Ppl Park

What: International club friendly Who: Everton FC vs. Union When: Tonight, 7:30 Where: PPL Park, Chester TV: Comcast SportsNet For kicks: U.S. national team goalkeeper Tim Howard, also Everton's No. 1, will not be in attendance; it's expected that backup Jan Mucha will be his replacement . . . Everton has been training at the Eagles' NovaCare complex this week and held an open practice session at PPL Park yesterday ....

Now comes the difficult part. There was no problem for the Union getting up for a second game in five days, mainly because of the opponent. Now they must prepare for a third game in eight days, while bouncing back from a most difficult final 45 minutes. How the Union fare in Saturday's MLS matchup at PPL Park against the Chicago Fire at 7:30 p.m. will go a long way toward determining whether they have the ability to hang in there for the marathon of a playoff run. The Union began their journey with Saturday's 1-0 win over the host Fire.

The Philadelphia Union is getting hitched to Bimbo. No, the team has not signed a promiscuous, dull-witted semi-celebrity to play midfield. The soccer club is poised to announce a major sponsorship deal that will stamp the routinely mispronounced name of the giant Mexico-based baker onto the front of the team jersey. The four-year, roughly $12 million agreement with the U.S. arm of Grupo Bimbo S.A.B. de C.V. represents a victory for the Union, which has labored to sign a shirt sponsor that is iconic, well-financed, and regionally based.

The Union will host English Premier League club Everton on July 20 at PPL Park. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Everton features U.S. men's national team goalkeeper Tim Howard and Australian international Tim Cahill. Five-time FA Cup champions and winners of nine top flight league titles in England, the Blues are currently in seventh place in the Premier League, just five points behind Liverpool F.C. PPL Park is the Toffees' first stop on their United States tour. The team also visit D.C. United on July 23 at RFK Stadium.

When PPL Park was being built, Philadelphia Union fans imagined what it could become: a grand soccer locus that routinely hosted large crowds. That came to be. Now fans may need to envision the year-old stadium in a new way: bigger. Union officials are developing long-term plans to expand the arena, contemplating a three-phase process, the first to increase seating from 18,500 to 20,000. If all goes well, that construction could start in 2014, according to team chief executive officer Nick Sakiewicz.

JACK McINERNEY'S goal in the 76th minute gave the Union a 1-0 victory over visiting New England at PPL Park on Saturday night. It was McInerney's second goal in two games as the Union improved to 2-1-0. It was his third game-winning goal against the Revolution in his career. "I don't know what it is with [the Revolution], but I know I get in good spots against them," McInerney said. "They sit high up [on defense] and I like it because I can get balls played back in behind them in the box that amount to good goals.

Amy Rodriguez' goal was too little, too late as the Independence dropped its regular-season finale, 2-1, to the magicjack yesterday at Boca Raton, Fla., to finish in second place in WPS. The Indy's next game will be the playoff semifinal against either the magicjack or the Boston Breakers, Saturday at PPL Park at 4 p.m.  

The Union will play the U.S. Pro league's Rochester Rhinos in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at PPL Park in Chester. The Union is 0-2 in Open Cup matches. This will be their first-ever home Open Cup match. The winner advances to the fourth round on June 5. - Daily News staff

Aston Villa at Union What: Aston Villa vs. Union in an international friendly. When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Where: PPL Park, Chester TV: None Outlook: English striker Darren Bent and U.S. internationals Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj highlight Aston Villa's roster for the English Premier League team's three-match American tour. . . . Based in Birmingham, Aston Villa is owned by Randy Lerner, who also owns the NFL's Cleveland Browns. - Inquirer staff

Because of the forecasted weather conditions brought on by Hurricane Irene, the Union and Major League Soccer rescheduled Sunday's 7 p.m. match at PPL Park against the New England Revolution to Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. The game will be telecast locally on the Comcast Network and nationally on Galavision. All season-ticket cards, printed tickets, and parking passes (Game 13) will be honored on Sept. 7.