Photo by Earl Gardner
Philadelphia Union
Is the Open Cup redundant for Philly and other local teams?
Or should the Cup be a priority for the Union?
As a surprise to many, the Union – even after giving up two to NYCFC – are the second best defensive set piece team in the league.
Major League Soccer
Orlando City pays a thoughtful tribute to Pulse Nightclub victims a year after the tragedy. A mural has been created at the stadium to honor the lives lost. Beautiful – let love win, folks.
A preview of tonight’s Open Cup matches.
Is the Cup the hipster brand of American soccer?
Your Team of the (very abbreviated) Week.
Zlatan to MLS rumors are totally not getting old (video).
USL
USL clubs seek Open Cup glory.
Eastern Conference power rankings see Bethlehem Steel rise up to 9th.
FC Cincinnati has announced designs for their new proposed stadium.
Speaking of, FC Cincinnati and Harrisburg City Islanders have moved their match up to Saturday 7/22. It will no longer be broadcast as the USL Game of the Week on ESPN3, but will still be available on YouTube.
NWSL
After some health scares, the league has responded to concerns about scheduling kickoffs in the hottest hours of the day.
The international break is the perfect time for coaching changes.
U.S. Soccer
More player rankings for U.S. vs. Mexico.
A thank you note to Bruce Arena.
More accolades: Bruce gets it right. Arena’s keys to success. The U.S. are fun to watch again.
NYT takes notice of the team’s change in fortune. It was a feat five months in the making.
I generally agree that I’m tired of seeing the Union play Harrisburg every year in the USOC, but I wonder if it’s good for their players, seeing as they get annual exposure to the MLS team most likely to scout them and take notice.
This is a team any SoB can get behind: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/this-amateur-soccer-team-headquartered-in-a-liquor-store-never-practices-and-rarely-loses/2017/06/12/ed86d150-4f9a-11e7-be25-3a519335381c_story.html?utm_term=.0e143bd5986e
Fantastic story! Hope they win and that we will play them next!
Would be so great if they beat DC.
Thanks for linking this story. Awesome. If they beat D.C. that would be amazing.
i’m rooting for these guys for sure. been following their story for a couple weeks.
Or you get behind one of the many local teams playing right here in your area.
I think you misread the article on set piece defense. It said that Houston is the second best in expected goals against behind Philly. So the Union are first, although it is based on expected goals, not actual goals. So the Union are not giving up many good chance set pieces.
Posted this on yesterday’s roundup this morning but wanted to make sure it was seen…
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https://twitter.com/stuholden/status/874419690415828992
If I saw Guzan’s recent play (and Hamid’s play for the past 1.5 years) I’d consider switching to the US as well.
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Remember when everyone thought we were ironclad set with the next generation of GK (Hamid, Sean Johnson, etc)….
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OH the irony if the next long-term GK is Klinsman’s kid
Yup.
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Also, I believe Frei is taking his citizenship test soon and will then be able to suit up for the US after the FIFA paperwork is done.
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FWIW the best “next gen” keeper IMO is Horvath.