Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. CANADA CAN’T SCORE
Canada didn’t start the Gold Cup the way they wanted to on Wednesday, drawing El Salvador 0-0 in their Group B opener. Both teams had opportunities to win the game, but no one had a better look than Orlando City's Cyle Larin, who missed an open goal after rounding the ‘keeper late in the first half. While it wasn't the result they wished for, there was cause for some optimism on Wednesday for Les Rouges.
2. JAMAICA AND COSTA RICA GO TOE-TO-TOE
There was no shortage of goals in Wednesday's other Group B contest, as Costa Rica and Jamaica traded shots in an open and exciting 2-2 draw. There were a number of MLS players involved for both teams, with a pair of New York Red Bulls each playing a role in one of their team’s goals.
3. DECISIONS AND DEFECTIONS
Group C gets underway on Thursday, with Trinidad and Tobago taking on Guatemala (7 pm ET, Fox Sports 2 and UDN in USA; Sportsnet World in Canada) and Mexico opening their tournament against Cuba (9:30 pm ET, Fox Sports 1 and UniMas in USA and Sportsnet World in Canada). While “El Tri” can focus on their strategy, with head coach Miguel Herrera looking likely to deploy a 4-4-2 formation, one of Cuba’s players has used the Gold Cup as an opportunity to defect from the country.
4. SPEND THAT CASH
The secondary transfer window opened on Wednesday and all 20 teams in MLS all found themselves with some extra spending cash after the league announced a new initiative known as Targeted Allocation Money.
5. FOCUS ON FACILITIES
After unveiling their name, badge, colors and receiving an all-important blessing from Ludacris, Atlanta United can now turn their attention to preparing for their 2017 debut. Constructing the team’s training facilities is high on the club's list of priorities, and a potential venue may have already been found.
6. TAKING YOUR CHANCES
With a number of injuries, suspensions and international call-ups, the Seattle Sounders' depth is certainly being put to the test at the moment. The absences have given Cristian Roldan a decent amount of chances, with mixed results for the rookie midfielder, while Stefan Frei’s injury has afforded Troy Perkins a rare opportunity for playing time at goalkeeper.
7. VALDES DISCUSSES HIS FUTURE
Could the Philadelphia Union – who look to be examining a new, Chilean trialist – get a boost from a Carlos Valdes return this summer? You might not think so, especially after the Colombian pushed through a second loan move earlier this year, and it seems Valdes agrees.
8. WHITECAPS HEADING HOME
With the Women’s World Cup now finished, the Vancouver Whitecaps can finally return home from a lengthy, successful, road trip. After five straight games on the road, the 'Caps are looking forward to playing at BC Place again, with head coach Carl Robinson confident that “the next five or six games will probably dictate where [the Western Conference] is going to end up”.
9. A RISING RED BULL?
The New York Red Bulls have done a solid job of developing their own Homegrown talent, and Haitian teenager Derrick Etienne could be the next Red Bulls academy star to graduate to the first team. Meanwhile, due to a conflict with an International Champions Cup match, Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union fans are in for an early start in their US Open Cup quarterfinal clash.
10. RAPIDS HAVE REASON FOR HOPE
Kevin Doyle’s goal on Saturday was his first in a Rapids jersey, lifting Colorado to just their third league win of the season. The result ended a six-game winless run and gave the Rapids plenty of hope that the second half of their season could be more productive.
11. LION’S LOAN EXTENDED
With Tally Hall in fine form and capable veteran Donovan Ricketts backing him up, it looked highly unlikely that goalkeeper Josh Ford would get any playing time with Orlando City this year. Despite his status as OCSC's third option, Ford will remain busy for the rest of 2015, as the Lions on Wednesday extended his loan to the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers through the end of the season.
12. US TO PLAY PERU
The US men's national team have confirmed Peru as their first post-Gold Cup opponents, with the US set to take on the third-place Copa America finishers on September 4 at RFK stadium.
13. MLS ON US UNDER-18s
Four MLS players and nine MLS academy products were called to the US U-18 squad on Wednesday, with Real Salt Lake's Sebastian Saucedo and Columbus Crew SC's Ben Swanson among the biggest names on the roster that will take on Uruguay and the Czech Republic at the HTC invitational later this week.
14. PREKI PARTS WITH REPUBLIC FC
Former MLS MVP and Coach of the Year Predrag “Preki” Radosavljevic has done a great job rebuilding his career with Sacramento Republic FC, guiding the club to the USL championship in 2014 and putting them in the thick of the Western Conference race this season. Someone across the pond has clearly taken notice, as Preki on Wednesday stepped down from his role as Republic FC head coach to take a job in the UK.
15. WHERE IS HE NOW?
Since announcing his retirement earlier this year, former Seattle Sounders and Chicago Fire defender Patrick Ianni has found new goals in the next phase of his life.
MLSsoccer.com Musts
Five Finals, Five Stories: an interactive look at the US-Mexico rivalry
Real Salt Lake’s Luke Mulholland shows promise in Kyle Beckerman role
10 minutes with NWSL commissioner Jeff Plush
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
