Photo: Paul Rudderow
Philadelphia Union
The Union crushed Chicago, 3-0, advancing to the U.S. Open Cup Final for the first time in three years. (Cory Burke had a brace.) The boys in blue and gold will meet Houston on September 26 in Texas — the Dynamo beat LAFC, 3(7)-3(6).
The Union’s new sporting director is Ernst Tanner, Red Bull Salzburg’s academy director. He’ll officially be introduced today at Talen.
Tanner was Director of Football at Hoffenheim when the team added these players in 2010/2011: pic.twitter.com/PXxdPF9sTN
— Kevin Kinkead (@Kevin_Kinkead) August 8, 2018
Apparently, there’s an intense rivalry between the Union and the Revs. MLSStore.com is selling a shirt, so it’s gotta be true!
Brian Carroll‘s transition from professional athlete to financial advisor.
A Union Academy grad signed with a team in Switzerland’s third division.
Local
Must be something in the franchise. Bethlehem Steel FC beat Charlotte Independence, 3-0, too.
The Philadelphia International Unity Cup has 26 games scheduled this weekend.
MLS
Some transfer highlights:
- The Sounders got Bournemouth defender Brad Smith on loan.
- D.C. United reacquired goalkeeper Bill Hamid on loan.
- USMNT defender Jorge Villafaña is returning to Portland Timbers.
MLS may be the best sport for entrepreneurs.
Nineteen days after the fact, MLS fined Orlando City CEO Alex Leitao and striker Dom Dwyer undisclosed amounts for making social media comments about a penalty.
Around the globe
In the Canadian Championship opener, Toronto and Vancouver had a draw, 2-2.
Chelsea signed Kepa Arrizabalaga in record £71m deal, the highest fee ever paid for a goalkeeper, as Thibaut Courtois heads for Real Madrid.
Emerson Hyndman joined Scottish club Hibernian on loan.
Italy’s Serie A moves from beIN Sports to ESPN.
Iceland has a new coach.
Children should be barred from heading soccer balls, says a brain specialist.
Highlight of the day
Think maybe it’s time MLS formally acknowledged #SaveTheCrew and stopped treating it like a terrorist organization. This movement has encapsulated everything @MLS wants from its supporters, and now they’re threatened by it. It’s funny, really
— ___ (@tonguelife) August 7, 2018
Union v Revs in the annual El Crapico or the Not Downtown Derby by Levis. Sounds great (though to be fair, I’ve enjoyed some Union/Revs games).
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At the obvious risk of jinxing the whole thing into oblivion, Houston must be the best chance this club has had on paper anyway of winning this thing. Seattle and KC were both much better clubs when we played them in ’14 and ’15. It’s nice to be moderately excited. This club has a shot at some honest to god silverware.
Yeah this is a real chance to lift a trophy and maybe, JUST MAYBE, make Champions League and MAYBE spend some bucks and have a nice run of year or two to make up for the last 9 being so damn mediocre (at best).
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Plus it would be SO UNION to win it away from home, after having two chances to clinch it front of us.
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Wish it was closer so I could take the trip… still might try
Given that it is on the road against a Western conference foe, it about as close as it could be and, with the possible exception of Minnesota, against the team they have the best chance of beating.
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I am seriously considering making the trip (had a dream last night that I was trying to figure out how to get from the airport to the stadium).
Liberty Rivalry?!? It’s so much better to just NOT try. Who does this shit?
Hello and welcome to Philadelphia, Ernst Tanner.
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I look forward to the further execution of the: Vision. Philosophy. Plan.
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Many here will expect comeuppance in the table, playoff births and the like as measurements of success which is fine and understandable for that sect of fans.
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My metric for you, for this franchise and academy will be in the placing of talented players in leading academies throughout the footballing world as in my opinion this is the next step in the development pathway staircase locally and for the betterment of the National teams… and the one I hope Earnie Stewart was setting an intention towards as his infrastructure became more stable.
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Domestic success is understandable but Playing Well and Placing Players in the global environment IS the mission. FULL STOP.
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Go forth in the world with our players’ names.
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This is a Philadelphia Union Acadeny player.