Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. MARTINS RETURNS, SOUNDERS WIN
With the return of Obafemi Martins and the debuts of new acquisitions Nelson Valdez and Román Torres, the Seattle Sounders broke their five-game losing streak with a 4-0 win over Orlando City (HIGHLIGHTS) on Sunday afternoon. Lions head coach Adrian Heath was furious with his side’s defense after Orlando conceded four goals (three of them while playing with 10 players) for the second time in the last three games.
2. FIRE FIGHT BACK FOR A POINT
The second meeting in five days between the Philadelphia Union and the Chicago Fire proved a lot more entertaining than the first, as the two sides drew 3-3 (HIGHLIGHTS) in a Sunday night thriller. The Union aren’t quite sure how they gave up two leads, but the Fire know that goalkeeper Sean Johnson was the key man in helping them secure a point.
3. SPORTING KC MOUNT EPIC COMEBACK
Twice the Vancouver Whitecaps built a two-goal lead, and twice they let it slip, eventually losing 4-3 to Sporting Kansas City in a wild game at Sporting Park (HIGHLIGHTS) on Saturday night. The resilient home side praised the home fans for their role in the comeback.
4. RED BULLS SHOW THEIR STRENGTH
The New York Red Bulls proved once again they are a tough team to beat after successfully neutralizing Toronto FC’s DP-powered lineup in a 3-0 win at Red Bull Arena (HIGHLIGHTS) on Saturday. For Toronto FC, the loss continued a trend, as Greg Vanney’s side struggled to deal with the Red Bulls’ high press.
5. MORE TO THE SCORE
Don’t rule Robbie Keane out of the MLS MVP race just yet
. The defending MVP and LA Galaxy star helped lead his side to a 2-1 victory over fellow Western Conference challengers FC Dallas (
HIGHLIGHTS
) on Saturday. However, while they may have lost,
Dallas do not believe the scoreline tells the full story
.
6. EX-RSL MAN RETURNS TO HAUNT THEM
Real Salt Lake lost 1-0 to the Portland Timbers (HIGHLIGHTS) with essentially the last play of Saturday's game. While the manner of the defeat was bad enough, it was made even worse by the fact that it was Nat Borchers who rose to score the winner – although the former RSL defender refused to celebrate.
7. EYE ON THE PRIZE
With weather delays lasting more than two hours, both teams agreed it came down to mentality in the New England Revolution’s 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo (HIGHLIGHTS). The Dynamo felt they handled the first stoppage a lot better than the second, while the Revs were pleased with their ability to stay focused.
8. CAN THE QUAKES KICK ON?
The San Jose Earthquakes snapped their six-game winless streak with a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids last Friday (HIGHLIGHTS). Coach Dominic Kinnear's team hopes the win can help revitalize the season. There was obviously no such joy for the Rapids, though, with head coach Pablo Mastroeni left disheartened by his team’s performance.
9. BRING BACK BENNY
Benny Feilhaber picked up another assist in Saturday’s Sporting Kansas City game, taking his league totals for the year to eight goals and 13 assists. With two upcoming friendlies for the US national team,
isn’t it time that the Brazilian-born US international got another call-up
? While we're at it, which other MLS players have
done enough to merit some attention
this season?
10. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
While Las Vegas may have fallen short in this round of MLS expansion, it seems another group is looking to try to bring top-level soccer to the city by transforming a baseball stadium into a new soccer venue. At Minnesota United, everyone seems impressed by the potential stadium location in St. Paul, though it looks as though Minneapolis isn’t ready to be ruled out just yet.
11. RETURN OF BETHLEHEM STEEL?
With an announcement set for Wednesday, it appears as though the Philadelphia Union will unveil plans for their own USL team, and the new side is apparently set to play in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, one of the beautiful game's ancestral cradles in the United States.
12. EXPORTS SHINE
It was a good weekend for American Exports in Liga MX, and even for the majority of those playing in Europe. Yet there was bad news for a least one US international, as Fabian Johnson has been ruled out for several weeks with a hamstring injury.
13. USWNT ROUT COSTA RICA
The US women’s national team got their victory tour underway on Sunday with an 8-0 win over Costa Rica in front of 44,028 fans at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. It stands as the largest attendance for a single USWNT friendly match.
14. IS AFFUL DEBUT ON TAP FOR CREW SC?
Columbus Crew SC had a bye weekend and new acquisition Harrison Afful used the time to get ready for what he hopes will be his MLS bow n Wednesday's match against New York City FC (7:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE): "I’m just praying and hoping that I’ll make my debut next Wednesday.”
15. A BOND THAT LASTS
There are plenty of examples of the power of soccer as an engine for social good. In some cases it can help some folks to form a bond for life, or in this instance, even beyond it.
MLSsoccer.com Musts
Greatest game ever? MLS Week 24 was that good
Goals, tears and an epic comeback | Plays of the Night presented by Wells Fargo
Photographer creates stunning double exposure portraits of MLS stars
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