Photo: Daniel Studio
USA 2-1 Honduras
It was a shaky start but two Clint Dempsey goals were enough to see the US defeat Honduras 2-1 in their opening game at the Gold Cup. Next up is Haiti on Friday (8:30 pm: Fox Sports 1, UniMas, Fox Sports Go, Fox Soccer 2Go, Univision Deportes En Vivo).
Recaps and reports from PSP, US Soccer, CONCACAF, MLSsoccer.com, Fox Sports, Goal.com, SBI, ProSoccerTalk, American Soccer Analysis, Reuters, and the AP.
ProSoccerTalk has three things learned, while The Guardian has five things learned. Soccer America has three takeaways. ESPN has three points. SI has three thoughts.
Player ratings at ESPN, MLSsoccer.com, ASN, Goal.com, ProSoccerTalk,
Philadelphia Union
You will recall that after the win over DC United in the US Open Cup, Fernando Aristeguieta would be staying with the Union for the second half of the season, this after comments from Nick Sakiewicz in an interview with Soccer Morning that suggested a decision had been made to keep the Venezuelan after the unexpected news that his loan was soon expiring.
On Tuesday, Chris Albright confirmed a deal had been reached to keep Aristeguieta on loan through the end of the season with an option to buy. The club officially announced the loan extension on Wednesday morning.
I was a little stressed because of all the situations and with my injuries, I didn’t know if I was going to stay. It was pretty stressful. But finally I’m training again and I’m staying, so I’m happy…Since the moment that I arrived here, I said that I was in love with the team, I was in love with the city. Of course I want to stay here. I’m going to work to stay here, to do the right things so that at the end of the season when the guys in the office sit down and have to decide if I will stay or not, I hope that they are going to be happy with me.
Albright explained, “I think he’s a player that we’d love to have here for a lot of years but there are variables involved in that. It’s not just as easy as saying, ‘Yeah we want him.’ There’s obviously cost.” More on the news at Philadelphia Inquirer. We’ll probably hear more during Jim Curtin’s weekly press conference, which will begin today at 12:15 pm.
The report at the Behind the Crest blog on Tuesday’s training session notes that Aristeguieta participated in passing drills, but his participation in a scrimmage was limited. The report also says Cristian Maidana will rejoin the team today after getting married in Argentina over the weekend.
No date has yet been announced for the upcoming US Open Cup quarterfinal match between the Union and NYRB, but Jim Curtin told reporters on Tuesday the team is preparing with the expectation the game will take place on July 21 at a still to be determined venue.
Portland Timbers head coach Caleb Porter says of Saturday’s game at PPL Park, “This is going to be a difficult game because Philly needs points right now.”
Kristan Heneage has an update on Polish forward Lukasz Gikiewicz. In addition to the Union and Orlando City, Heneage reports Celtic, Hull City, and Cagliari are also interested in the 27-year-old. It’s probably pretty safe to say he’s not coming to MLS.
Brotherly Game notes an interview Carlos Valdes did with Caracol Deportes Radio. Explaining he is under contract with Nacional through the end of the year, Valdes says “at this moment it would be difficult to return to the United States.”
Also at Brotherly Game, a look at the Union’s playoff picture.
Penn Live reports Harrisburg City Islanders “were not available to comment” on remarks made in an interview with Allentown Morning Call by Nick Sakiewicz that the Union are looking to launch a “minor league team” next year.
Bournemouth are due to leave the UK today for a week of training in Philadelphia ahead of next Tuesday’s friendly. Bournemouth defender Baily Cargill said, “I can’t wait to get out to Philadelphia. I’ve never been to America before and it will be another new experience for me.” He added, “Philadelphia Union are in the middle of their season and it will be a tough game with them being fitter than us. But I’m looking forward to some more work. It won’t be easy and will probably be one of our toughest weeks in pre-season.”
Philadelphia Inquirer, Delco Times, and CSN Philly on Jim Curtin giving Union rookie Eric Bird time off to travel to Vancouver to see his girlfriend, Morgan Brian, play in the Women’s World Cup final. Bird said, “I was hinting at it at first and he started finishing my sentences for me. He was like, ‘You’ve got to go to that.’ So I’m really thankful for him letting me go.” Brian, and Carli Lloyd, arrived in Philly from Los Angeles early this morning.
The Union remain at No. 17 in MLSsoccer.com’s power rankings.
Freddy Adu returning to the Union is not only not good idea, it is a ridiculous idea.
Union Academy
Please note that the time and location of today’s US Soccer Development Academy playoff game between the Union U-16s and their New England Revolution counterparts has been rescheduled:
UPDATE: Due to the re-sodding of the stadium, the Academy game vs @NERevsAcademy has been moved to the Training Grounds @PPLPark at 5:00p
— Philadelphia Union Academy (@phlunionacademy) July 7, 2015
Union U-16 head coach Jeff Cook says he is hoping for the support of the Philadelphia soccer community at today’s game. “A vast majority of our players are from the Philadelphia community and the greater Philadelphia soccer community so we are benefitting from year and years of good work in the region to help produce these players. As a Union academy, we don’t take any of that for granted and we want to add to it but we know that we wouldn’t be where we are without so much good work from the people that have helped these guys at the younger ages develop and we’re just reaping the benefits.”
Union Academy U-18 forward Sebastian Elney is with the US U-18s for the 2015 U-18 Men’s NTC Invitational Tournament.
LA Galaxy are opening a high school that appears to be following the YSC/Union Academy model.
Local
Harrisburg City Islanders host Charleston Battery tonight with a 7 pm kickoff. Harrisburg lost the first two meetings between the clubs, being outscored six goals to one. Previews at Harrisburg City Islanders and Charleston Battery.
Harrisburg’s Cardel Benbow, who scored the late winner last weekend against Wilmington Hammerheads, has been named to the USL Team of the Week.
Reading United are on the road to face Jersey Express tonight at 8 pm.
The Penn Men’s team has announced its 2015 schedule.
MLS
The league’s Atlanta franchise, Atlanta United FC, unveiled its crest and team colors at an event attended by some 4,000 fans last night. The two black bars in the middle of the read circle seem odd to me, as does the lowering of the top of the A. Anyway, cue the anarchy symbol-inspired shirts from fans!
Reports on the logo unveiling from Atlanta United FC, MLSsoccer.com, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta Business Chronicle, WAGT, WXIA, WJBF, ATL All Day, and the AP.
ProSoccerTalk says of the crest, “It’s kinda ‘Union meets the Eiffel Tower.'”
Atlanta Magazine talks to club president Darren Eales. The article notes the club has 20,000 season ticket deposits.
Frank Lampard says MLS “doesn’t feel like a retirement home.”
Giovani Dos Santos has confirmed LA Galaxy’s interest in signing him.
Leon Britton to MLS?
US
President Obama called the US women’s team on Tuesday to congratulate them on their World Cup victory.
Watch @POTUS call the @USSoccer_WNT to congratulate them on their World Cup victory. #OneNationOneTeamhttps://t.co/uIty0Gu5Dg
— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) July 7, 2015
The team will be honored with a ticker tape parade down Broadway on Friday beginning at 11 am. A press release from US Soccer reads,
The City of New York will host a ticker tape parade for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion U.S. Women’s National Team on Friday, July 10 at 11 a.m. ET. All fans are invited to celebrate along the parade route which will be the Canyon of Heroes, along Broadway from the Battery to City Hall.
A special program will be held at City Hall following the parade, and fans can visit nyc.gov/parade for a chance to attend.
Lauren Holiday has confirmed she is retiring from the team after ten years to start a family. Holiday says she will see out the NWSL season with FC Kansas City. More at Soccer America and SBI.
Ticket sales for the upcoming USWNT friendly against Costa Rica on Sunday, Aug. 16 have passed the 30,000 mark.
Will Birmingham be one of the stops on the team’s 10-game World Cup victory tour? More importantly, will Philadelphia?
The Wall Street Journal on the pride across New Jersey in having four players on the Women’s World Cup winning team.
Good read at Grantland on USWNT’s run to the final that includes some wonderful stuff on what the final was like.
NBC Sports has a good read on how Carli Lloyd’s personal trainer predicted she would score a hat trick in the final.
ASN wonders how the USWNT will approach their preparations for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Elsewhere
CONCACAF announced on Tuesday it has terminated its “Corporate Agency Partnership” with Traffic Sports USA. Traffic, under great scrutiny following the US investigation into corruption at FIFA, was responsible for marketing and sales for the Gold Cup and Champions League, as well as other confederation organized tournaments. Reuters notes Traffic Sports USA president Aaron Davidson was among those indicted as part of the US investigation and that Traffic Group owner José Hawilla “has already pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, obstruction of justice and other charges.”
World Soccer Talk wonders what MLS and US Soccer knew about CONCACAF’s and Traffic’s dirty dealing.
“Yeah we want him, but there’s obviously cost.” – Chris Albright
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Maybe the most defining statement about the team?
Jay Sugarman – “Wait wait wait. It costs money to get players??? What the hell have you gotten me into Nik?”
But Nicky Sucks said we could compete with the top teams…
Wow that Atlanta crest really sucks..
meh…
Like the colors tho.
Did they run out of team names?
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We already have a “United” in the East. Wouldn’t “Atlanta Galaxy” or “Atlanta Timbers” have been better choices?
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you should look at polls for team names. they were horrendous. something neutral is fine by me. since hockey left town i’ve something to do when i visit in-laws. the braves and college football—ugh…
anyone else feel new entries into the league are going to have a hard time competing with the class of 2015? NYCFC and Orlando have done well to set the bar high.
I thought Sakashitz said the union had lots of money to add/improve the team. I think he’s not being truthful if Albright is concerned about coming up with money for nando.
Wait just a minute… Sak, not be truthful?! Come on…
Yes! We should pick up Freddy Adu again! On the free with an MLS base salary. Stick him on Union 2 in Allentown or wherever and make him work his butt off a year before he even gets a sniff of the 1st team. I’m all for giving endless chances.
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[the author of this comment has no idea if he’s serious or not]
I don’t want Freddy Adu back in PPL ever…even working concessions.
I’d let him serve me a 22 ouncer…
Mr. Sak, please, PLEASE sign Freddy Adu and prove to us, once and for all, that you are indeed an idiot
Jeeze if he cost of The Striker is a concern…..
Salary Cap, Mighty Elephant, salary cap, that’s part of it. He’s currently a young DP I think, but whether that status survived the new CB, and what the details of the acceptable ages are, and whether he still fits that going forward, … . but never forget salary cap. Look how Sam Hinkie exploits salary cap limitations to the Sixers advantage at the expense of others. To sign Aristegueta for more money what other contracts do they have to shed? E.G., Le Toux, E.G., Wenger.
And all those issues ignore the one we both suspect strongly is operative, that they haven’t got the money were none of those byzantine rules mentioned above in existence.
I wish there was a lot more (some) transparency with these teams, their payroll and the cap situation. It stinks to have to speculate all the time.
I continue to get lost in the rig -a-ma-roll of salary cap versus DP versus those teams that keep adding world class players versus those teams with not even one quality national team member as I posit below.
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The MLS business aspect is over my head for sure- that is one reason I often appreciate your posts- helps me to see beyond my own animosity, ignorance and understanding.
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My arguments tend to be rational but emotional as well.
LA Galaxy: Hey guys, yeah so, we are looking to add Dos Santos, but it’s not exactly within the rules…”
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MLS: “You just leave that to us…”
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This freakin’ league…
Truly… How are we to compete against teams with 3 and 4 world class players. We don’t even have 1 high class US National team play let alone multiple world class players. This is shit.