describes his gameday rituals in support of his hometown team, Peterhead in northeast Scotland.

MLS

Seattle Sounders, still winless in league play, are in Mexico to face Santos Laguna in CONCACAF Champions League semifinal play tonight (8pm, FSC). Seattle lost the first leg at home, 1-0.

As Avi Creditor makes clear at Goal.com, the chances of a MLS team making it to the Champions League final this year are slim.

Portland’s Ryan Johnson has been named MLSsoccer.com’s Player of the Week.

Union fans will want to keep an eye on Toronto’s Gale Agbossoumonde this weekend after he played 90 minutes in his MLS debut last Saturday.

Montreal Impact have acquired 19-year-old Argentinean midfielder Maximiliano Rodríguez on loan from Argentinos Juniors

New England Revolution defender Kevin Alston is taking an indefinite leave of absence after being diagnosed with a rare but treatable form of leukemia.

NWSL

Opening day rosters have been released by the league’s eight teams. First kick is this Saturday with Portland Thorns hosting FC Kansas City.

US

The USWNT faces the Netherlands today in a friendly (1pm, ESPN3, ESPNW).

Elsewhere

Galatasary host Real Madrid today in the second leg of their Champions League series (2:30pm, FSC). They lost 3-0 in the first game.

The AP reports that two fans were stabbed and an ambulance attacked before Mondays Rome derby. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.

A match between Djurgarden and Mjallby in Sweden was abandoned on Monday after a player was struck by a pear thrown from the crowd.

 

3 Comments

  1. I know nothing about Redbox so forgive me but just for clarity, you mean they pay a $1 fee and then they can use the kiosk to buy tickets at regular price, right? Not that they can buy Union tickets for $1.

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