Daily news roundups

Crew’s up and other Union bits, USSF answers senator’s compensation questions, more

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Philadelphia Union

As has so often been the case after a Union win, be it at home or on the road, the question ahead of Saturday’s game against Columbus Crew (7 pm, TCN, MLS Live) is can the the team build on that win with another? As Jim Curtin said in Wednesday’s weekly press conference, last Saturday’s road win over San Diego “will mean nothing if we don’t do the same thing against Columbus.”

Previews at PSP, MLSsoccer.com, and Metro.

A preview at the Guardian of the weekend’s notable MLS games doesn’t include this weekend’s contest against New England but does describe the Union as “suddenly interesting.”

At Delco Times, Matthew De George follows Wednesday’s piece from Dave Zeitlin at MLSsoccer.com on Steven Vitoria’s rise in form. Vitoria says of his growing partnership with Richie Marquez, “I feel very comfortable with the rhythm that we’ve been having and the chemistry with Richie as a center back; it’s important to stabilize something. That’s been going positive and we just want to continue building on that.” More on Vitoria at Tribal Football.

At the Union website, Chris Winkler on Conor Casey’s impact.

More from Wednesday’s press conference at CSN Philly and Philly Soccer News.

An analysis of foreign players in MLS notes 47 percent of the Union roster is made up of players from abroad, just under the league average of 48.97 percent. The report also says the Union also have the most Brazilian players at three. I guess they’re including Leo Fernandes.

At Brotherly Game, Matt Ralph reviews various players who have been linked to the Union as possible transfer targets.

Lehigh Valley With Love says the Union has guaranteed Bethlehem Steel FC will win the fan vote on the name of the new USL team because the rest of the options stink.

Sons of Ben

6abc reports the Sons of Ben provided free lunches to teachers in the Chester-Upland school district on Thursday. Teachers in the district agreed to continue to work despite not having guaranteed paychecks before the state stepped up to cover a debt service payment for the district.

At Yahoo Sports, Leander Schaerlaeckens uses a very favorable review of Sons of Ben: The Movie to question how MLS is going about its expansion now: “[A]s the Sons of Ben’s story reminds us: The desire for soccer has to come first. Then follows the team.”

Local

Harrisburg City Islanders host Richmond Kickers on Saturday at 7 pm.

Here’s what’s on tap for the men’s teams at DrexelLa Salle, Penn, St. Joseph’sTemple, and Villanova.

Here’s what’s on tap for the women’s teams at DrexelLa Salle, Penn, St. Joseph’sTemple, and Villanova.

The story of how Adam Bruckner, a professional soccer player with Philadelphia KiXX, helped to solve the 2002 murder of a homeless woman is the subject of the latest edition of the podcast Criminal. Click here for more on the story from ESPN.

MLS

Real Salt Lake defender Chris Schuler is out 4-6 months after undergoing surgery to repair a navicular fracture in his left foot.

Steven Gerrard says the offer of a backroom role would have made him stay at Liverpool rather than join LA Galaxy. And — surprise! — he does miss playing in the Premier League.

It looks like Reno will be announced as the home of the latest USL franchise next week. If the team is to begin play in 2016, that would bring the league’s roster of teams to 28, 29 if the Orlando City team is also announced, as expected.

NWSL

The league’s championship semifinals take place on Sunday and both games are being broadcast on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports Go. At 1:30 pm, Chicago Red Stars (second place in the regular season, 8-3-9 record) hosts Kansas City (third in regular season, 9-6-5 record). At 9:30 pm, Seattle Reign (first place in the regular season, 13-3-4 record) hosts Washington Spirit (fourth place, 8-6-6 record).

US

Soon after confirming on Thursday the Australian women’s team had cancelled its participation in the friendlies against the USWNT in Detroit (Thursday, Sept. 17 at 7 pm on Fox Sports 1) and Alabama (Sunday, Sept. 20 at 2:30 pm on ESPN2), US Soccer announced that Haiti would be the replacement opponent. Meanwhile, Carli Lloyd and Hope Solo have voiced support for the Australian team as they fight for a new contract with Football Federation Australia.

click here to download a PDF of the questions and responses). No one will be satisfied with the responses.

CONMEBOL president Juan Angel Napout and CONCACAF president Alfredo Hawit will meet next Thursday to discuss whether to Copa America Centenario tournament will be staged in the US as originally planned: “Both institutions have the firm intention of carrying out the tournament in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the South American Football Confederation to be held on July 9 next year.” Soccer America has an overview of obstacles — which are by in large connected to the FIFA corruption scandal — and benefits of the tournament being played in the US as planned.

Here’s the quote sheet from Tuesday’s USMNT loss to Brazil.

Elsewhere

AFP reports, “Term limits, disclosing the salaries of FIFA presidents and executive members, a clearer organisation of football’s world governing body and a clampdown on regional football barons were all included in a report released by Domenico Scala, chairman of the FIFA independent audit and compliance committee.” Scalla admits he is powerless to enact his proposed reforms. More on Scalla’s proposals from the AP.

Reuters reports, “Israel’s Bank Hapoalim said it is cooperating with a probe by U.S. authorities into alleged corruption involving officials from world soccer’s governing body, FIFA.” Some of those indicted by the US in the FIFA corruption case reportedly had accounts with the bank.

UEFA has announced new stringent anti-doping measures.

Checkout the latest Footy on the Telly for listings of live soccer on TV, online, and on satellite radio for the upcoming week. Please note that along with beIN Sports launching a new version of their website a few weeks ago came a new TV listings schedule on the site. Aside from being far more difficult to navigate than the previous one, it’s been doing screwy things lately whenever I try to use it. Long story short, there may be some errors in the listings for the network’s family of channels.

6 Comments

  1. Now Ed… i’m only about 3 paragraphs in to the post and i see 2 crazy errors: 1. “…last Saturday’s road win over San Diego…” and 2. “A preview at the Guardian of the weekend’s notable MLS games doesn’t include this weekend’s contest against New England…” Do you need more caffeine? 🙂

  2. He’s a soccer player by day and solves crimes by night…

  3. OneManWolfpack says:

    Well done SOB’s… helping out the teachers in Chester. I saw that on channel 6 last night. Good stuff guys and gals.

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