Daily news roundups

River Cup raises big bucks, power rankings, locals at USWNT U-17/18 camp

Photo: Earl Gardner

Philadelphia Union

In a post at Goal.com on Sunday’s River Cup, Nick Sakiewicz said nearly $40,000 was raised through the event for Philadelphia Union Foundation, almost double what was raised last year. Look for our photo essay of the game and a report on what it was like to play for the Sons of Ben later this morning.

Power rankings! At ESPN, the Union climb two spots to No. 12. At Soccer America, the Union move up one spot to No. 11, which is also where ProSoccerTalk ranks them. SI keeps them at No. 10.

Vote Kleberson for Goal of the Week (damn you, Camilo!).

With the firing of Flyers coach Peter Laviolette, John Hackworth is now the longest tenured coach in Philly pro sports.

Hackworth on why Antoine Hoppenot, who had previously never played more than 30 minutes coming off of the bench, was subbed in for Jack McInerney in the 57th minute against Toronto: “Jack McInerney had a job to do, which was to get through the first half and do everything he could to get that goal – and he almost got it. We know that bringing Antoine in with 30 minutes to go was to really open up the game. We thought that was going to be a true opportunity and Antoine got three really great looks. It was unfortunate that we didn’t get one of those in.”

Hoppenot said, “Coach told me before the game that he thought this was a great matchup for me. He told me I was probably going to get a lot of minutes if the game was tied or if we were down, so that I could try to get the team back into the game or get a win. Coming in, I knew I needed to create chances. I did that part, I think, pretty well. Finishing the chances was a problem tonight. It’s a great win though.”

In a roundup of stats explaining how the Union have gotten within shot of reaching the playoffs, the Brotherly Game notes, “If they make the playoffs, the Union will have a puncher’s chance against any team. While they have dropped some points along the way, they have earned results (in some cases on the road) against 7 of the top 8 teams in the Supporters’ Shield race. Strange things happen in the postseason.”

Also at the Brotherly Game, a roundup of how former Union players fared in last week’s games.

Glancing across the Philly pro sports landscape, Buzz on Broad says, “[T]he Philadelphia Union is the only team in this city that is majorly progressing. Upon joining the MLS as an expansion team in 2010, the Union and their fans have only grown bigger and stronger.”

Using a photo of John Hackworth being sent off as the featured image, US Soccer Players has an article calling for changes in how soccer games are officiated. “Soccer is a faster game than it’s ever been, and we’re expecting too much from the officiating…The referee in soccer has the toughest job in professional sports…Getting it right in the modern era really is extraordinary. Yet, very few take it that way…Where world soccer responds is with the idea of line judges and the recently adopted goal-line technology, but this still puts the bulk of the workload on one official keeping up with elite athletes from all over the world.”

Local

La Salle travels to Queens tonight to face St. Johns, who are ranked 14th in the country. The game will be live streamed on ESPN3 starting at 7 pm.

Penn’s Jonny Dolezal was named Philly Soccer 6 Co-Player of the Week along with Villanova’s Dylan Renna. Penn’s Sam Hayward received Rookie of the Week honors.

Temple goalkeeper Dan Scheck was named the Philly Soccer 6 Defender of the Week. He was also named the American Athletic Conference Goalie of the Week. Temple’s Robert Sagel was named the ACC’s Rookie of the Week.

Penn’s Kerry Scalora was named the Ivy League’s women’s Player of the Week.

The MLS website notes that New Hope’s Steve Neumann was tearing it up for Georgetown in their 8-0 destruction of Seton Hall. The former Reading United captain scored a hat trick and an assist.

Speaking of Reading United, the club website has an alumni report of players in the pros.

Several area players will be participating in the dual USWNT U-17 and U-18 camp in Lakeland Ranch, Fla. on Oct. 13-19. With the U-17s are Taylor Racioppi (M; PDA Clash; Ocean Township, N.J.) and Frankie Tagliaferri (F; PDA; Colts Neck, N.J.). With the U-18s are Jessica Vigna (M; PDA Slammers; Farmingdale, N.J.) and Haleigh Echard (F; Penn Fusion; Lebanon, Pa.). The two teams will meet in a scrimmage on Oct. 18.

The USWNT U-17s now know who their group stage opponents are in the CONCACAF U-17 Women’s Championship tournament, which is being staged in Jamaica, Oct. 30-Nov. 9. In Group B along with the US are Trinidad & Tobago, Guatemala and Canada.

MLS

The league website lays out various scenarios that need to happen with the upcoming slate of games for teams to clinch a playoff spot or be eliminated from contention. As many as six teams could clinch a spot, and two be eliminated.

Given that Houston is one of the teams that can clinch this weekend with the right results, they are understandably upset at the fact that because the league does not go on break during international weekends, the team will be without two starters. Tally Hall said, “No one on the team is saying, ‘Man, I wish he didn’t go [to the national team]. But they are saying, ‘I wish the league and national team can have a schedule that coincides a little better, especially this late in the season.”

At SI, Brian Straus talks to San Jose Earthquakes defender Steven Beitashour, who was called up twice by Jurgen Klinsmann but remains uncapped, about his decision to play for Iran.

The Orlando City Council voted unanimously on Monday to approve $20 million in funding for a new downtown soccer stadium. The Orlando County Commissioners vote on Oct. 22. More on the story from the Orlando Sentinel, baynews9.com, and wmfe.org.

US

At ESPN, Alex Labidou talks to Mix Diskerud, who says, “I have one focus, and one focus only: World Cup in Brazil.”

It was announced on Monday that the USWNT will face Brazil at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Nov. 10 (3:30 pm, NBC).

Soccer America concludes its Q&A with USMNT U-20 coach Tab Ramos.

Elsewhere

FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke is in Brazil on a stadium inspection tour. The AP reports that, after visiting Porto Alegre, “He will then go to Cuiaba, where local organizers have yet to finish a bidding process for the seats at the new stadium. There were also problems in Curitiba, where construction was halted because of workers’ safety concerns.”

The AP reports, “FIFA plans to create an international league table of countries which have problems with racism and discrimination in sports.” More on the story here.

12 Comments

  1. Yea for a minute I thought Kleberson was a lock for goal of the week, until… until…
    sigh.

  2. here is an article in the toronto sun calling cruz the dirtiest player in the league http://www.torontosun.com/2013/10/06/unions-cruz-gets-in-peoples-heads

  3. I asked this late yesterday but didn’t see a response, so I’ll ask again today.

    Does anyone know if ESPN is actually showing the US-Jamaica game Friday over the air? I know the game is on ESPN3, but when I checked the TV listings for ESPN, they are showing Sportscenter at 6 and their college football preview show at 7:30

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