Daily news roundups

Upsets, OC protest, Kleberson’s time, NYCFC is No. 20, more news

Photo: Courtesy of Ocean City Nor’easters

US Open Cup

It was a night of stunning upsets in local second round US Open Cup play on Tuesday night.

First, Mario Pinto-Neto capitalized on an early defensive mistake with a volleyed goal in the ninth minute for Reading United, who then managed to hold on to their 1-0 lead for the win against USL PRO side and fellow Union affiliate Harrisburg City Islanders. It was the team’s first win over a professional club in US Open Cup history. More on the game from The Patriot-News, The Examiner, Philly Soccer News, and The Sentinel.

Reading now travel to Red Bull Arena to face the New York Red Bulls in the third round on Wednesday, May 29 at 7:30pm. Big Apple Soccer has some perspective on the game from the Red Bulls point of view.

The Ocean City Nor’easters waited until the 68th minute for their our match report. More on the game from Press of Atlantic City and Philly Soccer News plus this video report from NBC 40.

Ocean City now face the Philadelphia Union in the third round. While the game is to be played at PPL Park on Tuesday, May 28 at 7:30pm, filed a protest with US Soccer to have the game played at Carey Stadium, their home grounds. According to the protest, Ocean City won the third round draw but because US Soccer believed that the dimensions of their field were not correct—a belief that Ocean City says came from a clerical error.

According to Ocean City, “The commissioner of US Soccer could have easily reversed this decision but they have bowed to the pressure of MLS and given in to BIG soccer.”

We’ll have more on the protest as it becomes available.

Philadelphia Union

Kleberson’s teammates are happy that he is now starting. Sheanon Williams said, “I think he adds an attacking threat we’ve been needing. He looks forward, which is good for us. And with Jack [McInerney] and [Sébastien Le Toux] making the runs they like to make, he’s a person that can play the ball into the right spots and give them a chance to run on and get forward. He’s given us a lot and we’re happy to have him…He’s waited his time and sat behind a couple of guys. Now it’s his time and he’s done well.”

Fans have noted that Kleberson’s appearance seems to have allowed Brian Carroll to do what he does best. Carroll said, “I think he draws some attention, which gives me a little bit more room to get extra time to find somebody and switch play. Any time you can get a World Cup veteran contributing to your squad, it’s a great thing.”

Kleberson said, “I’ve been waiting for a few weeks but I wanted to enter matches when John [Hackworth] was ready for me to. I’m not a young player. I’m a veteran. And I’m always going to give my best for this team.”

Zac MacMath bounced back from allowing four goals against LA to recording his second shutout in a week against Chicago. Carroll said, “Any time you can get two shutouts in this league, it’s a good week. The midweek game is not on Zac. It’s on all of us.”

John Hackworth said of MacMath, “I think he showed some resilience, some character. I have full confidence in him. I don’t question those things at all. I just know what he’s capable of, what kind of person he is and the kind of athlete he is.”

Vote Zac MacMath for Save of the Week!

JP Dellacamera recounts some of the positives for the Union ending their grueling spell of three games in eight days with a win over Chicago.

In the latest Castrol Index Weekly Top 20, Zac MacMath comes in at No. 6 and Amobi Okugo at No. 18. In the Full Castrol Index, the top five Union players currently are Jack McInereny (No. 1), Conor Casey (No. 53), Amobi Okugo (No. 55), Sebastien Le Toux (No. 90), and Keon Daniel (No. 129).

McInerney was an honorable mention in MLSsoccer.com’s Team of the Week.

More power rankings! MLSsoccer.com has the Union steady at No. 11, which is also where ProSoccerTalk has them. At SI, the Union fall one spot to No. 10.

Local

Don Anding, on loan to Harrisburg City Islanders from the Union, has been named to the USL Pro Team of the Week.

Anding says of his loan to Harrisburg, “I feel like I’m getting better every day.I think every player would tell you they’d rather be in MLS. That’s natural. You have to wait your turn and learn and that’s what I’m doing. It’s been a great experience in Harrisburg and I’ve enjoyed all of it.”

Jimmy McLaughlin, also on loan to the City Islanders, agrees things are going well. “It’s been great and I’m listening and learning all the time. There’s nothing like game experience. I’m trying to get better and improve every day…I’m just out there working as hard as I can.”

Goalkeeper and Wildwood resident Megan Link has signed with Icelandic club Afturelding FC.

MLS

It was big news on Tuesday on the expansion front as it was announced that the 20th MLS franchise would be New York City FC, with Manchester City as majority owner and the New York Yankees as minority owner. The team is scheduled to join the league in 2015.

There are a gazillion articles out there on the announcement. Here are a few of them, in no particular order: The National, Forbes, Reuters, Fox Soccer, ESPN, Goal.com, ProSoccerTalk, The Independent, and The Guardian, plus The Guardian again.

Former City and US International Claudio Reyna has been named NYCFC director of football.

If I understand this announcement correctly, you can watch alive stream of a press conference featuring “a special NYCFC announcement and guests” from the new team today at 3pm.

Empire of Soccer says the announcement signals the end of the plan to build a new stadium in Queens.

Just where the team will play is unclear. Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano said, “We will have to play in a temporary location for two years, maybe three.” ProSoccerTalk looks at some possibilities.

Also unclear is how a 20th team will affect conference alignment and the league’s competition format.

The Red Bulls say they welcome the new team even if they can bring themselves to mention the team by name.

Don Garber is confident that the Red Bulls will benefit from a “second” New York team.

Any chance that David Beckham could be involved in the new team. Soriano said, “We’ve never spoken to David Beckham and he’s never been considered as part of the ownership of this team. Not even as an executive.”

The LA Times says the New York announcement will increase calls for Chivas USA to be moved to a new city.

So, what’s next for MLS expansion? Garber said, “Right now we’re just going to take a deep breath. There’s still a lot of activity going on in a lot of different markets. There’s activity in Miami, there’s activity in Orlando, Atlanta and a handful of other places,” continued Garber. “But right now we’re very focused on getting NYCFC up and launched and in the time to come we’ll figure out what comes next for us.”

Danny Califf isn’t seeing much playing time with Toronto. The former Union captain says, “It’s just kind of the way that it is. I put my head down and I work hard and, if my name is put up on the board, then great. If not, I’m still going to work hard.”

Jesjua Angoy Cruyff, grandson of the legendary Johan Cruyff, is on trial with DC United.

Soccer America looks at why MLS has partnered with the French Football Federation.

San Jose Earthquakes have launched a live webcam so fans can watch the construction of their new stadium, scheduled to open in 2014.

US

Tom Sermanni has named the 21-player USWNT roster for the match against Canada in Toronto on June 2 (4:30pm, ESPNews). It ought to be a good one!

Delran’s Carli Lloyd is on the roster.

Brad Evans has been added to the USMNT roster for the upcoming friendlies and World Cup qualifiers.

‘Twas a rough season for Americans in the Bundesliga.

Elsewhere

I think that’s enough for now.

14 Comments

  1. WilkersonMcLaser says:

    As much as I like poking fun at RBNY, I think it’s unfair to doubt their ‘New York’ qualifier. By that standard, we’re the Chester Union, there’s the Carson Galaxy, Virginia United, etc. Also, now that Man City and the Yankees have given birth to quite possibly the most perfectly evil team in the world, RBNY has suddenly become plucky and blue collar. I predict Brooklyn will counterintuitively embrace the Red Bulls. It’s ironic.

    • +1. And though I live in Philly and am a die-hard Union fan, I’m a Brooklyn native, and I will vouch for everything you just said.

  2. Are any of the Union’s Harrisburg loanees eligible for the US Open cup match? According to thecup.us, McLaughlin and Hernandez played for H’Burg last night, but Anding and Jordan didn’t. Are the first two cup-tied?

  3. Would not be surprised to see both Anding / Jordan play for Union next week.

    It allows 1st team players to rest for MLS games. Union still control players on loan.

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