Brotherly Game Daily Links 8/18/16

Philadelphia Union News

Union’s Sapong could return from head injury
Union coach Jim Curtin expressed optimism that forward C.J. Sapong would be available Saturday for the Major League Soccer match against Toronto FC at Talen Energy Stadium.

Union notebook: 'You only get one brain'
Five players did not take part in Union training on Wednesday morning, and other news from their training session.

Chris Pontius leading charge as Union build American foundation
Chris Pontius is MLS’ leading American goalscorer, and Jim Curtin says it’s no coincidence that the Philadelphia Union are assembling a strong core of American players. USA, USA, USA!

MLS News

Minnesota United FC set to make announcements with MLS on Friday
Minnesota United FC will make several announcements about the club's future at an event on Friday, the club and Major League Soccer confirmed.

Upgrades to Frisco’s Toyota Stadium scaled back after bids come in millions over budget
Work has been on hold for about a month after bids for the stadium’s structural changes came in “at a head-scratching $511 per square foot,” well above the $350 per square foot budget, FC Dallas president Dan Hunt told city officials on Tuesday.

Internal solutions: How MLS teams add players from partner clubs
Seven MLS clubs have partnerships or common owners with overseas clubs. Christian Araos looks at how that makes for some tricky player deals.

CONCACAF Champions League Review: Sporting KC earns road draw
Sporting Kansas City and the New York Red Bulls both earned draws in the road in CONCACAF Champions League action Tuesday.

Rest of the World News

Olympic men's soccer semifinals roundup
Neymar scored the fastest goal in Olympics history as Brazil earned passage into the gold medal game with a 6-0 semifinal defeat of Honduras at the Maracana on Wednesday, setting up a rematch and an attempt at revenge against Germany.

Celtic hit five in Champions League Thomas Vermaelen sent off for Roma Monaco beat Villarreal – ESPN FC
Celtic recorded a 5-2 win against Be'er Sheva, Porto and Roma drew 1-1 while Monaco saw off Villarreal 2-1 in the Champions League playoffs.

Riyad Mahrez signs new Leicester City contract following Arsenal talk
Leicester City have announced that winger Riyad Mahrez has signed a new four-year contract with the Premier League champions.