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Hack lays into refs, Cruz on his missiles, will Soumare finally play, more reaction to Union draw

Photo: Michael Long
Video: Daniel Gajdamowicz

Philadelphia Union

A slow start to go behind, a Cruz brace to go ahead, another defensive lapse to lose the lead, and then some of the all-too-familiar inconsistent, and in the end unfair, officiating, that we’ve unhappily become used to: two points lost, one point gained.

John Hackworth said of the Union’s performance, “We put a lot of energy to get back in the game. We should have been back at halftime and we were down a goal…We get two back in the second half and do the right things. We should have gotten a third and it’s our fault for giving up the second one for sure.”

Hackworth elaborated, “I think the points were dropped. But I don’t think it’s as much our fault as the refs.”

Hackworth said of the officiating generally, “Look, I’ll raise my hand and take the fine. Because it has to be said that we cannot be in this league and have this level of play and have officiating be as bad as that.”

Hackworth continued, “There’s so many little plays in that game, it wasn’t against us necessarily, it was just bizarre. It can’t happen in the league. I’ll get what’s coming to me. I’ll make a bold statement and say that is not allowed, that should not be allowed, and that guy has come here before and done the exact same thing.”

Of the no-call handball in stoppage time, Hackworth said, “That should not have been a draw in any way, shape or form. There’s a clear penalty at the end of the game. How it’s not called is beyond me.”

For the third week in a row, the Union gave up two goals. Amobi Okugo said, “We’ve limited the shots on goal to about less than three a game, but the chances that we’re giving up are clear chances, and the other teams have been doing a good job of capitalizing on them. We’ve got to go back to the drawing board.”

Hackworth said of Cruz’s two goals, “For Danny, it was especially pleasing because he probably has been under the microscope a little bit, been criticized for some missed chances and he took advantage.”

Cruz said, “At the end of the day, I wanted a win. I think that’s first and foremost and most important. I am happy with a result at home and credit to Seattle. They are good team. As far as the goals, I am ecstatic just to be able to contribute and that the coaches had faith in me and I was just happy to see the ball go back in the net both times.”

Sheanon Williams said of Cruz’s brace, “After he scored the first one, it was like, ‘Let’s go,’ and he took it to them. Danny is a very, very good player and it was great to see him put those in the back of the net. He works extremely hard every single day and to see him rewarded was a great thing. I only wish we could have gotten three points out of this game. We take the point and learn from it. For Danny, I’m sure it will be a great confidence type of booster.”

Dave Zeitlin notes that the only MLS midfielder with more than Cruz’s two goals and two assists at the moment is Graham Zusi. Dave Murphy wonders if Cruz’s goals will let him off the hook with critics.

WIlliams’ provided his take on the incident that saw him and Seattle’s Lamar Neagle ejected.

(The referee) said that we both headbutted each other, which is false. I didn’t headbutt (Lamar Neagle); he didn’t headbutt me either. I asked (Neagle) when we were going off if he thought that I headbutted him, and he said ‘no.’ He didn’t headbutt me, and that’s the explanation that the referee gave us. If you want to give us a yellow for a shoving match, that’s fine, but to throw us out of a game for something that we both didn’t do, I thought that was just a little unfair.

Hackworth said of Williams’ ejection, “I don’t know how Sheanon gets a red card. It’s bizarre.”

With the possibility that Jeff Parke will miss the game in Chicago on Saturday with a hamstring strain, and the certainty that Williams will due to the red card, will we finally see Bakary Soumare? Soumare said after the game, “It’s my job. I’m here, and if I’m called up I’ll be here.”

So, if he were to start to see significant playing time, would he rescind his trade request? Sourmare said, “I don’t want to get into that. All I’ve got to say it’s been a very difficult time…People don’t realize that a quarter of the season has gone by, which is a lot. I’ve never gone that long without playing. It’s mentally difficult, but we’ll see.”

Soumare commends the Union for trying to accommodate his trade request and says, “There’s no animosity. It’s not a Freddy (Adu)-type thing that it was like I don’t want you around, so it’s been good. It’s difficult, but we’re dealing with it the right way.”

For the second game in a row, Jack McInerney did not find his way on to the score sheet. Is he worried? “I can’t be counted on to score every single game. We got two goals from a midfielder today and I can say I played a part in both of them. (My confidence) is still up.”

McInerney is leading a poll at ASN on which American player deserves a USMNT cap this season (scroll down the homepage to place your vote). He also answers the ASN questionnaire.

Match reports and recaps from PSP, Philadelphia Union.com, SoundersFC.com, MLSsoccer.com (1), MLSsoccer.com (2), Philadelphia Inquirer, CSN Philly, Delco Times, South Jersey Times, The Courier-Post, The Daily Journal, Seattle Times, Union Tally (postgame quotes), Philly Soccer News, Union Dues, Brotherly Game, Sounder at Heart, Net By Northwest, SportspressNW.comSBI, SI, ProSoccerTalk, Goal.com, The Sports Network, McClatchey News Services, and the AP.

Hackworth’s postgame comments about the officiating drew coverage from MLSsoccer.com, The Inquirer, CSN Philly, Philly Soccer News, ProSportsTalk, Goal.com, and Brotherly Game.

Local

Harrisburg City Islanders bounced back from their midweek loss to Charleston Battery with a 1-0 road win over Rochester Rhinos to go to 4-1-0. Former Union man Morgan Langley scored the lone goal. More on the win from USL PRO, The Bent Musket, and The Sentinel. Harrisburg is currently third in the league standings with games in hand.

Union midfielder Leo Fernandes is now on loan with Harrisburg “indefinitely” and played 73 minutes in Saturday’s win. Don Anding is back with the Union from a loan to the City Islanders that saw him pick up one assist in four starts at left back as well as being named to the USL Pro Team of the Week.

Reading United will be hosting a meet and greet at G.N.A. Ristorante in West Reading on Thursday at 6pm ahead of Saturday’s season opener against Westchester Flames.

MLS

In Eastern Conference play, New York Red Bulls move into first place with a 1-0 road win over Columbus, who are now in fifth place. Kansas City moves into second place after a thorough 4-0 destruction of Chivas USA. Houston are in third place after defeating LA 1-0, their first win at the Home Depot Center since 2007 and first road win of 2013. Montreal are in fourth place after a 2-2 road draw with San Jose. The Union are in sixth place after their 2-2 draw with Seattle. New England are in seventh place after their 0-0 draw in Portland on Thursday. Eighth place Chicago had the weekend off. Toronto are in ninth place following their 1-0 road loss in Colorado. Last place DC had the weekend off.

The logo for the 2012 All-Star Game was unveiled during Sunday's game in Kansas City. The ASG will take place Wednesday, July 31 at Sporting Park.

The logo for the 2012 All-Star Game was unveiled during Sunday’s game in Kansas City. The ASG will take place Wednesday, July 31 at Sporting Park.

For the time being anyway, Kei Kamara is headed back to Kansas City after Norwich declined to pick up the option to buy him.

Robbie Rogers says there’s a good chance he’ll return to MLS. He just doesn’t want to play for Chicago, who currently hold his rights.

Orlando’s hopes for becoming the 20th MLS franchise took a turn for the worse after the Florida legislature ended its current legislative session without passing the proposed stadium subsidies package.

NWSL

Portland Thorns remain in first place after defeating sixth place Washington Spirit 2-1 on the road. Second place Boston Breakers walloped last place Chicago Fire with a 4-1 scoreline that included a Sydney Leroux hat trick. Kansas City remain unbeaten and in third place with a 1-0 road win over Seattle Reign. Fourth place Sky Blue will host Chicago on Wednesday. Fifth place Western New York, who defeated Sky Blue 2-1 last Wednesday, had the weekend off.

At the Washington Post, Steven Goff writes that the early returns on the new league are mixed. “Portland delivered a knockout crowd, but Chicago struggled. National TV has been arranged, but live online viewing has been choppy. The standard of play is fine, but goals have come at a premium. Maryland SoccerPlex is a jewel, but most venues are stuck with artificial turf or football marks.”

US

Ricardo Portillo, the referee who lapsed into a coma shortly after being punched by a 17-year-old player in a Utah rec league game, died on Saturday.

Jurgen Klinsmann said last week that the lack of playing time at Stoke is harming Brek Shea’s USMNT standing.

US Soccer.com talks to Manny Schellscheidt who, in 1970, became the first coach to earn a U.S. Soccer coaching license.

Elsewhere

Juventus clinched the Serie A title with a 1-0 win over Palermo. It is the team’s 29th league championship. Ajax claimed its third straight Eredivisie championship with a 5-0 trouncing of Willem II Tilburg. Ajax has now won the Eredivisie title 32 times.

A report at the Guardian says that at least eight professional football players have privately come out to colleagues have have not done so publicly for fear of a backlash from the media and fans.

Hours after receiving PFA Scotland’s player of the year award, Motherwell striker Michael Higdon was arrested in connection with an alleged assault inside a Glasgow nightclub.

Wired868.com has a satirical political obituary for former CONCACAF president and well known crook Jack Warner.

 

11 Comments

  1. The Duke says:

    I would love to see Anding get some minutes at LB. He’s been a real bruiser for HBCI this season.

  2. Stop complaining about the Handball it was a judgement call the ref made it right or wrong. The Union had more than enough chances to win the game on their own either through scoring a goal or tighter defense. So give it a rest, The Hackworth excuse of the week is getting old.

    On the other hand he has every right to complain about the ref losing control of the game. Though I have no problem with the Williams red card. As it is a situation where if the ref gives a yellow to one they both get yellows, One gets red so does the other. I actually thought Zac was gonna get carded for how aggressively he stepped in and pushed the other guy away.

    • I don’t even read anymore what Hack has to say..

    • I agree. In all circumstances the refs make a call. talk to the league in private about your concerns always defend your players but don’t whine about the refs. It creates a feeling of its not my fault, its someone elses. He should focus on having the team focus on controlling their own destiny. If we as a team start hoping for wins via penalties then it is truly a sad day.

      • In all honesty if I’m the Ref I don’t make that call. I won’t decide a chippy game in the final minutes on an obviously not intentional penalty. The alternative is to Geiger it up brandish some cards and put my stamp on the game that the players should decide for themselves. Although the game was out of control at this point in this instance I think he made the correct call.

      • josh for da U says:

        or u make the handball call because it was an actual handball and not really a “judgement” call. A ref doesnt want to decide a game just make the correct calls

  3. …also that All Star logo is ugly, damn ugly.

  4. It’s a common refrain leaving the stadium these last few years. Sometimes the level of play is frustrating, but the impact of poor reffing is too often painfully disturbing.

  5. Steve l. says:

    I’ll star this by saying I agree with you sieve! On the point that the Union could have won this game and we need to stop hearing the excuses. It was like Andy R. Saying every week in the press “we need to do better” . But on the other hand if the fans see it every week and have so for a while now (poor reffing that is) and it hasn’t got any better, then it’s time for coaches and players to start speaking up and hopefully something happens. On the other hand when Sir Alex complains about refs United always get a good outing the next game, he takes the fine and walks away smiling, but I don’t know if Hack is that foxy.

    • Steve l. says:

      And part of this I put on our players as well, they need to learn to pick the right moments to be chippy and when it’s better to walk away and let the other guy get the card, look no further than David Luis this weekend, I hate that prick but that smile told you everything, he knew he got away with getting some one else to give themselves a card.

  6. The Black Hand says:

    Has Hackworth ever yet taken responsibility for the play of his club?

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