Daily news roundups

Reports & reaction as Zac & Mac get it done in Chicago, HCI & Reading win, more

Philadelphia Union

John Hackworth said after the Philadelphia Union’s 1-0 road win in Chicago, “I wouldn’t say we played our best soccer, but we found a way to get a result here and that’s huge.”

Hackworth said of Zac MacMath, “I think Zac was our man of the match for sure. A couple huge saves to keep us in the game, otherwise we really would have been in a bad spot.”

MacMath said, “Every game you go into the game knowing you’ll have to make a couple of saves to keep the team in it, especially on the road. You want to keep the shutout, and hope our team finds an opportunity to get a goal. Jack [McInerney] did that today. It helped us get three points.”

Jack McInerney, who scored the game winner off of a beautiful ball from Sebastien Le Toux and leads the league in goals, said, “That’s usually how it is on the road in this league,” McInerney said. “You’ve just got to battle, and if you can hold a zero in the back, anything can happen. Credit Zac [MacMath] and our back four. They did a great job today. I feel like we haven’t really clicked offensively from the midfield to the strikers. But, if I get one, all I need is one or two chances a game and that will happen.”

Asked if he’s surprised by McInerney’s production, Hackworth said,

No. I don’t want to sound cocky, but no I’m not. He’s an excellent goal scorer. He’s developing, and we saw last year that he was capable of this kind of season…

He’s playing at a very high level right now and the thing that I’m most pleased with is that he continues to try to play the game the same way. He hasn’t let anything affect him and he’s had a lot of attention in the last month. Good for him that he’s keeping his feet on the ground and continuing week in and week out to play well.

Was it different for MacMath playing behind a new back four for the first time this season? “It’s really not too different,” MacMath said. “Soumare is a big guy and he likes to win balls in the air, and he did a really good job saving some balls and getting in the way. I think his veteran experience helped us today, winning balls and communicating to the back line.”

Match reports, recaps and reaction from PSP, Philadelphia Union.com, The Inquirer, Philly Soccer News, Union Tally, Brotherly Game, Union Dues, MLSsoccer.com, ChicagoFire.com, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Hot Time in Old Town, On the Fire, Chicagoland Soccer News, SBI, Goal.com, Sports Mole, The Sports Network, UPI, and the AP.

ProSoccerTalk says of McInerney, “Even if the young Philadelphia Union striker is just 20 years old, and even at the risk of making too much of his sensational, ongoing season of goal-scoring bliss, at some point you simply cannot write this off as a fast start that is destined to fizzle.”

Many may have wondered why the Union didn’t use all of its subs on Saturday, a decision that was surely tactical rather than strategic in view of the short rest before Wednesday’s home game against LA. Nevertheless, Hackworth said, “We’ll have to mix it up because we have LA on Wednesday night. We have a lot of depth on our roster, so I am sure we are going to have to go into it deep.”

By the way, LA will come into town on a two-game losing streak after being defeated 3-1 on the road by Vancouver.

At the 700 Level, Steve Moore says the underperformimg Michael Farfan gets a pass from Union fans because of the goal he scored against Real Madrid at the Linc two years ago.

US Soccer.com talks to Union Academy director Tommy Wilson about the Union’s preparations for their 2013-14 US Soccer Development Academy debut. Wilson says, “John Hackworth is really supportive and has been here since the inception of the team’s youth development and programs. The team is heavily involved in this process and I have been really taken in by the high level and standards.”

In their series looking at the salary figures of MLS teams, ProSoccerTalk notes that the biggest chunk of the Union’s payroll goes to the midfield ($1,569,000 or 40.9 percent) with the defense the next biggest chunk ($1,354,570 or 35.3 percent). Of course, the salary outlay for Kleberson and Soumare skew the data.

More Union salary discussion from Union Dues.

Local

Sainey Touray had two goals and an assist in Harrisburg City Islanders 4-0 win over Antigua on Friday. Union loanee Leo Fernandes scored the final goal of the game on a free kick in the 88th minute. Former Union man Morgan Langley opened the scoring in the first minute and Union loanee Greg Jordan assisted the third goal. More on the game here, here, here, and here.

Reading United opened the 2013 season with an 8-0 thumping of Westchester Flames. Pinto Neto had three goals, Manolo Sanchez had two goals and an assist, and Ben Sweat had a goal and two assists. More on the game from The Reading Eagle. Look for our match report later this morning.

Larry Ndjock’s blistering strike from distance was Reading’s Goal of the Week.

Bucks County’s FC Patriots Red U13 boys soccer is on the verge of another EPYSA state cup championship.

USWNT great Michelle Akers will be conducting a clinic on May 18 ay Game Time Field House in Breinigsville, Pa.

MLS

First place New York drew 1-1 on the road with seventh place New England. Houston, Kansas City and Montreal are all level on 20 points after the weekend’s games. Houston remains in second place after being defeated 1-0 at home on Sunday night by now third place Kansas City, their first home loss since June 18, 2011, a span of 36 games in all competitions. Montreal is in fourth place after defeating Real Salt lake 3-2. The Union are on 15 points and move into fifth place with their 1-0 road win over eighth place Chicago. Columbus is in sixth place following their 2-0 loss at home to Colorado. Ninth place Toronto had the weekend off. Last place DC United’s woes continue with a 2-1 road defeat in Dallas.

At Soccer America, Paul Gardner is entertained by goings-on up in Toronto.

At MLSsoccer.com, Nick Firchau looks at how Jose Villareal explains the future of youth development in MLS and also looks at growing concerns about US talent choosing to play in Mexico rather than for MLS. He also examines if development academy demographics favor big-market clubs in MLS.

Another vote against an MLS stadium in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, this time from the advocacy group New Yorkers for Parks in the New York Daily News.

NWSL

Portland remain in first place with a 2-0 win over seventh place Chicago. Third place Boston Breakers drew 1-1 on the road with sixth place Washington Spirit. Former Philadelphia Independence midfielder Joana Lohman scored for Boston—assisted by former Independence forward Liane Sanderson—and former Independence midfielder Lori Lindsey scored for Washington. Fourth place Western New York defeated fifth place Kansas City 2-1. Last place Seattle Reign continue to be winless after a 2-0 loss to second place Sky Blue. Former Independence forward Daneesha Adams tallied for Sky Blue.

ProSoccerTalk has three questions for US international and FC Kansas City midfielder Lauren Cheyney.

US

The US won the 2013 CONCACAF beach soccer championship, defeating El Salvador 5-4 in Sunday’s final. The US had booked their ticket to the 2013 Beach Soccer World Cup, Sept. 18-28 at To’ata Stadium in Papeete, Tahiti, with a come-from-behind 4-2 win over Costa Rica in Saturday’s semifinal.

Clint Dempsey scored the opening goal and game-winning assist against Stoke to move ahead of Arsenal in the Champions League race.

On Saturday, Steve Cherundolo made his 299th appearance for Hannover, a new club record for Bundesliga appearances.

AZ Alkmaar director and former U.S. international Earnie Stewart says Jozy Altidore could be made available to the US for the upcoming friendlies against Belgium and Germany. “We are looking to work out something with the U.S., nothing official has been decided yet.”

The concern from AZ’s point of view is that Altidore needs time off to rest. “If he joins the U.S. on May 21, he won’t have any vacation time,” Stewart explained. “I’ve done it myself, I know it’s not good to not have any vacation between club games and international matches and what that can do to a player’s body.

The LA Times has a great read on how much Bob Bradley has done for Egyptian soccer since becoming head coach of the Egyptian national team.

Elsewhere

Barcelona are La Liga Champions while Paris Saint-Germain claim the Ligue 1 title for the first time in 19 seasons.

Little Wigan topped Manchester City 1-0 with a stoppage time header from Ben Watson to claim the FA Cup for the first time in club history.

Sir Alex Ferguson finished his career at Old Trafford with a win while David Moyes, who will replace Ferguson at Manchester United, finished his last game at Goodison Park as manager of Everton with a win.

Mario Balotelli was the focus of racist chants from Roma supporters in Sunday’s scoreless draw at AC Milan. The abuse resulted in the suspension of play. Sepp Blatter says he’s appalled by the racist abuse.

More on FIFA’s concerns about the pace of stadium construction in Brazil ahead of the 2014 World Cup, which is to be preceded by the Confederations Cup this summer.

 

4 Comments

  1. -nickt.- says:

    i’m curious about the breakdown for mls teams and where the union fit in about salary on the bench

  2. I feel like we haven’t really clicked offensively from the midfield to the strikers.
    Love Jack. Tells it like i is.

  3. OneManWolfpack says:

    If I don’t see Kleberson in the midfield Wednesday, I’m not sure I can really believe in Hackworth as a manager anymore. It’s getting embarrassing with Daniel… and I like Daniel… just not as your CAM

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