Here are the 15 stories we're talking about this morning:
1. SEATTLE'S MAGICIANS
Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey were on hand to, in the words of head coach Sigi Schmid, “conjure up magic” as the Seattle Sounders topped New York City FC, 3-1 (HIGHLIGHTS) on Sunday. The result means NYCFC are now winless in seven games win, and head coach Jason Kreis admitted he "maybe forgot how very hard it is to build a team."
2. NAGAMURA SAVES THE DAY FOR SPORTING
Although the Chicago Fire’s Frank Yallop felt his side deserved a draw, Sporting Kansas City broke his side's three-game winning streak on Sunday with a 1-0 win (HIGHLIGHTS), thanks to Paulo Nagamura's late goal. The Brazilian's performance had SKC coach Peter Vermes gushing: "He's a winner."
3. REVS BEAT THE LAST OF THE UNBEATENS
The New York Red Bulls' unbeaten start to 2015 ended on Saturday, following a 2-1 defeat against the New England Revolution (HIGHLIGHTS). Playing a more inexperienced starting lineup, another slow start doomed the Red Bulls, while the Revs extended their own unbeaten run to seven games.
4. ESPINDOLA LEADS UNITED
The result in New England kept the Revs ahead of D.C. United in the standings on points alone, but United are now unbeaten in six after Fabián Espíndola and Chris Rolfe led them to a 2-0 win over Columbus Crew SC (HIGHLIGHTS) on Saturday. United, four-time winners of the MLS Cup, are off to the best start in their illustrious history, while Crew SC the result, are treating the result as a learning experience.
5. GORDON GRABS ANOTHER LATE WINNER FOR LA
Another late appearance off the bench, another goal for Alan Gordon, this time helping the LA Galaxy grab a 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids (HIGHLIGHTS) on Saturday. Despite the surrendered lead, Rapids head coach Pablo Mastroeni was pleased with his Rapids side, believing they could have taken all three points off the defending champs.
6. TFC HEAD HOME WITH A WIN
A marvellous free kick from Italian international Sebastian Giovinco let Toronto FC end their seven-game road trip with a second straight win, as the Reds topped the Philadelphia Union, 1-0 (HIGHLIGHTS) on Saturday. Toronto will now have their 2015 home opener next weekend against Houston. For the Union, a sixth defeat in the first 10 games pointed to the continued lack of offense: "We were very inefficient offensively," Sebastien Le Toux said.
7. A FAMILIAR FEELING FOR TIMBERS & CAPS
Having played each other three times already in 2015, the Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers know each other quite well and, according to ‘Caps coach Carl Robinson, that familiarity led to Saturday's cagey 0-0 draw (HIGHLIGHTS). For the Timbers, the game was significant for a different reason, as it marked the return of as star attacker Diego Valeri returned to the field.
8. DÍAZ DAZZLES FOR DALLAS
Looks like everyone can stop worrying about Mauro Díaz, as the Argentine scored a goal and grabbed two assists, the same total as Fabián Castillo, to help FC Dallas to a 4-1 win over in-state rivals Houston Dynamo (HIGHLIGHTS) on Friday. For the Dynamo, it’s the second game in a row they’ve conceded four goals, and head coach Owen Coyle is taking the blame for the latest outing.
9. NO RHYTHM FOR RSL
A 1-1 draw between Real Salt Lake and the San Jose Earthquakes (HIGHLIGHTS) on Friday may not have been the result either side was looking for, but while the Quakes left Rio Tinto Stadium disappointed, RSL were left to curse their inability to get into a rhythm on the night.
10. ORLANDO GRAB FRIENDLY WIN BUT LOSE MOLINO
They may not have had a league game at the weekend, but Orlando City were still in action, securing a 3-2 win over Brazilian side Ponte Preta (HIGHLIGHTS). However, the result came at a cost, as Kevin Molino has been ruled out for the season with a torn ACL.
11. SIGNINGS AROUND MLS
There were several new signings over the weekend. The New England Revolution added Haitian U-20 international Zachary Herivaux to their roster as a Homegrown Player and New York City FC brought in New Jersey native R.J. Allen to help boost their squad; Allen debuted on Sunday night. On top of that, the Colorado Rapids added an Argentine striker, while D.C. United signed star goalkeeper Bill Hamid to a new contract.
12. IMPACT MOVING ON
As the memory of the Montreal Impact’s fantastic CONCACAF Champions League run starts to fade, the club must now turn their attention toward trying to qualify for the 2016-17 edition, with their Amway Canadian Championship semifinal series starting on Wednesday. They also will try to start climbing the Eastern Conference, and to that end, it looks like they’re finally welcoming a long-absent signing.
13. A LOOK TOWARD NEW ZEALAND
The FIFA U-20 World Cup is less than a month away and, as such, here’s an in-depth preview looking at potential roster selections and some of the biggest questions facing Tab Ramos’ US U-20 team.
14. ORLANDO'S "MAGNET MONDAY"?
What is behind the "magnet crazy" in Central Florida?
15. TURNING 40
David Beckham turned 40 on Saturday, so check out some of the top moments from his six-year career in MLS.
MLSsoccer.com Musts
Armchair Analyst: Contenders again in KC and other Week 9 thoughts
Nutmegs galore and the Sebastian Giovinco Show |Plays of the Night presented by Wells Fargo
Sueno MLS 2015 field cut down to final six
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