Thursday Afternoon Union Freekicks: Vancouver Game Nears, Rogers on the Move?

We're just two days away from the Philadelphia Union's home opener against Vancouver Whitecaps at PPL Park. As the excitement grows to a fever pitch, the Union continue to prepare to face the expansion side that thrashed Toronto FC last week by a 4-2 score. Will you be heading out to PPL Park this Saturday?

Here are some stories to keep your Thursday going. Be sure to use this as your daily discussion thread.

Limited Tickets Released for Home Opener [philadelphiaunion.com] This isn't exactly a news story, but its importance is high. Any fans who wanted to go to Saturday's game but figured it was already sold out now have a last-gasp chance to grab some tickets. About 500 are still available, and everyone wants this game to be a complete sellout, so grab them while you still can!

Union Not Taking Expansion Whitecaps Lightly [Kevin Kinkead – philadelphiaunion.com] Here's a mouthwatering preview of the Whitecaps game. The Union will look to stay atop the Eastern Conference by grabbing six points from their first two games.

Houapeu Takes Drogba's Advice to Heart [Dave Zeitlin – MLSsoccer.com] The Union striker/winger met the Chelsea veteran during his time at UMBC. Let's all hope that Houapeu becomes even half the player that Drogba is.

Rogers' days in Columbus numbered [Ives Galarcep – Soccer By Ives] It's unlikely that the Union would make a move for the U.S. international, given the presence of Justin Mapp. But many MLS teams could use Rogers' services.

SBI Philadelphia Union Ticket Contest [Soccer By Ives] Fans that can't splash the cash on some tickets for the home opener have the chance to win some here.

Climbing the Ladder: Hidden milestones of Week 1 [Elijah Miller – MLSsoccer.com] Be sure to check out this column every week from the guy who brings us the excellent Climbing the Ladder blog. A must read for statistically minded fans.

Qwest Field To Be Renamed After Company's Merger With CenturyLink [Aaron Campeau – Sounder at Heart] This comes as shocking news to fans that have grown so accustomed to the Qwest name; the stadium has established itself as one of the premier environments in MLS.