Justin Mapp Selected By The Montreal Impact In MLS Expansion Draft

The Philadelphia Union felt the pain of the Expansion Draft for a second year in a row, losing veteran left midfielder Justin Mapp to the Montreal Impact in today's draft proceedings. Mapp became the third Union player ever selected in an Expansion Draft, along with striker Alejandro Moreno (Portland Timbers, traded to Chivas USA) and right winger Shea Salinas (Vancouver Whitecaps).

Mapp was an enigma during his one and a half years in Philadelphia, sometimes playing impressively, and other times okayed sorely disappointing soccer. When in-form, the nine-year MLS veteran can be a game changer, as was seen with the few mighty left footed strikes that found the back of the net for the Union. But when out of form, Mapp is a ball waster, seems slow and tends to waste crossing chances and prime counter opportunities.

The Impact saw his experience, speed and left foot as a reason to draft him as one of their ten expansion players, and many Union fans saw his weak right foot, high salary and inconsistent play as a reason to not be completely dismayed by Mapp's loss.

However, with questions over fellow left midfielder Keon Daniel's visa status and an even bigger question mark about Gabriel Farfan's positional future, the departure of Mapp could potentially leave the Union with a big hole on the left side of the midfield. Even the addition of Nizar Khalfan, through the Waiver Draft, another fast attacking midfielder, does not do much to quell those questions