Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz
The good news first.
The Union grabbed a road point in Frisco, Texas, their first in three trips to FC Dallas. And
Chase Harrison not only survived his first MLS start, but fought through the barrage of George John
and Andrew Jacobson shaped missiles hurled at him over the 90 minutes, making important saves and
showing strength in the air.
It wasn't pretty, but it counts.
In the 56th minute, Gabriel Gomez lowered his head and, with Philadelphia's first shot of the
match, tied the score at one. As he scored, Gomez collided with Dallas goalie Kevin Hartman and had
to leave the match, but the Union held on for the point in front of 13,272 at FC Dallas Park in
Frisco, Texas.
Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz
All-time record: 1–2–1
At PPL Park/The Linc: 1–0–1
At FC Dallas Stadium/Pizza Hut Park: 0–2–0
Goals for: 4
Goals against: 8
Did you know.
Outstanding debut: Impressive Galaxy goalkeeper Bill Gaudette, center, knocks the ball over FC
Dallas defender George John and midfielder Andrew Jacobson in the 1-1 tie Saturday at Home Depot
Center. The former Peurto Rico Islanders teammate of regular starter Josh Saunders - who missed the
game due to personal
The New England Revolution are about to take on FC Dallas in Frisco tonight. This game will
close out a two-match road trip that began this past weekend with a surprise 3-1 upset of Los
Angeles. Dallas has plenty to play for as well, including pride after DC smacked them like
twice-rented mules on the weekend, winning by a stunning 4-1 score line.
By DAVE MARTINEZ
The New York Red Bulls had months to address many of the pressing problems surrounding the team,
but their opening day loss felt quite familiar. Defensive miscues put young rookie goalkeeper
Ryan Meara under fire, set piece situation's looked as shaky as ever, and the team could only
manage to find an attacking rhythm in spurts.
Photo: MLSSoccer.com
Roster turnover. Throughout the Union's brief two year life in MLS, it has been one of the
unavoidable topics surrounding the team. Each season has seen a drastic overhaul of the lineup and
this year is no different. With the opening kickoff in Portland only days away, PSP takes a moment
to check in with all the former Union players to see where they've landed for the 2012 season.
Photo: Earl Gardner
Philadelphia Union
Peter Nowak says, "I think we have been working on some really good stuff in Florida. Now it's
just a matter of improving. Now it's working on fitness, formations and getting guys ready for the
season. Because of the Olympic qualifiers, it's kind of hard to determine what our set lineup with
will be.
The U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team defeated FC Dallas 2-1 in a scrimmage today. Both teams used
the opportunity to train in a game setting, with the U-23s looking toward Olympic Qualiyfing and
Dallas gearing up for the MLS season.
The USA started in a 4-3-3 formation, looking to implement the attacking and positive style the
team has been working on under head coach Caleb Porter in camps the last few months.
Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com
Brek Shea had himself an interesting day at the office on Wednesday.
Playing against his own club, Shea drew a first-half penalty, scored the game-winning goal and
was sent off as the nine-man U.S. Under-23 national team held on to defeat FC Dallas, 2-1, in a
scrimmage in Frisco, Texas.
Photo: Earl Gardner
With the signing of Porfirio Lopez yesterday, the Philadelphia Union continued a busy offseason
that has already addressed many glaring needs.
Since the 2011 season ended in defeat at Houston, the Union have parted ways with Justin Mapp,
purchased the rights to a Costa Rican striker, a Costa Rican fullback, and a Panamanian utilityman,
signed a Tanzanian winger through the re-entry draft, and added a homegrown player.
Featured image: Paul Rudderow
Editor's note: At the end of the 2010 season, we posted a series of season reviews of every
Philadelphia Union player. Over the next several weeks PSP continues with a review of the 2011
season.
A striker can go missing for long stretches, only to pop up and score with a single touch.
Ever read those posts on SI.com, Fox Soccer, or ESPN.com with the "five thoughts about ..." and
then, well, lo and behold, they offer you five random thoughts about a topic?
Yeah, I always thought they were mailing it in too, too rushed or whatever to come up with a
lede, coherent structure for the column, etc.
A video of Seba Le Toux talking about endurance (careful, it auto-plays!). This is perfect.
Nobody on Earth can possibly be more qualified to discuss this topic. Oh wait, he just says he
works hard? What!? This is like getting superman to talk about his powers and walking away with a
quote like, "I just do it, y'know?
Fabian Castillo should be a protected player for FC Dallas. (Getty Images)
Another expansion draft list for you on this Friday afternoon.
This one centers around the team I'm most familiar with, FC Dallas. I will keep this one fairly
short as I find FCD to be one of the easier teams to put a list down on paper (or type out in this
case).
The 2011 MLS Playoffs kickoff at 9 pm tonight on Fox Soccer Channel, as the New York Red Bulls
head to Texas to take on recently slumping FC Dallas in the first Wild Card round game of the
playoffs.
The winner affects the Philadelphia Union's start time on Sunday afternoon, along with the
playoff match ups after the Wild Card round.
Photo: Nicolae Stoian
Philadelphia Union manager Peter Nowak can prove Sunday just how good a manager he really
is.
It will happen when the starting lineup is announced.
Outsiders may think Nowak's a potential coach of the year, but those who follow the Union
closely know he's been a better executive than a chooser of starting lineups.
The DeRo for Dax trade was one of the biggest in 2011. (Getty Images)
Each year I do season predictions and nearly every year I boldly state that a trade will shake
up the season (take that with a hint of sarcasm if you will). Well, this season is just like many
of the past where teams wheel and deal in hopes of bettering their playoff hopes.
Houston Dynamo (10-9-12) vs. FC Dallas (13-10-7) September 24, 2011 -- Pizza Hut Park, Frisco TX
Attendance: 10,849
Scoring Summary:
HOU -- Geoff Cameron 5 (Brad Davis 14) 87
Houston Dynamo -- Tally Hall, Andre Hainault, Bobby Boswell, Geoff Cameron, Corey Ashe,
Adam Moffat, Luiz Camargo, Brad Davis, Danny Cruz (Je-Vaughn Watson 58), Brian Ching (Carlo Costly
78), Calen Carr (Colin Clark 64).
By JOSE M. ROMERO
Playoff positioning -- and the 19th-century cannon/trophy known as El Capitan -- were on the
line Saturday afternoon at Pizza Hut Park, where the Houston Dynamo defeated FC Dallas 1-0 with a
late goal to claim this year's Texas Derby title.
Hey everyone, there's a hurricane coming. Your game is probably cancelled today. Track the storm
here.
In case you're the rare ticket-holder who doesn't know, Sunday's Philadelphia Union match is
postponed till Sept. 7.
The Philadelphia Independence are still on today at 4 p.m. for the WPS title game against the
Western New York Flash.
Hey everyone, there's a hurricane coming. Your game is probably cancelled today. Track the storm
here.
In case you're the rare ticket-holder who doesn't know, Sunday's Philadelphia Union match is
postponed till Sept. 7.
The Philadelphia Independence are still on today at 4 p.m. for the WPS title game against the
Western New York Flash.
Despite the international transfer window being closed for MLS teams, that doesn't mean there
can't be any movement between MLS sides. Today is just such an example of that. When we all thought
that the Timbers might be done for the season, it appears they had one more trick up their
sleeve.
Today we say goodbye to back right defender Jeremy Hall in exchange for FC Dallas midfielder
Eric Alexander.
Daniel Robertson, of SB Nation's FC Dallas blog Big D Soccer, and I discussed tonight's
Dallas-Philadelphia Union game. We differed on score, player of the game and a lot of other things,
but we seemed to agree on Andrew Jacobson. Odd.
Big D: Going be an interesting match. If I remember right, Fabian Castillo absolutely murdered
the Union earlier this year in 'frisco.
Photo: Paul Rudderow
Game time: Saturday, 8:00pm ET
TV: 6 ABC
Freddy Adu and Peter Nowak are not the only reunion on tap for this weekend as former Union
midfielder Andrew Jacobson and goalkeeper Chris Seitz return to PPL Park for the first time since
leaving the club.
The Colorado Rapids Rapids lost Conor Casey for the year on Tuesday, but on Wednesday the Rapids
attack didn't miss a beat as Sanna Nyassi's move from midfield to forward produced a hat-trick in a
4-1 thrashing of the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday night.
Rapids head coach Gary Smith shifted Nyassi from the wing to forward, giving Colorado two fast
forwards to dismantle a Red Bulls squad that sorely missed Rafa Marquez and Teemu Tainio.
BY ADAM SERRANO
FC Dallas has shown that the willingness to persevere despite absence, injuries or change.
Part of that rise has been the play of two-way midfielder Andrew Jacobson, who appears to have
finally locked down a steady spot on an MLS club after three years of bouncing around the
league.
By CALEB SONNELAND
Real Salt Lake is back to its winning ways after it ousted a red-hot FC Dallas 2-0 on Saturday
thanks to second-half strikes from Andy Williams and Fabian Espindola.
The deadlock was broken almost immediately after halftime when Kevin Hartman couldn't hold onto
an Andy Williams free kick when the keeper got behind the ball but couldn't hold onto it as it
trickled across the line to earn the hosts a 1-0 lead.
Featured photo: Earl Gardner
Saturday's game will mark the midway point of the 2011 MLS season. And, just as was the case
with the first game of the season way back on March 19, the Union will be on the road.
7 wins, 4 losses, 6 draws. In and out of first place. Who'd a thunk it way back when the Union
took the field in Houston?
By CALEB SONNELAND
FC Dallas continued its impressive roll in the MLS as it took down the Columbus Crew 2-0 at
Pizza Hut Park in Texas Saturday night thanks to goals from the red-hot duo of Brek Shea and
Jackson Goncalves.
Shea got off the mark in the 58th minute when Will Hesmer fumbled a Marvin Chavez effort which
Shea was on-hand to tidy up and put his side in front.
Union
In this week's power ranking roundup, some say up, some say down, another says no change. The
Union stay at no. 4 at MLSsoccer.com while at SBI and Goal.com, the Union move up one spot to no.
5. At Soccer America, the Union drop one spot to no. 4. At ESPN they drop one spot to no. 5.
Veljko Paunovic makes Goal.
Tomorrow's a big day for fans of soccer in Portland. Not only are the Portland Timbers heading
to Dallas to seek their first road victory but also the United States is playing Mexico in the
CONCACAF Gold Cup final. Both are happening at just about the same time though, so it's going to be
a little tricky to keep track of both.
Photo: Nicolae Stoian
Game time: Saturday, 8 p.m.
TV: 6abc
Philadelphia Union will aim to end a miserable week with a win against a Chivas USA squad that
limps into Chester with one win in its last six matches.
Chivas (4-6-5), which plays in Los Angeles (for those unaware), dropped a tough 2-1 loss last
week against Dallas, thanks to two killer assists by former Union midfielder Andrew Jacobson,
including one in the 85th minute.
Union
Peter Nowak says of what to expect of the Union lineup over the next couple of games: "We will
shuffle the deck. It's been a couple of months we've been playing 14 guys. It's time for the others
to step up. Gabriel Farfan is coming back, Stefani (Miglioranzi) played the first half in
Vancouver.
By JOHN BOSCHINI
A late goal from Colin Clark salvaged a 2-2 draw for the 10-man Houston Dynamo against FC Dallas
in an ill-tempered match between the rival clubs.
The game started with a flurry of chances for Houston. Brad Davis broke down the left flank and
found Will Bruin from eight yards out but Kevin Hartman stoned the rookie with a good save.
As the rain fell for the third straight game day in Seattle, FC Dallas held its ground to sneak
a win at Qwest Field through a first-half Brek Shea goal. The goal, Shea's fourth of the season
saw Seattle finish a three-game home stint 1-1-1 having only scored two goals.
The Sounders welcomed Erik Friberg back to the Starting XI, as the Swede took up the right side
of the midfield for Seattle.
As we've been saying, the starting lineup for Wednesday's match between the Seattle Sounders and
FC Dallas is a bit of a crap shoot. There are injury concerns, there's the fact that both teams are
in the middle of playing three matches in about a week and there's the ever-changing lineup
decisions of Sigi Schmid.
FC Dallas and the Seattle Sounders have a few things in common. Both are in the preliminary
round of the CCL, both lost dynamic players to on pitch injuries and both get a few thousand fans
to show up when they play in the suburbs. Tip your waiters, I'll be here all week. Big D Soccer
gives us some insight into the upcoming Wednesday night match.
No offense, but there is a better record and more to cheer about at PPL Park in 2011
This is a guest feature by Matt Acconciamessa, founder and editor of US Soccer
Daily.
All we are saying...
...is give us a goal...
The chants and pleas of the PPL Park faithful sitting there above this sentence and far too
often this young season.
