Daily news roundups

Locals learn NCAA tournament opponents, Orlando SC announcement today, USA friendly, more

Photo: Ryan Samson, courtesy of Drexel Athletics

Local

The draw for the NCAA tournament, the final rounds of which will be played at PPL Park, took place on Monday. Here are the first round fixtures for area teams:

At KYW Newsradio, Matt Leon talks to Penn head coach Rudy Fuller and Drexel head coach Doug Hess.

Penn goalkeeper Max Polkinhorne was named Ivy League Player of the Week and Philadelphia Soccer Six Co-Defensive Player of the Week, while Nicky Yin was named Soccer Six Co-Offensive Player of the Week. Drexel’s Joaquin del Rosario shared the Philadelphia Soccer Six Offensive Player of the Week honors, as did teammate Tal Bublil for Defensive Player of the week, with Drexel’s Tyler Afflerbach earning Rookie of the Week honors.

Defenders Kaitlin Higgins (PDA; Andreas, Pa.) and Sydney Zandi (Penn Fusion; West Chester, Pa.), and midfielders Kailee Coonan (Penn Fusion; West Chester, Pa.) and Alexa Ferreira (PDA; Warren, N.J.), have been called up for the U-14 GNT training camp at US Soccer’s National Training Center in Carson, Calif., Nov. 23-30.

MLS

The league and Orlando City SC are expected to announce the team as the league’s 21st franchise today. On Monday, the team announced that Orlando Health will continue as its primary sponsor. A report from Bright House Sports Network notes “the agreement also means Orlando Health is on the verge of becoming the first jersey partner in MLS history to commit to an expansion club before admittance into Major League Soccer.”

A new team in the league is big news but, if my MLS news alert is any indication, it seems the possibility of a new team that involves two world-famous names is bigger news. On Monday, Miami Heat star LeBron James confirmed he is in talks with David Beckham about joining him in bringing an MLS team to Miami. James said, “There’s some interest on both sides. David has become a good friend of mine over the last few years. I think it’d be great for this city to have a football club for sure. So there’s interest on both sides. But it’s preliminary talks but there is an open dialogue.” James is already a minority owner of Liverpool. More on the story from The Miami Herald, MLSsoccer.com, CNN, AFP, The Guardian, Sky Sports, and hundreds of other news outlets.

US

The US faces Austria today in a friendly, their last game of 2013 (2:45pm: NBC Sports Network and UniMas). Check out PSP’s preview of the game as well as previews from US Soccer, MLSsoccer.com, ProSoccerTalk, SI, and Goal.com.

ProSoccerTalk has four thoughts before the game and also asks if Sacha Kljestan deserve a shot a playing a more natural position.

While Soccer America says the days of the Austrian Wunderteam are long gone, MLSsoccer.com says Austria is a stronger team than some might think.

Philadelphia Union

The Brotherly Game reviews Fabinho’s 2013 season.

Women’s Soccer

Former Philadelphia Independence coach Paul Riley has been told by the FA that he is out of the running for the job as head coach of the England women’s national team because he does not have a UEFA ‘A’ coaching license. The Liverpool-born Riley tells the Daily Telegraph, “It’s very disappointing and a bit strange because they must have known prior to my interview, which Trevor Brooking [FA director of football] told me went very well, that I didn’t have the license – just like 99.9 per cent of coaches in America.”

The Seattle Reign have acquired Sydney Leroux from the Boston Breakers. As part of the deal, Hanover, Mass. native Kristie Mewis, acquired last week by Seattle in a trade that sent former Independence forward Amy Rodriguez to FC Kansas City, returns to the city where she played her college ball.

Elsewhere

For listings of how to watch today’s World Cup qualifiers and friendlies, check out this week’s Footy on the Telly.

That damning Amnesty International report on widespread abuse of workers in Qatar? Already taken care of, says FIFA. “The state of Qatar is aware of various issues and has already started to react. FIFA has been informed by the Qatari authorities that the labor laws and labor system will be amended — a process which has already started…It is FIFA’s aim that the host countries of our flagship event ensure healthy, safe and dignified working conditions for all — nationals and foreigners, including construction workers — involved in the preparation of the event.”

At The Guardian, David Conn on how tiny Qatar became a major force in the world’s game. “The bid for 2022, won in that feverish vote of FIFA’s exco in 2010, was the fruition of Qatar’s bold effort to make itself known: nation-building through football, with money and on a scale unprecedented.”

One Comment

  1. OneManWolfpack says:

    I am still fired up about stupid ass Qatar stealing the World Cup. Unreal.

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