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Recaps, quotes, reaction to Dallas draw, more

Photo: Courtesy of Philadelphia Union

Philadelphia Union

Recaps from Saturday’s draw in Dallas from PSP (we were there!), MLSsoccer.com, the Union website, The Inquirer, Philly Soccer News, Sports Network, Goal.com,

In this postgame quote sheet, Peter Nowak says,

  • “We talked about how we are going to start the game and we wanted to continue to play how we did against New York, but they got the goal in the seventh minute which basically cuts you off immediately.”
  • “We made some pretty good adjustments at halftime and basically executed very well in the second half. We created chances. We scored a goal and a couple of inches of luck here and there and we could have won the game. The 45 minutes was a good continuation of what we’ve been talking about in the past weeks and months of how we want to play and is a good sign of the future.”
  • “This is a very positive result for us after a disappointing loss against New York. Because we all felt bad thinking we had played our best game of the season, so it’s a good sign of the continuation. That the guys are starting to believe in the way we play. As I’ve said, there’s still work to do, but we are moving forward as a group and we are going to keep fighting”

The quote sheet heads into bizarro world when the subject turns to what Nowak has been seeking to change this season.

“What we tried to change was just the defensive game. Which we didn’t have in the first part of seven or eight games and we’ve tried to make it better. Now we are more dangerous. People are looking at us like ‘what are we going to do?’ We made the changes and we get shots, so the backline is stepping up and creating room and creating the chances. It’s time. It’s the new guys settling in. They know each other. They play with each other, so now the understanding as a group is pretty good and we’re going to keep fighting.”

Nowak says of the Union’s newest member, “We had Michael Lahoud with us for the first time, so he tried to find his feet and understand the system.” Because that’s what you do, on the road, on a three game losing streak, you give the guy who’s been with the team for little more than 72 hours a start so he can “find his feet,” not to mention the feet, ankles, and shins of several of the Dallas players.

In the first half, the Union had zero shots—no shots on target or off, no shots blocked. In the second half they had nine shots, three on target, five off and one blocked. Says Michael Farfan, “I think in the first half we just couldn’t get a rhythm. We weren’t possessing the ball too well. But in the second half we came out and spread it out a little more. We adjusted well and we got a good amount of chances.”

A new starting goalkeeper. Two starters leaving the game with injuries. Daunting stuff. “I think that’s just something we’ve dealt with all year,” says Sheanon Williams. “We’ve always had someone injured or have had a red card situation, so guys have been filling in all year. Everybody knows they have to be ready to play and step up when the team needs him.”

Union Tally and Philly Soccer News look at Chase Harrison’s first-ever MLS start. Nowak called his performance “very courageous.”

FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman blames the refs for allowing the game to get too physical. “Any team you play, there is a third team, which is the officials. It’s the only group that can control physical play, dangerous play, and if it doesn’t get that way, you will always find teams that are physical.”

Reaction from Dallas blogs Big D Soccer and 3rd Degree.

The 90th Minute, the new weekly radio show about the Union, debuts tonight on SportsRadio 610WIP at 7pm. The show will be broadcasting from PJ Whelihan’s Pub in Cherry Hill and will be hosted by Carl Cherkin and Kerith Gabriel. The first guests are scheduled to be Nick Sakiewicz and Chris Albright. The broadcast is open to the public so be sure to get there early.

Danny Califf

Califf explained to ESPN LA about last week’s trade, “I was unhappy with the way it was handled and the way it was said I had asked for a trade. That’s what I was unhappy with. I understand trades happen. We were happy in Philly, but by no means does that mean I’m not happy to be here. That’s ridiculous.”

Califf explained that part of his message when he spoke to Kerith Gabriel and Chris Vito last week about the trade was for Philly fans. “I felt I owed it to the fans in Philly that they know that I didn’t walk into the office and ask for a trade. Even with all the garbage that had gone on over the course of the season with myself and Peter, I felt I owed it to them.”

He said of Nowak’s assertion that he has been too injured to play, “I don’t even really have a clear handle on how that situation evolved either. It was a tough situation…I think that there’s some uncertainty sometimes with a bunch of different things, so I’m hoping that here I can come and be in a situation that’s stable, and the communication lines are going to be open with some people that I’ve known for a long time and played with, so I’m looking forward to that part a lot.”

Califf started on Saturday for Chivas USA against LA Galaxy. Califf won Man of the Match honors and Chivas won their first home game of the season. Do yourself a favor and avoid looking at any photos of Califf wearing a Chivas jersey. I did so on an empty stomach and felt nauseous, goodness knows what will happen to you on a full stomach. You may also want to avoid reading this piece, which underscores what a great asset Califf was for Chivas in the victory which, in addition to being their first of home game of the season, was their first win over LA (who are having the worst start ever for a defending MLS champion) in five years. You’re welcome, Chivas USA.

Local

Reading United defeated defending PDL Eastern Conference champions Long Island Rough Riders 1–0 on Saturday. Both teams will play in the second round of the US Open Cup on Tuesday, Reading traveling to face Charleston Battery and Long Island at Harrisburg City Islanders.

Yann Ekra scored three for the City Islanders in their 4–0 thumping of Dayton Dutch Lions. Morgan Langley scored the other goal, as well. City Islander’s goalkeeper Nick Noble stopped a PK in the first half.

Ocean City Nor’easters Defeated Baltimore Bohemians 2–0 in their season opener despite going a man down in the 43rd minute and Baltimore possessing perhaps the snazziest jersey in the United States.

On Friday, Reading United announced a new enhanced partnership with YSC Sport that will see “see regular interaction between Reading United’s top-level collegiate players from around the country and Philadelphia Union youth players from around the greater Philadelphia Region.”

Perkiomen Valley goalkeeper Emily Armstrong is in the running for the Gatorade State Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

Jersey Premier Soccer will be holding JPS Junior Premier and Premier Team tryouts for the 2012-13 season with play starting in Fall 2012. Boys tryouts, ages groups U-9 through U-10 will be held Wednesday, May 30 and Monday, June 4, girls tryouts U-9 through U-15 on Tuesday, May 29 and Thursday, May 31. For more information, contact JPS general manager  Neil Holloway at nholloway@globalpremiersoccer.com.

West-Mont United Soccer will be holding the Battle at Hill Top tournament in August. The girls tournament will take place August 18-19, the boys tournament August 25-26, For more information, contact tournament director Ian Dawson.

MLS

In the Eastern Conference, first place New York defeated eighth place Montreal 2–1 despite being down to ten men. DC moved into second place with a 3–1 win over last place Toronto. Kansas City dropped to third place with a 2–2 draw against Colorado. Chicago is in fourth place after falling 2–1 at Portland. New England remains in fifth, Houston in sixth, after a 2–2 draw. Seventh place Columbus drew 1–1 at San Jose. The Union remain in ninth after their 1–1 draw in Dallas.

Women’s Soccer

WPS Elite

The Philadelphia Fever played to a 2–2 draw against New England Mutiny on Sunday night in their home opener. Look for our match report and photo essay later today. The Courier Post has a report.

Fever midfielder Erin Beck gets a profile in her hometown paper.

New England Mutiny had defeated Chesapeake Bay Charge on Saturday night, 4–2.

The New York Independence, I mean the New York Fury, defeated WNY Flash 1–0 away on Saturday.

WPS

More on the end of WPS, which officially ceased operations for good on Friday, from Fox Soccer, Soccer Nation, Potomac Soccer Wire, the Equalizer, MLS Reserves, SB Nation, DeadSpin, the AP, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Marietta Journal, New York Daily News, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, The Star-Ledger,

Potomac Soccer Wire recounts the effect of the Borislow lawsuit on the folding of the league. Minutes before the announcement that the league had dissolved, it was announced that the lawsuit had been settled.

Abby Wambach says of Borislow, whom she has supported since she joined his magicJack team, “But I’m sure Dan still has a huge commitment to women’s soccer, and I know he’s going to be over in London. I’m sure he’s masterminding some kind of plan in a futuristic way to try to help women’s soccer, and maybe get women’s professional soccer back on the map.”

Borislow blames a lack of support from US Soccer for the demise of WPS.

Yael Averbuch says that while WPS was not unsuccessful, it was unsustainable.

ESPNW wonders what’s next for the women’s professional game in the US.

US

On Sunday, Jurgen Klinsmann added 11 players to the 16 already called up for the upcoming USMNT friendlies and World Cup qualifiers. The final 23-player roster will be released on May 25.

The World Cup qualifier against Guatemala (June 12, 10pm) will only be available in the US via pay-per-view. Traffic, the Brazilian-based company that owns the rights to broadcast the game, is the same company that owns the NASL.

Pia Sundhage says picking the roster for the USWNT for the Olympics will be hard.

The Goalkeeper catches up with former Independence midfielder Lori Lindsey at the USWNT camp in Princeton.

Elsewhere

Jonathan Wilson recaps the Champions League final.

Leaders at the G8 summit took time out to watch the Champions League final.

Eric Abidal has been discharged from hospital six weeks after undergoing liver transplant surgery.

6 Comments

  1. James "4-3-3" Forever says:

    While we all know the issues surrounding the team on and off the field, I hope all soccer fans here can put that aside and tune into the WIP show. Right now, making sure this show does well, and proving that our voices as soccer fans in this part of the country are numerous is important for the long term success of soccer here.

  2. Tir Na Nog rocked on Saturday with circa 150 Chelsea fans celebrating big time. Surprised that the establishment is still standing…
    Looking forward to welcoming Chelsea to Philly in July! If you want to sit with Chelsea supporters then look us up on Facebook (Philly Blues). You have until Thursday to get tickets with us.

  3. “A good sign for the future”? Nowak’s reading of signs for this team differs greatly from my own. Yes, they improved in the second half but stepping up from total crap to something recognizable as soccer is not that big a leap. Becoming an exciting and entertaining team like the one that showed up against the Pink Cows on a consistant basis is a step forward that I don’t think they can make this season. At least not under the Nowak regime.

  4. Joseph (aka virgoboy) says:

    Any further information about the show on WIP tonight? I don’t see anything on their website about it. It’s not listed in the schedule. They’ve got Baze-ball listed for 6:30 – 10:30pm…

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