Daily news roundups

US begins WWC play tonight, recaps and reaction to Union’s loss, more league, NT, and FIFA news

Photo: Daniel Studio

Women’s World Cup

The US begins group play tonight at the Women’s World Cup against Australia (7:30 pm:Fox Sports 1, NBC Universo, Fox Soccer 2Go, NBC Universo Now, NBC Deportes En Vivo Extra, SiriusXM FC).  Previews at US Soccer, MLSsoccer.com, Soccer America, Goal.com, ProSoccerTalk,

Philly.com has extensive coverage of both the US team and the tournament, including a piece on local lass Carli Lloyd.

Former Philadelphia Independence head coach Paul Riley previews the Women’s World Cup.

Hope Solo. If — if — I ever cared, I don’t care anymore.

Michelle Akers talks to Newsday about the first US World Cup championship in China in 1991.

The New York Times on why women’s professional soccer continues to struggle.

Philadelphia Union

How many time have the Union, playing inferior opposition, failed to do what they should and so squander an opportunity to solidify a climb in the standings and demonstrate that they are in fact a team to be reckoned with in the league?

Whatever that number is, they increased it by one on Saturday.

Describing the “empty feeling” in the locker room after the loss, Curtin said, “We were never able to take a real stranglehold of the game.”

Looking ahead, Curtin said,

The points per game column is the only thing that tells the true story at this stage of the year and we’re not doing well enough in that column. There’s teams with games in hand that we’re ahead of in the standings and the loss column is way too high right now. We have way too many losses, especially in our building where our fans were great tonight with a packed house. Seems like when we finally get some momentum going forward that we can’t keep it going, so that part was difficult. But the East is the East and a lots going to change from now through the next 18-20 games for some teams. So it’s going to be a fight to the end and we have dug a hole again that we’ll have to fight our way out of.

Maurice Edu underscored the positives from Saturday’s loss, adding, “I think we’ve seen a lot of growth over the last few games. I think it’s important to keep moving forward and continue to build on what we’ve established and what we’ve built so far.”

All of which is true. And should the Union fall short in making the playoffs this season, Saturday’s loss will stand out as one of those critical moments where the team failed to get the job done.

Recaps at PSP, Philadelphia Union, MLSsoccer.com (recap, report), Philadelphia Inquirer, Delco Times (recap, analysis), CSN Philly (recap, report), Philly Soccer News (recap, report), Brotherly Game (recap, analysis), Vavel (recap, analysis), Philly Sports NetworkPhanatic Magazine, NYCFC, Empire of SoccerBig Apple Soccer, Hudson River Blue, Skyscraper Blues, the GuardianSBIGoal.com, Prost AmerikaWomen United FC, MLS MultiplexSports Mole, The Sports Network, and the AP. At USA Today, a photo gallery.

If you haven’t seen them yet, checkout our postgame videos from Saturday’s loss.

Power rankings: At MLSGB, the Union remain at No. 18.

At Union Tally, Matthew De George looks at the Union’s injury numbers.

Brotherly Game says the Union’s owners should be doing more to develop the area around PPL Park.

Addam Schwartz: DDinosaur, ddumb, or both?

Union Academy

The Union Academy U-14s drew 1-1 with Match Fit USA. Seth Kuhn opened the scoring in the sixth minute. The team next faces Baltimore Bays on the road on June 13 before facing San Jose Earthquakes on June 19 and SC United Battery on June 20, and Tampa Bay United on June 22.

The U-16s, second in the East Conference (65 points, 21-3-2) concluded regular season play with a 1-1 draw with DC United. Alexander Soto scored the 15th minute equalizer from the penalty spot.

The U-18s, fourth in the East Conference (42 points, 12-8-6), lost their final regular season game 3-2 to second place DC United (56 points, 18-6-2). DC was up 2-0 before Sebastian Elney scored just before the end of the first half. Michael Swift scored before the final whistle after the Union had already conceded another goal. The Union U-18s enter postseason play as a wildcard.

Sons of Ben Movie

The Inquirer and Delco Times have good reads on Sons of Ben: TheMovie, which has its Philadelphia premiere on Wednesday. Click here to purchase tickets.

Local

Despite peppering their visitors with 17 shots, ten on target, Harrisburg City Islanders drew 0-0 with Toronto FC II on Saturday. Recaps from Harrisburg City Islanders, Penn Live, and Toronto FC.

Reading United suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday, falling 2-1 at home to DC United U-23s. DC scored two first half goals before Keegan Rosenberry tallied from the penalty spot. Recap from Reading Eagle.

Ocean City Nor’easters defeated Baltimore Bohemians 3-1 on the road. Khesanio Hall, Ryan Myers, and Andre Morrison were the OC goalscorers.

Lehigh Valley United Sonic fell 4-3 at home to New York Red Bulls U-23s. As of this writing no box score is up on the PDL website and no match report is available on the LVU site. Looking the team’s Twitter feed, NYRB opened the scoring before Abdoul Sylla responded with an equalizing blast from distance. NYRB soon had the lead again and the half finished with the home team trailing 2-1. Sylla scored another equalizer in the second half before Miguel Ross gave LVU the 3-2 lead. However, NYRB responded with two quick goals to leave the 4-3 victors.

MLS

In Eastern Conference play, first place DC United (28 points, 8-4-4) lost 2-1 at home to third place Toronto (19 points, 6-5-1). Second place New England (21 points, 5-4-6) lost 2-0 on the road to Portland. Fourth place Orlando (17 points, 4-5-5) defeated ninth place Chicago (14 points, 4-7-2) 3-2 on the road. Fifth place NYRB (17 points, 4-4-5) lost 4-2 on the road to Houston. Sixth place Columbus (16 points, 4-6-4) lost 2-1 to eighth place Montreal (4-4-2). Seventh place Philadelphia lost 2-1 (15 points, 4-9-3) to tenth place NYCFC (11 points, 2-7-5)

In Western Conference play, first place Seattle (26 points, 8-4-2) lost 1-0 on the road to third place Kansas City (24 points, 6-2-6). Second place Vancouver (26 points, 8-6-2) defeated sixth place Los Angeles (21 points, 5-5-6) 1-0 on the road. Fourth place Portland defeated New England 2-0. Fifth place Dallas (22 points, 6-4-4) drew 0-0 with eighth place — and nine-man —  San Jose (19 points, 5-5-4). Seventh place Houston (20 points, 5-5-5) defeated NYRB 4-2. Ninth place Salt Lake (18 points, 4-5-6) drew 0-0 with tenth place Colorado (14 points, 2-4-8).

The Financial Times talks to Marcelo Claure, David Beckham’s partner in trying to start a Miami franchise.

NWSL

First place Chicago (15 points, 4-1-3) lost 3-1 on the road to sixth place Western New York (10 points, 3-3-1). Second place Washington (14 points, 4-3-2) drew 1-1 with fourth place Boston (11 points, 3-3-2). Third place Seattle ( 11 points, 3-2-2) defeated last place Sky Blue (7 points, 1-4-4) 3-0. Fifth place Houston (10 points, 2-2-4) drew 0-0 with eighth place Portland (9 points, 2-3-3). Seventh place Kansas City (10 points, 3-4-1) had the weekend off.

US

That 4-3 USMNT win over the Netherlands on Friday? Historically fantastic, right? Next up is Germany on Wednesday (2:45 pm: Fox Sports 1, UniMas, Univision Deportes).

Recaps and reports from Friday’s win at PSP, US Soccer, MLSsoccer.com, ESPN, ASN (recap, analysis), Soccer America, Goal.com, SBIProSoccerTalk, the Guardian, and American Soccer Analysis.

Player ratings at ASN,  MLSsoccer.com, Soccer America, Goal.com, and ProSoccerTalk.

The US U-23 team defeated England 2-1 on Sunday — both goals came from penalty kicks — to claim third place at the Toulon Tournament. A good conclusion after a generally underwhelming tournament. More on the game at MLSsoccer.com.

The US will face Colombia in the Round of 16 at the U-20 World Cup on Wednesday, June 10 (3:30am: Fox Sports, Fox Sports Go, NBC Universo, Telemundo).

ESPN on how NBA stars have fallen for soccer.

Elsewhere

Reuters reports, “Russia and Qatar could be stripped of their World Cup hosting rights if evidence emerges of bribery in the bidding process, Domenico Scala, the independent chairman of FIFA’s audit and compliance committee, told a Swiss newspaper.”

The BBC reports it “has seen evidence that details what happened to the $10m sent from FIFA to accounts controlled by former vice-president Jack Warner…documents suggest Mr Warner used the payment for cash withdrawals, personal loans and to launder money.”

Reuters reports, “World soccer’s governing body FIFA has hired a former New York prosecutor to represent it as senior officials face bribery and corruption charges in a U.S. court, a person familiar with the matter said.”

Did FIFA cover up corruption in the bids for the 2010 World Cup? And did Morrocco actually win the vote? The Sunday Times says yes to both.

Reuters has more details on the loan FIFA made to the Irish FA after that Thierry Henry handball. Apparently it ultimately resulted from some mocking comments from Sepp Blatter.

From Reuters: “At the first screening of FIFA-funded film ‘United Passions’ in Los Angeles the week after U.S. prosecutors charged several officials of world soccer’s governing body, only two people attended — one out of curiosity, the other as a soccer fan.” Apparently, the $30 million film made $607 opening at 10 theaters in the US on Friday and Saturday.

34 Comments

  1. alicat215 says:

    Nice hit piece on Hope Solo, right before the tournament starts. We’ve known this for a year, the charges were dismissed….and you still publish that? Nothing on the team, what they’ve done etc…..just a fly bye hit piece on their keeper. Nice.

    • “Over several weeks, Solo declined multiple interview requests for this story.” Certainly the timing makes one wonder whether someone at SI took the snub personally.

      • alicat215 says:

        She’s getting ready for a World Cup….I would probably shut down the interviews too. Who knows, maybe she was told to do so by US soccer, lawyer, coach…or all 3.

    • Andy Muenz says:

      Did you watch FOX’s coverage after the Germany game yesterday? That’s all they talked about. And PSP has 7 links to non Hope Solo UNWNT articles vs. only 1 to a Hope Solo article. Plus the article on Solo mentions she “recently” finally gave an interview. So that could help explain the timing as well.

      • alicat215 says:

        You actually watched that whole match! Dude, wasn’t it like 8-0? I watched FCD and San Jose……..

      • Andy Muenz says:

        Yup, watched the whole match. The German team was pretty impressive…and it ended 10-0, 1 short of the record in WWC (11-0 Germany vs. Argentina in 2007).

      • alicat215 says:

        Have fun with that…….

      • I watched it all too. I kept pulling for Ivory Coast to put one in. They actually had several good chances but just didn’t have the quality needed to finish.

    • ESPN has a lot of coverage on their website, and ESPN previewed the team in the latest issue of their magazine. And I don’t think they can ignore the case since it is far from resolved: “prosecutors, in a rare move that required city administrator approval, have filed an appeal with the Superior Court of Washington. Prosecutors are scheduled to file their argument by July 13, with the defense due to respond by Aug. 10. Oral arguments are scheduled for Sept. 11.”

    • You do realize that it’s ESPN’s article, right? Are you criticizing ESPN for the article or PSP for linking to it?

      • alicat215 says:

        Not PSP….they just showed the link. Whomever put that article out nationally….yes.

      • Oh, okay. I thought you were criticizing them for linking to it at all.
        .
        I think the reason it’s coming back up is because she supposedly lied in a recent interview about what went down. If that’s true, then it’s her fault this won’t go away. She could have apologized to her family and to the police department for what happened, and this wouldn’t be an issue anymore. Instead, she’s going on national TV and claiming to be the victim, so it’s only fair for her family to tell their side of the story as well.
        .
        Her lawyer also said that she’s clearly innocent because the case hasn’t been brought to trial yet, but the case is still open. Sounds like she should have gotten a better lawyer. If they do end up charging her after the tournament, it’ll blow up in her face.

    • As if China, Japan or Le Bleu owned the media outlet- fishing for a last minute tinge of derision within.
      .

      • alicat215 says:

        I have more thoughts on this……..I just don’t know if another shit storms worth it! I’m just warning everyone……..

    • Scottymac says:

      A hit piece? It reads like journalism, not op-ed. I think the fact that the city is appealing the dismissal is pretty relevant.

    • Dan Walsh says:

      A journalist’s job is not help promote an event. It’s to write relevant facts of public interest.

      In terms of timing, there is frankly no time at which there would be more public interest than now, and it looks like ESPN delayed the piece repeatedly to give Solo opportunity to comment. You can’t delay it beyond the World Cup. That is for sure.

      • alicat215 says:

        I understand everything your saying….but I still think the journalist could have waited until after the WC. I know that would put the story at risk to competition getting the lead on it….but do you think Hope will ever speak to that journalist again? Think about it….if they make the semis or finals….the story becomes even more relevant after the Cup. Even if Hope has been dishonest in interviews….you have to nail her the night before the opening match? Where’s the professionalism there?

  2. Andy Muenz says:

    Does anyone else think the Union will be really lucky to get 1 point (total) out of the next 3 games? I mean lets face it, @LA, Seattle, and Montreal in a week is MUCH tougher than @DC, Columbus, and NYCFC in a week and they only got 3 points out of that.

    • Well, given the illogic in the results of the past month, I will go ahead and predict a win in LA, a draw vs. Seattle and a loss at home vs. Montreal.

      • +1. I mean, I feel like I can hardly predict what will happen with this team in a given week. Who the $%^& would’ve predicted a first-ever win in Red Bull Stadium after our start? And who the #@$% would’ve predicted a comprehensive 3-0 thumping of Columbus?? At this point, I only feel confident predicting one thing about the Union: there will be only 1 sub before the 80th minute.

      • Good one; agree!!

    • unless Jim starts rotating the squad (this isn’t pie in the sky with less injuries) and subbing earlier, we’ll be Widener toast.

    • pragmatist says:

      We were all predicting the same thing against DC/NYRB/DC/CLB. So, yeah, the odds are not in our favor, but let’s play the games anyway and see what happens…

  3. Addam Schwartz is saying what he thinks he has to say to ‘get over’ in the Philly sports scene (I haven’t heard his name before, so I’m guessing he’s new). There’s still a pretty amazing level of antipathy towards soccer in Philly, led by the legions of knuckleheads on sports-talk radio who think they have to rag on soccer to be ‘cool’.

  4. Who in the hell would pay even a penny for that garbage FIFA movie?!? Haha… $607 is freakin’ hilarious.
    .
    This team needs a week off. Glad they aren’t playing this weekend. And not just cause I’m redoing my bathroom… although the timing is quite perfect.
    .
    Hope the women show up like the German woman did yesterday. 10-0. Wow. I know it was against The Little Sisters of the Poor, but still.

    • Andy Muenz says:

      The US drew a somewhat tougher group than Germany did…

      • I don’t think the Women even get to the semi-finals this year. They just don’t seem to have the same quality as previous squads based on the games I saw

      • Eli Pearlman-Storch says:

        I think the quality is there, but they are playing for a coach who simply hasn’t stuck to any tactics and thus they are entering the tournament with shockingly weak chemistry. That’s the disappointing part for me. They’re good enough, but the person leading the charge is making a mess of it. I very much hope she pulls it all together, but I’m not holding my breath.

      • pragmatist says:

        We’re about to see how much of a difference Alex Morgan makes to that team. She’s finally available, and that will open the field for everyone else.
        They’ll be fine.

      • OneManWolfpack says:

        Agreed on the tougher group, just saying that a favorited (that’s a word, right?) team showed up and took care of business… hoping the women show well and take the 3 points

      • Andy Muenz says:

        And watching Nigeria – Sweden, the US is in a group without a pushover team, whereas Germany has two in their group.

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