UPDATE: Catch Sporting KC-NYCFC and Galaxy-Timbers this Sunday on TSN!
Here is everything you need to know about MLS and North American soccer this morning:
Sounders, RBNY advance to CCL quarterfinals
Nicolas Lodeiro and his Seattle Sounders teammates are moving on to the CCL quarterfinals. | USA TODAY Sports Images
Headlining Thursday's CONCACAF Champions League Round of 16 action, Seattle used a four-goal, second-half burst to record a 4-0 triumph that allowed them to storm past second-leg guests Santa Tecla for a 5-2 aggregate win. RECAP
Thanks to second half strikes from Sean Davis and Bradley Wright-Phillips, the New York Red Bulls made it three MLS clubs in the tournament's final eight with a decisive 2-0 home win over Honduran side Olimpia on Thursday night. RECAP
How to watch out-of-market MLS matches
We know you dont want to miss a minute of the action this year: In addition to matches on national TV and local TV broadcasts, you can watch out-of-market matches via cable, satellite and streaming. HOW TO WATCH
Trillium Cup rematch at BMO
MLS Cup kings Toronto FC will begin their title defense with a Saturday afternoon match-up (1 pm ET | TSN1/4/5, TSN GO; MLS LIVE) against the team they disposed of in last year's Eastern Conference Championship, Columbus Crew SC. The Reds, who went 3-1-1 in last year's series, have posted three straight clean-sheet victories against Columbus at BMO Field. PREVIEW
Crew SC coach Gregg Berhalter may not be done stocking up on attackers, with the club now linked with a swoop for El Nacional's Ecuador Under-20 international Adolfo Munoz. READ MORE
LAFC story starts in Seattle
Latif Blessing and LAFC take the field for the first time Sunday. | USA TODAY Sports Images
Expansion outfit LAFC has a rather tall first MLS task in Sunday's visit to two-time defending Western champs Seattle (5 pm ET | ESPN, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN; DAZN in Canada). The Sounders are 14-0-3 with 11 clean sheets kept in their last 17 competitive home games, and haven't conceded a goal at CenturyLink in 605 minutes. PREVIEW
Recovering Sounders star Ozzie Alonso will miss the opener, but expects to be back on the field by the end of the month. READ MORE
Sporting, NYCFC duel in KC
Sporting KC and New York City FC will hook up at Children's Mercy Park for Sunday's season opener (7:30 pm ET | FS1, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports GO; TSN2, TSN GO). The Missouri Azzurri enter the contest with a 17-1-7 record (including 11 shutouts) in their last 25 regular-season home matches. PREVIEW
NYCFC placed not one, not two, but three players on our list of the 10 most underrated acquisitions of the offseason, including the No. 1 choice. READ MORE
Galaxy quest starts against Portland
Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese makes his MLS coaching debut Sunday. | USA TODAY Sports Image
The opening weekend of the MLS season will be capped by Sunday night's nationally-televised contest between the rebuilt LA Galaxy and visiting Portland Timbers (10 pm ET | FS1, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports GO; TSN2, TSN GO). The Timbers, who won both meetings in 2017, are 2-0-1 on their last three trips to StubHub. PREVIEW
The key to the Timbers season may well lie in how new boss Giovanni Savarese opts to shape and position his attack pieces. READ MORE
West contenders meet in Dallas
Two teams who fancy their chances to make playoff returns, FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake, are on a collision course for Saturday's opening day skirmish at Toyota Stadium (8 pm ET | MLS LIVE, DAZN in Canada). This game represents one of the least favorite road trips for the Rio Tinto bunch, who have won just once in 18 previous tries visiting FCD. PREVIEW
Despite bowing out of the CONCACAF Champions League this week, FC Dallas remain confident in their new 3-5-2 set heading into the league campaign. READ MORE
Five Stripes invade Houston
Atlanta United will begin their second MLS season with a Saturday visit to Houston (3:30 pm ET | Univision, UnivisionDeportes.com; DAZN in Canada). The Five Stripes dominated last season's lone meeting, as Miguel Almiron fired a hat trick to spark a 4-1 home win. PREVIEW
With his team set to face one of the league's big spenders, Dynamo boss Wilmer Cabrera reiterated that they don't need to break the bank to put together a side capable of reaching the postseason and competing once they get there. READ MORE
Canadian showdown in Vancouver
Two Canadian sides that traveled in opposite directions last season will square off on Sunday, with Montreal making the long trip to tackle Vancouver at BC Place (6 pm ET | TSN1/3, TVAS, TSN GO; MLS LIVE). The teams essentially shared the spoils in 2017, with Vancouver taking the league clash and the Impact advancing from their Canadian Championship tie. PREVIEW
It appears as though the Whitecaps have moved quickly to replace the departed Tony Tchani. According to ESPN, they're set to announce a loan deal for Crystal Palace midfielder Jordon Mutch. READ MORE
D.C. United enter the Lions den
A revamped Orlando City side will open the gates on Saturday to host Eastern rivals D.C. United (7:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE; DAZN in Canada). The Lions have won three in a row in the overall series, and three straight meetings in their friendly confines. PREVIEW
After three seasons of futility in Orlando, Lions boss Jason Kreis says they now have the squad that can earn the club's first postseason berth. Be that as it may, Orlando City will need to start that playoff drive by compensating for the opening-day absences of Dom Dwyer, Sacha Kljestan and Oriol Rosell. READ MORE
Revs, Union aspirations clash in Philly
A pair of teams looking to find their way back to the playoffs will lock horns on Saturday when New England visits Philadelphia (7 pm ET | MLS LIVE; DAZN in Canada). The Union have posted shutout wins in three of the last four meetings between the two, with CJ Sapong accounting for four goals in that span. PREVIEW
New Union playmaker Borek Dockal says he's so ready for the responsibility of setting the table for the team's attack that he has accepted the No. 10 shirt for the first time in his career. READ MORE
Loons know the way to San Jose
San Jose will kick off their season by hosting Western rivals Minnesota United for a Saturday night tilt (10:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE; DAZN in Canada). The Earthquakes swept both meetings last season, including a thrilling Decision Day victory that put them in the postseason. PREVIEW
Though the season begins with some of their defensive pieces on the mend, the Loons are eager to shore up the back after conceding a league-high 70 goals in 2017. READ MORE
MLSsoccer.com Must-Watch
