Daily news roundups

“We’re fine”: Recap & reaction from Union loss, Jack not voted into ASG, OC moves into 1st as RU draws, more

Photo: Earl Gardner

Philadelphia Union

Exhausted, shorthanded—the Union were not at their best on Saturday, falling 1-0 to a very beatable Houston Dynamo.

John Hackworth isn’t too concerned by the loss. “We’re fine. We’ve been on a five game unbeaten streak. I think that’s a record for our club. And this is a tough league. You’re going to win some, and you’re going to lose some, especially when you try to play in these kind of conditions, third game in eight days, its just tough.”

As Danny Cruz said on Friday before being ruled out for Saturday’s game, “Looking at the schedule, we’ve had to play some really good teams in this last stretch. I think we’re handling it well, but it becomes very difficult when pretty much every midfielder you have is in pain or hurting.”

Conor Casey said after the loss, “It’s hard. We’re missing a couple of guys and it’s a very difficult place to play here with the heat and everything. With that said, we still have to find a way to do a better job and make it a little bit easier on ourselves.”

Hackworth said of Houston’s goal, “We didn’t defend collectively as a group and we leave a guy open inside the box, and you can’t do that at this level.”

Match reports and recaps from PSP, PhiladelphiaUnion.com, Philadelphia Inquirer, Delco Times, South Jersey Times, PhillySoccer News, Union Dues, Zolo Times, HoustonDynamo.com, Houston Chronicle, Dynamo Theory, Sports Mole, football411.com, Goal.com, The Sports Network, UPI, and The AP.

At Union Tally, Matthew De George has a number of well considered criticisms of Hackworth’s lineup selections for the Houston game, beginning with starting four forwards, continuing with the familiar “what does Roger Torres need to do to see real minutes,” and including the unimpressive play of Leo Fernandes compared to the spark that Don Anding provided.

If Saturday’s result wasn’t bad enough, the fan vote for the All-Star game was announced on Sunday and Jack McInerney did not make the cut. He could make the team through the “In the Game” challenge in which goals scored by eligible forwards by people playing FIFA 13 count as votes or he could make the team as the selection of Don Garber or All-Star team coach Peter Vermes.

Fans have an opportunity to vote Union this week: Conor Casey (1 goal, 1 assist) is up for the Top 3 Performers of the Week.

This from the Department of Hmmm, former Celtic and Bristol City right back Mark Wilson says he was offered a six month contract by the Union but he turned it down. The Scottish international told the Scottish Sun, “I’ve got a family to think about and it wasn’t right for me.”

In a midseason review posted before Saturday’s loss at the South Jersey Times, Eric Goldstein says the 2013 Union looks like a different team than the 2012 edition. “[I]t’s been a near 180 degree turnaround for the Union this season.”

Philly Business Journal reports the Union have extended their partnership with Tri-State Toyota Dealers Association “for multiple years.”

Local

After Sainey Touray equalized in the 73rd minute, Harrisburg City Islanders conceded a stoppage time winner to fall 2-1 to Wilmington Hammerheads on Saturday. Match reports from PennLive.com, wect.com, and beachcarolina.com. With Cristhian Hernandez and Jimmy McLaughlin recalled from loan to the Union for the Houston game, no Union players were on Harrisburg’s gameday roster.

In PDL play in the Mid Atlantic Division, Ocean City Nor’easters move into first place with a 4-0 thumping of New Jersey Rangers. Dwayne Reid scored a brace. Reading United falls back to third place after their 1-1 draw with Baltimore Bohemians on Sunday. More on the game from Reading Eagle.

Reading’s goal was scored from a penalty kick by Steve Neumann. Sunday’s game is likely his last for the PDL season as the Georgetown student works on two summer classes.

From The Patriot-Times, Michael Bullock checks in with Harrisburg defender Coady Andrews.

MLS

The four points dropped by the Union against Dallas and Real Salt Lake are all the more disappointing after first place Montreal (31 points) drew 1-1 at home with Chivas USA. Kansas City (30 points) moves into second place with a 2-1 road win over eighth place Chicago (21 points). Third place New York (28 points) had the weekend off. The 1-0 loss to Houston sees the Union (27 points) fall to fourth and the Dynamo (26 points) move to fifth. New England (24 points) is in sixth place after defeating San Jose 2-0. Seventh place Columbus (23 points) defeated Portland 1-0 to end the Timbers undefeated streak at 15 games. Ninth place Toronto (13 points) had the weekend off and last place DC (10 points) drew 0-0 on the road with Colorado.

The Globe and Mail reports that Toronto FC wil announce the signing of Diego Forlan as early as Monday or Tuesday.

Former Union goalkeeper Brad Knighton had a fine game between the posts to shutout Seattle for Vancouver’s MLS win over their Cascadia rival.

Montreal Impact announced on Friday the signing of midfielder midfielder Paolo DelPiccolo, who comes to the team after last playing for Eintracht Franfurt.

Big Apple Soccer reports that Juninho wanted out of New York because he was dissatisfied with the role he was asked to play on the field and because of friction with head coach Mike Petke. An unnamed source is quoted in the report, “I’m not sure [Juninho] really respected the league or his head coach. He was asked to play a certain role and he didn’t take to it.”

The Cascadia Cup Council has announced that it has reached an agreement in principle with MLS over the issue of who owns the Cascadia Cup trademark. “While final ratification of the agreement is pending legal approval, both parties have agreed to a general framework that includes important provisions regarding trademark and sponsorship.  The Cascadia Cup Council will own the name, logo and likeness of the trophy and no party may sell, trade, nor barter any sponsorship to the Cascadia Cup without the unanimous approval of all parties (i.e., CCC, Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps and MLS).”

Will NYCFC help MLS secure a big new deal with NBC? Forbes and New York Business Journal think so.

At Business of Soccer, Jonathan Howard looks at MLS’ business model.

The Island Now on the New York Cosmos as they prepare for their first season in the NASL since their days in the, uh, NASL.

Will Jacksonville join NASL for the 2015 season?

NWSL

Sky Blue FC (30 points) continue in first place after defeating last place Washington Spirit (7 points) 1-0 on the road. Fifth place Boston (19 points) quieted second place Portland (26 points) with a 2-0 home win. Third place Kansas City (24 points) drew 0-0 at home with fourth place Western New York (22 points).

US

That Gold Cup warmup game against Guatemala on Friday was a lot of fun.

Landon Donovan would certainly agree, he became the first MNT player to surpass the half century goalscoring mark, tallying his 50th and 51st goals as an international.

The LA Times says it’s like Donovan never left.

The New York Times on Donovan’s hopes to play his was onto his fourth US World Cup squad.

Match reports and recaps from the 6-0 win form PSP, US Soccer.com, ASN, SBI, New England Soccer Today, CONCACAF.com, and The AP.

Player ratings from Soccer America and SBI.

ASN checks in with Stuart Holden and Mix Diskerud after their fine second half performances.

On Saturday, Jurgen Klinsmann announced that Brek Shea would replace the injured Josh Gatt on the US Gold Cup roster.

At ESPN, Jason Davis previews the Gold Cup.

Reuters on the USMNT’s hopes to stop Mexico from winning their seventh Gold Cup. Mexico lost their opening game in the tournament, falling 2-1 to Panama. Canada was defeated 1-0 by a stoppage time goal from Martinique.

US Soccer has announced that tickets for the World Cup qualifier against Mexico on Sept. 10 at Columbus Crew Stadium will be made available to the public on July 19 via a random selection draw. “Due to the anticipated high demand for tickets to the match, U.S. Soccer will use a random selection draw during the public phase of the sale. The process will ensure the general public has an equal opportunity to purchase tickets at face value directly through Ticketmaster.”

It looks like Sunderland has agreed to a fee to sign Jozy Altidore from AZ Alkmaar. Sky Sports is reporting he arrived in Sunderland today for a physical.

Brad Guzan has signed a four-year deal with Aston Villa.

At the Inquirer, Mark Jensen talks to Bob Bradley about his time in Egypt coaching that country’s national team.

Elsewhere

CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb says North America must host the 2026 World Cup and that the confederation will only back a FIFA presidential candidate that supports such a bid.

In an amateur match in Brazil, a referee stabbed a player to death who reportedly struck him after taking exception to being shown a red card. Outraged fans charged the field and proceeded to stone and beat the referee. They then tied him up, cut off his arms and legs, and stuck his decapitated head on a stake in the the middle of the pitch.

 

12 Comments

  1. I’d be mad if Jack doesn’t get any minutes at the GC, since he wasn’t even in the 18 on Friday. If they aren’t even going to give him a run out they might as well release him back to us cause we need all the help we an get.

    • I dunno, during the broadcast of the Houston game Moreno was making a pretty strong case for Jack being at the camp even if he doesn’t start.

    • The Duke says:

      Where is Jack going to get better training: At Union practice against Brian Carroll, Keon, Gaddis or at USMNT camp? Easy decision. Who cares if he sees the field.

      • Smackey the Frog says:

        I care if he sees the field, dammit.

      • He’s not one of the best 18 players there, so I doubt he’ll see any time. Just being around players like LD, Wondo, Gomez and the national team scenario will help him a ton. He’s last on the forward depth chart, and not because he’s not good enough, but he just has no experience at that level. By 2018 he should be a fixture on the team though.

  2. I’m at a loss for Hackworth. He’s backed his way into a decent record, but truth be told, we haven’t beaten anyone. For his latest trick, he rolled out 4 forwards in a game where everyone was exhausted. I wonder why we had a sub 40% possession # or why we had no scoring options available on the bench when down 1 on the road. He’s obviously got a personal issue with Roger Torres. I’m biased towards Roger, but he’s the only player on this team with a feel for the run that has yet to be made. Everything Carroll, Daniel, Marfan, Letoux and Cruz try to create is in a straight line. At least Torres is willing to try new angles. The back four deserve a medal for staying strong, but this midfield is such a disaster.

  3. Incredible U20 Worldcup games during the weekend with lots of upsets. The semi’s are now: Ghana-France, Iraq-Uruguay!!! Iraq??!! Hope there are some Union scouts with a pen ready to sign some ‘unknown’ players, of which many look a lot better technique-wise than some of our Union players…

  4. Diego Forlan what? really? And Montreal picked up another player from Serie A, er, um, oh never mind…

  5. Great One says:

    The comments from the Union and especially Hackworth are maddening. I mean I get it, they’re not going to openly kill eachother or say we sucked, but they seem oblivious. I’d rather they just not be interviewed, because then at least I could remain ignorant in thinking they get what is happening.

  6. HACKWORTH – look at stats before blurting out “record for club” b.s.

    8 game unbeaten streak in 2011 – 3 wins, 5 draws
    September 7th to October 15th. we were then beat stupidly by NY red bulls to close out the season.

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