Brotherly Game Daily Links: Union to face Costa Rican Purple Monster in Champions League Round of 16

Philadelphia Union News

Philadelphia Union’s first Champions League opponent will be Deportivo Saprissa
While the date and time of the matches haven’t been announced, we do know that the Union will travel for the first game of the Round of 16 on April 6, 7 or 8 and host the second leg April, 13, 14 or 15 at Subaru Park.

Homegrowns Abroad: Aaronson scores first European goal
Making just his fourth league appearance for FC Red Bull Salzburg, former Philadelphia Union homegrown Brenden Aaronson put on a show as the 20-year-old scored his first goal and added an assist to help his new club defeat FK Austria Vienna, 3-1.

Keeper of the Shield
Matt Gendaszek, the current president of the Sons of Ben, the supporter group for the Philadelphia Union, wraps the first MLS trophy that has called Philadelphia home –  in a blanket. A black blanket, actually, that looks like it has dog fur on it to be more exact.  

MLS News

MLS 2021 regular season starts on April 17
Major League Soccer has announced an updated start date for the 2021 regular season, with play now set to get underway on Saturday, April 17.

CJ Sapong signs with Nashville SC
After two seasons in Chicago, Sapong was informed in the fall he wouldn’t be offered a new contract. He was the Fire’s leading goal scorer in 2019 with 13. But last season, Sapong scored just two goals in four games, after missing several matches to attend to family matters. 

Dynamo re-sign veteran D Maynor Figueroa
Figueroa, 37, has spent the past two seasons with the Dynamo and has two goals and three assists in 45 matches (44 starts).

Concacaf News

Concacaf Champions League 2021 draw: Mixed fortunes for MLS clubs in Round of 16
Tricky challenges await Supporters’ Shield winners Philadelphia Union and 2019 US Open Cup winners Atlanta United as well after they were drawn against Costa Rican representatives and Concacaf League finalists Deportivo Saprissa and Liga Deportiva Alajuelense, respectively. 

USMNT depth chart for goalkeepers and defenders
The US men’s national team, on Tuesday afternoon, announced a March 28 friendly at Northern Ireland, the first of two friendlies in that particular FIFA window. These mark the first time head coach Gregg Berhalter has had a full roster* together since the pandemic started, one composed of both domestic and European-based players.