By CALEB SONNELAND
The Philadelphia Union continue their busy offseason by adding Costa Rican defender Porfirio Lopez from Chinese side Dalian Haichang.
Lopez, a 26-year-old left back, was most recently on loan at Costa Rican side Alajuelense, where he was a part of the team's back-to-back Apertura and Clausura championship teams. He also played against the Los Angeles Galaxy in one of Alajuelense's two group matches against the MLS side in the 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League.
Lopez gives Peter Nowak a true left back option after he played natural midfielder Gabriel Farfan at the position for a good portion of last season. Lopez and joins a strong core of Union defenders and is the fifth offseason acquisition by the club following the signings of striker Josué Martínez, and midfielders Gabriel Gomez, Nizar Khalfan and Homegrown Player Jimmy McLaughlin.
Here are the other MLS happenings from around the league:
MINDA SIGNS ON WITH GOATS
Chivas USA announced the signing of Ecuadorian midfielder Oswaldo Minda Wednesday as the club looks to reinforce its squad for the 2012 season.
Minda left Sociedad Deportivo Quito after having won the club's fifth league title this past season, but Chivas GM Jose Domene is confident that Minda will adjust to coach Robin Fraser's system quickly and effectively.
The 28-year-old has accrued 13 caps for the Ecuador national team, which include appearances in the Copa America and World Cup qualifying games.
Minda is the fourth signing since the close fo the 2011 season but the first import from abroad. Prior to his signing, Chivas had picked up Ryan Smith from Sporting Kansas City, Arturo Alvarez from Real Salt Lake and James Riley in an expansion-draft-day trade with the Montreal Impact.
TFC TO PLAY CCL MATCH AT ROGERS CENTRE
The location for the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal in Toronto is set for a change in scenery as Toronto FC announced that it would play its March 7 match against the Los Angeles Galaxy at the Rogers Centre as opposed to BMO Field.
The decision not to play at BMO Field was based on the unpredictability of March's weather conditions", according to the club's senior director of business operations, Paul Beirne.
The match will be played indoors, on artificial turf with the roof closed, with the return fixture taking place a week later in Los Angeles.
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Do you think that Lopez can solve Philadelphia's issues at left back? Do you see Minda becoming a force in MLS? What do you think of the CCL match being moved indoors?
Share your thoughts below.
Lopez is legit…He will wreak havoc with his attacking runs
Alajuelense was unfortunate to be in the same group as LA and Morelia. They looked very impressive in the group stage….physical and attack-minded. I hope American teams keep plucking players from this team.
Goalkeeper Nick Noble sign with LA Galaxy.
Speak for yourself, guy. Not a fan of the team or the obnoxious fans, but the organization has done a lot of things right. The numbers speak for themselves. Every team in the league would kill to see 36,000 fans per game.
He’s saying Blatter really sucks at his job, and at life.
But other than that, having a stadium, involving the fans with the club (even the kit bears that out), finding serviceable players at decent prices are all positive things. I hope DC gets a stadium really soon. Your fans are way too deserving not to have one.
Except, we complain (with some justification) about our manager’s gameday personnel decisions that are at times questionable, and at other times shocking. Kind of like you guys did when you had Nowak. Don’t envy too much, we haven’t won anything quite yet.
Who are you trying to kid? Readers? Yourself?
(p.s. that wasn’t a slight at TFC)
This statement is confusing.
Seattle = Gross.
Nooooobody wants to copy you.
The hilarity of a twelve-year old mind….
Philly is the very model of a modern Major League Soccer team.
As a DC United fan, I want to hate what the Union are doing — but I can only envy it.
it’s a decision based on weather. TFC went to real grass which makes playing that time of year tricky at best. Obviously the Roger’s centre is oversized for a TFC CCCL game, but that’s what they have and personally, I’m happy to see that over a game payed on a terrible and potentially dangerous field.
@RR – This CCL game being played indoors has nothing to do with TFC copying Seattle. Remember, TFC also plays outdoors through out the year. Last thing TFC wants to do is copy Seattle especially those horrible green uniforms.
Another solid signing, to go along with Gomez. Defense needs more height and Lopez is 5’11”. Should be nice to see Garfan in his natural position as well.
TFC doing it’s best Seattle Sounders impersonation?
Someone should remind the Reds, Seattle plays outdoors and it’s the Open Cup, not CCL, that Seattle has success in.
Good effort though playing on plastic, TFC. Remember, just like everything…Seattle did it first.
yeah, MLS should go to a winter schedule. Blatter may be corrupt, but at least he is inept.