Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. SPORTING KC FIGHT BACK
When Juan Agudelo gave the New England Revolution an early lead on Wednesday night at Sporting Park, many might have wondered whether an injury-ravaged Sporting Kansas City squad could deal with the blow. But SKC showed the skeptics and mounted an impressive comeback to secure a 4-2 victory (HIGHLIGHTS), leaving Revs coach Jay Heaps to mourn his side’s lack of composure.
2. WHITECAPS ADVANCE
The Vancouver Whitecaps left it late in their Amway Canadian Championship second leg match on Wednesday, as Matias Laba scored a stoppage-time winner to secure a 2-1 victory (3-2 on aggregate) over FC Edmonton. Having put out a fairly strong lineup, the 'Caps definitely gave it their best effort and speaking after the game, Laba has set his sights on going all the way in the tournament, where Montreal await Vancouver in the final.
- OPEN CUP UPSETS
There were also 20 US Open Cup second round games played on Wednesday. Although amateur side Harpos FC’s magical run came to an end, there were a couple of upsets on the cards as New York Red Bulls II and LA Galaxy II both lost to PDL sides. Notably, Seattle Sounders 2 won their game to set up an intriguing Cascadia tie next Wednesday afternoon with Portland Timbers 2. You can check all the other results right here.
4. WILL JOHNSON’S READY FOR SELECTION
As Will Johnson approaches a return to MLS action, the Timbers midfielder insists he would be more than fine with making his return against Toronto FC at BMO Field this weekend, the same place he suffered his long-term injury last year. Johnson is also adamant that he is also now available for selection again for the Canadian national team.
5. NO MORE DAYS OFF FOR MAGEE?
Mike Magee is another player approaching his return, and while the 2013 MLS MVP is more likely to make his first appearance a week from Saturday, against the Montreal Impact, the Chicago Fire forward is hoping to recapture his form pretty quickly.
6. LEAVING ON LOAN?
With Magee’s return imminent, the Chicago Fire’s attacking options are growing even deeper, but one player who may not be in the running is Collin Fernandez, as the midfielder is apparently heading out on loan to Louisville City FC.
7. MAKE ROOM FOR GEORGE
Influential Columbus Crew SC midfielder Mohammed Saeid is suspended for Friday night’s game against the Chicago Fire (8 pm ET, UDN in the US and in English via SAP, MLS LIVE in Canada) and Wil Trapp is still not ready to return. That could open the door for Kevan George to make another appearance.
8. KREIS DRAWS COMPARISONS
Saturday’s game between Real Salt Lake and New York City FC (10 pm ET, MLS LIVE) could be quite emotional for NYCFC coach Jason Kreis, as it marks his first trip back to Rio Tinto Stadium since leaving his former club at the end of 2013. However, rather than focus on his exit,
Kreis is reminding himself of his early days at RSL and drawing parallels with NYCFC
.
9. BALLOUCHY FINALLY THRIVING
That same game will also mark a return to Rio Tinto Stadium for Medhi Ballouchy. The midfielder is now excelling with New York City FC under the tutelage of Kreis, the same coach who traded him away from RSL – although, to be fair, it was in exchange for Kyle Beckerman.
10. POSSESSED WITH POSSESSION
Clint Dempsey has grabbed either a goal or an assist in the last 10 consecutive games he’s played. And if he can do the same against Sporting Kansas City this weekend, he’ll tie the all-time MLS record. How much of that success can be attributed to the Sounders' newfound emphasis on possession and ability to score from open play?
11. ALLEN BACK TO HIS BEST?
Jordan Allen has already endured a lot more adversity that many young players his age. But having overcome his trials, the Real Salt Lake midfielder seems to have rediscovered his form, something that could bode well for both RSL and the US U-20 national team.
12. LUCK OF THE DRAW
The five MLS teams in this year’s CONCACAF Champions League will soon learn who they’ll be facing – and just as importantly, where they’ll be travelling – as the draw for the group stage of the tournament's next edition is set to be held in Miami on June 1.
13. WATCH IT RISE
Amid all the recent talk of stadiums, Orlando City SC president Phil Rawlins is urging patience as the club attempts to secure the final funding for their new home. Atlanta’s new stadium, meanwhile, is starting to take shape, as evidenced by these cool photos taken over the past year.
- ALTIDORE & HAITI
If all goes according to plan, Jozy Altidore should recover from his hamstring injury in ample time to take the field for the US against Haiti in the CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer. Altidore may be synonymous with the US national team at this point, but the Toronto FC striker also has deep ties to Haiti as well.
15. JOHANNSSON’S BIG CHANCE
Altidore will almost certainly miss the USMNT's next two games, though, against Germany and the Netherlands. That could give Aron Johannsson an opportunity to shine, as the US international has been in fine form for the Netherlands' AZ Alkmaar of late.
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