Daily news roundups

Union in Colorado, All-Star Ballot time, West Chester at National Amateur Championship, US hosts Bolivia

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Volunteers are needed for a variety of positions to help out at the upcoming Copa America Centenario games at the Linc. If you are 18 years of age or older and are interested, email PhiladelphiaVolunteer@ca2016loc.org. There will be swag!

Philadelphia Union

Fresh on the heels of Wednesday night’s draw in Orlando, the Union are in Colorado to face the Rapids on Saturday in a game that probably no one thought would feature the first place teams in the Eastern and Western Conference when the league schedule came out (9 pm: TCN, MLS Live, Direct Kick, SiriusXM FC).

Look for our preview and quick reference later this morning. In the meanwhile, you can see previews at Philadelphia Union (know your opponent), Brotherly Game, Section 215MLSsoccer.com, Colorado Rapids (video preview, 10 things to know), Burgundy Wave (first look), Pro Soccer Talk, and Bleacher Report.

At Goal.com, Ives Galarcep calls Saturday’s match between the conference leaders one that should not be missed but also doesn’t seem to know that Andre Blake will be with the Union for the game, or that Colorado’s Shkëlzen Gashi is on international duty with Albania.

At Delco Times and SBI former Union man Zac MacMath admits there will be emotion when he faces his former team with Colorado. MacMath also says he’s not surprised at the success both teams have had so far this season: “Knowing both the coaches as I do, I’m not surprised at either of our teams being on top. (It’s) hard-working, selfless play, and it’s really worked well for both teams.”

The Denver Post on the opportunity presented for someone to step up and fill the shoes of Jermaine Jones and Shkëlzen Gashi, who are away from the Rapids on international duty. Dillon Powers is expected to start in place of Jones.

Also at the Denver Post, a report on how Marco Pappa is likely out from the Rapids until mid June because of a bone bruise on his knee. Colorado assistant coach John Spencer said on Wednesday, “It’s just day-to-day with Marco. We have to be careful we don’t rush him back too quickly and get any setbacks.”

Andre Blake lost out to Orlando’s Joe Bendik in the final voting for Save of the Week, 49 percent to 51 percent.

Topping the list at ESPN of MLS players who are “primed for success at Copa America” is Andre Blake.

With Blake leaving the Union to join Jamaica for the Copa America after Saturday’s game in Colorado, SBI names John McCarthy as one of the players in MLS who must step up to fill spots opened by players away on international duty for the tournament: “With Blake playing for Jamaica at Copa America, John McCarthy should be the man in net for the Union. While he likely isn’t the long-term solution for the Union, especially given Blake’s brilliance this season, McCarthy must hold strong as the last line of defense until the Jamaican returns.”

At MLSsoccer.com, Dave Zeitlin talks to Maurice Edu, who says it can be frustrating watching his team play while he recovers from injury: “It’s a weird balance still feeling like you want to be out there as soon as possible. But with the team doing well it gives me that kind of reassurance that when I do come back from injury, I don’t have to try to play through pain or be a superhero and do stupid stuff. It’s more I come back because it’s the right time and my body is completely healed.”

Eight Union players — Andre Blake, Keegan Rosenberry, Richie Marquez, Chris Pontius, Vincent Nogueira, Tranquillo Barnetta, Sebastien Le Toux, and CJ Sapong — are up for selection for the 2016 All-Star Game against Arsenal. You can cast your vote here.

At the Union and USL websites, reports on Ken Tribbett scoring his first-ever MLS goal and assist in Wednesday’s draw in Orlando.

The main takeaway in SB Nation Orlando City blog The Mane Land’s Five Takeaways from Wednesday night’s draw in Orlando? “It seems like every time the referees mess up, it’s against Orlando City. Finally, the club had a couple of very questionable calls go in their favor, both on the two second-half goals that ultimately helped the team pull a point out of this match.” More on Wednesday’s match at Metro.

The KYW Philly Soccer Show makes a list at MLSsoccer.com of MLS podcasts. What, no All Three Points?

Bethlehem Steel FC

Bethlehem Steel, in ninth place in the Eastern Conference (12 points, 3-3-3), is on the road to face defending USL champions Rochester Rhinos, currently in seventh place (14 points, 4-2-2), on Saturday at 6:05 pm (YouTube). Preview at Rochester Democrat & Chronicle.

At Unauthorized Bethlehem Steel FC Blog, a consideration of what the Bethlehem gameday 18 might look like, what with the entire Union roster continuing together from Orlando to Colorado, where they remain, as a Union spokesperson confirmed to PSP this morning.

The team has announced it “will offer a soccer clinic at no cost to children between the ages of 5-12 on Tuesday, June 7 from 6:15 -7:15 p.m. during the Lehigh Valley SoccerFest…The first 200 children to register will participate in a hands-on clinic led by Bethlehem Steel FC staff and players.”

Lehigh Valley Business has more on the announcement that Revolutions is Bethlehem Steel’s pub partner.

Harrisburg City Islanders

The City Islanders, eighth in the Eastern Conference (13 points, 4-5-1), is on the road to face FC Cincinnati, who are in fourth place (17 points, 5-2-2), on Saturday at 7 pm (YouTube). The teams played to a 1-1 draw in Harrisburg on May 7. Previews as Harrisburg City Islanders, FC CincinnatiCincinnati.com.

At Brotherly Game, Sean McPherson has a recap of Harrisburg’s win over Toronto FC on Tuesday.

PDL

Reading United, second place in the seven-team Mid Atlantic Division (6 points, 2-0-0) hosts fifth place NYRB U-23s (3 points, 1-1-0) on Saturday at 7 pm.

Ocean City Nor’easters, in sixth place in the Mid Atlantic Division (3 points, 1-1-0)  are on the road to Virginia to face third place Evergreen FC (4 points, 1-2-1) on Saturday.

Lehigh Valley United Sonic, last place in the Mid Atlantic Division (0 points, 0-2-0) is off this weekend before hosting Ocean City next Wednesday, June 1.

At the PDL website, Ocean City has two players on a list of the Top 20 prospects in the league, with midfielder Miguel Jaime coming in at No. 9, and forward Nathan Regis coming in at No. 13. Reading midfielder Bradley Fountain makes the list at No. 12.

US National Amateur Championship

West Chester United faces PSL-side Chicago Fire U-23s today at 5 pm in Chattanooga in the first game of the US Soccer National Amateur Championship. If they win, they will face the winner of Chattanooga FC-Quinto Elemento for a chance to lift the Hank Steinbrecher Cup on Saturday.

Local

The opening ceremony of Street Soccer USA’s Philadelphia Cup tournament takes place at the Art Museum today at noon, with games being staged on Saturday and Sunday.

Lancaster Online notes three players from Lancaster are on the MLS All-Star Ballot: Keegan Rosenberry, former Union man Andrew Wenger, and Travis Worra.

The Evening Telegraph reports negotiations to stage a Scottish Premier League game between Dundee and Celtic at Lincoln Financial Field are “85% complete.” The report says, “Sources close to the deal have confirmed the stadium has been booked, date set, travel plans put in place, tax implications ironed out and contracts drawn up by legal parties from across the pond, Parkhead and Dens Park.” The report says if the match is approved, it is likely to take place “the end of March, beginning of April” in 2017: “A decision on the match is expected in the coming weeks, with a conclusion to negotiations imperative prior to release of the top-flight fixtures by the SPFL on June 17.” More at Glasgow Evening Times.

MLS

Kaka has been called up by Brazil to replace the injured Diego Costa for the Copa America Centenario.

The league has announced a time change for the 2016 All-Star Game against Arsenal, which will now kickoff at 7:30 pm ET on Thursday, July 28, at Dick’s Sporting Goods Stadium in Colorado: “The time change avoids a conflict with the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention, an event which was scheduled after MLS had already settled on the July 28 date for the All-Star showcase.”

At MLSsoccer.com and American Soccer Analysis, more on why the Western Conference has been stronger than the Eastern Conference.

TV rating numbers from World Soccer Talk (glass half empty) Soccer America (glass half full).

US

The USMNT continues its Copa America preparations in Kansas City on Saturday when the team hosts Bolivia (8 pm: FS1,UniMás, Univision Deportes). Look for our preview later this morning. In the meanwhile, you can read previews at MLSsoccer.com, Soccer America, and Goal.com.

Pulisic! Pulisic!

At ESPN: “U.S. youth vs. veterans a welcome problem for Jurgen Klinsmann.”

At The Guardian, a good read on the USMNT’s 3-0 win over Argentina in the 1995 Copa America, which the US finished in fourth place. Earnie Stewart was part of the US team at the tournament.

In Chicago on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman in Chicago heard arguments on whether the USWNT has the right to strike before the Olympics to further their efforts to secure better wages and conditions. The judge has not announced when she will issue her ruling. More at New York TimesNBC Chicago, NBC News, ABC News Radio, and the AP.

Also on Thursday, the US Senate passed a nonbinding resolution “urging the United States Soccer Federation to immediately eliminate gender pay inequity and treat all athletes with the same respect and dignity.” More at HuffPost Sports, Think Progress,

Yawn.

Elsewhere

The UEFA Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid takes place on Saturday at 2:45 pm (Fox, Fox Soccer 2Go, ESPN Deportes). Check out the latest Footy on the Telly for listings of live soccer on TV, online, and on satellite radio.

Official: Manchester United has announced former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho as its new manager. The Special One is with United on a three-year deal. The Union is going to get some sweet allocation money when Mourinho signs Zlatan!

CONCACAF has announced Philippe Moggio as its new general secretary. “Moggio previously served as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Latin America and the Caribbean at the National Basketball Association…In his role as General Secretary, Mr. Moggio will act as the chief executive officer of the Confederation, leading its daily business and operations.”

18 Comments

  1. Man I am pissed about that save of the week. I spent hours voting for Andre, got him up to 60% and then after 10pmish Orlando fans went crazy. Ugh. Really wanted him to win as a nice screw you to Orlando.

    • Granted I might have overestimated my sway as by my calculations I can really only vote 6480 times an hour. While if even only a tenth of typical Orlando home crowd numbers vote just a couple times within an hour, that will easily exceed my output. And yes I thought too much about this and no, I had nothing better to do on a Thursday night. And yes the voting method is definitely broken.

  2. Andy Muenz says:

    When voting for the all-stars, I recommend supporting the Real Salt Lake players. The game is in San Jose on a Thursday so it would be nice if they get some extra running on their legs and some extra flying time before playing at Talen Energy Stadium the following Sunday.

  3. This topic was discussed in the comments a few days ago so…
    .
    From that Edu article on MLS:
    .
    “In early March, when the extent of his injury was first revealed, head coach Jim Curtin said that Edu would miss at least three months, meaning a return in mid-June after the Copa América break might be possible. But Curtin and Edu haven’t offered any timetables since and Edu admitted this week that, while he’s “made some pretty good progress,” it’s been a “slow healing process.’”
    .
    .
    .
    It sounds like they are going to take it slow and so we might be looking more towards July for him to return.

    • pragmatist says:

      We should all be perfectly fine with that. We’ll get a guy of his caliber back without him having half of a season of wear. If we keep our current pace going, that means he’ll be fresh for the playoffs, compared to most other players.
      .
      Works for me.

    • Well, the team is doing well. I’d love to have him back, but why rush it, unless Nogueira goes down for a long period of time?

      • Even still, that’s not a injury to rush. It has to be all the way healed or it’s a ticking time bomb out there.

    • Jim Presti says:

      Been saying that since the injury. We won’t be able to play until June then will need a month for match fitness. Won’t be starting until late July or August

  4. So the formation for the all-star game will be the always traditional 3-4-3 . . . since you can only vote in 3 defenders. I think the only teams that use that formation are playing in the South Korean league

  5. der Fussballzuschauer says:

    Has it been officially confirmed that John McCarthy will be replacing Andre Blake in between the Philadelphia Union sticks yet? … If so, it’s time for me to write an article praising the wisdom of the “Old Soccer Coach” – he spelled out his philosophy on what the Union goalkeeping strategy was going to be in advance of Blake’s departure for the Copa America tournament quite some time ago, as already has been documented.

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