Photo: Paul Rudderow
Philadelphia Union
As expected, Alejandro Bedoya has been called up by the USMNT for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against St. Vincent and the Grenadines away on Friday, Sept. 2 (3:30 pm, beIN Sports) and Trinidad & Tobago on Tuesday, Sept. 6 (8 pm, FS1, UniMas). Bedoya, along with Andre Blake, who was called up by Jamaica, will therefore be unavailable for the the Union when they travel to face Chicago Fire on Saturday.
Bedoya said to Matthew De George of the Delco Times of being called up, “I think for me to be able to represent Philly and the organization is an honor. It’s an honor to play for the national team, but to say that if I represent the national team, I’m also repping Philly — the city, the club, the organization and the people behind it.” More reports on the call up at Philly.com, CSN Philly, Brotherly Game, and Section 215.
Also at Delco Times, Matthew De George talks to Blake about his call up.
Right, then, Saturday’s win was pretty darn satisfying, wasn’t it? And but for a step or two, the Union could’ve been up at least 2-0 before the half if they had been able to finish some of those wonderful crosses from Fabinho. Regardless, the Union seem to have put the disappointing home result against Toronto firmly behind them, rebounding with last Wednesday’s road win against Columbus and Saturday’s home win over Kansas City. Level with third place NYRB on points but in fourth place due to goal difference, the question now is if a shorthanded Union side can get the business done on the road in Chicago on Saturday.
Recaps and reports on Saturday’s win over KC at PSP, (recap, postgame), Philadelphia Union (recap, report, takeaways), Philly.com, CSN Philly, Metro, Philly Soccer News, Brotherly Game (recap, analysis), Pattison Ave, Prost Amerika, SBI (recap, KC), Vavel, Section 215 (recap, report), MLSsoccer.com (recap, Union, KC), Sporting Kansas City, Kansas City Star, The Blue Testament, The Guardian, Goal.com, Pro Soccer Talk, Last Word on Sports, and the AP. USA Today and Prost Amerika have photo galleries.
Roland Alberg’s spectacular goal of course furthered the ongoing questions about why he isn’t starting. Jim Curtin has repeatedly said it simply down to the fact that Tranquillo Barnetta is ahead in the depth chart at the No. 10 spot. And let’s face it, if you have a guy who can come off the bench and regularly score, well, that’s pretty valuable. Alberg said after Saturday’s win, “I have to show it every training, and then it’s the coach’s decision. If [Curtin] uses me as a sub, I’ll do 100 percent my best. And if it’s as a starter, it’s the same thing for me. Of course every player wants to play as a starter, and me too. But it’s a long season. Playoffs, they are coming. So I’m patient.” More on Alberg at Delco Times, CSN Philly, and SBI.
And then there’s this, Alberg after he drew the foul that saw Roger Espinoza ejected from the game:
Wink-wink, nudge-nudge. #PHIvSKC @PROreferees @SouthStandSC pic.twitter.com/DLp5vcRTRL
— April B. Strange (@aprilbstrange) August 28, 2016
Vote Roland Alberg for Goal of the Week! While you’re at it, Vote Keegan Rosenberry, too.
Andre Blake has been named to ESPN’s Team of the Week.
In a training notes post posted on the Union website on Friday, Marisa Pilla writes that the foot injury that saw Ilsinho miss last Wednesday’s road win over Columbus is similar in nature to the injury that has kept Brian Carroll out of the lineup, plantar faciitis. Noting that both players participated in training on Friday, Pilla writes, “Similarly to Carroll, trainers said they just need to take it day by day with him, but he seems to be feeling better.”
Pilla also reports the training staff has been “meeting throughout the week to discuss the best time” for Maurice Edu to get minutes with Bethlehem Steel before being ready to play with the first team: “Looking at their next couple of matches, Steel has an away match on Tuesday in Harrisburg and a home match on Saturday against New York Red Bulls II. The team probably doesn’t want Mo traveling far with Steel, so either Tuesday or Saturday could potentially be options for him, but nothing is confirmed.”
An announcement at the league website reports the league disciplinary committee “unanimously decided that [Dilly] Duka was guilty of embellishment in the 90th minute of Crew SC’s match against the Philadelphia Union on August 24. As a result, Duka was issued a fine.” In the immortal words of Nelson, “Ha ha!”
At Brotherly Game, Matt Ralph looks at Union ties to college soccer.
Bethlehem Steel
Recaps and reports at PSP, Bethlehem Steel, Allentown Morning Call, Brotherly Game, USLsoccer.com, Louisville City, Louisville Courier Journal, WLKY, CN2, and Louisville Coopers. Bethlehem is now in 10th place in the 14-team Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia Union Academy
At Brotherly Game, Matt Ralph reports 16-year-old Union Academy goalkeeper Carlos Dos Santos has signed a three-year contract with Benfica. Dos Santos, who has dual US-Portuguese citizenship, “is currently playing for their U19 team, according to his family.”
City Islanders
The City Islanders claimed the Keystone Cup with a 1-1 draw with ten-men Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Saturday. Recaps and reports at City Islanders, Philly Soccer News, USLsoccer.com, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Pittsburgh Tribune, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh Sporting News.
City Islanders are now in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. The team next hosts tenth place Bethlehem on Tuesday (7 pm, YouTube).
Former City Islanders and La Salle midfielder Jason Plumhoff has joined USL_side Saint Louis FC on loan from NASL-side Jacksonville Armada.
Local
The Temple men’s team defeated Saint Joseph’s, 2-0.
The Temple women’s team fell 1-0 to La Salle.
Sydney Zandi (Penn Fusion; West Chester, Pa.) has been named to the US roster for the U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan, Sept. 30-Oct. 21.
MLS
In the Eastern Conference, first place Toronto (43 points, 12-8-7), fell 1-0 at home to fifth place — and ten-men — Montreal (37 points, 9-7-10), ending an unbeaten run of seven games. Second place NYCFC (41 points, 11-8-8) was defeated 2-1 on the road by seventh place Orlando (31 points, 6-7-13), Kaka scoring both Orlando goals. Third place NYRB (40 points, 11-9-7) defeated eighth place New England (27 points, 6-12-9), 1-0. Fourth place Philadelphia (40 points, 11-9-7) defeated Kansas City, 2-0. Sixth place DC (32 points, 7-8-11) walloped last place Chicago (23 points, 5-12-8), 6-2, who finished the game with ten men after a 34th minute red card when the scoreline was level at 1-1. Patrick Mullins scored a hat trick for DC. Ninth place Columbus (26 points, 5-9-11) defeated San Jose, 2-0.
In the Western Conference, first place Dallas (48 points, 14-7-6) defeated last place Houston (25 points, 5-11-10) 3-1 on the road. Second place Salt Lake (43 points, 12-8-7) came from behind to defeat third place Colorado (43 points, 11-4-10), 2-1. Fourth place LAG (40 points, 9-4-13) drew 0-0 with ninth place Vancouver (31 points, 8-12-7). Fifth place Kansas City (38 points, 11-12-5) fell 2-0 on the road to Philadelphia. Four first half goals saw sixth place Portland (35 points, 9-10-8) defeat eighth place Seattle (31 points, 9-13-4), 4-2. Seventh place San Jose (32 points, 7-8-11) fell 2-0 on the road to Columbus.
Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco underwent tests on Sunday after leaving Saturday’s loss to Montreal with a quad injury.
Tifo controversy in Toronto.
NWSL
First place Washington (35 points, 11-3-2) defeated seventh place Orlando (18 points, 6-10-0) 2-1 on the road. Second place Portland (29 points, 8-3-5) fell 3-1 on the road to fifth place Seattle (23 points, 6-5-5). Third place Chicago (28 points, 8-4-4) defeated sixth place Sky Blue (22 points, 6-6-4) 3-1 on the road. Fourth place Western New York (27 points, 8-5-3) drew 2-2 with ninth place Houston (13 points, 3-8-4). Eighth place Kansas City (16 points, 4-8-4) lost 2-0 at home to last place Boston (10 points, 3-11-1).
Hope Solo was not in goal for Seattle for their win over Portland after being granted “personal leave” by the club following her suspension and contract termination by US Soccer.
US
US Soccer has more on the USMNT roster for the World Cup qualifiers on Sept. 2 and Sept. 6, including a look at what the US needs to do to advance to the semifinal round (the US is currently second in Group C behind Trinidad and Tobago), a look at the roster, and a Q&A with Jurgen Klinsmann. More on the roster at ESPN, SI, Soccer America, Goal.com, ASN, and MLSsoccer.com.
Clint Dempsey was not called up as he undergoes evaluation for an irregular heartbeat. More on Dempsey at Seattle Sounders, Seattle Times, and MLSsoccer.com.
Gyasi Zardes also was not called up after being injured in LAG’s scoreless draw with Vancouver on Saturday.
In the latest FIFA rankings, the USWNT remains at No. 1
Elsewhere
Goal.com reports, “FIFA president Gianni Infantino has indicated future World Cups could feature 40 teams following the successful expansion of the European Championship.” Terrible, terrible idea.
PA Sport reports, “FIFA investigators want Qatar Football Association (QFA) vice-president Saoud Al Mohannadi to be banned for “failure to properly co-operate and provide truthful information” in an investigation.”
It’s a shame he was ruled offside:
Curious as to what the keeper situation is like next week with Blake gone and Jones hurt. Obviously McCarthy starts but who’s the backup, given that Bethlehem has a game next weekend as well?
“MLS pool keeper” if Jones is not good to at least be backup.
We can’t use Badr right? I mean even if they had no game.
If Steel had no game, the Union could probably call him up on a short term 4 day contract like they did with Derrick Jones for the Crystal Palace game.
“Tifo controversy in Toronto.”
From the link:
“And they should be. The Reds should never lose in the fashion they did — especially against a rival in front of a sellout crowd at BMO Field. They blew it.”
All I ask of this world is that line was on purpose.
You have a dirty mind.
The writer only meant that when a man goes down, it should be easy to score.
I mean, with only 10 players, there’s got to be a hole somewhere.
It’s down to a lack of penetration.
I blame the Canadian bacon. Sometimes, an athlete’s poor performance can be traced to heavy drinking the night before, but on other occasions, it’s due to something a fella ate.
According to those in attendance, they demonstrated a real lack of teeth in finishing.
You just ran away with it.
You win internet good today
He had us at “You have a dirty mind.”
Watched the Houston match. Maidana and Williams (and the rest of the team) looked terrible. Glad they moved on. Wenger did not feature in the match.
Maidana was what was wrong with the Union the past two years. I never understood why everyone loved him. Such a one dimensional player. and how can you be at such a high level and have such a dominant foot. He was lefty and if he ever was on his right he was useless. Soooo frustrating, plus his utter lack of defense drove me nuts. Glad he’s gone too.
Fair and I agree. But he did put up numbers, notably assists, so I wouldn’t bash him too hard.
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On the other hand take someone like Ilsinho who has tricks galore but do not seem to put up the numbers expected of him.
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In any case, what is most important is how they fit into the team as a whole and Maidana did not fit and Ilsinho seems to (or at least fit more closely).
I wouldn’t be so quick to give out a “ha ha” to Duka for embellishment. Alberg could be in line for one of his own, if the league decides to be consistent.
How, there was contact without a doubt on Alberg. Intentional contact to hit him high with an elbow. Sure, he sold it, but Espinoza put himself in a bad position. Duka, looked a like a fool in real time rolling around and even worse in slow mo replay.
You can’t judge embellishment based on a 5 second slow-mo video of a player winking at someone out of frame. That’s not to say he wasn’t winking because he went down easily and got an opponent ejected, but he could have just as easily been winking to say, “I’m ok” while holding his side in pain. If the DC fines and/or suspends Alberg for simulation or embellishment or whatever based on the play? Fine. But basing it off of that video would be farcical.
USMNT news:
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Brooks withdrew with a slight back issue and Kljestan was added to the open roster slot.
They really need to add Sean Johnson.
Guzan has been decent for ‘Mbrough. I caught their goalless draw this weekend and he did well. He is only 31 so could still be playing at a high level for the next Cup.
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Howard has been good since coming back to the MLS but at 37 he is certainly on the down slope of his career, as evident of his losing his place as Everton’s #1 before coming back. I’m not sure he will be on the roster for Russia so I would hope that Jurgen looks to transition him out over the next year or so.
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Really like Horvath. I’m good with selecting him over Johnson, Hamid, Cropper, etc. Biggest knock on Johnson has to be overall team success but even if the Fire were doing better I might pick Horvath over him anyway. I hope he gets the game against T&T if the US clinches again StV&G.
This many have been beat to death, but are we still really at a point where we need to call in Wondo and Beckerman? This is a couple games against inferior opposition. Why not get some younger guys in or new faces? Chances are they won’t play anyway. I may lose it if either of these guys sees the field.
The only flaw to your logic is thinking they won’t play.
Danny Williams has been playing well enough to make an argument that he should be selected over Beckerman. Also, if the that roster spot is unlikely to play it might be worth bring in a youngster for the training experience. It is not like the US are playing a CONCACAF heavy hitter like Costa Rica or Mexico. Players like Trapp, Shipp, Hyndman, and Kitchen would be worth bring in for the long term.
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Wondo should not be called up again IMO. Why not bring in Green now that he has made the first team at Bayern? Maybe I missed an update but isn’t Boyd and Johannsson both healthy now? That is the most mind numbing selection to me.
If it was me Mo Edu would be hopping airplanes and Uber-ing to the BSFC games in order to expedite his return… but hey- he’s just a DP.