Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. CAN UNITED MOUNT A COMEBACK?
The New York Red Bulls hold a one-goal lead over D.C. United ahead of the second leg of their Conference Semifinal matchup (Sunday, 3 pm ET, ESPN and ESPN Deportes) and, while United eye another comeback, it’s Matt Miazga’s job to make sure that doesn’t happen. With the Red Bulls defender apparently drawing interest from Chelsea, here are 10 things you need to know about Miazga.
2. CREW SC STAY FOCUSED
Columbus Crew SC find themselves a goal down as they host the second leg of their series against the Montreal Impact (Sunday, 5 pm ET, ESPN and ESPN Deportes in the US, TSN1/RDS1 in Canada) but the club feels as long as they stay focused, they can overturn the deficit. Johan Venegas was pleased to have played his part for the Impact in the first leg, while Marco Donadel is just happy not to have picked up any yellow cards yet.
3. CAN THE SOUNDERS STAY AHEAD?
The Seattle Sounders will look to maintain their one-goal advantage over FC Dallas as they travel to Toyota Stadium on Sunday (7:30 pm ET, FS1 and FOX Deportes in the US, TSN1 in Canada) and, while the Sounders' midseason signings have definitely helped give the team a boost, FC Dallas have received a lift of their own from young goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez, who is tabbed by some to be Mexico’s future No. 1.
4. ALL TO PLAY FOR IN VANCOUVER
With the score still tied at 0-0 after the first leg, it’s still all square in the semifinal between the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Portland Timbers (Sunday, 10 pm ET, FS1 and FOX Deportes in the US, TSN1/RDS1 in Canada). Manager Caleb Porter has helped steer the Timbers back into good form as they face the challenge of going up against a sell-out crowd at BC Place.
5. COULD BRAD DAVIS BE SET FOR A TRADE?
Following reports earlier this week regarding Erick "El Cubo" Torres, it seems he may not be the only Houston Dynamo player whose future may be elsewhere, with reports suggesting that club captain Brad Davis could be traded, possibly to Sporting Kansas City.
6. IS RAMOS CATCHING FIRE?
As more names are added to the Chicago Fire's list of candidates for the vacant head coach role, it seems that US Under-20 head coach Tab Ramos may be emerging as a surprise favorite.
7. NO MORE B-TEAMS
There will be a few absences in the US Open Cup next year after US Soccer ruled that MLS-owned USL sides will not be permitted to enter the 2016 tournament.
8. BEST IS YET TO COME
After what has arguably been the best season in league history, there is plenty more to come according to David Nathanson, the head of business operations at FOX Sports, who expects MLS "will grow exponentially over the next eight years."
9. AMERICANS ON THE MOVE
After leaving Stabaek, Bob Bradley looks all but certain to be heading for France, but he isn’t the only American manager on the move, with former US international David Wagner appointed manager at English Championship side Huddersfield Town on Thursday.
10. WHO WILL THE US CALL UP?
The US national team will unveil the first squad of the new World Cup Qualifying campaign today at 1 pm ET. It looks like Darlington Nagbe is set for his first call-up and, if he plays, he’ll become only the second MLS player to debut under Klinsmann outside a January camp.
11. OSORIO’S FIRST SQUAD
Mexico have announced their squad for their upcoming World Cup Qualifiers and there was no place for Giovani dos Santos in Juan Carlos Osorio’s first team. However, goalkeeper Memo Ochoa does find himself recalled, with both Javier Hernandez and Carlos Vela also included.
12. LARIN’S BOLD CLAIM
Following a record-breaking season, AT&T Rookie of the Year contender Cyle Larin’s confidence has clearly grown, so much so that the Orlando City SC striker actually believes Canada will be the favorites when they take on Honduras next week.
13. PLENTY MORE CALL-UPS
There are plenty of other MLS players getting set for international duty as well, including those still in the playoffs, with Portland's Alvas Powell and New York's Kemar Lawrence amongst those included in Jamaica’s squad, while Tony Tchani and Ambroise Oyongo have both been called up by Cameroon.
14. MEXICO FALL JUST SHORT
Mexico’s U-17s fell just short of reaching the World Cup final, losing to Nigeria 4-2 and allowing the defending champions to set up an All-African final in Chile vs. Mali. The Mexican side will now face Belgium in the third-place playoff this Sunday.
15. KAMARA THE HUMANITARIAN
With his charitable work building schools back in Sierra Leone, Kei Kamara was named MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year on Thursday, with Brad Evans and Jeb Brovsky also earning recognition.
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