Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. USA WRAP UP GROUP PLAY VS. PANAMA
Having already secured top spot in their group, the USA's game against Panama today (9:30 pm ET, Fox Sports 1 and UniMas in the US, Sportsnet World in Canada) could offer Jurgen Klinsmann another chance to experiment with his lineup. But with the quarterfinals on tap, should the coach now focus on helping his best 11 find their rhythm? The other Group A game will see Haiti and Honduras battle for a place in the quarters (7 pm ET, Fox Sports 1 and UniMas in the US, Sportsnet World in Canada).
2. USMNT TAKES STOCK
The US booked their place in the Gold Cup quarterfinals on Friday, beating Haiti 1-0 to secure first place in Group A. LA Galaxy attacker Gyasi Zardes earned huge praise after making a big impact off the bench, while ex-New York Red Bulls defender Tim Ream enjoyed his first start for the USMNT since 2011. However, with their overall performance leaving plenty to be desired, what were the main takeaways from the game?
3. MEXICO HELD BY GUATEMALA
Guatemala pulled off the shock of the Gold Cup on Sunday, holding Mexico to a 0-0 draw in Group C action despite playing down a man for the final 15 minutes. The result leaves El Tri two points behind Trinidad and Tobago, who beat Cuba 2-0 on Sunday to secure their place in the quarterfinals. The Soca Warriors and Mexico will meet in the Group C finale on Wednesday with the Central American nation needing to beat the Caribbean country to take the top spot in the group.
4. GOALS GALORE AT YANKEE STADIUM
Frank Lampard didn't play due to injury, but there were plenty of fireworks on display at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. New York City FC and Toronto FC played to a wild 4-4 draw in the Bronx, with TFC star Sebastian Giovinco scoring a first-half hat trick in the span of nine minutes, NYCFC Designated Player David Villa bagging a pair of goals and referee Ted Unkel whistling for an astonishing four penalty kicks. The whole affair left Greg Vanney stunned, with the Toronto FC head coach calling the match as "crazy, hectic and unpredictable a game I've been involved in." It was a bit of a different story for NYCFC, with the expansion club lamenting yet another blown lead.
5. BETTER ON THE ROAD
The Vancouver Whitecaps may have wished they were still on the road after their first home game in over a month saw them lose 1-0 to Sporting Kansas City on Sunday (HIGHLIGHTS). It was a big win for Sporting KC, made all the more impressive by some enforced squad rotation.
6. GERRARD DEBUTS FOR LA
Steven Gerrard made a successful debut for the LA Galaxy on Saturday as his new team fought their way back to a 2-1 to a victory over CONCACAF Champions League winners Club America in an International Champions Cup friendly. Robbie Keane scored a golazo and Alan Gordon grabbed the winner, but the focus was firmly on Gerrard, who started and played the first half before coming off. Now that he’s made his first appearance, it seems Gerrard is keen to go again, although Bruce Arena says it may take some time for the Liverpool legend to reach full fitness.
7. LIONS HUNTING HERNANDEZ
A 30-minute weather delay in Orlando on Saturday had no effect on visiting FC Dallas, who were led to a 2-0 victory at Orlando City (HIGHLIGHTS) by the combined efforts of Fabian Castillo and Mauro Diaz. Orlando may have failed to get on the scoresheet, but team owner Flavio Augusto Da Silva suggested at the game that his side is definitely in the race to sign Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez.
8. HEROES AND VILLIANS IN DENVER
Charles Eloundou may have finally come into his own on Saturday, with the Colorado Rapids striker coming off the bench to play a big part in his side’s 3-1 comeback win over Real Salt Lake (HIGHLIGHTS). While Eloundou played the hero, RSL’s Sebastian Jaime played the villain when the striker received a red card for a hand to the face of Drew Moor.
9. FIRE RALLY AROUND YALLOP
It was easy to see just what the Chicago Fire’s 1-0 win over the Seattle Sounders (HIGHLIGHTS) meant to the side, with nearly the entire team crowding around Frank Yallop in celebration after Jason Johnson's stoppage-time winner. The embattled head coach is hoping the performance can kick-start the second half of Chicago's season, while the Sounders still need to work out how to win without their star players.
10. NO COMEBACK FOR CREW SC
For the first time in five games, Columbus Crew SC were unable to mount a comeback after conceding first, falling 3-0 at the Montreal Impact on Saturday (HIGHLIGHTS). The Canadian side’s impressive performance was highlighted by Marco Donadel’s long-range strike, which the Italian commemorated with a family-centric celebration.
11. UNION SWITCH IT ON
The Philadelphia Union turned in one of their best performances of the season on Saturday, beating the Portland Timbers 3-0 (HIGHLIGHTS) in what head coach Jim Curtin called “our most complete performance of the year." The visiting team was unable to mount a response after conceding the first goal and could only watch on as Union fans mimicked their own goal-scoring ritual.
12. RED BULLS SAVOR VICTORY OVER HATED RIVALS
The New York Red Bulls stormed to a 4-1 victory over the New England Revolution on Saturday (
HIGHLIGHTS
), a win the team is truly savouring because, as Dax McCarty stated after the game “
we really, really don’t like New England
.” It was the fifth loss in a row for the Revs, who
feel like they have no one to blame but themselves
for their current skid.
13. DYNAMO DELIGHTED
The San Jose Earthquakes were left pointing at themselves for blame following a 2-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo on Friday (HIGHLIGHTS). With the result marking the Dynamo’s first win in four and their first shutout in 12, Owen Coyle was delighted with his team’s performance.
14. CANADA STILL CAN’T SCORE
Canada’s Gold Cup woes continued on Saturday, as the side gave up a late goal to fall 1-0 to Jamaica. Despite having once again failed to score a goal, head coach Benito Floro was still trying to look at the positive side after the game. One saving grace? Former group favorites Costa Rica have also yet to get a win, managing just a 1-1 draw with El Salvador on Saturday.
15. WHAT A WAY TO CELEBRATE
As a large and diverse crowd gathered in New York City, the US women’s national team celebrated their recent World Cup success in style on Friday, parading down the Canyon of Heroes in their own ticker-tape parade and rounding off the day by taking to the stage at a Taylor Swift concert at MetLife Stadium.
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