Here are the 15 stories we're talking about this morning:
1. ORLANDO SET FOR ANOTHER BIG CROWD
D.C. United travel to Orlando City on Friday night (7 pm ET, UniMás in the US, MLS LIVE in Canada). With more than 30,000 tickets sold, fans might get to see not only Carlos Rivas playing in his natural position but also the season debut of United’s Luis Silva.
2. THE NEW BLANCO?
Fresh off their first win of the season, the Chicago Fire host Toronto FC (Saturday, 3 pm ET, MLS LIVE) with young midfielder Harry Shipp earning some glowing comparisons to club legend Cuauhtemoc Blanco. Toronto fans may feel hard done by during their current two-game losing streak, but team captain Michael Bradley isn’t looking for excuses.
- WAITING FOR A GOAL IN COLORADO
Having started the season with three scoreless draws, the Colorado Rapids will be happy to see a goal finally when they welcome the New England Revolution (Saturday, 7 pm ET, MLS LIVE). The Revs have only just overcome their own scoring drought, and they're wary of the threat the Rapids may pose.
4. IN RECOGNITION OF RIVERO
Octavio Rivero was named Etihad Airways MLS Player of the Month for March on Thursday. What makes the Vancouver Whitecaps forward tick? With three goals in his first four games, Rivero will be a central figure when the Whitecaps host the LA Galaxy (Saturday, 10 pm ET, TSN1 in Canada, MLS LIVE in the US), who are unconcerned about their slow start. Off the field, LA President Chris Klein has been recognized again.
5. SOUNDERS BACK TO FULL STRENGTH
Elsewhere in Cascadia, the Seattle Sounders welcome the Houston Dynamo (Saturday, 10 pm ET, MLS LIVE). The Sounders should be back to full strength, with Marco Pappa among those returning. The Dynamo are also reinforced, with Giles Barnes back from a triumphant international debut.
6. A FEW PLAYER MOVEMENTS
Ahead of the Houston game, the Seattle Sounders made a roster move, releasing veteran forward Kenny Cooper. Club GM Garth Lagerway cited financial considerations as the main reason for letting him go. In other player movements, the Rapids have loaned Marlon Hairston to the USL's Charlotte Independence.
7. MIDFIELD MARKERS
The Portland Timbers are still looking for their first win of the season, and it won't be easy against unbeaten FC Dallas (Saturday, 10:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE). With Darlington Nagbe getting ever closer to US national team eligibility, can he further his case in this game? On the other side, Mauro Diaz is still trying to fight his way back from injury.
8. INJURY ISSUES FOR REAL SALT LAKE
With Sebastian Jaime injured last week, Real Salt Lake will look for more from young striker Olmes Garcia away to the San Jose Earthquakes on national TV (Sunday, 5 pm ET, ESPN 2 in the US, MLS LIVE in Canada). The Quakes themselves overcame an injury scare last weekend.
- FIRST WIN OR ANOTHER CLEAN SHEET?
The Philadelphia Union are another team yet to win this season. Even if C.J. Sapong is pronounced fit to start against Sporting Kansas City (Sunday, 7 pm ET, Fox Sports 2 in the US, MLS LIVE in Canada), the forward will have his work cut out against his former team, who are looking for a third straight shutout.
10. SURGERY A SUCCESS FOR PORTER
With a bye week ahead of next Tuesday's decisive CONCACAF Champions League semifinal second leg, the Montreal Impact are resting up and making plans as they look to make history. The Impact got some good news on Thursday as well, as rookie Cameron Porter’s knee surgery was a success.
11. CLARK EXTENDS HIS STAY
Columbus Crew SC aren't playing this weekend, but they’ve been taking care of business off the field, announcing a new contract for Steve Clark. It's a deal the 28-year-old goalkeeper was more than happy to sign.
12. RED BULLS' UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
This week’s USL fixtures have already started for some teams, with Portland Timbers 2 beating Sacramento Republic and Vancouver Whitecaps 2 earning a first win, 3-0, against the Austin Aztex. New York Red Bulls II take on Toronto FC II on Saturday and with no game for the Red Bulls' MLS side, the match offers coach Jesse Marsch a rare opportunity.
13. ALTIDORE OUT OF APRIL INTERNATIONAL
Jozy Altidore’s red card against Denmark means the striker will miss the USMNT’s next game,
which just happens to be against Mexico on April 15
. However, the US and Mexico will face off in a different arena before then, as
the two nations will meet today in CONCACAF’s Beach Soccer Championships
.
14. RETURN OF THE FUSION
The Miami Fusion are back! Well, sort of. Miami Fusion FC will compete in the NPSL, the fourth tier of soccer in the United States. The Fusion aren’t the only former team making a return in the lower leagues, though.
15. RED BULLS GET IT RIGHT
April is Autism Awareness month, and the Red Bulls are going above and beyond in their efforts to participate in the campaign, all of which has been inspired by one 7-year-old girl.
MLSsoccer.com Musts
MLS Fantasy: How to survive the injuries and byes in week 5
ExtraTime Radio: Is Ike Opara MLS’ top defender in 2015?
Generation adidas Cup 2015: Dallas fall in PKs, Red Bulls edge out the Galaxy
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