Photo: Courtesy of Philadelphia Union
Philadelphia Union
Jim Curtin’s weekly press conference is scheduled to take place today at 12:30 pm.
The latest injury report for the Union at MLSsoccer.com lists only Maurice Edu. Here’s the report for Orlando City, the Union’s opponent at Talen Energy Stadium on Friday:
OUT: D Conor Donovan (torn ACL)
OUT: D David Mateos (hamstring injury)
F Cyle Larin (hamstring tweak, missed training 4/5)
D Tommy Redding (head injury)
In the latest Inside Doop at CSN Philly, Dave Zeitlin has three questions ahead of Friday’s game: Who will replace the suspended Warren Creavalle, will the Union be able to keep “re-establishing the stadium as the fortress they hope it will be” with a win, and how to stop Kaka, who had a goal and two assists in his season debut last weekend.
The officials for Friday’s game have been announced. Carrying the whistle will be Jair Marrufo. Peter Balciunas and Daniel Belleau are the linesmen, with Rubiel Vazquez the fourth official.
More power rankings! At MLSsoccer.com, the Union drop one spot to No. 12: “Philly looked like the better team until Warren Creavalle was — justifiably — sent off. They have some pieces and an identity, but questions remain about their goal-scoring ability.” At SBI, the Union drop one spot to No. 9: “After shining for several weeks, the Union crashed back down to Earth in a shutout loss to the Fire. Warren Creavalle’s dismissal spelled doomsday, while Andre Blake continued to shine in net. To this point, it remains to be seen just how legit the Union are, but they’ll have a chance at a bounceback game against Orlando City on Friday.” Yep and yep.
Two Union players make the Audi MLS Player Index top 20 for Week 5. At No. 6 is CJ Sapong, with Ilsinho at No. 9.
Bethlehem Steel FC
Unauthorized Bethlehem Steel FC Blog notes Lehigh University alum Jamie Luchini is now listed on Bethlehem Steel’s roster at the USL website. As of this writing, the forward is not listed on the roster at the team’s website.
You will recall reports at the beginning of March at the Lehigh University Athletics site and Allentown Morning Call — both of which have since been removed — said Luchini had signed with BSFC although there has been no official announcement from the club. Luchini was quoted at the time: “It was a relief to finally sign my first professional contract. While I was disappointed at the time to not get selected in the MLS Superdraft, it all ended up working in the end as I am able to sign and play for a USL team filled with quality players that can be put right into the Philadelphia Union roster. Additionally, I am able to finish my degree this semester, which is something I valued since Day 1.”
At the Union website, local lads Ryan Richter and John McCarthy talk about how much they enjoyed playing in front of family and friends for Bethlehem Steel FC’s home opener.
Local
The draw for the first round pairings, and second round scenarios, for the 2016 US Open Cup will take place today at 11 am. You can follow the draw via the official US Open Cup Twitter feed.
In related news, the tournament has a new logo:
I like it.
Harrisburg City Islanders have announced the signing of Liam Doyle, who was selected 67th overall in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft by DC United but did not make the team. Doyle made his debut for Harrisburg in last weekend’s road loss to Charlotte Independence.
At the Ocean City Nor’easters website, a post checking in with Nor’easters alum and Woodbury, NJ native Tyler Miller, who is fighting for the starting goalkeeper spot at Seattle Sounders.
The Army-Navy Cup will be played at Talen Energy Stadium on Friday, Sept. 23.
MLS
Twenty years ago today, San Jose Clash hosted DC United in the first-ever MLS game. At the Guardian, Jack Williams talks to Eric Wynalda talks about scoring the game-winning goal with only minutes remaining in what ended as a 1-0 win for the Clash. Wynalda, who describes the atmosphere at the game as “fantastic,” says of the goal, “The truth is, I just tried to hit it hard with the inside of my foot and inside the far post. I missed it to a certain extent. I caught it a little underneath because the grass was a bit longer than most fields we played on – but it ended up looking great.” Sunil Gulati says of the goal, “My comment at the time was: ‘Thank God for Eric Wynalda.’ We were nervous about the first game in the league’s history ending scoreless when we had been promising attacking soccer.”
The original broadcast of the San Jose Clash-DC United game will be streamed on the league website tonight at 8 pm and will be preceded at 7:50 pm by the game preview first aired on ESPN 20 years ago.
Controversy in DC after a supporter was issued a season-long ban for “possession and ignition of illegal smoke device on RFK Stadium property.”
At MLSsoccer.com, an update on the construction of Orlando City’s new downtown stadium.
US
The USWNT hosts Colombia tonight in a friendly in East Hartford, Conn. (7 pm, FS1).
Wisconsin Public Radio reports Michael LeRoy, a labor law professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, “says the wage discrimination complaint filed last week by five high-profile players on the U.S. women’s national soccer team is a compelling case, but faces significant legal barriers…because the women’s team entered an agreement that they already collectively bargained.”
Jurgen Klinsmann did a Q&A on Facebook with fans on Tuesday and said he believes the US can defeat Colombia in the Copa America tournament opener: “It’s a little bit like the World Cup in 2014. We know that it’s a very difficult group we were drawn into, but you can beat any given team at any given moment. It will be very difficult but it is doable, so we’ll definitely give it a go…I think this is a tournament where we can show a lot of people that we can do special things like we did in Brazil two years ago.”
From Soccer America: “Saturday’s Barcelona-Real Madrid game drew 1.92 million viewers on beIN Sports en Espanol, simulcast on English-language beIN Sports, making it the No. 1 soccer telecast so far this year on all cable networks.”
Elsewhere
More fallout from the Panama Papers leak. The BBC reports, “FIFA president Gianni Infantino has denied wrongdoing after leaked documents suggested he signed off on a contract with two businessmen who have since been accused of bribery.” Infantino said in a statement,
I am dismayed and will not accept that my integrity is being doubted by certain areas of the media, especially given that UEFA has already disclosed in detail all facts regarding these contracts…
I would like to state for the record that neither UEFA nor I have ever been contacted by any authorities in relation to these particular contracts.
Moreover, as media themselves report, there is no indication whatsoever for any wrongdoings from neither UEFA nor myself in this matter.
The 2006 contracts concerned broadcast rights to the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Super Cup when Infantino was UEFA’s director of legal services. More from The Guardian (1, 2), ESPN, SI, Goal.com, and the AP.
From Goal.com: “FIFA Ethics Committee member Juan Pedro Damiani has denied having a business relationship with Eugenio Figueredo, a former vice-president of world football’s governing body being held on corruption charges.”
ESPN reports, “The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has backed Lionel Messi after the Barcelona star was named in reporting of the “Panama Papers” leaks concerning offshore financial dealings by the rich and famous.”
Reuters reports, “The South American Football Confederation could be forced to leave Paraguay due to a $10 million lawsuit relating to the land where its headquarters stand, CONMEBOL’s president said on Monday.”
ESPN reports, “Bayern Munich fans have protested against plans to introduce a European Super League, which has been backed by club CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in recent months.”
Rangers have gained promotion to the Scottish Premier League after four years in the lower leagues following its relegation to the Scottish fourth division in 2012 for financial mismanagement.
From the Press Association, “Antonio Conte’s ongoing legal case in Italy is not expected to impact on him taking the Chelsea job ahead of next season…Conte is one of several defendants in a match-fixing trial taking place in Cremona, relating to when he was in charge of Siena, who were then competing in Serie B. The 46-year-old is accused of failing to report his knowledge of fixing by players in a 1-0 defeat to Albinoleffe in May 2011.”
At The Guardian, a long form piece titled, “The fall: how diving became football’s worst crime.”
The ban of Matthew Parsons for one year from all MLS stadiums is simply mind-boggling. He set off a smoke bomb during a “unity march”…OUTSIDE the stadium! For MLS to show fans lighting smoke bombs in just about every one of their league promos, then ban a guy for following that example, is hypocritical to the point of absurdity, no? This what is so frustrating about MLS at times. They often seem completely detached from how their decisions will be seen by the public. Constantly degrading their credibility.
“I think this is a tournament where we can show a lot of people that we can do special things like we did in Brazil two years ago.” Is JK delusional? What special things were accomplished in Brazil? Surviving group play? Is that the goal of the USMNT now? I’m not expecting a World Cup trophy any time soon but his constant blathering about how tough whatever group they’re in is and his out of proportion back pats for previous, totally pedestrian accomplishments drive me batty.
Maybe not something “special” but I believe they did exceed the expectations of most by not only getting out of the group but giving Belgium a run for their money.
First of all he doesn’t usually see things as exceeding expectations. He see the US team results as unqualified successes or “special things” just as he stated. Exceeding expectations is tempering his statement and putting words in his mouth. Second, did they really exceed expectations so dramatically? I submit that those who were blown away by their performance in Brazil are those that bought into the whole “Group of Death” bullshit which is what he wants. When we buy into that crap we say they exceeded expectations or gave some team a run for their money instead of the assessment they really deserved…namely meh.
Not drinking the Kool-aid just saying that they did exceed expectations going into the Cup.
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They were in one of the two toughest groups and only lost in extra time to a very talented Belgium team.
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Sure JK is overstating his tail off but they did surprise many.
Another news link to add. Things are not getting any better for Abby…
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http://www.cbssports.com/soccer/eye-on-soccer/25544118/report-former-uswnt-star-abby-wambach-admits-trying-cocaine
So she tried coke and pot when she was 24-25. Yes, and? Am I supposed to be shocked, or horrified or something?
Not for the average person I suppose but she was a contracted professional soccer player at the time. Also not to mention she was/is a hero to a lot of kids.
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My main point though is that the timing could not be worse considering the DUI arrest just two days ago and all of this coming just a few days after the USWNT filing against US Soccer.
CPfeif, let me just say I’m not trying to hammer you specifically about this. But this kind of attitude drives me nuts. So why should it be any different for Abby, when the men’s pro sports teams have stories every year about players being caught with drugs, or drinking and driving or beating their wife or girlfriend? At least Abby was smart enough not to get caught at the time. Which can’t be said for how many players every year in the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB. Ridiculous.
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So Abby is a role model…So what is she a saint? No? Is she human? Ahh, she is. So, being a human, you mean she has problems and issues just like everyone else huh. Hmmm interesting topic for being a role model. Let us not judge lest we be judged, would be my lesson taken from this. Despite her flaws was she still able to be one of the best in the world at her sport? Well, why yes she was. Amazing, how about that for a lesson.
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The link to the Guardian article also includes in it stories about Maradona, and how much he loved to party. And coincidentally, his love of cocaine. But here is a man still beloved by his nation and around the world, despite his flaws. Hypocrisy? Why yes, it is.
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If you (anyone) think less of Abby for this admission then look in the mirror. Realize you are no better than her, and move on. I’m sick of the puritanical hypocrisy of this country.
All4U, I think you are jumping to conclusions about why I posted this and where I stand on the matter.
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I have not said anything to the tune of that Abby should not be treated as a human, flawed like anyone and everyone else. Nor do I think of her as anything else then a pioneer in the game for the US. She was the face of the women’s team and help the sport as a whole grow in this country.
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I am however, shocked.
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Having not heard of anything like this about or from her ever to getting arrested for DUI and two days later reveling experimenting with drugs, specifically as heavy as coke, I think being surprised or shocked is understandable.
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And again, my main point was that the timing could not get worse. Regardless on how any one person feels about it you know the media is going to turn it into a crap-storm.
Again, CPfeif, I am not hammering you. The reaction you speak of, by the media, and the subsequent horde that is sure to follow, is what I aim my ire at. I know you are only trying to point out what is likely fallout. I agree. And that over sensationalism is what angers me. Again CPfeif, I was not aiming it at you. The reaction of the media and society as a whole was the aim.
Understood now All4U. My apologies for taking it as targeted toward my bringing it up.
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One problem with conversing via writing is that it is easy to draw incorrect tones.
There is a less than 15% chance the US beats Colombia. Did Jurgen not watch them destroy team USA in England last year? Colombia. Argentina. Brazil. These are teams we can’t even remotely begin to think about beating in an International Tournament with a team of miscast players playing in a different formation every time the line up…and if we do it will be a fluke… homefield or not.
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Come on Jurgen.
I saw Columbia play the other day for their WC qualification group play and was not impressed. Think we have a much better chance than 15%; would say 40%
Nice of Jurgen to “definitely give it a go” eh?
Oh that clock counting down in the footage of Wynalda’s historic goal… how embarrassing, frustrating, ridiculous…
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Really psyched about Friday night. I want to see the lineup, and the style of play against a team that is able to be scored upon. And also, I want to see how our D will hold up against a team who loves to attack. A good early season test, and for once, I can actually say that… AND MEAN IT!
And just saw that Brek Shea will miss Friday’s game due to a suspension… thanks MLS!
http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/04/06/mls-disciplinary-committee-suspends-brek-shea-fines-charlie-davies