Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. GALAXY MAKE IT FIVE
The LA Galaxy are once again MLS Cup champions thanks to a 2-1 win on Sunday over the New England Revolution, delivered by a late, extratime goal from Volkswagen MVP Robbie Keane (HIGHLIGHTS). While the Revolution were left to lament another missed opportunity and question an early non-call from the referee, the Galaxy enjoyed their moment following a tightly-fought win in which AJ DeLaGarza stood out from the crowd.
2. REFLECTING ON SUCCESS
The Galaxy became the first team to win five MLS Cups and in doing so, Bruce Arena has already established his side as one of the greatest in this decade. As such, with a bottle of champagne in hand, the Galaxy head coach was certainly laid-back during his postgame press conference. Keane, the game’s MVP, scored the winning goal, as he apparently predicted he would. Could the Irishman also have a future as a head coach?
- NEW ENGLAND GAVE IT THEIR ALL
Unfortunately for the New England Revolution, they were also the "First To Five" of a different sort, becoming the first team to lose five MLS Cup finals. Still, the Revolution went toe-to-toe with the Galaxy for most of the match and as MLSsoccer.com's Armchair Analyst Matt Doyle noted, it all hinged on one play, decided in a flash by a matter of inches.
4. LANDON’S FAIRYTALE FINISH
Sunday’s final whistle brought to an end Landon Donovan’s illustrious career and, apart from maybe scoring a goal himself, he couldn’t have asked for a better way to go out. Still, while Donovan insists he’ll still be around, with his playing days over what’s next for Donovan as a person?
5. ORLANDO FOR OKUGO?
Monday is shaping up as a busy day for transactions around the league with the opening of a half-day trade window on Monday ahead of Wednesday's Expansion Draft. One outlet is already reporting that Philly's Amobi Okugo will be shipped to expansion side Orlando City. And it appears the Union may already have a potential replacement lined up.
6. DAX WANTS TO STAY IN NEW YORK
Due to his Florida roots, Dax McCarty is another player frequently linked with Orlando City. But the midfielder insists he wants to stay with the New York Red Bulls. Meanwhile, teammate Bradley Wright-Phillips has been telling the English FA all about his time in MLS so far.
7. COYLE IN HOUSTON FOR TALKS
Will Owen Coyle be the next head coach of the Houston Dynamo? Nothing has been officially announced yet, but while reports that Coyle has agreed to take the job are premature, the Scotsman is in Houston for talks with the club.
- O’NEILL RETURNS
Shane O’Neill has returned to the Colorado Rapids following a successful training spell in England with Sheffield Wednesday. The defender picked up a slight injury during the stint, but the Championship side are said to be keeping an eye on him for the future.
9. FROM PORTLAND TO COLORADO?
Could Michael Harrington soon be joining O’Neill at the Colorado Rapids? The Oregonian certainly seems to think so. As the Timbers likely get ready to announce a number of rumored moves this week, the same outlet took a look at the club's history of player signings.
10. STEPHENS HEADING HOME
Having enjoyed a good year in Norway with Bob Bradley’s Stabaek, it seems that Michael Stephens may be set to forego the option of an extended stay in favor of returning to MLS and joining the Chicago Fire, marking a return to his home state for the former LA Galaxy midfielder.
11. LAMPARD LATEST
A final answer may be close on when exactly Designated Player Frank Lampard will be joining NYCFC, as the MLS club's director of football, Claudio Reyna, is set to fly to Manchester following Wednesday’s Expansion Draft to help determine future plans.
12. TEAMS TARGET EXPANSION
Louisville City, the team that has taken over Orlando City’s USL PRO franchise, haven’t even kicked a ball yet and they’re already looking to follow the Lions' lead and one day join MLS. With MLS rapidly approaching its target of 24 teams by the end of the decade, that move might be a long ways away, but for Louisville and a number of other teams, the drive to establish themselves in USL PRO is helping that league's own expansion goals.
13. EARLY SUPERDRAFT NO. 1?
The NCAA College Cup is also heading to its conclusion with the four semifinalists all set. Georgetown’s hopes were cruelly dashed by Virginia, but could one of their defenders be a potential No. 1 pick in January’s MLS SuperDraft?
- HOWARD ON KLINSMANN
As more excerpts come out from Tim Howard’s new autobiography, the US goalkeeper talks about how Jurgen Klinsmann’s overhaul of the US national team was received by the players, as well as what it was like growing up with Tourette’s Syndrome.
15. ANOTHER “GROUP OF DEATH”
While the USMNT have reportedly settled on a schedule for the first six months of 2015, the US women’s national team learned on Saturday who they’ll be facing in next year’s FIFA Women's World Cup. Much like the men in 2014, they’ve been drawn into the so-called “Group of Death.”
MLSsoccer.com Musts
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Galaxy win secures Champions League berth for Real Salt Lake
Robbie Rogers journey from retirement to second MLS Cup
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