Happy Thursday! After a slow Tuesday, Wednesday was full of news for Philadelphia Union fans to debate, including the acquisition of a backup goalkeeper and the release of Leagues Cup pairings.

In the email today:

1. ⚜️ Union Acquire Backup Goalkeeper from Louisville City

The Philadelphia Union has signed goalkeeper Oliver Semmle from Louisville City FC to a two-year contract, the club announced Wednesday.

Semmle’s contract runs through 2025 with a club option for 2026.

The Union also traded for Semmle’s MLS rights with the Colorado Rapids, taking Semmle in exchange for a 2025 MLS SuperDraft second-round selection.

The Union are paying Louisville City a reported $100,000 fee plus future incentives for the transfer. Semmle, 25, spent his last season in the USL Championship with Louisville, where he was the club’s starting goalkeeper. Semmle made 34 appearances in the 2023 season, making 72 saves and registering 13 clean sheets, the most in the league.

It’s worth noting that Colorado drafted Semmle 41st, 13 picks after the Union selected goalkeeper Holden Trent. The two will now battle it out for an all-important second string role since Andre Blake will assuredly miss time this season while away on international duty.

Semmle was born in Au am Rhein, Germany and will likely occupy an international roster spot.

-Joe Lister

2. 🥤 Leagues Cup Pairings Announced

After a third-place finish in 2023 that secured a Concacaf Champions Cup spot, Philadelphia Union will return to the Leagues Cup with proven success.

The second year of all 47 MLS and Liga MX clubs participating includes a handful of minor changes. First and foremost, select Liga
MX clubs will be given the opportunity to host matches at predetermined stadium “hubs” set in specific U.S. cities. Additionally, the tournament has shifted from four regions to just two, which has significant implications for the knockout structure.

The tournament seeding system has also been modified, with 45 clubs (all except for defending league champions) being ranked based on accumulated points over their last 34 league games.

This is a slight change from last year, where clubs were ranked based on the previous season’s league standings and matched up accordingly. This ranking positions the Union at seventh, with opponents Charlotte FC and Cruz Azul ranked 25th and 31st, respectively.

Philadelphia Union will once again host both group matches as the highest-ranked club in the East 4 group. This year’s Leagues Cup takes place from July 26 to August 25, 2024, with group matches likely taking place in the first seven to 10 days of that window.

Dates and kickoff times will be announced in the coming months.

Cruz Azul failed to qualify for this season’s Concacaf Champions Cup, which guarantees this summer fixture will be the first meeting between the clubs. On the exact opposite end of the spectrum, Philadelphia already faces Charlotte FC on May 25 and June 22, meaning the clubs will meet three times in just two months.

-Evan Cohen

3. 🥅 Tweet of the Day: Frankie Goal

4. 💧 Water Cooler: Keeper Wars

5. 🔗 Link Roundup

• Paxten Aaronson is reportedly on the move from Germany to Netherlands on a loan deal to get more playing time.

• The Sons of Ben’s annual Help Kick Hunger event is happening Saturday in Bensalem.

• The WSFS Bank Sportsplex in Chester is already being put to good use. Here’s a photo gallery from some of the boys games Saturday for the Main Line Friendlies.

• New head coach Chris Shaw and Temple women’s soccer will host a pair of games at Temple Sports Complex, participate in the Philly Soccer Six Tournament at Villanova and visit New Jersey and Delaware for their slate of exhibition games this spring.

• Vote for Sporting Serotonin founder Paul Catrino for Icarus Awards Manager of the Year.

• Collegeville, Pa. native Leslie Adams has been named an Albany women’s soccer assistant coach.

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