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Union take G Blake with No. 1 pick in MLS draft
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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Connecticut goalkeeper Andre Blake didn’t know much about Philadelphia before arriving in the city for Major League Soccer’s draft on Thursday.

He’ll have plenty of time to learn about it.

In front of a swarm of local fans that flooded the Philadelphia Convention Center, the hometown Union selected Blake with the top overall pick — making him the first goalie to be selected No. 1.

“I don’t know much about Philly,” said Blake, who originally hails from Jamaica. “I heard something yesterday about how it’s the place for a cheesesteak or something. That’s as much as I know. But I’m pretty sure I’ll get adjusted and learn everything I need to know.”

McBride, Lilly top US Soccer Hall of Fame ballot

CHICAGO (AP) — Brian McBride and Kristine Lilly are among the first-year candidates for the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame.

McBride is a veteran of three World Cups and scored 30 goals in 96 international appearances from 1993-06. Lilly, a two-time Women’s World Cup and Olympic champion, scored 130 goals in an international record 352 appearances from 1987-10.

The Hall said Thursday that Clint Mathis, Chris Klein, Eddie Lewis, Steve Ralston, Jaime Moreno, Briana Scurry and Kate Sobrero Markgraf are on the 27-player ballot.

Spain No. 1 in
unchanged top
25 in FIFA rankings

ZURICH (AP) — World and European champion Spain remains No. 1 in an unchanged top 25 in the FIFA world rankings after a month in which only 18 international friendlies were played.

Egypt made the biggest move, rising 10 places to No. 31 as older results dropped in value in the four-year cycle of matches used for the calculations.

Spain holds a big lead over Germany in second place, with Argentina in third. Colombia and Portugal round out the top five.

World Cup host Brazil is 10th, with the United States in 14th.