Photo: Paul Rudderow
Happy New Year from all of us at the Philly Soccer Page. The Union's first kick is only 70 days
away.
Some New Year Tweets
Philadelphia Union: Happy New Year everyone! Thanks for a memorable 2011...see you in 2012!
#DOOP
Philadelphia Independence: Have a safe and wonderful New Year Independence fans, WPS fans,
Soccer fans!
STARTERS64,140 in attendance in Seattle for the Sounders final regular season home game.
dN
"His biorhythms are vibrating at a frequency that would deafen a bat."
-Ray Hudson of GolTV describing another amazing performance by Lionel Messi of Barcelona this
weekend.
Soccer can be a cruel game. Sometimes you can do everything right and fall short of victory. That
was the case for the Carolina Railhawks in their final match of the season. The stage was set for
an incredible night of drama and both teams delivered. The second leg of the NASL semi-final
between Carolina and Minnesota was one for the history books.
The NSC Minnesota Stars won one of the most dramatic soccer games ever played last Saturday night,
knocking off #1 seed Carolina RailHawks in the Semifinals of the NASL playoffs.
Leading 1-0 from the 1st leg the Stars went to Carolina and get off in grand style by scoring first
in Leg 2 to go on top 2-0.
Where Are They Now: Not Languishing in the Lower Divisions
by Anthony Belinko
For whatever reason these players moved on from the top flight of American soccer and were
picked up by teams in the lower divisions. These are all the players that were found from the
Philadelphia Union's previous ranks and all of them did or are doing very well in their
leagues.
Union
Who will soon be leaving the Union? In a story that is otherwise a yawner—now that he's
actually gone, the Philadelphia Inquirer's Marc Narducci offers some criticism of Carlos Ruiz and
says the Union are better off without him—is included a piece of very big news for Union fans.
Describing the efforts the Union have underway to acquire a "young international striker" in the
summer transfer window, a source tells Narducci that the Union "will make another move with one of
their own players.
Union
Who will soon be leaving the Union? In a story that is otherwise a yawner—now that he's
actually gone, the Philadelphia Inquirer's Marc Narducci offers some criticism of Carlos Ruiz and
says the Union are better off without him—is included a piece of very big news for Union fans.
Describing the efforts the Union have underway to acquire a "young international striker" in the
summer transfer window, a source tells Narducci that the Union "will make another move with one of
their own players.
By JOHN BOSCHINI
The Carolina Railhawks will have to wait another week to wrap up their playoff spot.
After a 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Railhawks, Carolina needed only for Montreal to lose or
draw against the Puerto Rico Islanders to assure themselves a postseason berth, but the Impact came
out with a surprising 1-0 victory of their own.
Week 17 of the NASL season saw action in three locations over the weekend. On Saturday, Cary,
North Carolina hosted the RailHawks as they added another win halting the Atlanta Silverbacks 1-0
in a storm shortened game. In Fort Lauderdale, the Strikers rebounded to officially put FC
Edmonton in a slump with a 3-0 slapdown.
Week 17 of the NASL season saw action in three locations over the weekend. On Saturday, Cary,
North Carolina hosted the RailHawks as they added another win halting the Atlanta Silverbacks 1-0
in a storm shortened game. In Fort Lauderdale, the Strikers rebounded to officially put FC
Edmonton in a slump with a 3-0 slapdown.
Cary, N.C. – 7-25-11
Carolina RailHawks forward Pablo Campos has been named the Week 16 NASL Offensive Player
of the Week.
Pablo Compos - Photo courtesy of Rob Kinnan
Campos scored two goals on Saturday night to lead the RailHawks to a 4-1 win over Edmonton at
WakeMed Soccer Park.
Cary, N.C. – 7-25-11
Carolina RailHawks forward Pablo Campos has been named the Week 16 NASL Offensive Player
of the Week.
Pablo Compos - Photo courtesy of Rob Kinnan
Campos scored two goals on Saturday night to lead the RailHawks to a 4-1 win over Edmonton at
WakeMed Soccer Park.
Week 16 of the NASL season started Friday night with a good crowd witnessing NSC Minnesota
shutting out the Montreal Impact 1-0. On Saturday, the Carolina RailHawks reasserted themselves
after a mini-slump, pasting FC Edmonton 4-1, while the Atlanta Silverbacks got their third
consecutive result by knocking off FC Tampa Bay 2-1.
Week 16 of the NASL season started Friday night with a good crowd witnessing NSC Minnesota
shutting out the Montreal Impact 1-0. On Saturday, the Carolina RailHawks reasserted themselves
after a mini-slump, pasting FC Edmonton 4-1, while the Atlanta Silverbacks got their third
consecutive result by knocking off FC Tampa Bay 2-1.
The North American Soccer League announced on Thursday that Fort Lauderdale Strikers
goalkeeper Matt Glaeser was named NASL Player of the Month for June.
The Strikers were undefeated in the month of June with 2 wins and 3 draws. During the
Strikers' undefeated streak of five games, Glaeser recorded two shutouts.
By JOHN BOSCHINI
Goals were plentiful during the July 4th weekend highlighted by four-goal performances from the
Puerto Rico Islanders and FC Tampa Bay.
The Islanders scored late to put away an Atlanta Silverbacks side that equalized twice from the
spot, winning, 4-3, in a rain-delayed game in Atlanta.
Fireworks in Cary as the Railhawks win again.
Rob Kinnan PhotographyThe Montreal Impact made the trip down to Cary to take on the Carolina
Railhawks. The Railhawks were coming off a 5-1 shellacking of Atlanta while the Impact were coming
off a 0-0 draw with Puerto Rico. The game promised fireworks, both because of the two teams and of
course for the 4th of July holiday show afterwards.
Fireworks in Cary as the Railhawks win again.
Rob Kinnan PhotographyThe Montreal Impact made the trip down to Cary to take on the Carolina
Railhawks. The Railhawks were coming off a 5-1 shellacking of Atlanta while the Impact were coming
off a 0-0 draw with Puerto Rico. The game promised fireworks, both because of the two teams and of
course for the 4th of July holiday show afterwards.
By JOHN BOSCHINI
For about 20 minutes the Atlanta Railhawks looked ready to provide the biggest shock of the NASL
season.
An early goal gave last-placed Atlanta a surprising 1-0 lead over the Carolina Railhawks but
then it all went wrong for the Silverbacks as Carolina scored five unanswered goals.
Week 12 of the NASL season saw Carolina extend its unbeaten streak to an incredible 12 games
by punishing the Atlanta Silverbacks, while FC Edmonton grabbed a firmer hold on 2nd place behind
Carolina with a win over their bogey team, Montreal, at Foote Field. In Fort Lauderdale, the
Strikers kept their unbeaten streak alive with a comeback draw with the Puerto Rico Islanders.
Miami, Florida 6-28-11
Carolina RailHawks forward Nick Zimmerman has been selected as the NASL Offensive Player
of the Week for Week 12, the league announced on Monday.
Zimmerman scored two goals in the RailHawks' 5-1 win at Atlanta over the weekend.
By JOHN BOSCHINI
With their closest challengers dropping points left and right, the Carolina Railhawks are
threatening to pull away before the season even reaches the midway point.
Carolina scored twice within the mid-way through the second half to put the game out of FC Tampa
Bay's reach, eventually winning 2-1.
By JOHN BOSCHINI
With their closest challengers dropping points left and right, the Carolina Railhawks are
threatening to pull away before the season even reaches the midway point.
Carolina scored twice within the mid-way through the second half to put the game out of FC Tampa
Bay's reach, eventually winning 2-1.
Three NASL matches were scheduled for Saturday, but unfortunately the Florida derby between FC
Tampa Bay and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers had to be delayed, and eventually postponed, because of
lightning. Earlier in the afternoon, the Carolina RailHawks took their show on the road to
Montreal and thumped the Impact 2-1 before almost 12,000 fans, while NSC Minnesota came up with its
most complete game of the season, downing Atlanta 3-0.
By JOHN BOSCHINI
Week 3 in the NASL has already seen one surprising upstart stumble against a league favorite,
and fans now look forward to weekend matchups featuring teams looking to get back on track.
On Wednesday, the Carolina Railhawks handed a surprising FC Edmonton team its first loss.
With the news of the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers bringing in former Philadelphia Union starters,
midfielder Eduardo Coudet, and defenders Cristian Arrieta and Toni Stahl, is the news that the
Carolina Railhawks signing Brad Knighton and Nick Zimmerman.
The Railhawks were rumored to have used Knighton in a preseason game and now it appears that
they were true.
Seattle set a high bar for expansion teams in 2009. And it was clear early on that the Union
would struggle to reach similar heights during their inaugural campaign.
Still, 31 points from 30 games did not do justice to a team that seemed to undo quality
performances with sudden and unexpected errors.
The Union start their 2011 campaign with a stronger midfield than last year- and it will be
most important for their success. Returning, they have left-footed play makers Justin Mapp and
Roger Torres, youngsters Amobi Okugo, JT Noone and Kyle Nakazawa, and veterans Stefani Miglioranzi,
Nick Zimmerman and Andrew Jacobson.
March 19... March 19...
Just over a month until Philadelphia's soccer-crazed fans slide onto bar stools across the city
and try to convince the local establishment that LiveWell is indeed a real television channel.
There is a different mindset for Year Two of the Philadelphia Union. When last season began,
Danny Mwanga emerged as a midfielder (still mind-boggling) and the starting lineup featured Toni
Stahl and David Myrie.
Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Union and Donald Montague
Union
Speaking about Thursday's 2–0 win over USF, Brian Carroll said, "I thought our possession, our
reaction once the ball turned over, and the amount of chances we created were better today."
Danny Mwanga agreed, but added, "At the same time we had a few more chances that we could have
finished.
Union
With the Jorge Perlaza move to the Union rumors seemingly to foundering over an apparent
contract dispute that may or may not be resolved, a report this morning from Nuevo Estadio says
that Perlaza is waiting for a work permit to play in MLS "for a handsome figure." (You can read a
crappy translation here.
Union
With the Jorge Perlaza move to the Union rumors seemingly to foundering over an apparent
contract dispute that may or may not be resolved, a report this morning from Nuevo Estadio says
that Perlaza is waiting for a work permit to play in MLS "for a handsome figure." (You can read a
crappy translation here.
PSP photographer Nicolae Stoian was at the opening day of the Union's preseason training camp at
YSC Sports in Wayne. Here's a look at what he saw.
Piotr Nowak instructs a group of new and returning players at the opening of preseason training.
Sebastien Le Toux is on the ball as Jack McInerney covers.
PSP photographer Nicolae Stoian was at the opening day of the Union's preseason training camp at
YSC Sports in Wayne. Here's a look at what he saw.
Piotr Nowak instructs a group of new and returning players at the opening of preseason training.
Sebastien Le Toux is on the ball as Jack McInerney covers.
