Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning and don’t forget to vote for the Etihad Airways MLS Player of the Month for June:
1. USWNT REACH WORLD CUP FINAL
The US women’s national team is on its way to the FIFA Women's World Cup final after an impressive 2-0 win over Germany, the No. 1 ranked team in the world, Tuesday night in Montreal. It was a fair result following a strong performance and, despite plenty of early criticism, Jill Ellis’ team seems to be raising its game as the competition progresses.
2. UNION FIGHT BACK FOR IMPORTANT WIN
Despite being reduced to 10 men in the first half and then going down a goal, the Philadelphia Union produced another impressive US Open Cup display to secure their passage to the competition's quarterfinals with a 2-1 victory over rivals D.C. United.
3. KAKÁ OPENS CUP ACCOUNT
Kaka marked his US Open Cup debut in style, as both he and Carlos Rivas were on hand to score goals for a strong Orlando City side, sending them on their way to a 2-0 victory over visiting Columbus Crew SC. In addition to their US Open Cup success, Orlando City also announced they intend to bring USL back to central Florida next year and operate their own minor-league club.
4. MAGEE MAKES HIS MARK
Orlando will meet Chicago in the quarterfinals after Mike Magee made his first start of the season for the Fire and scored twice to help them to a 3-1 win over the USL’s Charlotte Independence (HIGHLIGHTS).
5. DYNAMO YOUNGSTER DOES THE JOB
While the Houston Dynamo and the Colorado Rapids had to wait an extra 2 hours and 48 minutes to get their US Open Cup game underway on Tuesday evening, the Dynamo were still able to get the job done, with 19-year-old Mauro Manotas scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win.
6. SAM SET TO START
The New York Red Bulls get ready for a second match in three days, this time against the second-division New York Cosmos in the US Open Cup (7:30 pm ET, YouTube). Head coach Jesse Marsch stated that Lloyd Sam will start the game after recovering from injury. The Red Bulls also have Marius Obekop back in training with the side and they have explained why Andrew Jean-Baptiste was released.
7. DALLAS DRIVEN BY DEFEAT
As Sporting Kansas City prepare for a US Open Cup showdown with FC Dallas (8:30 pm ET, YouTube) the club have brought in goalkeeper Alex Riggs on loan from USL side St. Louis FC because Jon Kempin is not at full strength. Yet with memories of their semifinal defeat last season driving them on, FC Dallas are keen to win the game.
8. TIMBERS LOOK TO MAINTAIN MOMENTUM
Real Salt Lake and the Portland Timbers are coming into Wednesday’s US Open Cup clash (10 pm ET, YouTube) on the back of wildly different results and, while a young RSL side hopes to turn things around against the Timbers, the team from Oregon, complete with returning fan favorite Nat Borchers, is looking forward to the game.
9. CAN GALAXY GET REVENGE ON QUAKES?
While the LA Galaxy prepare for their 4th of July game against Toronto FC and the unveiling of Steven Gerrard, they first have a US Open Cup game against the San Jose Earthquakes tonight (10:30 pm ET, YouTube). It's a rematch of Sunday’s MLS encounter and it could give Alan Gordon a chance to put down his former side, but the veteran striker insists he isn’t bitter about being traded.
10. DOS SANTOS SET FOR MLS?
Could Giovani Dos Santos be on his way to MLS? That’s the latest rumor, as reports on Tuesday had the Mexico star linked with a high-profile move to the league from Spanish side Villarreal.
11. DAVIS OUT, GARZA IN
There was bad news for Brad Davis on Tuesday, as the Houston Dynamo midfielder was ruled out of the US Gold Cup squad through injury. Greg Garza will replace Davis for this weekend's friendly against Guatemala, with Michael Bradley certain their performance in that game will be the best signal of how the team will fare in the tournament.
12. THE ALTIDORE EXPERIENCE
Back to full health, Toronto FC’s Jozy Altidore is hoping he can reaffirm his place in the US starting lineup this summer with plenty of goals in the Gold Cup. In an interview with FIFA.com, the US international also talked about his experiences in soccer so far and a range of other topics
13. GEORGE GOING FOR GOLD
While Columbus Crew SC may have bowed out of the US Open Cup last night, Kevan George has another competition he can turn his attention toward, as the Trinidad & Tobago midfielder will look to help his national team progress out of a difficult group in the Gold Cup.
14. ADU ON THE MOVE?
Could Freddy Adu be looking for yet another new club? As the former prodigy continues his attempts to rejuvenate his career, reports suggest the now-26-year-old is on the verge of an exit from Finnish side Kuopion Palloseura.
15. FREE KICK PERFECTION
If you haven't watched Real Salt Lake's goal from last Saturday against Crew SC, here's your chance to gain a real appreciation for it pass by pass in the newest "On the Field" segment presented by Windows.
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