Daily news roundups

US routs Belize, Klinsmann on McInerney, Altidore signs with Sunderland, Union bits, more news

US

A 6-1 win to open Gold Cup group play. A first half hat trick from Chris Wondolowski despite the fact that he was carrying the weight of an extra “W” on his back. Landon Donovan scoring his 52nd international goal as well as his 50th and 51st international assist (interesting backstory there). Goals from former Union man Michael Orozco Fiscal and everybody’s favorite Stuart Holden. Mix Diskerud is cap-tied. Despite the fact that Jack McInerney didn’t get into the game—and he will soon enough, oh yes he will—it was worth staying up until the end, even if the end came around 1 am.

Wondolowski so enjoyed being cheered for a change after scoring in front of the Portland crowd that he hoped the fence after scoring his first goal. “Pretty different, usually it’s the opposite of that. These fans are amazing. They provide such atmosphere that it’s great no matter what…I was pretty excited, and to see those guys going crazy, yeah, I just hopped over the wall and wanted to go up there.”

Donovan said, “It was a great night, the crowd was great, the energy was great, I thought we started well. I was a little disappointed to give up a goal, but I think it was a great night for us and a great night for the team and a good start to the tournament.”

Interestingly, Jurgen Klinsmann said Wondolowski and Orozco Fiscal were selected because the game was played on turf and Herculez Gomez and Oguchi Oneywu both have had knee injuries.

Klinsmann said of whether Jack McInerney can expect serious minutes during the tournament,

“I think for a player like Jack, right now it’s a tremendous learning curve. You train every day with these guys and you see, ‘Okay this is my club level and this is the national team’. He’s coming along, we’re happy with him, we see him, we see his talent and he’s getting more confident every time he’s getting on the practice field.

“In the Gold Cup, it’s a bit tricky because we can only sub three guys. It would have been easier maybe (with) two or three preparations games, then you throw him in there to get a couple of minutes in, it’s no problem. But now with the rules, only having three, you want to make sure that you make the right ones based on what you see really in training as well, but he’s on a good path.”

Remember how, not so long ago, there was widespread doubt about Klinsmann’s project to transform the USMNT? The AP says now Klinsmann’s plan appears “masterful.” Sure, it was only Belize, you might reasonably think, but isn’t it about time the US put up the kind of scoreline that their opponent’s quality deserved? Klinsmann said, “We took it seriously. We mentioned that before, yesterday and the last couple of days. The team was very focused. They wanted to get the goals, and they did. And therefore, we are very satisfied.

At MLSsoccer.com, Matthew Doyle says that one thing that was learned from the last two games is that Klinsmann must find a way to get Bradley, Donovan, and Holden on the field together. “The main issue,” Doyle writes, “is that I’m not sure Holden recognizes our own defensive weak spots as quick as he needs to—he’s always looking for passing lanes and pressure points, which would force Bradley into more of a shield or even destroyer role. Holden’s good, but I’m not sure he’s good enough to justify that.”

Match reports and recaps from PSP, US Soccer, CONCACAF, MLSsoccer.com, ASN, ESPN, ProSoccerTalk, SBI, Soccer America, SI, Goal.com, Philly Soccer News, The Sports Network, and The AP.

Player ratings from MLSsoccer.com, ProSoccerTalk, and Goal.com.

FSC didn’t really show much of the tifo—a rather shocking omission from the broadcast—but here’s a look at the excellent work put in by the American Outlaws and Timbers Army folks in Portland.

By the way, Costa Rica defeated Cuba 3-0 in the first Group C game of the day.

Word is that Kasey Keller will coach the US goalkeepers from the quarterfinals through the finals, should they advance that far, of course (knocks on wood).

It’s official: Jozy Altidore has signed a four-year deal with Sunderland that is reportedly worth $13 million, a new record for a US player (Altodore held the previous record).

Altidore said, “I’m excited; anybody that knows anything about football knows that the Barclays Premier League, when you look at everything as a full package, is the biggest league in the world. I’m thrilled to be here and I’m looking forward to getting adjusted as quickly as possible. It’s a fantastic club, everyone here is so welcoming, I’m really excited about this season—it has everything here, all the combinations to be a big club so I’m really excited to be a part of it.”

ESPN on what Altidore can expect at Sunderland.

At SI, Andy Glockner says Altidore is ready to return to the Premier League while Brian Straus wonders if the move will payoff.

Philadelphia Union

Conor Casey made the bench in this week’s MLScoccer.com Team of the Week.

Leo Fernandes is thankful to have had the opportunity to start in the last two Union games. “It was a great opportunity for me. It was like a dream come true. It was probably one of the toughest conditions [I could play in]. But I felt like I did well. So I’ll now be ready for anything.”

Fernandes said he likes playing as a central attacking midfielder. “I just like the idea of having the ball at my feet. I like to control possession and try to make the game. I’d like to play there again.”

More power rankings: At MLSsoccer.com, the Union drop two spots to No. 11. Soccer America also drops the Union two spots, this time to No. 8. ProSoccerTalk has them at No. 9.

In the latest Castrol Weekly Top 20, Zac MacMath comes in at No. 11 and Sebastien Le Toux at No. 18. The top five Union players in the Full Index are Jack McInerney (No. 2), Conor Casey (No. 18), Sebastien Le Toux (No. 43), Amobi Okugo (No. 53), and Zac MacMath (No. 80).

Local

Harrisburg City Islanders will look to bounce back from Saturday’s 2-1 road loss to Wilmington Hammerheads when they host LA Blues tonight (7 pm, USL Live).

Harrisburg’s Sainey Touray received an honorable mention for the USL PRO Team of the Week for his then equalizing goal in Saturday’s loss.

Harrisburg have signed defensive midfielder Kenny Caceros ahead of the roster freeze deadline on July 20.

Former Red Land High School/Lock Haven University standout Dustin Bixler’s number will be retired by Harrisburg just before the kickoff against Richmond Kickers on Saturday (7 pm, USL Live). At halftime, City Islanders will unveil their all-decade team as part of their ongoing tenth anniversary season celebrations.

Reading United forward Larry Ndjock will miss at least a week with a knee injury. Reading host Long Island Rough Riders on Friday at 7 pm.

The Philadelphia University men’s team has released its 2013 schedule.

MLS

The summer transfer window opened on Tuesday and time was not wasted in announcing new signings. San Jose signed well traveled English defender/midfielder Jordan Stewart. Toronto traded Luis Silva to DC for allocation money. DC United sold Alain Rochat, recently acquired from Vancouver, to Swiss side Young Boys. DC have also signed midfielder-forward Collin Martin to a homegrown player contract. Chicago has loaned midfielder Álvaro “Flaco” Fernández to Uruguayan side Club Nacional de Football. Portland have sent midfielder Michael Nanchoff on loan to Swedish club Jönköpings Södra IF trough November.

Queens Councilman Leroy Comrie says the proposed stadium in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park won’t work, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. says siting a new stadium in his neighborhood would make sense, and NYCFC spokeswoman Risa Heller says the team is considering all options.

In Orlando, a new $60 million plan could be a part of a soccer specific stadium package.

Time Magazine weighs in—rather weakly—on the YSA controversy.

NWSL

Sydney Leroux, who scored three goals in in two games for Boston Breaker’s last week, has been voted Player of the Week.

Elsewhere

Qatar is reportedly planning on spending $200 billion on preparations for the 2022 World Cup.

The Guardian on Iraq’s improbable path to the semifinals of the U-20 World Cup where they will face Uruguay today (1:47pm, ESPNU, ESPN3).

Reuters reports, “Four Nigerian amateur teams involved in two promotion deciders at the weekend that yielded a total of 146 goals have been suspended.” One game ended 79-0, the other 69-0.

 

2 Comments

  1. Chris “I dont deserve to be starting the all star game at all” Wondo playing so well was the worst part about that game.

  2. fantastic TIFO; thanks for posting!

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