Kick Off: Can DC United continue strong start in CCL tonight? | Will Drogba play in Canadian Championship?

Didier Drogba makes his MLS debut vs. Philadelphia Union (August 22, 2015)

Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:


1. UNITED SET FOR SECOND CCL CLASH

D.C. United play their second game of the 2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League tonight looking to bounce back from their weekend loss to the San Jose Earthquakes. Their opponents are Jamaican side Montego Bay United (8 pm ET, FOX Sports 2), coached by a man very familiar with MLS.


2. NO DROGBA FOR CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

For the Montreal Impact to secure back-to-back Canadian Championships, they will have to do it without Didier Drogba in Wednesday's championship second leg (10 pm ET, Sportsnet One in Canada, MLS LIVE in US), as it seems the club’s new Designated Player is being left in Montreal over concerns about an injured toe.


3. SOUNDERS PREPARED FOR A WILD TRIP

The Seattle Sounders are partway through their travel arrangements for Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions League game against Honduran club Olimpia (10 pm ET, FOX Soccer Plus) and, while the Sounders aren’t looking forward to the final stage of the journey, they have a good idea what’s in store for them in the game itself.


4. UNION PART WITH MBOLHI

The Philadelphia Union finally closed out the Rais Mbolhi saga, parting ways with the Algerian goalkeeper on Monday as he moves to Turkish side Antalyaspor.


5. YALLOP SUPPORTS MALONEY

While the Chicago Fire have not offically announced a move by Shaun Maloney to English Championship club Hull City, Fire head coach Frank Yallop confirmed that "he left for personal reasons" and supports the decision.


6. RED BULLS WITHOUT LAWRENCE

The New York Red Bulls will be without Kemar Lawrence for their midweek trip to the Chicago Fire (Wednesday, 8.30 pm ET, MLS LIVE), but head coach Jesse Marsch is optimistic that his starting left back will be ready to go again in time for the MLS Heineken Rivalry Week match against East Coast rivals D.C. United.


7. SALT LAKE APPEAL

As Juan Manuel Martínez waits to make his Real Salt Lake debut, the club’s new Designated Player has been explaining what it was about the club he found so appealing, stating, “I don’t know about New York or LA, but I prefer a small city.”


8. WONDOLOWSKI’S LEGACY

Chris Wondolowski recently set some new benchmarks in his career with another strong season for the San Jose Earthquakes, continuing a soccer journey that will leave quite a legacy.


9. ORLANDO LOOK FOR ANSWERS

While Saturday’s defeat may have left Orlando City with questions that need answering, the club is back in action tonight in a friendly against USL affiliate Louisville City, with the lower-division side seemingly taking steps toward their own soccer-specific stadium.


10. SHUTTLEWORTH EXTENDS HIS STAY

Bobby Shuttleworth has been a big part of the New England Revolution’s success over the past two seasons, and on Monday the club announced they have tied the goalkeeper to a new contract extension, with Shuttleworth himself expressing his gratitude for the team’s faith in him.


11. WHERE WILL YEDLIN LAND?

Where will DeAndre Yedlin play his soccer this season? It looks all but certain it won’t be with Tottenham Hotspur, but there are apparently a number of European clubs interested in acquiring the former Seattle Sounders player on loan.


12. KLINSMANN WANTS COOPERATION

It’s set to be a busy autumn for the US national team and, with crucial games ahead for both the senior squad and the Under-23s, USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann is hoping he can count on domestic clubs to release all the players.


13. FOCUS ON THE KIDS

As US Soccer continues attempts to improve youth development at all levels, the federation announced two new initiatives on Monday designed to hopefully help make them more competitive with other leading nations.


14. MEXICO COACH SAYS NO

As the search continues for Mexico’s new full-time national-team manager, the interim head coach has already ruled himself out of the running for the permanent job due to his club commitments.


15. KICKIN’ IT IN SAN DIEGO

Former MLS player Josh Lambo is getting ready to try and make an impact with the San Diego Chargers in the NFL this season but, with uncertainty remaining over the Chargers' stadium, some are wondering if soccer could fill the void should they up and leave.


MLSsoccer.com Musts

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