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One More Game
Goalkeeper Chase Harrison will remain with the Philadelphia Union for at least one more game, as the emergency back up is still the only active goalkeeper on the team's roster besides current starter Zac MacMath.
Harrison was signed by the Union as a temporary replacement for third string goalkeeper Thorne Holder, who continues to be hampered by symptoms relating to the 25-year-old's second concussion of the year. The Union were able to circumvent the September MLS roster freeze by signing Harrison was a "hardship call up" because Philadelphia only has MacMath available, with former Colombian international Faryd Mondragon still out with a fractured finger.
From Concussion To Hammy
Starting right back Sheanon Williams was looking good in Tuesday's open practice, according to fans who attended the event, until the 21-year-old went down with a leg injury.
One onlooker described, on Big Soccer, that the incident reminded him of Family Guy, in an episode where Peter Griffin - the main character - trips on a sidewalk and clutches his shin, grunting, "Oooooh" in pain.
Williams was replaced by Kyle Nakazawa against Sporting Kansas City because of a concussion that he suffered playing the Columbus Crew the previous week. Michael Farfan took over for Nakazawa at right back during the early part of the game and picked up team of the week honors from MLS for his play.
The Union currently list Williams as questionable, but have him as a probable starter.
The Footsteps Of Sandy Koufax
Zach Pfeffer made his first ever start in MLS when the Union faced the Crew, then made another appearance last week in Kansas City, showing that the club's first ever Home Grown Player was worthy of praise levied upon him by assistant John Hackworth.
Thursday night's game against DC United is a completely different challenge for Pfeffer: religion. The 16-year-old will have to choose between the second day, and final night, of the Jewish High Holy Day of Rosh Hashanah or the Union's second-to-last home game of the season.
Precedent has been set by previous Jewish athletes, with Sandy Koufax, a Hall of Famer with the Los Angeles Dodgers of MLB. The baseball great consulted with his Rabbi and played through Rosh Hashanah, but did not pitch once during the World Series because the date coincided with Yom Kippur (which this year just so happens to be an away game for the Union against the Seattle Sounders).