Photo: Earl Gardner

Philadelphia Union

For the first time since September 12, 2015, the Union have lost a home game in league play, being defeated 3-2 by Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night.

While Roland Alberg has been on fire, scoring his fifth goal in the last three league games (his seventh including the US Open Cup win over Harrisburg before the start of that three-game run), the Union have conceded nine goals in the last three league games while scoring eight.

Jim Curtin said after Saturday’s loss, “It’s a lot. I’m pissed about that, don’t get me wrong, and we’ll get it fixed, but a lot of silly goals I would say.”

Recaps and reports at PSP (recap, postgame), Philadelphia Union (recap, report), Philly.com (recap, report), Delco Times, CSN Philly (recap, report), Philly Voice, Philly Soccer News (recap, report), 973espn.com, Brotherly Game (recap, analysis), Pattison Ave, Prost Amerika, Vavel, MLSsoccer.com (recap, Union, Whitecaps), Vancouver Whitecaps, The Province, Daily Hive, Voice Online, Away From The Numbers, Red Nation, Eighty Six Forever (recap, performance rankings), SBI, and the AP.

Roland Alberg has been named SBI’s Player of the Week.

Vincent Nogueira has signed a two-year contract with French Ligue 2 side Strasbourg (crappy Google translation here). Before you start pulling out the pitchfork and torches consider this: Ligue 2 is a step down for Nogueira, certainly in terms of money (relatedly, any transfer fee the Union could’ve tried to receive if they had decided to play hardball would likely have been nominal). Also, whatever personal health issue the midfielder is dealing with, he needs to make a living. Not that his departure still doesn’t sting.

Section 215 says Tranquillo Barnetta isn’t the answer as the No. 8. Last Word on Sports weighs in on how the Union can replace Nogueira.

At CBS Philly, Josh Yaro talks to Matt Leon about settling in with the Union in his first year as a pro.

At Brotherly Game, Colin Campbell calls on Union fans to bring the intensity back to home games.

Bethlehem Steel FC

Bethlehem played Richmond Kickers on Saturday, earning a 0-0 draw.  Recaps at PSP, Bethlehem Steel FC, Unauthorized Bethlehem Steel FC Blog, Philly Soccer News, Brotherly Game, USLsoccer.com, Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Bethlehem is on the road against highflying expansion side FC Cincinnati on Saturday.

Auston Trusty has been called up for the US U-20 MNT for the NTC Invitational in Carson, Calif., June 26-July 4. The US will face Costa Rica, Japan, and Panama.

Philadelphia Union Academy

At the US Soccer Development Academy Playoffs in Frisco, Texas, the Union U-16’s defeated Kendall SC 1-0 on Friday with a goal from Matthew Pellegrino in the 65st minute. The team went down 1-0 in the 11th minute against Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday but immediately responded in the 12th minute with a goal from Chad Letts in the 12th minute. In the 54th minute, Iverson Brisma tallied to give the Union U-16s the 2–1 win. Despite going undefeated in their group with a 2-0-1 record, the team did not advance to the knockout round.

On Friday, the U-18s defeated Chicago Fire 2-0 with goals from Yosef Samuel (27′) and Alexander Soto (85′), the last coming from a rather spectacular free kick. Against Kendall SC on Sunday, the Union were down 3-0 until Emmanuel Perez scored a hat trick with goals in the 62nd, 78th, and 90 minute. Kendall answered with another goal to win the game 4–3 but the team is through to the knockout round of the playoffs on July 7, having gone 2-1-0 in group play.

More on the academy teams in Frisco at the Union website.

City Islanders FC

Harrisburg lost their sixth straight league game on Saturday, falling 3-1 to Charlotte Independence. The game was postponed from Friday after bad weather. Recaps at City Islanders, USLsoccer.com, Charlotte Independence, and Charlotte Observer. The City Islanders, now in eleventh place in the 14-team Eastern Conference (13 points, 4-11-1), are back in action on July 4 when they play Pittsburgh Riverhounds on the road.

PDL

A wild game in Reading saw Reading United defeat Ocean City Nor’easters 4-3 on Saturday night. How wild was it? Reading had come from behind twice to take a 3-2 lead thanks to a 73rd minute penalty kick before Ocean City’s Chevaughn Walsh, who opened the scoring in the 9th minute, equalized three minutes into stoppage time, this after the Nor’easters were down to ten men after a straight red card in the 87th minute. But in the last seconds of the game, Reading’s Paul Marie capitalized on miscommunication between the Ocean City goalkeeper and a defender to score the game-winning goal. With the result, Reading remains at first place in the Mid-Atlantic Division (19 points, 6-2-1) while Ocean City drops to third place (15 points, 5-4-0). Recaps at Reading United, Reading Eagle, WFMZ, Ocean City Nor’easters, and Press of Atlantic City.

On Sunday, sixth place Lehigh Valley United Sonic (10 points, 3-6-1) lost 2-1 at home to fourth place Jersey Express (15 points, 5-5-0).

Reading is on the road to face NYRB U-23s on Wednesday, while Lehigh Valley United travels to face Ocean City on Friday.

MLS

In the Eastern Conference, first place Philadelphia (26 points, 7-5-5) lost 3-2 to Vancouver. Second place NYCFC (24 points, 6-5-6) defeated Seattle 2-0 on the road. Third place NYRB (23 points, 7-8-2) conceded in the 94th minute to draw 1-1 on the road with ninth place Columbus (16 points, 3-5-7). Fourth place Montreal (21 points, 5-4-6) drew 2-2 with Kansas City. Fifth place DC (20 points, 5-6-5) defeated eighth place New England (19 points, 4-5-7), 2-0. Sixth place Orlando (20 points, 4-3-8) defeated seventh place Toronto (19 points, 5-6-4), 3-2, with Kaka scoring the game winner from the penalty spot in the tenth minute of stoppage time. Last place Chicago (11 points, 2-7-5) had the weekend off.

In the Western Conference, first place Colorado (32 points, 9-2-5) had the weekend off. Second place Dallas (31 points, 9-5-4) defeated third place Salt Lake (27 points, 8-5-3), 2-0. Fourth place Vancouver (24 points, 7-7-3) defeated Philadelphia 3-2 on the road. Fifth place Portland (23 points, 6-6-5) came from 2-0 down (former Union man Andrew Wenger scored the Dynamo’s opening goal) to defeat last place Houston (14 points, 3-8-5), 3-2. Sixth place LAG (23 points, 5-3-8) conceded in the 90th minute to draw 1-1 with eighth place San Jose (22 points, 5-4-7). Seventh place Kansas City (22 points, 6-8-4) came from behind to draw 2-2 on the road with Montreal. Ninth place Seattle (16 points, 5-9-1) lost 2-0 at home to NYCFC.

The AP reports, “Padres lead investor Peter Seidler is one of three prominent San Diegans interested in bringing a Major League Soccer expansion team to San Diego, apparently with the idea of eventually sharing a stadium in Mission Valley with San Diego State’s football team.” More at the San Diego Union-Tribune.

NWSL

As you will recall, first place Portland defeated second place Chicago 2-0 on Wednesday night, and fifth place Orlando defeated ninth place Houston 1-0 on Thursday night. On Friday, third place Western New York walloped last place Boston, 7-1. On Saturday, fourth place Washington lost 2-1 at home to sixth place Sky Blue, and seventh place Seattle drew 0-0 with eighth place Kansas City. On Sunday, Portland came from behind to defeat Orlando 2-1 on the road, extending their unbeaten streak to 11 games, the second longest in league history.

US

The US was defeated by Colombia 1-0 in the Copa America Centenario Third Place game on Saturday night. I did not see the game, which was concluding right around when I got home from the Union game. Was it, despite the loss, a promising display?

Recaps and reports at PSP, US Soccer, Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, MLSsoccer.com (recap, report, player ratings), ESPN (recap, report, player ratings), Fox Soccer, CBS Sports (recap, player ratings) beIN Sports, SI, ASN, Soccer America, Goal.com (recap, report, player ratings), and the AP.

Yahoo Sports on opportunities lost for the US in the Third Place game.

Fox Soccer has overall ratings for US players in the tournament. The Guardian has US winners and losers with the tournament now over.

Elsewhere

Chile defeated Argentina 4-2 on penalty kicks in the Copa America Centenario final on Sunday night after a chippy, foul filled, generally unentertaining 120 minutes of scoreless soccer.

Following his team’s loss, Lionel Messi announced he is retiring from international soccer. Sergio Aguero said, “The likelihood is that Messi is not the only one that will leave the national team. There are several players like me that are evaluating whether or not to continue.” On Friday, FIFA announced it had place the Argentine FA under administration.

The AP reports, “After staging a successful expanded Copa America in the United States for the tournament’s 100th anniversary, soccer officials intend to discuss whether to establish a new event that would see regular competition between the regions.” More at MLSsoccer.com and Goal.com.

A post at US Soccer published before Sunday’s final notes, “CONMEBOL, CONCACAF and Copa America Local Organizing Committee (LOC) officials announced today that this year’s tournament will set new records for total and average attendance, television viewership in the United States and throughout the world, and digital and social media engagement.”