Daily news roundups

Reading’s US Open Cup run ends, US falls badly to Belgium, more news

Photo: Paul Rudderow

US Open Cup

After holding New York Red Bulls scoreless for an hour, two goals in six minutes spelled the end of Reading United’s Open Cup with a 2-0 third round loss at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday night.

Look for PSP’s match report and photo essay later today. In the meanwhile, here are match reports from Reading United, New York Red Bulls, New York Daily News, Big Apple Soccer, Philly Soccer News, and Empire of Soccer.

There were two more upsets in the Open Cup third round with Carolina RailHawks defeating LA Galaxy 2-0 and Tampa Bay topping Seattle 1-0. It was Carolina’s second win over LA in Open Cup play in a row.

Here are the fourth round matchups.

Philadelphia Union

John Hackworth praised Leo Fernandes after Tuesday’s US Open Cup game. “I thought he was good. Out of all the performances we gave tonight, I thought Leo was one of the real bright spots. He got this opportunity because he earned it. It wasn’t me trying to throw a bone to anybody saying, ‘Hey this is the Open Cup so I’m going to start a rookie.’ Leo was our best option especially coming off of Montreal with Kleberson and Michael Farfan (playing a lot). His performance tonight was excellent.”

 Kevin Kinkead talks to Union players about returning to Maryland SoccerPlex for the third year in a row to face DC United in Cup play. “It always seems to go through that field,” said Brian Carroll.

A report on Tuesday’s US Open Cup win from Delaware Online.

KYW’s Matt Leon talks to Kerith Gabriel about where the team stands going into Saturday’s game in Toronto.

Peter Andrews offers a thoughtful take on what’s wrong with the Union.

It appears that Danny Koevermans, who was expected to be available to face the Union after a ten month layoff following knee surgery, may not be available after all. “He twinged his other knee, so he’s in doubt,” said TFC manager Ryan Nelsen.

Toronto enter Saturday’s game on a five-game losing streak. The Globe and Mail and The New Zealand Herald have stories about how Nelsen is feeling the heat. Nelsen said, “We know we need to get better—in all areas. We’ll just continue to work hard and continually try to do it…The players, they know. They’re confident…We’re very close.”

T-shirts and ticket packages! The Union has a four-ticket/T-shirt package available for next Wednesday’s 80’s themed fan night against Columbus Crew.

Vote Jack McInerney for MLS Top 3 Performer of the Month!

Local

Following last Friday’s 2-0 loss to third place Richmond, fifth place Harrisburg City Islanders begin a two-game weekend on Friday with consecutive games against second place Charleston and eight place Charlotte. City Islanders coach Bill Becher said, “It’s an important weekend for us. Again, it’s teams on top of the group. Teams that we’re battling with. It’s early to be saying that, but you want to keep yourself towards the top because ultimately you not only want to get in the playoffs but you want to play at home.

The Penn Gazzette talks with Ocean City Nor’easter Duke Lacroix about what it was like to play at PPL Park.

The Delco Times checks in with Ocean City’s Zoncher Dennis, whose college recently announced they were shutting down their soccer program.

Mechanicsburg native Bobby Warshaw, who currently plays for FC Dallas, begins a blog series at PennLive.com.

Eight freshmen and three transfers will be joining the Temple Owls this season.

South Jersey Local News has an article on Marlton Recreation Council’s new TOPSoccer (Total Outreach Program) program. The result of a partnership between Marlton Soccer and US Youth Soccer, the program is for special needs children aged 5-18 and is also open to non-residents. The article notes, “While organizers originally expected about 10 participants, the program now has 72 children enrolled, with 100 ‘Buddies’ and 10 coaches.”

MLS

Chivas USA and head coach José Luis “Chellis” Sánchez Solá have agreed to part ways. In addition to poor results, the entertainingly worded press release from the club notes that Sánchez Solá did “not always followed the patterns of respect and conduct implemented by Major League Soccer, as well as by Chivas USA.”

Chellis said, “I’m paying for my excess of stupidity.”

Chellis will be replaced by José Luis Real Casillas, Sporting Development Director at Chivas Guadalajara.

In more Chivas USA news, two former youth coaches are suing the team for discrimination, “claiming the team harassed and fired them as it dumped all its non-Latino staff and players.” More on the story here and here.

Taylor Twellman says that this year’s All-Star Game opponent in Kansas City will be Roma.

NWSL

PRO has issued a statement on the controversial penelty kick decision that gave Portland a 1-0 win over Seattle last weekend that says, “play should have been allowed to continue.”

US

The US lost 4-2 to a clearly superior Belgium in Wednesday night’s friendly in Cleveland. Look for PSP’s report later this morning.

Match reports from MLSsoccer.com, Soccer America, ASN, SBI, The Guardian, Goal.com, and The AP. Postgame quote sheet here.

ESPN, SI, Soccer America, MLSsoccer.com, and Goal.com have player ratings.

My favorite headline from the game: “Stinker exposes all that’s worrying about the USA.”

With the next series of World Cup Qualifiers beginning in little more than a week, does it make sense for the US to risk defeat against high quality teams such as Belgium? Jurgen Klinsmann said, “We want to play teams like Belgium, like Germany, like Russia or Italy, because there’s so much you can read from those games, there’s so much you can see and obviously you want to win them. When you lose them it’s not such a big pleasure, but I’d rather play Belgium 10 more times than El Salvador for the 100th time, because that’s where you learn.”

At ESPN, Roger Bennett on what was learned. Grant Wahl does the same.

At ProSoccerTalk, Steve Davis and Richard Farley on the shortcomings of the US defense.

DaMarcus Beasley, who earned his 100th cap playing at left back, said of the path to that milestone, “It got a little hazy around 93, 94. Up until 86, 87, I was good. After that, it went sour. I take credit in that. It wasn’t a smooth road for me, getting 100 caps. I had some ups, I had some downs, but I’m still here trying to fight for a spot. That’s what I’m here to do, and I’m going to push the young guys to make them push me out of the lineup again.”

The US has little time to make whatever adjustments are needed before facing an even better German side in Sunday’s friendly in DC (2:30pm: ESPN2, WatchESPN, UniMas).

ASN previews Sunday’s match between the USWNT and Canada in Toronto (4:30pm: ESPNews).

USMNT to play in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Aug. 14? So say reports out of the Balkans.

Elsewhere

Domenico Scala, the head of FIFA’s Audit and Compliance Committee, says of former CONCACAF president and well known crook Jack Warner and CONCACF general secretary and garden gnome model Chuck Blazer, says, “There is sufficient suspicion that they have gone against the law and this will become an issue for the FBI and the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) in the case of taxation. So here the Ethics Committee and the world of FIFA stops—and people who have gone against the law will have to deal with the law.”

FIFA president Sepp “Let The Women Play In More Feminine Clothes” Blatter described executive committee candidate Moya Dodd as “a good candidate and a good-looking candidate.”

8 Comments

  1. I agree with Klinsmanns comments 100%. It’s time to put the big boy pants on. We WANT to get to where Belgium is one day, and to become the best you need to play the best and measure yourself realistically.
    Players considered our NT future like Gonzalez NEED to play games like this and make errors. How else will they know what it is to succeed on the international level?
    So yeah, I’d rather schedule games like these than play CONCACAF minnow #43 for a morale boost.

    • Couldn’t agree more. I’d like it even more if we went over there and played. Our facilities here are immaculate, certain places don’t sell games out, and even if they do it can often be split at best (i.e. against Mexico). I’d rather see them play and compete in a hostile environment where it’s packed and loud and 100% against them to see how they fare. They won in Italy, and have won and tied in Mexico within the past year.

  2. Sooooooo… Who wants Chelis to coach for the Union?
    *Raises Hand*

    • Honestly, I’d support this. I don’t expect it in any realm of reality, but perhaps his is the injection of personality and RISK that this club needs.

      Plus we’d only need what? Like, three defenders? 😛

    • Jeremy Lane says:

      No thank you. I don’t want to trade a tactically-naive but competent in other ways and also a nice person for somebody who maybe has better tactical knowledge but is a complete train wreck otherwise.

    • Why? He’s Nowak with a different accent.

      • -nickt.- says:

        chelis is far more entertaining than nowak and i’d take him over hackworth if i were putting together a team.

Leave a Reply to James Cancel

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*