Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. RSL’S SAVING GRACE?
Although Real Salt Lake missed out on the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2007, the Western Conference side can still end their season on a positive note if they can secure passage to the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals and, to do that, they need just a win or a draw tonight against Guatemalan club Municipal (10 pm ET, FS2, match preview).
2. STILL WORK TO DO FOR GALAXY
While Alan Gordon has been named the LA Riot supporters group’s Player of the Year, the LA Galaxy know it’s too early to start celebrating anything just yet, with Designated Player Steven Gerrard insisting the team must “look in the mirror” following their 5-2 loss to the Portland Timbers. The Galaxy face a quick turnaround, likely with a different squad, for Wednesday's Champions League game at Guatemalan club Comunicaciones.
3. ORLANDO GIVING IT ALL THEY HAVE
Orlando City are not giving up on the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs just yet, instead promising to give their all on Decision Day against the Philadelphia Union on Sunday. Here's everything you need to know to get you prepped for the big day.
4. MORE SOCCER IN ORLANDO
The Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs are not the only thing on the mind of Orlando City today. The Lions have announced their plans for a National Women’s Soccer League team. They already have a name, logo and head coach.
5. MORE MLS IN FLORIDA?
The ongoing quest for David Beckham's investor group to find and secure a stadium site to bring an MLS club to Miami seems to be progressing, with some bullish comments from Miami mayor Tomas Regalado to a local TV outlet. Meanwhile, MLS expansion side Atlanta United continue to break records with more than 26,000 now secured
6. PLAYOFFS WILL SHOW WHO’S BEST
Montreal's Marco Donadel certainly seems to be enjoying his time in MLS, stating that the level of play is very high, yet with the Impact having now secured their place in the postseason, the midfielder believes “There is great parity in MLS, so the playoffs will separate the teams.”
7. NEW DEAL FOR BOSWELL
As D.C. United round into form at just the right time, the team tied captain Bobby Boswell down to a new contract. The center back is heading into his 12th MLS season in 2016, his sixth with D.C.
8. NAJAR TAKING A BREAK
Speaking of D.C. United, there was bad news for the Honduran national team on Monday, as former United player Andy Najar announced he’s taking a break from international duty in order to focus on family.
9. NAGBE IN NOVEMBER?
As a newly eligible US citizen, could Darlington Nagbe be in line for a national team call-up? That's the word from Portland Timbers head coach Caleb Porter, who told ExtraTime Radio that Jurgen Klinsmann has been in touch about the midfielder, possibly as soon as November's World Cup qualifiers.
10. TWO GAMES TO GO
It’s official: The US Under-23 national team's Olympic playoff against Colombia will take the form of a home-and-home series set to be played next March, with the winner advancing to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
11. EYES ON CHILE
The US Under-17 national team is back in action today, taking on Croatia (4 pm ET, FS2 and NBC Universo). And while Mexico made an impressive start to the tournament, beating Argentina 2-0 on Sunday, is the US team in need of fixing?
12. POWER RANKINGS, DECISION DAY EDITION
There's only one more round of matches left in the 2015 MLS regular season, making the final edition of the MLSsoccer.com Power Rankings an intriguing one. Are Orlando City ranked higher than the New England Revolution? And how do the San Jose Earthquakes compare to their West competitors for a playoff spot?
13. RECIPE FOR USL SUCCESS
With the USL season in the books, 2015 was easily the biggest year in the league’s history. Yet, while the Rochester Rhinos came out on top, one of the biggest questions remaining is which teams were most successful this year? Independent, affiliated or MLS-owned sides?
14. NEVER SAY NEVER
While the debate intensifies about Jurgen Klinsmann's job at the helm of the US national team, LA Galaxy manager Bruce Arena has revealed to Alexi Lalas that he would be open to coaching the USMNT again “under the right circumstances.”
15. DEVOTED FANS
The San Jose Earthquakes' hopes of reaching the postseason will go down to the wire and, while fans wait with baited breath to see what happens on #DecisionDay this Sunday, the club recently announced the recipients of the first ‘Devotion’ scarves, awarded to the most dedicated Earthquakes fans at halftime of their victory over Sporting Kansas City.
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