Photo: Earl Gardner
Philadelphia Union
“[W]e kind of threw it away at the end,” said Alejandro Bedoya after Saturday’s frustrating home draw with Montreal Impact. “We let ourselves down. We weren’t clinical enough in front of goal. We had chances and we didn’t put it away when we should’ve put the game away.”
Said Warren Creavalle, “If you look at the run of the game, a good majority of the game, we were the better team and dominated through possession, chances created. I think we were clearly the better team. It hurts.”
And it’s hard to disagree. Forget about the missed PK call, the Union had several chances to put Montreal away and failed to do so. And so, the fourth place Union are now looking at a stretch of three road games — next week against Portland, who are always tough at home and making a playoff run of their own, then against currently first in the East Toronto the following Saturday, followed by second in the east NYRB the Saturday after that — before the team returns home on October 16 to host Orlando, currently sixth place and fighting to solidify a spot in the postseason themselves.
“[I]t’s going to be difficult,” Jim Curtin said after the game. “We’ve had a good eye on those three games going on the road, we knew it would be a challenge. At the same time, we’ve proven we can win on the road, we can get points on the road.”
Now, the Union will have to prove it again.
Recaps and reports at PSP (recap, postgame, photo essay), Philadelphia Union (recap, report, social), Philly.com, Delco Times (report, analysis), CSN Philly (recap, report), Philly Soccer News (recap, report), Brotherly Game (recap, analysis), Section 215, SBI (recap, report), Prost Amerika, Vavel, MLSsoccer.com (recap, Union, Impact), Montreal Impact, Montreal Gazette (recap, commentary), Pro Soccer Talk, MLS Multiplex, Last Word on Sports, and the AP. USA Today and Prost Amerika have photo galleries.
Vote Tranquillo Barnetta for Goal of the Week!
Armchair Analyst Matthew Doyle on the Union giving up a late equalizer:
It happens, especially to teams with a young defense. Nonetheless I see in Philly a team whose pieces fit together and a team that’s getting better at winning the little moments before they become big emergencies, and I like the long-term odds of any group fitting that description. It might not happen for them this year (I don’t think it will), but you can see the functionality of what Jim Curtin, Earnie Stewart et al are building.
It’s true, you know, it’s true.
Good news, Union fans, Maurice Edu went the full 90 in Bethlehem Steel’s 2-1 road loss to Charleston Battery on Saturday. Writes PSP’s Dylan Gerstley in his match report for the game, “His work for the Steel will surely speed his journey to match fitness, but signs of fatigue appeared throughout the game for the veteran midfielder.” Which should come as no surprise.
Section 215 asks if the Union can make a deep playoff run without a consistent center back pairing.
Philly Sports Nation looks back on the season thus far.
At Philly.com, Jonathan Tannenwald has a quick Q&A with former Union man Amobi Okugo. Tannenwald also talks to Okugo’s teammate at the Timbers and Lancaster native Zarek Valentin.
Bethlehem Steel
Derrick Jones scored his fifth goal of the season but Bethlehem fell 2-1 on the road to Charleston Battery on Saturday and are now winless over the last nine games. The final two games of the season are at home for 11th place Bethlehem, beginning with last place Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Sunday at 3 pm. Recaps and reports at PSP, Bethlehem Steel, Philly Soccer News, Brotherly Game, USLsoccer.com, The Post and Courier, Live5News, and Dirty South Soccer.
Philadelphia Union Academy
The Union U-12s were to play two games at YSC against their counterparts from PA Classics on Saturday but no match information has been posted at the team page at the USSDA website.
The Union U-13s were quickly on the front foot thanks to a goal from Asher Laackman in the 1st minute and another from Quinn Sullivan in the 9th minute. PA Classics responded with a goal of their own in the 10th minute but after that it was all Union. Laackman scored again in the 21st minute with additional goals from Jackson Debusschere (38′), Selmir Miscic (47′), and Micah Cain (57′) all contributing to the 6–1 win. The team faces New York Red Bulls U-13s on the road next Sunday.
As of this writing, no result has been posted for the U-14s scheduled match against PA Classics but, according to the Academy Twitter account, the team won, 4-1.
The Union U-15/16s were 3-0 winners against PA Classics. Daniel Bloyou opened the scoring in the 29th minute, with additional goals from Carter Emack (73′) and Nicholas Blacklock (75′).
The U-17/18s were 6-0 winners over PA Classics. Kalil ElMedkhar opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, before Issa Rayyan scored two minutes later. Emmanuel Perez added another goal in the 34th minute, with additional goals coming from Anthony Fontana (45′), Darius Lewis (78′), and Tiger Graham (90′).
Next Saturday, the Union U-13s, 14s, 15/16s, and 17/18s are on the road to face their counterparts from New York Red Bulls Academy. The same day, the U-12s are scheduled to have two road games against Cedar Stars Academy – Bergen.
Local
La Salle defeated Manhattan 3-0 on Saturday and are now 4-1, their best season start since 2001.
Temple University lost for the first time this season, falling 2-0 on the road to Rider.
Philadelphia University fell 2-1 to Caldwell.
The International Unity Cup opened group play on Friday. Play continues this Saturday and Sunday. More on the tournament at phila.gov, Philly.com, CBS Philly, and NBC10.
MLS
In the Eastern Conference, first place Toronto (46 points, 13-8-7) defeated ninth place Chicago (26 points, 6-13-8) 2-1 on the road. Second place NYRB gave up a two-goal lead in the final six minutes of play to draw 2-2 at home with eighth place DC (33 points, 7-9-12). Third place NYCFC (44 points, 12-9-8) was defeated 3-1 by seventh place New England (33 points, 8-12-9). Fourth place Philadelphia (41 points, 11-10-8) blew a one-goal lead late to draw 1-1 with fifth place Montreal (38 points, 9-8-11). Sixth place Orlando (34 points, 7-8-13) gave up an early lead and was defeated 4-2 on the road by Los Angeles. Last place Columbus (26 points, 5-11-11) gave up an early lead to fall 3-1 at home to Vancouver.
In the Western Conference, first place Dallas (51 points, 15-8-6) was defeated 1-0 at home by third place Colorado (46 points, 12-5-10). Former Union man Sebastien Le Toux assisted on the goal in what was Dallas’ first home loss of the season. Second place LAG (47 points, 11-4-14) came from one goal down to defeat Orlando, 4-2. Landon Donovan came on as a sub for the Galaxy in the 83rd minute. Fourth place Salt Lake (44 points, 12-9-8) lost 1-0 on the road to sixth place Portland (38 points, 10-11-8). It was the 100th consecutive sold-out game for the Timbers. Fifth place Kansas City (39 points, 11-12-6) went from being up 2-0 to draw 3-3 at home with last place Houston (26 points, 5-11-11) after giving up a 94th minute equalizer. Seventh place Vancouver (34 points, 9-13-7) came from behind to defeat Columbus 3-1 on the road, former Union man Andrew Jacobson scoring the go-ahead goal for the visitors. Eighth place San Jose (33 points, 7-8-12) scored first but settled for a 1-1 draw with ninth place Seattle (32 points, 9-13-5). Chris Wondolowski scored the Earthquakes goal, becoming the first MLS player to score at least ten goals in seven consecutive seasons.
Orlando Sentinel has a Q&A with Don Garber. Garber says of the league continuing to schedule games during FIFA international breaks, “We all…have challenges playing games at times of the year when the rest of the world is playing. I think we need to continue jamming it all into the best possible competitive format. We’ve taken more and more of the FIFA windows off as breaks, and I think you’ll see more of that in the years to come.”
The Tennessean reports, “An investor group that was recently awarded a new United Soccer League expansion franchise has suddenly changed its name from Nashville FC to Nashville SC after discovering trademark issues because of a youth soccer team with a similar name that has operated in Nashville for several years.” More at Nashville Business Journal.
NWSL
First place Washington fell 2-0 on the road to to fifth place Seattle on Sunday (on Wednesday it was Seattle losing 2-1 at Washington). Second place Portland defeated fourth place Western New York 3-2 to clinch a home game to start the playoffs. Third place Chicago clinched a playoff spot of their own with a 0-0 road draw with seventh place Kansas City. Sixth place Sky Blue came from behind to defeat ninth place Orlando 2-1 on the road. Eighth place Houston defeated last place Boston, 4-1.
In case you’re wondering, ESPNW reports Megan Rapinoe “stood and locked arms with her Seattle Reign FC teammates during the national anthem on Sunday.” More at SI.
On Friday, a statement from Washington Spirit players was posted on their club’s website in which the players expressed their disappointment with the decision by the owner of the club to play the national anthem in last Wednesday’s home game against Seattle while the teams were still in the locker room.
Headline at the Washington Post: “Soccer in the U.S. still looks like it’s for white girls”.
US
At the Paralympic Games, the US fell 2-0 to Iran on Saturday. Now 0-1-1 in their group, the team plays Argentina today at 1 pm (NBC Sports Live).
The AP reports, “Soccer injuries are sending soaring numbers of U.S. kids to emergency rooms, a trend driven in part by young players with concussions seeking urgent medical care, a study has found.”
ASN has 23 player who should make the USMNT roster for the Hex.
Elsewhere
PA Sport reports, “Michel Platini has been given permission by FIFA’s ethics committee to address the UEFA congress in Athens this week despite his four-year ban from all football-related activity.” More at Goal.com.
The AP reports, “A top official from football’s governing body says he is satisfied with progress in the construction of a 2018 World Cup stadium in St. Petersburg, which is years behind schedule and vastly over its original budget.”
After a strong start, it’s like deja vu all over again with a team that gets hurt because it can’t put chances away and can’t hold onto a lead in the final 30 minutes. 19 or 20 goals given up this year in the final third of regulation. Edu better be able to lock things down in back, or the playoffs, assuming we get there, will be very short in Philadelphia.
The Union showed at least one element of poor timing Saturday night. At halftime, the youth team playing their intrasquad game near the bridge side of the stadium had the word IMPACT all over their shirts. Maybe that team should have been invited on a different day…
that’s funny
the crowd seemed more into the halftime game than usual, maybe it was just refreshing to see the team in blue finish their chances
You sir are an observer of the inane. Well done Well done to you.
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Oh please… please please read the latest from 3four3.com today…..
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The whistle, you listen and look up to see a Truth Bomb set to detonate.
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There are those who teach and those who need to be taught…. 95% fall into the latter.
OK, I read it. Some good and valid points made, but if you’re selling something than what most are consuming, aren’t you just talking your own book and trying to generate customers?
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You also failed to mention that the reason that only 5% teach is because our society doesn’t value teachers of any profession and the pay isn’t worthy of the large role that each of them play in our lives.
Boy truth to your final comment… holy smokes.
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regarding the first part, the dude is a physicist and professor at Cal Poly… this is most definitely not about ‘talking your own book to generate customers’… its about providing a counter narrative. Its about education.
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He is? Not doubting you, just didn’t see that anywhere on the site.
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So they’re providing a free service? That’s great!
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Yes, he’s quite an intelligent dude with a whole other life outside footy, yet still claims, “if you don’t eat, shit and sleep this stuff, you are a hack.”
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The coaching information is free for coaches and those looking to increase understanding…also with a more structured and in depth coaching membership with stricter membership access.
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Built entirely from what his brother, Brian a LAG Academy coach learned while at La Cantera…..all for roughly $235.
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Based on the work alone to develop the curriculum and the platform and the clinics and The annual Summits—- one could easily see it as hopeful coaches stealing from the teacher(s)…
I think the piece is more descriptive of the sport’s past than it is of its present and future in the country. That said, it’s hard to argue against any of his points. Still, they bemoan a system that was set up to jump start the sport in this country 20 years ago and has a host of flaws that I think are understandable because they were and still are manipulations.
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I think today, those manipulations have begun to become obsolete. They stand in the way of progress for the sport that I think will be sorted out by greater access to media, competition and changing demographics. If ESPN does start paying attention and U.S. media begins to look critically at U.S. soccer, the sport will be better for it. That movement will be slow, but it’s better to let it happen naturally.
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U.S. Soccer and MLS should get out of the way of that progress, something they’re not going to be inclined to do because it inherently means letting go of control — something few people and/or institutions are want to do. I continue to think though that change will be driven, not only by fans and media competition, but by clubs themselves that are starting to see the current system as holding them back from even more lucrative and successful methods of building the club sport here in the country.
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What can I say. I’m more positive about U.S. soccer these days. Blame it on Christian Pulisic.
The hole jump start of the system 20 years ago was done with the INTENTION of an open pyramid.
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June 2012 the commissioner of MLS is on the record as saying, in essence “I do not think the system is stable enough YET” for an open pyramid we are still NEW at this… November 2015, I believe that same commissioner is on the record as saying an open pyramid has no future in MLS.
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I appreciate, Pete, your intellectual honesty as I’ve seen the growth in your worldview regarding the game. Keep digging. For those who choose apathy and the intention of only hearing white noise when the subject comes up.. you are the lemming MLS is hoping for from its customers.
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RE: Pulisc. I couldn’t agree more, though in fairness the young player developed himself after a very important year abroad at 7 and under the careful stewardship of two soccer parents who knew exactly when to get out of dodge.
If I have to bet on which force will win out — MLS or the 100+ -year-old global tradition and business of football — I’m betting on the latter. To do otherwise is to carry a belief in American Exceptionalism that crosses over into the territory of delusion.
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One thing I’ve very much come full circle on is the importance of U.S. players developing overseas. Especially when they are younger. Guys like Pulisic, Wood and Gooch and even Yedlin are best served playing in the best leagues they can — And those leagues are in Germany, the UK, Netherlands, etc. I don’t think MLS should be discounted, but the best players this country could get will be those that have challenged themselves and succeeded in those leagues.
Indeed.
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I actually see it a bit differently. I don’t think MLS is ever going to open…
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I think the pyramid will open under it, then ultimately along side it as the organic quality grows and windfalls of money are pumped into the other levels, then ultimately MLS will see it is necessary to join in order to remain relevant. How long this takes is anyone’s guess.
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This is my secret hope.
I’d bet on the open/closed pyramid. The MLS 1/2 after expansion hits some plateau of 30-36, maybe M&A with USL. What I wouldn’t count on, NASL making it. I think Garber will let them in when they’re crawling.
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BTW your windfalls of money comment kills me.
from the WP “Soccer in the U.S. still looks like it’s for white girls” article:
– Researchers and cultural critics agree: The inequities in youth sports revolve around money, and soccer is one of the least equitable. As Doug Andreassen, chairman of U.S. Soccer’s diversity task force, told the Guardian in June: “The system is not working for the underserved community. It’s working for the white kids.”
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if there’s anything to the legacy of the Union’s first stadium in Chester, i’d hope it would be a pioneer for serving as home for a youth system the city would embrace. i’d take this over any waterfront development that i’d only enjoy 18+ days a year.
MLS:to boldly go where no one has gone before. I don’t think the pyramid will ever open….at least not for the next fifty years. I believe we are already starting to see what will happen here. A minor league style baseball system being built around an academy & draft. With the league topping out at 32-36 teams. Right now they patiently wait as NASL keeps repeating the mistakes of the past. USL is there to step in as D2 if they fold. Eventually I could see multiple regional D3 leagues.
The only news that really matters for this season is how injured is Blake after landing on the pipe, Any word, anyone?
Not a peep since the team was off yesterday. Could be news today from any beat reporter at training but if not, I believe Curtin’s weekly presser is tomorrow then the team travels on Thursday.