Brotherly Game Daily Links: Assesing Bedoya’s 2020 Season

Philadelphia Union News

Season in Review: Alejandro Bedoya
Taking the armband in Philly was never going to be easy. The city has a long and proud soccer history and the club had been agonizingly close to its first silverware twice with Jim Curtin in charge. After earning a European career by grinding — he was signed by Swedish club Orebro after a trial to prove himself — Bedoya arrived with a clarity and fearlessness about his role as a leader that few others could balance.

OTD 2018: Union sign homegrown Matt Freese
While Freese has only played seven matches over the past two seasons, he’s been called upon in big moments when starter Andre Blake has been unavailable. During his rookie campaign, Freese started five matches for the Boys in Blue and helped keep the Union in the playoff run. 

MLS News

Can LAFC can beat Tigres, make Concacaf Champions League history?
Should Bob Bradley’s team beat Tigres UANL on Tuesday night (10 pm ET | FS2, TUDN) at Exploria Stadium, they’ll become the first MLS team to win the Concacaf Champions League as it’s currently composed. Three other MLS teams have reached this stage, but they’ve all fallen short.

Kyle Beckerman announces retirement, ends 21-year playing career
Beckerman’s career started in 2000 at Miami Fusion. He joined Colorado Rapids in 2002, where he played until he joined Real Salt Lake in mid-2007. His career ends with one MLS Cup, won in 2009 with Real Salt Lake, and 498 regular season MLS games under his belt.

Piatti, Svensson headline eligible players for MLS Re-Entry Draft
FC Cincinnati will hold the No. 1 pick in the Re-Entry Draft after finishing last in the MLS standings in 2020. Defending MLS Cup Champions Columbus will hold the No. 26th pick, ahead of expansion side Austin FC which has the No. 27th selection. Teams can also pass on their picks.

Eduard Atuesta’s red card upheld, Ante Razov suspended
Concacaf handed down a four-game suspension to LAFC assistant coach Ante Razov and upheld Eduard Atuesta’s red card on Monday. That means neither the coach nor player will be available for Tuesday’s Concacaf Champions League final against Tigres UANL. 

Tigres UANL’s Andre-Pierre Gignac and Javier Aquino doubtful for Concacaf Champions League final
Both players would represent significant losses if they do find themselves unable to suit up. Gignac is one of the most lethal attackers in Liga MX, racking up a gaudy 125 goals in 207 league appearances since joining Tigres in 2015 and scoring five goals during this year’s CCL run.

Alejandro “Kaku” Gamarra attracting transfer attention from Mexico, Argentina, other MLS clubs
ESPN Digital reports that New York Red Bulls attacking midfielder Alejandro “Kaku” Romero Gamarra “is in the orbit of the Xolos for the next season.” The club – formally known as Club Tijuana – “started talks” with the player’s representative. 

Hector Jimenez says goodbye to the Crew, joins Austin FC
Jimenez began his MLS career with LA Galaxy when he was drafted in the second round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. The former California Golden Bear saw his playing time for the Galaxy increase significantly in his second season, going from two games played to 15. After a 2013 season in which he was a choice first-team player for LA, the Crew acquired Jimenez in a trade for a second-round draft pick and allocation money.

Revolution sign Colombian Christian Mafla, and are working on adding more key players for next season
Mafla, 27, played 11 games for Atletico Nacional last season, missing time with a broken collarbone. Mafla, born in Palmira, was a member of the Colombia national team that reached the semifinals of the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup.