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MLS Notes: Union sign five, Sebrango catches on with Montreal and more

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The Philadelphia Union were busy filling out their roster on Tuesday.

The Union signed five players — 2012 MLS SuperDraft picks Greg Jordan and Ray Gaddis, Supplemental Draft picks Antoine Hoppenot and Krystian Witkowski and journeyman backup goalkeeper Chase Harrison — bringing the number of players on the senior roster to 27 while providing depth at a number of positions.

As it stands, Harrison will be the club's No. 2 goalkeeper behind Zac MacMath. He was with the club at the end of last season after previous stints in MLS with Real Salt Lake, D.C. United and the Columbus Crew. He has yet to make an MLS appearance, though, and has gotten his playing experience in the lower tiers of U.S. Soccer.

Here are a few more items from around MLS:

SEBRANGO SIGNS WITH MONTREAL

Even at 38, Eduardo Sebrango still has some gas left in the tank.

The veteran forward and former Cuban international earned a contract with the Montreal Impact on Tuesday after trialing with the club during the preseason, marking his arrival in MLS after a lengthy career in the second tier of North American soccer.

He had been with the Impact in USL and NASL, coming out of a brief retirement in June of last year to score six goals for the Impact. Prior to being with Montreal, Sebrango played for the Vancouver Whitecaps. He has a prolific scoring record in the lower tiers of North American soccer, scoring 104 goals in 270 games — good for second-most all-time.

"I've been with the club for a long time, and it's special for me to be a part of its first season in the top league in North America," Sebrango said in a team-issued release. "I will try to do my best to represent all the former Impact players that wore the team's colours proudly over the years."

Sebrango will have a chance to burn his former club in the Impact's season opener, as they take on the Whitecaps at BC Place on March 10.

BOYD INTRODUCED IN PORTLAND

Portland Timbers Designated Player Kris Boyd arrived at Jeld-Wen Field and was introduced to the media Tuesday, officially joining the fold ahead of his first season in MLS.

The 28-year-old Boyd, who has been out of action since the summer, immediately joined Timbers training, as he'll try to get back into full match fitness ahead of the club's season opener against Philadelphia on March 12.

"He was brought here for one reason and one reason only," Timbers coach John Spencer told reporters during the introductory press conference. "To score goals."

Boyd inherits the role left behind by the departed Kenny Cooper, and he'll look to replicate the goal-scoring form that he had in the Scottish Premier League, where his 164 goals are the most all-time in his native country's top flight.

RED BULLS BRING TWO TRIALIST GKS TO ARIZONA

The search to fill out the New York Red Bulls goalkeeper corps continues, as the club has brought Ray Burse and Phillip Tuttle on its trip to Arizona, where they'll compete in the Diamond Desert Cup.

Burse has played for FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew in his time as a career backup, but he starred for the NASL's Puerto Rico Islanders last year and could be the third option behind rookie Ryan Meara and Jeremy Vuolo.

Tuttle, a former goalkeeper for Notre Dame, spent last season with the Harrisburg City Islanders in USL Pro.

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What do you think of all of the Union's signings? Think Sebrango can be a factor for Montreal? How do you see Boyd faring in Portland? Think Burse or Tuttle can crack the Red Bulls' roster?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Union also look to have signed Christian Hernandez as a Homegrown player. He has a Mexican passport, so I’m not sure if he counts as international or not.

    He scored against Everton, was U-17/18 National Player of Year, and a top 10 recruit.

    The youth movement is in full force.

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  2. Burse played well for Puerto Rico last year. I wish him luck with Red Bulls. Hopefully he gets a real shot. He’s good insurance.

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  3. Good for man that I affectionately refer to as “El Tio Cubano”–the Cuban Uncle. After he decided to leave Cuba several players folowed him and while they have all follwed their own destinies–they have all followed in some Sebrango’s footsteps. Alonso, Galindo making it to MLS and having success there–and several guys who have plied their trade in the NASL or USL or the Puerto Rican Soccer League…

    He was a pioneer.

    Credit to Sebrango that he can still make a difference on the field after so many years of battling. He’s a clever player who plays with a lot of passion and apparently still has enough to offer that he was included in the MLS squad now that the Impact has moved up to MLS.

    He’s been a great soldier for the Impact and in my book, he’s one of the greatest players to campaign in the history US second division. I only wonder what would have happened if he’d been given the chance to play in MLS several years ago; His star shone brightly for Montreal during their miracle CONCACF Champions League run back in 2008-2009, in my admittedly worthless opinion, rendering as good or better performance than I have seen from any player playing for a club in a US based league to date during the tournament since the format changed.

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