In case it wasn’t clear enough over recent months, Real Salt Lake are a team on a mission as they get ready to take on fellow MLS side Columbus Crew in the CONCACAF Champions League first leg quarterfinal tonight (8 pm ET, Fox Soccer Channel, Live Chat on MLSsoccer.com).
RSL midfielder Will Johnson makes it abundantly clear where this competition ranks as far as the organization is concerned: “It's everything. It's bigger than MLS Cup right now.”
The Crew are hobbling into tonight’s Champions League opener. They have confirmed that three potential starters will not be available due to injury and two others will not be able to go all 90 minutes.
Real Salt Lake may be in slightly better shape but the club still has a question mark at the second forward position alongside Alvaro Saborio.
Fans can also be part of the action by joining MLSsoccer.com's live chat for the game.
Another game which involves an American team playing with everything on the line is the CONCACAF Under-17 qualifying match between the USA and El Salvador. The US U-17s need to knock off the Central Americans to advance to the World Cup for their age group. (3 pm ET, ESPN Deportes and ESPN3.com)
The lack of goal-scorers on the Vancouver Whitecaps roster is beginning to stand out. After losing 2-0 to the LA Galaxy on Monday, Whitecaps midfielder John Thorrington commented: ”The difference is they've got guys that score.”
One player who is expected to bang in his fair share of goals is Thierry Henry. But find out why he says he’s not as interested in scoring this year.
This article from Montreal details the exhibition game between the Impact and the New York Red Bulls later this year. RBNY sporting director Erik Solér also confirms that his club has agreed to play a tournament in Europe later this year.
After having captain Shalrie Joseph and starting right fullback Kevin Alston sent home from camp, the New England Revolution received an injection of positivity on Monday with a preseason win and some good news on the Ousmane Dabo front.
Today the Sounders meet the Houston Dynamo at 11 am ET and fans can follow all the action in a live chat from MLSsoccer.com reporters on the ground in Orlando.
That will be followed by a match between the Vancouver Whitecaps and Los Angeles Galaxy reserve sides at 1 pm ET from Arizona State University.
D.C. United are in California and will play against college side UCSB at 10 pm ET.
The Chicago Fire are also down in Florida and cut seven more players ahead of the March 1 roster compliance deadline.
Robin Fraser and Chivas USA have seemingly made another move for an international defender. This one hails from Ghana, according to reports from Africa.
The Portland Timbers are said to be trying out a Peruvian midfielder with extensive international experience, including in Spain and Italy. (SPANISH)
The end of this report claims that Colorado Rapids trialist Caleb Folan has returned to Hull City in England as he waits to find out if an agreement can be reached between Rapids and Tigers.
Are D.C. United the next club in the Eastern Conference to go Dutch after Toronto FC? They have reportedly signed 47-year-old Sonny Silooy to help with the club’s academy structure. (DUTCH)
On the international scene, the UEFA Champions League takes center stage with two match-ups that are not the most high profile but intriguing nonetheless. José Mourinho’s Real Madrid travel to Lyon with the goal of exacting revenge for last year’s elimination (2:30 pm ET, Fox Deportes). The Special One’s former club, Chelsea, look to resuscitate their season with a trip to Copenhagen (2:30 pm ET, Fox Soccer Channel).
David Beckham has left Tottenham Hotspur and is set to return to LA Galaxy training camp. But was his time at Spurs a window into a possible future at the EPL club after his Galaxy contract is up? Tottenham travel to face Blackpool with a chance to go third in the EPL today (2:30 pm ET, Fox Soccer Plus)
This would never happen to Beckham. Team wins a free kick and two teammates fight for the right to take it. See what happens when the player who takes it scores on a direct kick. (VIDEO)
Join the chat on MLSsoccer.com for the Columbus Crew-Real Salt Lake CONCACAF Champions League match on Tuesday, beginning at 7:45 pm ET!
<a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/join-chat-columbus-crew-real-salt-lake" target="_blank"><img src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/banner2.jpg" alt="" width="620" height="100" /></a>
MLSsoccer.com Must-Reads:
Inside video look at Real Salt Lake’s preparations for Champions League clash vs. Crew (VIDEO)
Video highlights of LA Galaxy’s 2-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps (VIDEO)
Real Salt Lake say keeping a clean sheet in Columbus is key to success
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