Daily news roundups

News roundup: Union get first playoff win, Steel lose, MLS playoff action

Photo: Earl Gardner 

Philadelphia Union 

THE UNION DID IT. They defeated the New York Red Bulls 4-3 on Sunday for their first playoff win.

What they’re saying in North Jersey.

National coverage of the match. 

The Bethlehem Steel lost their season finale, falling 5-1 to the Charleston Battery. 

Alejandro Bedoya, the ultimate captain.

MLS 

It took 10 years, but the Union have their “moment”.

There will be an El Trafico playoff edition. 

It looks like Sacramento will be the next expansion team.

Atlanta United defeated New England Saturday. The Union will play in Atlanta on Thursday.

Here’s the remaining matchups in the playoffs after round 1.

World 

Manchester United couldn’t hang on for a win against Liverpool.

China will host the 2021 Club World Cup. 

Bulgaria’s national team coach has resigned after his comments about racial abuse towards England players.

How Burger King and a video game are making this club famous. 

23 Comments

  1. Best. Monday. Ever.

  2. John O'Donnell Jr says:

    So that one and done playoff system seems to be working out okay. Home teams five and one with intensity of games outstanding. Also first six games decided without penalty kicks.

    • Certainly no penalty kicks at Talen with Penso refusing to call any of them…

    • el Pachyderm says:

      Hard to argue, John.
      .
      I’m still struggling with the Sunday – Thursday 4 day turn around coming off 120 minutes. But hard to argue.
      .
      MLS is a frenetic histrionic dual diagnosis schizophrenic you kinda sit back and marvel at…and marvel I did.

    • Yup. Personally I think the one-game system is excellent. It increases the value of the regular season too. E.g. the Union have to go to Atlanta because they choked at the end of the season. That’s what they deserve.

      Meanwhile 538.com gives us a 32% chance — highest of all the road teams. I’ll take it.

  3. OneManWolfpack says:

    That Red Bull recap was brief and sad… I enjoyed the shit out of it 🙂

    • I actually thought it was a bit racist given that Fabian is characterized as “The Mexican…” Why wasn’t Josh Sims called “The Brit…” when they were describing his goal?

      • I took it more as an attempt to emulate English reporting on the sport. Full of second references by nationality.

      • The problem with that thought is that there were 4 other players mentioned multiple times in the article, 3 of whom take up international spots on the NJ roster and Blake who played for Jamaica just over a week earlier (and was on the bench Tuesday night). Why were none of them referred to by nationality?

      • Key word is “attempt.” I think it was the only second reference in the piece, but if I were editing it, I’d have used Mexican International if at all.

    • I applaud Pete’s second comment for its advice on how to avoid any possible hints of racial overtone.
      .
      Many thanks Pete. I will try to remember to follow your advice.

      • Chris Gibbons says:

        It’s a good point and a hard one to work into an article without just repeating the player’s name over and over again.

        His name, his nationality of origin, his previous club/league, he-of-so-and-so-fame, etc…

  4. el Pachyderm says:

    Ray’s had some moments this year but I’d like his detractors to step up and give credit today. Arguably best player on the field for his team… leader.
    .
    Ray and Alejandro. Picked that team up and carried it when it needed to be carried.
    .
    I’ll wait.

    • Think back to Ray Gaddis when he first came.
      .
      Full marks to Ray for improving himself. Full marks.
      .
      Full marks to the club’s technical staff for laying out how he could do it and for giving him the opportunity to do so.
      .
      Rarely if ever has Ray Gaddis not given his club and its fans everything he had to give.

    • I thought Bedoya limping off for the final time at the end to his more than deserved standing ovation was one of the more poignant moments of the entire event.
      .
      I am not sharp enough as a sports performance analyst to tell what I was instinctively timely noticing, but something about his running was different after the first time he came off the field with the leg.
      .
      He and Haris together have been a remarkable combination. Brains compensating for each other’s weaknesses, among many other characteristics I am sure.
      .
      Every one of us hopes Jim Curtin is correct that it was just a cramp and nothing more.

    • Ray has been one of the best team players in terms of his ability to improve his game. I have been a huge fan from day one. He and the whole team really put in a gutsy performance! As stated many times,the team bailed out Andre. That may also be a first. Still trying to shake the chill off. Thanks to all the fans for the noise. My shoes should be dry by tomorrow.

    • In Tanner We Trust says:

      Gaddis has always been one of my favorite players, but it’s mostly because he’s just an amazing person. He never fails to give his best, and Sunday his best was more than good enough. Well done Ray. There’s a difference between a doubter and a hater. Any haters of Ray Gaddis need to stay silent.

    • I’ve been one of Ray’s biggest detractors. Have been for years, but the dude did everything you could want today.

    • Yes, yes, and yes.

      Left the stadium with my son, and it was hard for us to decide who was MotM. He suggested Bedoya. I told him, “Ale is my runner-up. The dude who was all over the pitch today, and made multiple excellent defensive and offensive plays, was Ray Gaddis.”

  5. el Pachyderm says:

    JEROME! JEROME!
    .
    Wherefore art Thou?
    .
    Sincerely,

    The Chorus.

  6. In Tanner We Trust says:

    I don’t think Aaronson has received the credit he deserves today. The reason I believe in the 4-4-2 is because Aaronson is relentless. He was a younger version of Monty all game. Physical and played with an edge, played with a mean streak. NJPC were exhausted by the 60th minute, and they had no attack. By the time Fafa came in for Brenden, they had no answer for his speed. Not to mention they had no ability to counterattack. The U defence beat them in every race up and down the field it seemed.

    • The team belongs in a 4-2-3-1, and this match was a fine demonstration of that point (which I’ve been making for weeks).

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