Thursday, February 10, 2011
Posted: 2:32 p.m.Updated: 7:23 p.m.
By Ryan Bright
CSNPhilly.com Contributor
Seven days later than last years announcement and nearly two months since the league leaked the season and home openers for each team, the MLS, on Thursday, officially released the full 2011 regular season schedule.
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We have the opportunity this year to start the right way and finish the right way, said coach Peter Nowak in a conference call on Wednesday. This team, right now, knows that regardless of what happened last year that we need to be ready. We need to be ready from the get-go.
After opening their sophomore campaign in Houston against the Dynamo on March 19, the Union will prepare immediately for their home opener at PPL Park on March 26 against the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps.
On the following Saturday, the Union head to the Home Depot Center on April 2 to face Landon Donovan and the always-tough Los Angeles Galaxy before coming home on April 9 to challenge rival New York Red Bulls. On May 7, the Union will visit the expansion Portland Timbers, then, on a short week, will host the Galaxy in a 7:30 PM contest on Wednesday, May 11.
July will be a road month for the Union, who face D.C. United, San Jose Earthquakes, New England Revolution and Seattle Sounders from July 2 to July 23. On the other side, the Unions longest home stand of the season comes from August 28 to Sept. 17, when they host the Revolution, Timbers and Columbus Crew in three consecutive weeks.
The Union will be featured three times on ESPN 2, including both matches against the Red Bulls and a late Sept. match up against the United. The 2011 MLS AT&T All-Star Game will be held on July 27 at Red Bull Arena.
With the addition of the expansion Whitecaps and Timbers, the schedule, or fixtures as it is known in soccer, has extended from 30 games to 34 for each team. But when asked about the schedule, Nowak shrugged, saying it doesnt matter who or when they play, but the compete level they display during that game time.
We know what kind of team we have, he said, what kind of players we have and the results we need to get. I believe that we need to be ready regardless of who and where we play.
Game on
The Union may be in training camp but Sebastien Le Toux is in mid-season form. The Unions leading goal-scorer from last season notched a goal and an assist in Thursdays 2-0 Union exhibition win against the University of South Florida at Dewey O. Boster Sports Complex in Deltona, Fla.
Le Toux opened scoring in the 19th minute when midfielder Justin Mapp threaded a low pass to the flanking Frenchman, who made no mistake in depositing the goal. The tally was Le Touxs second of the preseason from Mapp. Carrying momentum from the score, the Union doubled their lead in the 33rd minute after Le Toux found wide open teammate Danny Mwanga. The sophomore striker hooked a shot inside the far post to give the Union the 2-0 lead and eventual win.
The victory gives the Union a preseason record of 1-0-1 after playing to a 1-1 draw with the U-17 U.S. Mens National Team on Sunday. Next up, Le Touxs squad will face the University of Central Florida on Sunday, Feb. 13 at 10 a.m.
E-mail Ryan Bright at ryanbright13@gmail.com