Photo: Paul Rudderow
Philadelphia Union
Was Wednesday’s big win in Kansas City an aberration or the start of a turn around? We’ll find out on Saturday when the Union host New England Revolution (7 pm; TCN, MLS Live, MLS Direct Kick). Currently second place in the Eastern Conference, New England is one of the hottest teams in the league right now with a five-game unbeaten streak (W-D-W-W-W) in which they’ve scored 12 goals while allowing only 2 with three shutouts. Five of the goals they’ve scored during their current run came when they blanked Seattle last Sunday.
Previews from PSP, Philadelphia Daily News, Brotherly Game, David Murphy’s Philadelphia Union Blog, New England Revolution, New England Soccer Today, ProSoccerTalk, and Goal.com. Video preview from New England Revolution.
MLSsoccer.com reports, “After four long weeks on the sideline, New England Revolution captain José Gonçalves is nearing a return to the gameday pitch, which could come as soon as this Saturday in Philadelphia against the Union.” SBI has more New England notes.
Andre Blake has been called up by Jamaica for friendlies against Serbia at Red Bull Arena on May 26 and Switzerland in Lucerne on May 30. He’ll miss the Union road games against LA on May 25 and Chivas USA on May 31.
More on the statement issued by Nick Sakiewicz in support of John Hackworth that also said the team is “scouring the marketplace” for “attacking talent,” and the need for fans to support the team “now more than ever,” from Dave Zeitlin at MLSsoccer.com.
At the Union website, Kerith Gabriel has three takeaways from Wednesday night’s win over Kansas City. More on the win from Delco Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, and The Philly Terrace.
Maurice Edu was cleared on Thursday to begin full training with the USMNT at the pre-World Cup camp in Stanford. He arrived at the camp on Wednesday after mild concussion symptoms saw him released by the Union from the game against Kansas City.
It seems the Support Hackworth campaign has gone beyond current players. In a post at MLSsoccer.com on about his time with Cruz Azul, former Union man Michael Farfan backs John Hackworth. “We have a great coach in John Hackworth, and hopefully they can turn it around and start getting results, because they are playing well. The only part missing is the finishing touch. You have to score goals if you want to win games.”
SBI’s power rankings come out late in the week so they take Wednesday’s win into account in keeping the Union at No. 17.
Local
Harrisburg City Islanders host Dayton Dutch Lions on Saturday at 2 pm (NSCAA TV, YouTube).
Reading United is on the road on Sunday to face NJ LUSO Parma at 6 pm at Morris Catholic High School in Denville, NJ. WFMZ TV 69 reports the team is confident heading into the new season.
Ocean City Nor’easters begin their 2014 season on the road on Sunday at 6 pm against Long Island Rough Riders at Cy Donnelly Stadium in Melville, NY.
Junior Lone Star face Clarkstown SC Eagles at Monsignor Bonner High School Stadium on Saturday at 5:30 pm.
Two Temple University midfielders have been called up for the US U-20 MNT camp, Miguel Polley and Robert Sagel. Sagel is also with Reading United this season.The camp is in Raleigh, North Carolina from May 17-25.
2013 NCAA Division III men’s soccer champions Messiah College have released their 2014 schedule.
MLS
Montreal head coach Frank Klopas says of former Union man Justin Mapp, “It’s still incredible to me that this guy hasn’t even gotten a look with the [US] national team. He’s one of the best wingers, for me, in this league. He’s a dynamic player. He’s a difference-maker, which you don’t find a lot.” Klopas may be right but Mapp hasn’t been called up to the USMNT since 2007.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the home of the recently announced Atlanta MLS franchise and the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons is scheduled for Monday.
Some legitimately funny stuff in the latest Benny Feilhaber Show from Feilhaber, Sal Zizzo, Matt Besler, and Graham Zusi. It’s easier to laugh at after defeating Kansas City on Wednesday.
US
At ASN, John Godfrey has a “what he said, what we heard” piece on Jurgen Klinsmann’s comments at the opening of the pre-World Cup camp.
The San Jose Mercury News says all eyes are on Jozy Altidore at the pre-World Cup camp. More on Altidore from SI’s Grant Wahl.
At SI, Brian Staus on just what position Fabian Johnson might play for the US at the World Cup.
At Soccer America, Mike Woitalla has an entertaining read on Terrence Boyd.
Training camp notes from ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle.
Oguchi Oneywu says he was “gutted” to not be called into the pre-World Cup camp. Fair enough, just as long as he wasn’t surprised.
A press conference is scheduled for today at 2 pm in which it is expected that Sunil Gulati will announce the new USWNT head coach. USA Today reports that interim head coach Jill Ellis is expected to get the job. Tony Gustavsson, an assistant under Pia Sundhage, is also in the conversation. More from Soccer America.
USWNT captain Christie Rampone says, “In a perfect world we’d have both of them, but that’s up to U.S. Soccer.”
World Soccer Talk on how Fox Soccer Plus has become irrelevant to soccer fans in the US.
From the Department of Welcome to the 20th Century, South Dakota has decided to sanction soccer as a high school sport.
Elsewhere
Check out the latest Footy on the Telly for listings of the upcoming week’s live games on TV, online, and on satellite radio.
This just in from the Department of Duh, Sepp Blatter said in an interview with Swiss broadcaster RTS of the decision to name Qatar the host of the 2022 World Cup, “Of course, it was a mistake. You know, one makes a lot of mistakes in life…The technical report indicated clearly that it was too hot in summer, but despite that the executive committee decided with quite a big majority that the tournament would be in Qatar.”
Blatter said the hosting rights had not been “bought” by Qatar. “No, I have never said it was bought, but that it was due to political considerations. We know full well that big French and German companies work in Qatar but they don’t just work for the World Cup. The World Cup is only a small part of what is going on in Qatar.”
A statement from FIFA soon after attempted to clarify Blatter’s comments: “As explained in his answer to the journalist, the president reiterated that the decision to organize the World Cup in summer was an ‘error’ based on the technical assessment report of the bid, which had highlighted the extremely hot temperatures in summer in Qatar. At no stage did he question Qatar as hosts of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.”
The AP reports, “Brazilian prosecutors are threatening to halt construction at the already delayed stadium hosting the World Cup opener in Sao Paulo because of concerns related to workers’ health and safety.”
Also from the AP, “Protesters began a wave of demonstrations around Brazil on Thursday, burning tires and blocking highways to draw attention to housing and education needs before next month’s World Cup.
The protests come as a police strike in host city Recife has resulted in the government sending in troops to restore order.
Reuters reports, “Many Brazilians think the upcoming soccer World Cup is a waste of money, but Apex, the nation’s export agency, says it can use the tournament to get more than $3 billion in new contracts for local businesses.”
Soccer America, linking to a report from Globo, notes that one of the financial winners from the World Cup in Brazil has been weapons suppliers.
The Press Association reports, “The death of Jean-Luc Dehaene, the former Belgian prime minister who has headed UEFA’s financial fair play investigations, may cause a delay to the case surrounding Manchester City’s breach of the FFP rules.”
“Of course, it was a mistake. You know, one makes a lot of mistakes in life…The technical report indicated clearly that it was too hot in summer, but despite that the executive committee decided with quite a big majority that the tournament would be in Qatar.”
.
So ridiculous. “Is anyone going to be held accountable for that mistake? Of course not! This is FIFA. We will just continue making horrible decisions and also lots of money.”
I wish my mistakes were as profitable as Sepps
+1
The Benny Feilhaber Show is a must-watch, if only for the openings. Brilliant. Hilarious.
That video actually made my feel sympathy for Feilhaber missing out on the WC. Weird. I think maybe I like him now.
Watch him spend 3 minutes whining for every 1 minute playing in his next match and you’ll change your mind.
He’s really a good player but I have to agree. I have similar feelings towards him that I had for Ty Domi.
Reading united is on the road Sunday. Home opener is the 24th.
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