Photo: Marjorie Elzey
Philadelphia Union
The Union dropped another match at home, falling 2-0 to NYCFC.
What they’re saying in New York, New York.
National coverage of the match.
Ale Bedoya’s thoughts on EL Brujo’s red card.
The Union 2 also dropped a match against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds 4-2.
MLS
Everything we learned from Saturdays action in the league.
It was a point a piece for Inter Miami and Nashville in a battle of second year teams.
The Union’s CCL opponent, Atlanta United, also struggled in league play this weekend.
Speaking of CCL teams, the Portland Timbers also got smoked.
World
Liverpool and Manchester United’s match was postponed due to fan protests.
Gotham FC and Racing Louisville played to a 0-0 draw in the NWSL Challenge Cup.
While the Houston Dash and Portland Thorns also drew 1-1.
Brenden Aaronson scored in RB Salzburg’s march to a trophy.
Manchester City got even closer to a Premier League title
This is where you can still see the glaring differences between the US and Mexico. The Liga MX sides have depth…..they can roll two sides out there. If you watch Liga MX, if it’s footy…I’m watching, they do not have the trouble MLS sides do in their domestic league. There academies have been in place longer and they have a steady belt of talent to provide the first team. Most of the top Liga MX sides can put a second team out there without much drop off. The Union are, ironically, better equipped to deal with this than a lot of other MLS sides….it’s just up to the Union to blood them. I understand the past few matches haven’t been ideal to do it….but again, come August I would hope they realized this from the last run of 5 matches…..to get points domestically, they are going to have to. Bedoya needs a break from time to time….you can literally see him struggle in movements late in matches over the last few weeks. MLS clubs are going to continue to struggle in the CCL until they have stamp to build rosters or the academies continue to develop.
I think you are over-looking the difference between mid-season and first 3-weeks of the season. As well as the rising quality of MLS. Previously the top squads could run out a “second team” against the cellar dwellers and expect a competitive match.
No doubt there is rising quality in the MLS. But still no where near Mexico. It’s never about the first 11, of corse than can play them straight up. It’s the next 11, and the 11 after that……where they are still a much deeper than our clubs…or national team. Previous top clubs running out a second squad and expecting a competitive match? Besides a blow out here or there….that still rings pretty true. Lastly, it is the first three weeks……but points are points…..and we have dropped a bunch that can hurt you come September. I am not overlooking anything. In most leagues around the world…..your first 10 matches kind of dictate where you are going…..look it up if you like. The MLS the way it designed is slightly different with that….but the premise should be the same. Especially if your goal is any hardware out of any of these competitions when it’s all said and done.
Not sure who is highlighted in the feature photo, but that isn’t NYCFC!