Daily Links: Deja vu for the Union as LAFC scores late equalizer

Philadelphia Union News

Late goals lead to 1-1 draw in first leg of Champions League semifinal
Late goals from Daniel Gazdag and Kellyn Acosta closed another thriller from the two sides, which most recently met in an instant classic in the 2022 MLS Cup Final.

Moving Up | Captain Bedoya rises up all-time assist records
The two assists push Bedoya’s total to 29 in league matches during regular season play, trying the 35-year-old with former teammate Haris Medunjanin for third in club history. Union ring of honoree Sebastien Le Toux owns the top spot with 50 assists while Kai Wagner occupies the runner up spot with 32 thus far.

Uhre named to EA Sports FIFA Team of the Week
The Danish forward had a breakout performance against Toronto FC and even the soaking rain couldn’t stop the striker as he scored a first-half brace and completed the feat early in the second half to notch the ninth hat trick in club history.

MLS News

St. Louis City hiring Diego Gigliani of City Football Group as president and GM
The Argentine-born Gigliani has spent the last 10 years as part of City Football Group. He exits as managing director for global partner clubs — Girona FC (Spain), Troyes (France), Lommel SK (Belgium), Montevideo City Torque (Uruguay), Bolivar (Bolivia) and Yokohama F. Marinos (Japan).

FC Cincinnati agree to transfer Brenner to Serie A club Udinese
Brenner has made 72 total appearances in two+ seasons with FC Cincy including 63 starts. His 2021 season was a disappointment with the forward only scoring 8 goals in 33 starts. Transfer rumors swirled in the Spring of 2022, but Brenner stayed for what was a career-best season. After reporting to FCC late due to paperwork issues, Brenner would score 18 goals and log 6 assists in 24 starts to clinch the club’s first-ever playoff berth.

MLS expansion: San Diego has the momentum to clear a path to becoming league’s 30th team
One source with knowledge of the league’s thinking went so far as to say that San Diego “is clearly the leader in the clubhouse,” and that if the deal goes through, a team could begin play in 2025.

NYCFC’s Taty Castellanos available for €15m this summer
Castellanos has scored 11 goals in LaLiga this season and in 2021 hit 19 goals for New York City FC to win MLS’ Golden Boot award. He added three more goals in the playoffs that year to help NYCFC lift their first MLS Cup title.

Rest of the World News

Superb Man City humble Arsenal to take charge of Premier League title race
In what was billed for weeks as the likely title-decider, City were superb from the first whistle with De Bruyne and Erling Haaland terrorising Arsenal’s defence.