Brotherly Game Daily Links: Matt Freese withdraws from Homegrown game

Philadelphia Union News

Jamiro Monteiro could miss up to two more weeks; Cory Burke likely out for the year
Jim Curtin would like to have key midfielder Jamiro Monteiro back in action just as much as Union fans would like to see Monteiro play again.

Matt Freese withdraws from MLS Homegrown game
Five replacements have been called in for Freese and four other players who have withdrawn from the roster. Freese is missing the game next week because of an injury.

Former Union forward Jack McInerney joins Oakland Roots
The former first round pick is one of the more high profile pickups of third division team that will be participating in the inaugural season of the National Independent Soccer Association or NISA.

MLS News

Real Salt Lake eliminated from Leagues Cup with 1-0 loss to Tigres UANL
Mike Petke fielded a pretty strong lineup, with all the usual suspects on the field with a few exceptions, most notably the absence of Albert Rusnak and the presence of Joao Plata in the starting lineup.

Dos Santos nets winning goal in Club America’s victory over Houston
Nico Benedetti had given America the lead in the 73rd minute inside BBVA Stadium, but veteran DaMarcus Beasley struck a golazo from a tight angle five minutes from time to take the game to penalties after a close-fought 90 minutes.

The busiest team of summer window? It’s Columbus Crew SC
President and GM Tim Bezbatchenko and his head coach Caleb Porter have been, by far, the most active team during the summer transfer window, and with reason. They ushered in a new era in Columbus when they were hired in January by the club’s new ownership group.

Zlatan escapes punishment for collision with Mohamed El-Munir
In the fourth minute of stoppage time Zlatan and El-Munir collided during an aerial challenge and Ibra’s elbow inadvertently smashed the side of the LAFC defender’s face resulting in the Libyan suffering a facial fracture.

D.C. United signs former Terps standout Gordon Wild
United also waived rookie defender Akeem Ward, who made one MLS appearance — a start at Toronto — and played regularly with second-tier Loudoun United. If he clears waivers, Ward, 23, could remain with Loudoun on a USL Championship contract instead of an MLS deal.

Inside the VAR process: How the referee review cycle works in MLS
Major League Soccer’s stated goal is to become one of the best leagues in the world. One way it hopes to achieve this end is by embracing new technologies like VAR.