Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. US THUMPED BY BRAZIL
It was a tough Tuesday night for the US national team, who suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Brazil. It was a night to forget for all but one of the team. However, while the Yanks felt the game turned on a needless penalty, they insisted it won’t affect them momentum heading into next month's CONCACAF Cup playoff match with Mexico.
2. MEXICO BLOW A LEAD
If there’s any consolation for the US national team, it might be that Mexico didn’t win their game against South American opposition either, conceding two late goals in a 2-2 draw vs. Argentina.
3. CANADA ADVANCE IN WORLD CUP QUALIFYING
It wasn't convincing, but the Canadian national team got the job done on Tuesday with a 1-1 draw away to Belize to advance to the next round of World Cup qualifying. MLS standouts Will Johnson and Sam Adekugbe turned in strong performances.
4. FCD'S CASTILLO DEBUTS FOR COLOMBIA
In other international action, FC Dallas attacker Fabian Castillo made his debut for Colombia, coming off the bench in a 1-1 draw against Peru at Red Bull Arena. Columbus Crew SC winger Justin Meram scored another goal for Iraq in their 2-2 draw with Thailand.
5. JAMAICA COMEBACK
Jamaica managed to overcome their 3-2 aggregate deficit and secure their place in the next round of World Cup qualifying, thanks to an early Darren Mattocks strike and a last-minute goal. In other news, Jurgen Klinsmann can start making plans now that he knows exactly which teams are in the USA’s semifinal-round WCQ group.
6. WHITECAPS READY FOR REVITALIZED RAPIDS
The Vancouver Whitecaps look to bounce back from their defeat to the Houston Dynamo when they
take on the Colorado Rapids
tonight (10 pm ET, TSN1 in the US, MLS LIVE in the US). Unfortunately, they'll be without
a couple of important regulars
.
7. TIMBERS DEPTH VS. BOLSTERED SKC
US international Matt Besler -- who hopes to remain part of Jurgen Klinsmann’s plans -- is already back with Sporting Kansas City ahead of their visit to the Portland Timbers tonight (10:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE). The Timbers, meanwhile, remain focused on making the playoffs, althought they'll need to rely on their depth tonight.
8. FEELING FOR FEILHABER
If Matt Besler, who made a cameo in the USMNT's friendly vs. Peru last week, remains unsure of his international future, his Sporting teammate Benny Feilhaber just can't get a sniff despite being a strong MLS MVP candidate.
9. FILLING IN FOR SCHMID
Sigi Schmid is still missing from Seattle Sounders training due to an undisclosed health issue over the weekend. A timetable for Schmid’s return is still uncertain, but his second-in-command, Brian Schmetzer, spoek about filling in for the legendary manager.
10. ORLANDO UNCERTAIN OVER CEREN
Kaká remained an unused substitute for Brazil during Tuesday’s win over the USA -- rested as a precautionary measure, it seems -- but his Orlando City teammate Darwin Ceren's health remains a mystery: El Salvador aren’t talking about his knee injury.
11. LAMPARD: WE NEED TO WIN GAMES
While New York City FC are in a three-game winless rut, star midfielder Frank Lampard believes the club still has a shot at the playoffs: “There are still enough points to be won. But it’s no use pointing that out – we need to win games.”
12. BEDOYA AND THE UNION?
Tuesday's US defeat was a
one for Alejandro Bedoya
, who was played out of position and was subbed off before halftime. The US international has endured a year of injuries, but did you know he apparently came close to
joining the Philadelphia Union
? Speaking of the Union, be sure to vote
for the name of their new USL team
.
13. MLS AND THE EPL
Speaking to the media at the Soccerex convention in England on Tuesday, MLS Commissioner Don Garber discussed several things, including David Beckham's legacy and where things currently stand with the MLS Miami expansion franchise, and the possibility of future partnerships with the English Premier League.
14. US U-23S TAKE DOWN QATAR
The US U-23 national team earned a 2-0 win over Qatar on Tuesday in their final tune up before next month's Olympic qualification. What does head coach Andi Herzog hope to see from the side once qualifying begins?
15. REMEMBER THE WIN
While the USMNT’s result last night was disappointing, it perhaps shouldn’t come as a surprise, given that the USMNT has beaten Brazil only once. That win came in 1998...and Kasey Keller picks up the story from here.
MLSsoccer.com Musts
From Nigeria Premier League to the Houston Dynamo
Armchair Analyst: More experiments, no answers in US loss to Brazil
Instant Replay: Was it a case of simulation in Seattle?
