Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. D.C. UNITED ADVANCE IN CCL
D.C. United became the first team to book their place in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals following a 2-0 home win over Árabe Unido Tuesday night. While goals from Conor Doyle (inside of 35 seconds) and Jared Jeffrey secured the points, head coach Ben Olsen reaffirmed. “These games are never easy.”
2. SALT LAKE FIGHT FOR A POINT
Real Salt Lake were unable to wrest control of their own CCL group on Tuesday night, but they did well to leave El Salvador with a point after a tough 0-0 draw with Santa Tecla.
3. STARS SQUARE OFF UNDER NEW YORK CITY LIGHTS
Toronto FC visit New York City FC Wednesday night (7:30 pm ET, ESPN2, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes in the US, TSN, RDS2 in Canada) knowing a win would go a long way toward securing their first playoff appearance. For NYCFC and manager Jason Kreis, who continues to be the subject of plenty of discussion, a loss would diminish their own playoff chances. One thing's for sure: If the game is anything like the teams' first meeting at Yankee Stadium, it'll be high entertainment, even if Sebastian Giovinco makes no guarantees he can replicate his hat trick.
4. CAN RED BULLS REACH PLAYOFFS TONIGHT?
In a key Eastern Conference game farther up the standings, the New York Red Bulls visit the New England Revolution Wednesday night (7:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE) knowing a win would see them become the first team to clinch a playoff spot. The Red Bulls have gotten a boost with the return of Kemar Lawrence, but in order to get the win, they have to get past the in-form Revolution.
5. IMPACT LEAVE THE BIG GUNS AT HOME
There was some good news for the San Jose Earthquakes ahead of their Wednesday home game against the Montreal Impact (10.30 pm ET, MLS LIVE in US, TVA Sports in Canada), as the Canadian side is opting to leave a number of their big names at home for the trip out west. Can the Quakes, and impressive rookie Fatai Alashe, take advantage?
6. BIELLO OFF TO IDEAL START
Long-time Montreal Impact assistant coach Mauro Biello certainly hasn't wasted any time leaving his mark as interim manager, emphasizing that, "I want every game to feel important, to feel what our fans feel."
7. CAN CAPS TAKE CONTROL?
The Vancouver Whitecaps host Honduran club Olimpia in just their second CCL group game on Wednesday night (10 pm ET, Sportsnet One, Sportsnet World in Canada) knowing that a win will go a long way toward putting them in control of the group. The 'Caps have certainly done their homework on their opponents, but they’re also ready for anything.
8. A NEW SCHEDULE?
Is the CONCACAF Champions League switching to a calendar-year schedule, one more in line with the MLS season? It was hinted at in the postgame press conference following D.C. United's 2-0 CCL win on Tuesday.
9. LAFC MAKE IT OFFICIAL
It’s confirmed: Los Angeles Football Club will be the name of LA’s next MLS team, with the expansion side electing to stick with their temporary moniker after collecting feedback from their fans, partners and stakeholders.
10. DWYER BACK ON FRIDAY
Good news for Sporting Kansas City, as an independent review panel rescinded the red card Dom Dwyer received against Orlando City, freeing the striker to play this Friday against FC Dallas (7 pm ET, UniMas).
11. A NEW ASSISTANT FOR KC?
Sporting Kansas City look set to bolster their coaching ranks at the end of the season, following reports that Marc Dos Santos is set to leave his position as head coach of the Ottawa Fury in order to become an assistant with Sporting.
12. DO THE CROCODILE
Has Adrian Winter's two-goal performance on Sunday already secured him a place in Orlando City legend? Head coach Adrian Heath certainly thinks so and, on the back of that 3-1 win over Sporting Kansas City, you've got to see the club’s newest goal celebration.
13. CONCACAF CUP ROSTERS REVEALED
With less than a month to go before the CONCACAF Cup game between the US and Mexico to decide who goes to the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, both teams revealed their preliminary rosters. There were not many surprises on the US roster, with Lee Nguyen and Matt Besler among the 17 MLS players included on Klinsmann’s 34-man team, while the LA Galaxy’s Giovani Dos Santos was included for Mexico.
14. UPGRADES FOR FC DALLAS?
The Frisco City Council on Tuesday held a vote over $39m worth of improvements to FC Dallas' Toyota Stadium which could potentially open the door for it to become the home of the US Soccer Hall of Fame. No official word yet from the US Soccer Federation.
15. SURGE IN SCHOLARSHIPS
There are many ways to try and make it as a professional soccer player in the US, but it seems a growing number of English students are following in the path of Dom Dwyer and electing to pursue soccer scholarships, sometimes simply to ensure a cheaper education.
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