Daily news roundups

“It’s always a fight”: getting ready for DC, more news

Photo: Earl Gardner

Philadelphia Union

Look for our preview of Sunday’s game against DC United later this morning. In the meanwhile, you can get up to speed on the Union’s past games with DC with our quick reference.

Kevin Kinkead has a scouting report on DC United. Previews from Union Dues and Goal.com.

Zac MacMath says of DC United, “Any time we play D.C. it’s always a fight.”

Or, in the immortal words of Sheanon Williams, “They don’t like us and we don’t like them, plain and simple.”

Williams is wary of former Union players Lionard Pajoy and Carlos Ruiz. “They’re both guys that we liked in the locker room. And on the field, they’re hard to play against. Pajoy does a lot of the hard work and the running and finding different channels to get the ball. And Carlos is a big body that holds the ball up extremely well. So they are definitely two challenges.”

The message from DC United head coach Ben Olsen is simple: “The message is right now we need a very narrow focus, and that focus is winning this weekend.”

This post looks at some of the deep connections between DC and the Union.

If you are going to the game on Sunday, there will be food trucks in Lot 8.

David Murphy looks ahead to Sunday’s game and says its time for a win.

John Hackworth talks to ESPN’s Jefff Carlisle about starting Conor Casey, Sebastien Le Toux, and Jack McInerney together.

It’s going to be game by game. In every game you play, opponents present you with different problems and things that you’re going to have to be good at. Playing home or away is very different too. Tactically, you would expect teams to play differently when they’re at home or away. I think we’ll take all of those things into consideration. And we’ll certainly—as we have over the last couple of days—evaluate exactly what we feel we did well and what we didn’t.

At ASN, Will Parchman dissects McInerney’s goals this season in an attempt to answer the question of whether he is the American Chicharito.

Heather Mitts talks to Union captain Brian Carroll.

At the Inquirer, Marc Narducci talks to Michael Lahoud about his efforts to help build schools in his native Sierra Leone.

The game against Seattle at PPL Park on May 4 is Star Wars-theme night, news of which resulted in scores of scorning tweets on Twitter. As Steve Moore writes at the 700 Level, silly theme nights are part and parcel of big league sports—get over it.

Freddy Adu talks to the BBC about the pressures of living up to the label of being the next Pele.

Local

The USASA Region I US Open Cup qualification final will be held at the Ukrainian Americans Sports Center in Horsham, Pa. on June 16.

At Penn Live.com, Michael Bullock profiles Harrisburg City Islanders midfielder Jamiel Hardware. Derek Meluzio has more on some City Islanders newcomers.

Philadelphia National Premier Soccer League club Junior Lone Star have released their 2013 schedule. Their home games are at Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill and the home opener is on May 18 at 5pm against Jersey City Eagles.

A symposium on youth sports and concussions will be held at the Philadelphia Marriott West in West Conshohocken, PA on Monday. Click here for registration information.

MLS

At Soccer America, Paul Gardner on the underwhelming New York Red Bulls. More on the Red Bulls’ struggles from SBI.

Kei Kamara’s successful loan to Norwaich could mean the player has several European options even if the English club doesn’t exercise the option to buy him.

Chivas USA coach Jose Luis Sanchez Sola says part of his job is to “look for players who can play in Chivas Mexico as well.”

Alan Gordon says he will turn his suspension for using homophobic slurs against Portland Timbers midfielder Will Johnson into something good.

The city of Orlando has spent $8.2 million on a parcel of land for the proposed new Orlando City SC stadium.

NWSL

Nine NWSL games will be broadcast on Fox Soccer, six regular-season matches and all three playoff matches.

Former Philadelphia Independence forward Laura Del Rio talks to the BBC about England’s Women’s Super League. “This year I don’t think there’s going to be a difference with America. It’s going to be one of the best leagues in the world.”

US

The US Soccer Federation is considering tendering bids to be the host of one of several FIFA world championships in 2016 and 2017.

Former USWNT players Mary Harvey and Lorrie Fair were recently in Iraq as part of the US Department of State’s Empowering Women and Girls Through Sports initiative.

Elsewhere

Details of a forensic audit of CONCACAF will be revealed at the confederation’s congress in Panama City today. One delegate with knowledge of the audit’s findings said, “It’s bad, it’s very bad.”

The congress will also vote on who will replace the general secretary position left vacant by Chuck Blazer’s resignation last year. US Soccer president Sunil Gulati and Mexican Football Federation president Justino Compean are both running for the office, which carries with it a position on FIFA’s executive committee.

The AP reports, “The Copa Libertadores match between Gremio of Brazil and Huachipato of Chile ended in a huge brawl on Thursday, with coaches fighting each other and players throwing punches and kicks.”

Reuters reports on efforts underway in Qatar to develop solar-powered cooling technology for the 2022 World Cup.

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