Union and Perlaza Mutually Part Ways

Controversy seemed to have started to slip away from the Philadelphia Union in recent weeks, excluding questions surrounding Freddy Adu and his ability to handle a benching. It was, however, simply a calm before a storm.

The Philadelphia Union and Jorge Perlaza chose to mutually part ways yesterday, according to a report by Philly.com. Philadelphia followed up the report by confirming it on the team's radio show, the 90th Minute, and a press release posted on its official website.

Perlaza was acquired by the Union in a trade with the Portland Timbers, who received Danny Mwanga and an international roster spot in exchange for the Colombian striker.

The trade brought an end to the Mwanga project, which had its ups-and-downs during a two and a half year period. At times Mwanga showed off flashes of the talent that had French teams interested in him and that had made former head coach Peter Nowak convince the striker to stay in the United States for the 2010 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

Mwanga was expected to produce for the Union and the deal that sent him away for an older, equally out-of-form player made fans question Nowak and the Union yet again, despite the then 21-year-old's own faults. The contractual termination of Perlaza, after only two appearances for the Union since joining the team after the June 6 trade, casts yet another shadow over the 2012 season for Philadelphia.

After the loss of Perlaza, and the dealing of Mwanga and Lionard Pajoy - who the Union sent to D.C. United for Danny Cruz - the Union have Jack McInerney, Josue Martinez, Chandler Hoffman and Antoine Hoppenot.