Here are the 15 stories we're talking about this morning:
1. SHEA MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR ORLANDO
Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes didn’t single anyone out after their 3-1 loss to Orlando City (HIGHLIGHTS) on Sunday night, instead attributing the defeat to everyone. The game marked Brek Shea’s first appearance for the Lions since June 24, with his return and Adrian Winter’s first two goals coinciding with the club's first win in seven games.
2. REVOLUTION KEEP WINNING
The New England Revolution extended their winning streak to five games, tying FC Dallas for this season's longest run, following a 3-1 win over Toronto FC (HIGHLIGHTS). It wasn’t the prettiest performance by any means, with TFC spurning plenty of chances to get back into the game, but the Revs had reason to be proud,
3. MARTINS MAKES HIS MARK FOR SOUNDERS
A stunning Obafemi Martins salvaged a late point for the Seattle Sounders in a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes (HIGHLIGHTS) on Saturday night. The draw was disappointing for the Quakes, but, sitting just two points below the MLS Cup Playoffs "red line," they're happy to still be in the playoff mix.
4. KAMARA CAPS ANOTHER GOOD WEEK
Kei Kamara, the subject of the latest MLS Insider, joined an elite group when he scored his 19th and 20th goals of the season as Columbus Crew SC won 2-1 over the Philadelphia Union (HIGHLIGHTS) on Saturday. The result seriously damaged the Union’s playoff quest, and head coach Jim Curtin was honest in his assessment: “We were beaten by a better team tonight.”
5. MICHEL LEADS DALLAS TO VICTORY
FC Dallas's Michel pulled off some magic to lead them to a 2-1 win over New York City FC (HIGHLIGHTS) on Saturday. Having trailed by two, NYCFC did their best to get back into the game, and while they could not quite pull off a comeback, head coach Jason Kreis was pleased with the effort.
6. RSL STILL IN THE HUNT
Don’t rule Real Salt Lake out of the playoff race just yet, everybody, as they revived their hopes with a 3-1 road victory over the Houston Dynamo (HIGHLIGHTS) on Saturday. If the result boosted RSL's chances, it clearly dented those of the Dynamo: The two side now sit level on points.
7. IMPACT SHOW THEIR NEW MENTALITY
The Montreal Impact secured a 0-0 draw against the LA Galaxy late Saturday night (HIGHLIGHTS), becoming the first team to blank the Galaxy at StubHub Center since June 6. The Impact believe the performance showcased their new mentality while, having failed to score in a whole two games, the Galaxy are, for some reason, fending off talk of a slump.
8. UNITED BREAK THEIR DUCK
D.C. United snapped a three-game losing streak thanks to a late goal from Steve Birnbaum that secured them a 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids (HIGHLIGHTS) on Saturday. The Rapids led from the 27thminute, but head coach Pablo Mastroeni was left to bemoan a lack of concentration from his team that, once again, cost them points.
9. RED BULLS FIGHT BACK
Trailing by two goals early in the first, things looked bad for the New York Red Bulls and good for the Chicago Fire on Friday night. But, as Bradley Wright-Phillips puts it, “We don’t give up,” andthe Red Bulls came back for a 3-2 victory (HIGHLIGHTS). New York are now among the Supporters' Shield leaders while the visitors are ruing a blown lead.
10. FINED FOR FLOPPING
It was a quiet week for the MLS Disciplinary Committee, though the panel did hand outone punishment: a fine to the Whitecaps’ Octavio Rivero for embellishment in their game against the Colorado Rapids. This week might be a bit busier.
11. AN UNSUNG HERO
While Orlando City's Cyle Larin and Chicago Fire's Matt Polster may be leading candidates for MLS Rookie of the Year, Tim Parker, the 13th overall pick in 2015, is quietly having a very good season with the Whitecaps.
12. JORDAN MORRIS & JURGEN KLINSMANN
This is a big year for Stanford standout and US international Jordan Morris, whom Jurgen Klinsmann has taken a special interest in (Morris scored his second goal in five games over the weekend), yet as for the USMNT coach himself, is his seemingly defiant attitude doing more harm than good?
13. COULD BWP BE A REGGAE BOY?
The Red Bulls' Bradley Wright-Phillips turned down Grenada's advances earlier this year, but now another CONCACAF nation is sniffing around. Jamaica are supposedly looking to pair BWP with fellow native Englishman Giles Barnes, who, by the way, is apparently set for a new contract with the Houston Dynamo.
14. LATEST ON COPA AMERICA CENTENARIO
There’s been plenty of talk over the past few days as to whether or not the Copa América Centenario will go ahead in the US as planned following all the recent FIFA scandals and, while CONMEBOL president Juan Angel Napout is confident that it will, there's still plenty to be discussed.
15. MEET THE MIRACLE MAN
Jim Hashimoto is not a familiar name to many, but the former US national team head trainer is now the go-to guy for players looking to recover from serious injuries. He’s worked with the likes of DaMarcus Beasley, Oguchi Onyewu and Claudio Reyna and helped get Charlie Davies back on the field following his car crash.
MLSsoccer.com Musts
The Vault: The untold story of the Kansas City's’ match the day after 9/11
Armchair Analyst: Summer’s taking its toll and more from Week 28
Rimando’s acrobatics & Michel’s Olimpico | Plays of the Night pres. by Wells Fargo
