ASN: Western Conf. Groups Add Three Key Overseas Gamers

MLS might not have a collective bargaining settlement however that is not stopping golf equipment like San Jose, Colorado, and Salt Lake from securing international internationals to fill key positions.

BY

Brooke Tunstall

Posted
February 05, 2015
10:24 AM

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WITH A SHINY NEW STADIUM to fill and a return to the playoffs anticipated by followers who nonetheless bear in mind the crew’s MLS Cup runs of the earlier decade, the San Jose Earthquakes made a chosen participant signing final weekend, inking Swiss worldwide Harmless Emeghara.
A 25-year-old ahead, the Nigeria native Emeghara moved to Switzerland at age 13 and shortly thereafter joined the youth system of FC Zurich.

Between 2010 and 2012 he scored 14 occasions for Grasshoppers within the Swiss Tremendous League, the nation’s high flight, then started an odyssey that took him to Lorient within the French Ligue 1 after which a pair of Serie A groups—Siena and Livorno. He scored 11 targets in two seasons in Italy earlier than making the bizarre alternative of taking part in in Azerbaijan, of all locations, the place he scored 5 targets in eight video games for Qarabag.

How lengthy Emeghara stays in San Jose possible will depend on how properly he meshes with U.S. worldwide Chris Wondolowski, the previous Main League Soccer MVP and two-time Golden Boot winner. Wondolowski has achieved his greatest taking part in with greater forwards like Alan Gordon, Steven Lenhart, and Ryan Johnson. Of that massive trio solely Lenhart stays and the five-foot-seven Emeghara actually doesn’t meet the outline of a Bruise Brother so it is going to be fascinating to see how new coach Dominic Kinnear makes use of them.

“It’s at all times good to signal a ahead who has the potential to run away from the protection, however who can be intelligent sufficient to hitch within the play,” Kinnear said. “He’s good signing for the league and our crew. He will likely be a risk to attain each time he steps on the sector. I want to thank possession, (basic supervisor) John Doyle, and my employees for being very thorough as we seemed for a brand new addition to the crew.”

The Earthquakes, which gained the Supporters’ Defend for the league’s greatest common season document in 2012 however missed the playoffs final 12 months, open 18,000-seat Avaya Stadium subsequent month.

Emeghara wasn’t the one worldwide signing made by a Western Convention crew final week. Over the weekend Colorado finalized a long-rumored mortgage for Argentine Lucas Pittinari whereas Actual Salt Lake added Jamaican left again Demar Phillips.

A 23-year-old holding midfielder, Pittinari involves Colorado from Argentine membership Belgrano, the place he performed 67 occasions and helped the membership acquire promotion to the Primera Division in 2011.
In line with Argentine publication Dia a Dia, Pittinari was inspired to return to Colorado by Rapids director of soccer Claudio Lopez, a former Argentine worldwide.

On the opposite aspect of the Rockies, new RSL technical director Craig Waibel was thrilled so as to add Phillips.

“We have now left again coming who I feel will likely be one of many higher ones in MLS if we are able to get him signed,” Waibel informed American Soccer Now final month on the MLS Mix in Florida.

On the time, Waibel was optimistic a deal could be signed however added, “there’s still a lot of red tape we have to work through.” As a result of the crew had its eye on Phillips, RSL felt comfy buying and selling out of the primary spherical of the draft as a substitute of trying so as to add a left again to interchange longtime stalwart Chris Wingert, who was plucked by New York Metropolis FC in December’s enlargement draft.

Phillips, 31, has performed 62 occasions for the Reggae Boyz. Earlier in his profession he was on the books of Stoke Metropolis for elements of two seasons however discovered taking part in time robust to return by and moved to Norwegian membership Aalesunds in 2009. He made greater than 130 appearances for that membership and helped it win a pair of Norwegian Cup titles along with competing within the early rounds of the UEFA Cup.

Brooke Tunstall is an American Soccer Now contributing editor and ASN 100 panelist. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter.