Daily news roundups

MacMath named USOC Player of the Round, Union & league news, Donovan’s final US match, more

Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

Philadelphia Union

Zac MacMath has been named Player of the Round for his performance in the US Open Cup semifinal win over FC Dallas. Well deserved.

Sebastien Le Toux was named to SBI’s Best XI for Week 25, with Andrew Wenger receiving an honorable mention.

In the power rankings at MLSsoccer.com, the Union leap four spots to No. 7. “The Power Rankings Politburo remain high on Philly.” High on something, anyway. I’m as stoked as anyone about how the Union are playing but, in the Supporters Shield race, the Union are at 14th with 30 points. In seventh place? Toronto, the Union’s opponent in the next two league games, with 33 points and two games in hand. Talk about a crucial series.

Looking ahead to next week’s two-game series against Toronto, it looks like captain and center back Steve Caldwell, and left back Justin Morrow, will be unavailable with injuries that will see both players out for weeks (click here for video of Toronto FC head coach Ryan Nelsen discussion the team’s injury status).

Brotherly Game has game changing moments from Sunday’s win over San Jose. Also at Brotherly game, a look at Vincent Nogueira’s inefficiency as a shooter, and a consideration of who should play left wing for the Union.

Carlos Valdes shares with Philly.com how much the team and fans wanted his return meant to him. “It means a lot. I want to stay for a long time with the Philadelphia Union, because I’m very thankful to the owners of the team. We’ll see what happens, but it’s really good for me, really good for my family, to feel that kind of feeling from people.”

The latest edition of the Daily Doop includes an Instagram of the construction of the new practice fields next to PPL Park. The clip begins with a shot of a rendering of what the completed fields will look like. If you’re wondering, they will look very cool.

Local

If you’re interested in purchasing tickets for the Harrisburg City Islanders-Union friendly that will take place on Thursday night at 7 pm at Skyline Sports Complex, advanced ticket pricing, which saves you $5 per ticket, expires today. Click here for more ticket information.

Former Union trialist Clesio Bauque has been named to the USL PRO Team of the Week after his brace against Rochester on Saturday earned the ten-men City Islanders a valuable road point. Yann Ekra, who assisted both goals, and backup keeper Dan Flynn, who came on after starting keeper Nick Noble was ejected, earned honorable mentions.

The Penn State men’s team comes in at No. 15 in Soccer America’s preseason Top 25.

MLS

In CONCACAF Champions League play, New York Red Bulls defeated visiting CD FAS of El Salvador, 2-0.

LA Galaxy hosts DC United tonight (10:30 pm: MLS Live, MLS Direct Kick, SiriusXM FC).

Official: Columbus Crew have sold Costa Rican international center back Giancarlo Gonzalez to Palermo.

Montreal have signed Nigerian center back Gege Soriola.

Jermaine Jones was officially unveiled by New England on Tuesday and the midfielder did his best to dispel the notion that he really wanted to play for Chicago. Interestingly, he also said that Jurgen Klinsmann “pushed me to make that step to come back and play here for an MLS team.”

Soccer America on what the Jones signing might mean for New England’s prospects.

NYCFC’s Frank Lampard has announced his retirement from international football. He had 106 caps with England.

Former Union man Danny Mwanga is trialing to go on loan from Colorado to New York Cosmos? I blame Nowak.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that the city of Las Vegas would be responsible “for more than $150 million — or more than 75 percent — toward the cost of a $200 million, 24,000-seat soccer stadium” to be built for the use of a MLS team. The report contradicts “a press release distributed Tuesday by the city and its two private soccer stadium partners, which stated, ’59 percent of these (stadium) costs would be privately financed.'”

A request for a resolution affirming the San Antonio city council’s support for landing a MLS franchise has been submitted.

US

Landon Donovan will make his final appearance for the US when the men’s national team hosts Ecuador in a friendly on Oct. 10 in East Hartford, Conn. (7 pm: ESPN, WatchESPN, UniMas and ESPN Deportes Radio). It will be his 157th cap. Quote sheet here. More from MLSsoccer.com, Soccer America, ESPN, SIGoal.com, and New York Times.

Goal.com has auncapped USMNT Best XI. Yes, Jack McInerney is on the list.

Elsewhere

From League Cup play in England on Tuesday: MK Dons 4-0 Manchester United. Oh my. Seems United is doing everything possible to keep Tuesdays and Wednesdays open for non soccer-related activity.

Check out the latest Footy on the Telly for listings of today’s games live on TV, online, and on satellite radio.

3 Comments

  1. I was hoping the new practice field would be covered. If it’s open, I’ll probably get fired for spending too much time looking out my office window at the team practicing!

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