CHESTER, Pa. -- U.S Soccer held a draw on Wednesday to determine the host of the 2015 U.S Open Cup. Between semifinalists Real Salt Lake, Sporting Kansas City, Chicago Fire and the Union, the envelopes were opened at random and placed in order of hosting no games to hosting all combinations.
With the Fire and RSL taking one and two, the Union fell to the three spot, ahead of only SKC. Meaning that PPL Park will host the Open Cup final only if the Union and Sporting KC advance.
“It’s not perfect but it’s positive,” said Union manager Jim Curtin, who watched the drawing as it happened. “We have a good opportunity, if we take care of business against Chicago, to host a game here at PPL again in a final.”
Although the draw isn’t favorable, the situation isn’t impossible. Curtin’s club, the worst team in MLS according to points-per-game, plays the Fire, the second-worst team, on Aug. 12 at PPL Park. Meanwhile, Sporting KC, an above-average team at Sporting Park, hosts Real Salt Lake.
“If both home teams take care of business, that’s probably what we want first and foremost,” Curtin said of playing the championship match at home. “To go to Salt Lake is tough, no question.”
Union veteran Sebastien Le Toux, who holds the modern day scoring record for the Open Cup, was much less insistent about his team wanting and needing a home match in the title game.
“Playing home or away, you have to beat everybody,” he said. “We did it this year in New York. We did it last year in Dallas. So if we win against Chicago, we will be ready for the challenge to play away.”
Transfer additions
With the summer transfer window closing on Thursday at 5 p.m., the Union are pressing to make a move.
“We’re still looking, for sure,” Curtin said. “It always goes down to the wire. Different trade scenarios comes up. Teams are very active right now. Good foreign players are being signed, good American players are being looked at. So we’ll see what the next couple of days hold.”
The Union made a splash last week by inking playmaking midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta. But according to Curtin, there’s still work to be done. The Union are dead last in MLS with a 6-13-4 record.
“But we’re still looking to upgrade our roster,” Curtin said. “Obviously we’re not happy with where we are at the table. We know we have a good core, but we do need to add a little bit of quality. The Sacha Kljestans, where you keep them quiet on a day but then you look up and he has a goal and an assist. Those are the difference makers and we’ll look to see if we can add something like that.”
Le Toux 50/50
With the lone Union goal in a 3-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls last week, seven-year MLS veteran Le Toux hit the 50-career-goal mark.
“It’s not what I’m looking at,” Le Toux said. “It’s nice to get 50 goals, of course. As an offensive player, you always want to be part of the finishing when you score. I just want to win something with this team and make the playoffs.”
But what makes Le Toux’s humble milestone even more impressive is that he also has 48 career assists, putting him two helpers away from the prestigious 50-50 club -- a feat only accomplished by 15 MLS players.
“That’s a great achievement personally,” Le Toux said. “People will maybe make less of a deal of me doing this than if I was Landon Donovan or a big player in this league. I think I will look at it after my career when I will be 50 years old and I will say, ‘I did this in my career and it’s pretty cool.’ But right now, I just want to play and win.”
More Tranquillo
Playing Barnetta just 26 minutes in his MLS debut, the Union eased their new addition in against the Red Bulls. But with three matches in eight days, Curtin might not have the luxury of patience with the skilled midfielder.
“This is his preseason, so you have to manage that,” Curtin said. “He’s pushed through some difficult sessions and is really gaining fitness and sharpness.”
Admitting that he’s not game ready and even saying he suffered soreness while training with the Union, Barnetta wouldn’t turn away a chance for minutes on Saturday. The Swiss international’s eagerness to help the club wasn’t lost on Curtin.
“It’s exciting to watch him get better, so I give the guy a lot of credit,” he said. “To be a guy that wants to get out on the field and contribute. We’re happy with him right now and I think there will be a lot of positives in the future.”