Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. DOWN TO THE WIRE
It’s not the position Sporting Kansas City hoped to find themselves in, as a 2-0 home defeat to the Colorado Rapids (HIGHLIGHTS) leaves them just one point above the San Jose Earthquakes for the sixth spot in the West, as the Rapids turned in arguably their best performance of the year to spoil Sporting KC’s party.
2. GALAXY LOSE HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE
The LA Galaxy had already secured their place in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, but their 1-1 draw at Comunicaciones dropped them from a potential No. 1 seed, playing the second leg at home throughout the knockout rounds, to the No. 5 seed.
3. MLS VS. LIGA MX BATTLE ROYALE
Now that seeding has been determined, all four of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals pit MLS sides against Liga MX teams, which should make for a series of must-see games next February.
4. PLAYING FOR PRIDE
The Vancouver Whitecaps travel to Honduras playing for nothing more than pride when they take on Olimpia tonight in CONCACAF Champions League action (10 pm ET, FOX Sports GO in USA). But with more first-team players forced to make the journey than the Whitecaps would have liked, will someone step up and make an impression?
5. COACHING HOT SEAT
While it has been denied by New York City FC, a report by Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl suggested on Wednesday suggested that Jason Kreis’ days with the MLS expansion team could be numbered, with Patrick Vieira said to be lined up as his replacement.
6. KLINSMANN'S ROLE IN QUESTION
Also in that report was news about Jurgen Klinsmann and a rumored power struggle at US Soccer. But this has also been denied by US Soccer, although the US national team did confirm a parting of ways with their head trainer.
7. A DIFFERENT WAY TO WIN
As FC Dallas and the New York Red Bulls vie for the Supporters’ Shield on Sunday as part of MLS #DecisionDay, the two sides’ now-similar approaches to spending show a different way of winning. Will it be enough to take them all the way to the MLS Cup final?
8. SOUNDERS EYE RECORD
Brad Evans has been named the Seattle Sounders' Humanitarian of the Year, but the Sounders captain remains focused on ensuring his side reach the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs. Whatever happens on Sunday, the Sounders are likely to set a new single-season attendance record.
9. KAMARA’S OUT OF THE RACE
Columbus Crew SC and D.C. United will battle it out for a first-round bye on Sunday, but Crew SC will have to make do without Kei Kamara, whose suspension rules him out of the match as well as the Audi Golden Boot race, something the Sierra Leone international is not happy about.
10. DROGBA LIVES UP TO HIS REPUTATION
The Montreal Impact have secured their place in this year’s Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs thanks in no small part to Didier Drogba, with the late-summer arrival turning out to be everything the club wanted and then some. The Impact take on Toronto FC on Sunday and, with postseason seeding on the line, TFC are treating the game like a playoff match.
11. ANOTHER NEW USL SIDE
Following last night’s defeat, Sporting Kansas City will now switch all their focus to a crunch game against the LA Galaxy on Sunday. The team’s executives have one other bit of business to deal with first, as the club are set to unveil their very own USL team later today.
12. UNION AUDITIONING FOR 2016
The Philadelphia Union won’t be far behind Sporting Kansas City, as they’ll be officially unveiling the name, colors and logo of their new USL side next Tuesday. In the meantime, fresh from winning the 2015 USL title, Rochester Rhinos left back Onua Obasi is now training with the Union.
13. HERRERA CONFIRMS US, MLS INTEREST
Are you one of the many people who would love to see more of Miguel Herrera? Good news, then, as the former Mexican national team manager has confirmed that he would be open to becoming head coach of either an MLS side or the US national team.
14. PEREZ BACKING U-17s
The US Under-17 national team face a tough game against hosts Chile on Friday, knowing they need a positive result in order to stay alive at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Many of the players in the age range were coached by Hugo Perez at the U-15 level, and while he may have been let go during a US Soccer restructure, he still roots for his former charges.
15. ORLANDO TEE OFF
Orlando City took part in a team game of footgolf on Wednesday as they get set for their final hopes of securing a playoff spot on Sunday. However, regardless of what happens, club superstar Kaká looks to be sticking around for a long time to come, and his move to MLS has helped him return to the Brazil squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
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