Photo: Courtesy of Philadelphia Union

Philadelphia Union

The big Union social media news on Tuesday was that a number of players — Zac MacMath, Ray Gaddis, Jack McInerney, Antoine Hoppenot, Maurice Edu, Amobi Okugo, Ethan White, and Jimmy McLaughlin — would be behind the counter at Jim’s Steaks on South Street and that fans who showed up in Union gear would get a free cheesesteak. The Union website has a Storify thread with tweets and pictures from the players and fans and it looks like a good time was had by all. When they’re behind the counter at DiNic’s or John’s Roast Pork, I’ll be first in line.

At the Union website, Pedro Ribeiro says he’s “up for the challenge” of putting in the hard work necessary to succeed in MLS. John Hackworth says of the rookie, “You have to have a physical presence and component. We like that. We also know that it’s a fine line because we want guys who are physical and aggressive but also very skilled in other ways. Big guys are nice, but we need all-around players and Pedro fits that mold. He’s very skilled and he can also go up and make a play. I like that.”

Ribeiro, along with Cristhian Hernandez and Richie Marquez, recently visited patients at Crozer-Chester Regional Cancer Center. Ribeiro said, “It was a great experience. It was good to come hang with these people and hopefully put a smile on their face. Everyone was extremely welcoming and it was a really unique experience. I was happy to be a part of it.”

ProSoccerTalk has the Union at No. 7 in its power rankings. In ProSoccerTalk’s Team of the Week, Maurice Edu and Amobi Okugo receive honorable mentions.

For the final round of the Generation adidas Cup, the Union Academy U-17s have been drawn into Group C along with Dallas, San Jose, and Chivas de Guadalajara. Group play begins April 14. You will recall that the Union, coached by Jim Curtin and captained by Zach Pfeffer, won the tournament in 2012, defeating Toronto on penalty kicks for the club’s first piece of silverware.

Local

Harrisburg City Islanders have re-signed striker Garret Pettis, who missed the 2013 season with an injury.

Brotherly Game talks to Bearfight FC founders Jeremy Sharpe and Justin Lee. Also at Brotherly Game, a report on last Saturday’s benefit dart tournament in support of the Camden Youth Soccer Club.

McDonald’s began it’s Player Escort Sweepstakes on Tuesday, “giving young soccer enthusiasts in the Greater Philadelphia Region the opportunity to meet their soccer heroes…and walk hand-in-hand with some of the world’s best soccer players as they take the field for a 2014 FIFA World Cup™ match.” The winner, aged 6-10, “along with their parent or guardian, will represent the Greater Philadelphia Region and embark on a four-night, five-day trip to Brazil, with the first stop in Rio de Janeiro. The 25 McDonald’s Player Escorts will lead players onto the field in one of four match cities Rio de Janeiro, Natal, Manaus or Recife.” To enter the sweepstakes, click here.

MLS

In the opening of quarterfinal play in the CONCACAF Champions League, Alan Gordon equalized in the 95th minute to give San Jose a 1-1 home draw with Mexican club Toluca.

Player moves:

• Kansas City have signed Spanish midfielder Antonio Rodriguez Dovale, who was last with Celta de Vigo.
• San Jose have re-signed Jamaican midfielder Khari Stephenson, who spent last season away with Real Salt Lake after joining the Earthquakes in 2010, and waived midfielder Walter Martinez.

At the Guardian, Elliot Turner looks at the health of MLS compared to other US pro sports and the Premier League.

SI reports that this weekend’s games will again be officiated by replacement referees after the Professional Referee Organization (management) canceled negotiations with the Professional Soccer Referees Association (workers) that had been scheduled for Tuesday following last week’s lockout. PSRA president Steve Taylor said in a statement, “It is unknown at this time when PRO will agree to resume talks as required by the NLRB (National Labor Relations Board).”

to download a PDF with the title, “MLS Scab Referee Details.” After a quote from Jack London that ends, “A scab is a traitor to his God, his country, his family and his class,” the executive summary explains the document “was compiled by PSRA in an attempt to educate the public about the experience level of the scab referees being employed by PRO to referee MLS matches during its lockout of our members.” The summary concludes, referees listed in the document are “hereby advised that performing such work will result [in] PSRA’s designation of that individual as scab who has engaged in activities that will undermine the interests of the soccer officiating professional.”

USA Today has launched a new weekly roundup of MLS results and happenings.

US

The USWNT saved some face after falling 5-3 to Denmark on Monday in the Algarve Cup with a 3-0 win over North Korea to finish seventh in the tournament. Abby Wambach scored two goals with Heather O’Reilly marking her 200th cap by tallying in the 88th minute. The loss to Denmark was the first time the US women had ever given up five goals and it’s first consecutive losses since 2001.

At Goal.com, Ives Galarcep takes stock of the USMNT after last week’s loss to Ukraine.

Stuart Holden will be out 6-9 months after surgery to repair ligament damage sustained when he re-injured his right knee last week in a Bolton U-21 game.

The chance Gedion Zelalem will ever play for the US could soon be nil after the young Arsenal midfielder was called up by Germany for UEFA Euro U-17 qualifying.

Elsewhere

You will recall that on Tuesday we linked to a letter from from two US senators calling on FIFA to expel Russia from the federation, ban the country from the 2014 World Cup, and take away the hosting rights to the 2018 tournament, because of “Russia’s military occupation of a sovereign Ukraine.” Members of the Russian parliament have responded by calling on FIFA to expel the US from the federation and ban the USMNT from the 2014 World Cup, citing “U.S.’s military aggression against several sovereign states” and “numerous cases of human rights violation all over the world revealed by E. Snowden.”

Last week, UEFA president Michel Platini dismissed calls for expelling Russia, telling CNN, “I don’t know why 11 players would not be allowed to play at the World Cup. Where is their responsibility? Why don’t you (shut down) the Embassy? Embassies are still in the country.” More from Reuters and The Wire.

The Press Association reports, “An American investment firm has acquired a quarter of all Manchester United shares available on the New York Stock Exchange, it has been confirmed. Baron Capital has been buying up stock and now owns 24% of all the United shares that were sold by the Glazer family in 2012, though that still only represents 2.5% of the club.”

In the latest installment of a Guardian series looking at rule changes that could improve soccer, Toby Moses makes the reasonable suggestion of taking the accounting of injury-time out of the  hands of the referee.

You know, just a walk in the park:

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