These are the 15 stories we are following today:
1. ORLANDO CITY LIONS ROAR AT HOME
It took a while for Orlando City to get their first win at home, but when they did, they did it in style, thumping the LA Galaxy 4-0 on Sunday (HIGHLIGHTS). Cyle Larin led the way with two goals for the Lions, who are now amped up to "put the (opposing) teams to the sword." Meanwhile, the Galaxy admitted to being "awful," to the point that they got a little cheeky with their in-house recap.
2. UNION ARE "BETTER" IN LATE WIN
Before Sunday's home game vs. D.C. United, the Philadelphia Union's supporters staged a protest, saying "We deserve better." Encouragingly, club brass "agree wholeheratedly" and pledged to "not sit idly." The players did their part, too, breaking a four-game losing streak with a 1-0 win (HIGHLIGHTS). Zach Pfeffer, who was snubbed by the US U-20 World Cup team, struck a stoppage-time winner against a United side that "was a little off" on the day.
3. IMPACT ROLL OVER RSL
Speaking of teams that needed a league win, the Montreal Impact crushed Real Salt Lake, 4-1, on Saturday (HIGHLIGHTS), led by Andres Romero's first-half brace. The win was a "relief" for the Impact, but obviously disappointing for RSL, for whom "a lot went wrong."
4. WHO NEEDS OBA WHEN YOU HAVE CHAD BARRETT?
Obafemi Martins missed the Seattle Sounders' clash with rivals Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, but it didn't matter, as fill-in Chad Barrett scored twice in a 2-0 win (HIGHLIGHTS). One goal finished off a 25-pass sequence on a night that the Sounders called "probably our best performance" this year. Whitecaps caoch Carl Robinson was philosophical about it, saying, in essence, you need the bad to enjoy the good.
5. ALTIDORE LIMPS OFF, BRADLEY PICKS UP THE SLACK FOR TFC
There was good and bad news for Toronto FC during Saturday's 1-1 draw at the New England Revolution (HIGHLIGHTS). The good? Michael Bradley scored a brilliant solo goal. The bad? Jozy Altidore was subbed off with a hamstring injury. For the Revs, the game saw Jermaine Jones return to the midfield to give Jay Heaps's side "kind of a different look."
6. WONDO HITS GOAL NUMBER 99 IN QUAKES WIN
Chris Wondolowski -- the Jedi knight -- is now just one goal away from becoming the 9th player to ever score 100 regular-season goals in MLS after heading home in the San Jose Earthquakes' 2-0 win over Columbus Crew SC (HIGHLIGHTS). The Quakes thrilled the home crowd with their "pretty football," while Crew SC lost their ability to attack after going down a man in the first half.
7. BARNES AND "THE BEAST" FOR DYNAMO
Giles Barnes and Will Bruin -- a.k.a., the beast -- continued their goal-scring ways in the Houston Dynamo's 3-1 win vs. the Portland Timbers on Saturday (HIGHLIGHTS). The Timbers admitted to their mistakes afterward: "There's no excuse," head coach Caleb Porter said.
8. BRIGHT (FRIDAY) LIGHTS, BIG CITY
The MLS weekend got started with a double dose of Big Apple action. First, 10-man NYCFC got a last-gasp equalizer from Khiry Shelton in a 2-2 draw vs. the Chicago Fire (HIGHLIGHTS). Then the New York Red Bulls held high-flying FC Dallas to a 0-0 draw in Texas (HIGHLIGHTS).
9. LAFC STADIUM PLAN REVEALED
The Los Angeles Football Club might not have an official name yet, but it has plans in place for a home stadium in Los Angeles. Renderings of a soccer-specific stadium to be built in time for LAFC’s inaugural season were published on the team’s social media channels.
10. STEVIE G'S SWANSONG AT ANFIELD
Liverpool FC bid farewell to arguably its greatest ever player on Saturday as Steven Gerrard played his last match at Anfield before he joins the LA Galaxy this summer. “It was very emotional,” Gerrard said. He still has one away match with the Reds, which is he's refusing to sign any Galaxy shirts until he arrives in California.
11. RAPIDS LINKED TO GLASGOW CELTIC STRIKER
The Colorado Rapids wound up having the weekend off due to a storm that postponed their match at Sporting KC on Saturday, but that didn't keep the Rapids out of the news. According to reports in the UK, the club is courting Republic of Ireland striker Anthony Stokes, who is set to leave Scottish giants Celtic at the end of the season.
12. USWNT'S HEATH CHANNELS RONALDINHO IN WIN VS. MEXICO
The US Women’s National Team thrashed Mexico 5-1 on Sunday, and afterward, it was Tobin Heath's outrageous Ronaldinho-esque elastico move to set up Abby Wambach for the USA’s final goal that was the talk of the night.
13. LIFE IN GERMANY FOR USMNT PLAYERS
US international Timothy Chandler has enjoyed a successful season with his hometown club, Eintracht Frankfurt, and here provides some insight into what his life in German soccer is like. Also, he might be joined in the Bundesliga by another Yank, as Alfredo Morales and Ingolstadt secured promotion to the top flight this weekend.
14. JOHANNSSON LIFTS ALKMAAR INTO EUROPA LEAGUE
The 2014/15 season has been a difficult one for US international forward Aron Johannsson. He suffered through injuries, but returned late and had an immediate impact for AZ Alkmaar, scoring four goals in the final four Eredivisie games to lift the club into the Europa League places. His display in the weekend’s win over Excelsior included one of the best goals of the year by an American Export.
15. D.C. UNITED-ORLANDO CITY RE-CREATED IN...LEGOS
Some games deserve the Lego treatment.
---
Get the Kick Off delivered to you!
Enter your email address and favorite team below to sign up for The Kick-Off mailing list and get it delivered to your inbox every morning.
Email:
Favorite Team:
SELECT YOUR FAVORITE CLUB
Atlanta
Chicago Fire
Colorado Rapids
Columbus Crew SC
D.C. United
FC Dallas
Houston Dynamo
LAFC
LA Galaxy
Minnesota United FC
Montreal Impact
New England Revolution
New York City FC
New York Red Bulls
Orlando City SC
Philadelphia Union
Portland Timbers
Real Salt Lake
San Jose Earthquakes
Seattle Sounders FC
Sporting KC
Toronto FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
I don't have a favorite team
