Roster News

Union acquire goalkeeper Joe Bendik

Photo: Earl Gardner

The Union have a new second-string keeper, acquiring goalkeeper Joe Bendik from Columbus Crew SC in exchange for a 2020 second-round pick on Friday morning.

Simultaneously, the club ended Carlos Miguel Coronel’s loan, returning him to Red Bull Salzburg in Austria.

The move was prompted by Salzburg’s desire to have the Brazilian keeper back in their squad for the 2019-20 campaign.

“Red Bull Salzburg approached us, expressing interest in having Carlos back this summer, prior to the expiration of his loan agreement at the end of our season,” explained Union sporting director Ernst Tanner. “We were happy to oblige as we have worked out a solution in acquiring Joe from Columbus.”

Bendik, 30, has over seven years of MLS experience. His 176 regular-season appearances have come with Portland Timbers (2012), Toronto FC (2013-15), Orlando City SC (2016-2018), and Columbus Crew SC (2019).

Bendik, a starting-caliber goalkeeper in MLS, is best known in Unionland for being on the receiving end of two of the most dramatic free-kick goals in club history — winners hit by Kleberson against Toronto in 2013 and Tranquillo Barnetta against Orlando in 2016.

The move is a win-win-win for all involved. From the Union perspective, Coronel wasn’t exactly a bust, but he was a foreign goalkeeper (requiring an international slot) in a league full of capable domestic backups who had seemingly been passed on the depth chart by Homegrown product Matt Freese. Bendik is a more-than-capable veteran backup to Andre Blake who relieves pressure on the Union’s international slots — and gets a chance to make a deep playoff run. The cost to the Union is essentially zero, as Tanner has indicated that the club sees no value at all in the MLS SuperDraft. It’s another sharp piece of business by the Union front office.

As for Coronel, he gets to return to his parent club and make a case to be their full time starter. Coronel departs the Union having appeared in four matches (three starts), keeping one clean sheet.

Bendik is available immediately for Philadelphia.

7 Comments

  1. Not gonna lie, rather sad we lost Coronel. Thought he was a great guy the two times I got to interact with him and he had good performances between the sticks.

  2. Given MLS roster rules, using an international spot on a backup keeper is just not smart. Wish him the best with Salzburg.

  3. SilverRey says:

    Quick – everyone hide your fathead Bendik faces, he’s coming over here!!!

  4. Andy Muenz says:

    What is his reaction going to be on Alumni night when he meets Kleberson and Barnetta?

  5. Solves an issue, meh. Nothing exciting.

  6. Gonna have to apologize to him from the River End.

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