Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. RSL PLAY THE WAITING GAME
Real Salt Lake finished the season with a 2-0 win over Chivas USA Wednesday night (HIGHLIGHTS). The Goats were unhappy what they considered a soft penalty kick awarded to RSL, but the home side was happy to have done all they could in the race for third place in the Western Conference. The result forces FC Dallas to win this weekend against Portland if they are to avoid the Western Conference Knockout Round.
2. RED BULLS PLAY SPOILERS
The Montreal Impact’s game against the New York Red Bulls finished 1-1 (HIGHLIGHTS). The Canadian side were minutes away from securing home-field advantage in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals before Connor Lade, back again from a loan stint, helped secure a draw which means the Impact’s seeding now depends on how well Sporting Kansas City do on Thursday night.
3. BALANCING ACT FOR SPORTING
With a spot in the Eastern Conference's top three and the Champions League knockout stage still on the line, it’s going to be a busy few days for Sporting Kansas City. That starts tonight against Deportivo Saprissa (10 pm ET, FOX Soccer Plus), and Sporting will look to somehow find the right balance in their starting lineups.
4. PLEASED WITH THE PERFORMANCE
The race for the Supporters' Shield is coming down to the wire between the Seattle Sounders and the LA Galaxy, with a massive nationally televised decider on Saturday (2:30 pm ET, NBC, TSN2). While the Sounders admit that they conceded two goals too many against the Galaxy last weekend, overall they were pleased with their performance.
5. DeLaGARZA’S NEW DEAL
No matter how good the LA Galaxy may be this season, away from the field it’s been an absolutely awful year for A.J. DeLaGarza. Yet the defender has remained one of the LA Galaxy’s most dependable players on the field and has been rewarded with a new, multi-year contract extension.
6. MLS & US FEDERATION "ON THE SAME PAGE"
On Wednesday, MLS Commissioner Don Garber dismissed last week's media frenzy following comments by US national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann, saying, "a strong league and strong federation is the formula that will drive overall success." US Soccer President Sunil Gulati also spoke about the episode, saying Klinsmann and Garber are "on the same page."
7. NEW FIXTURE FOR USMNT
After the US national team’s rumored game against Croatia in London on November 14 fell through, they now have a new opponent for the same city and the same date: Colombia, ranked No. 3 in the most recent FIFA World Rankings. Speaking of, the US dropped six spots in the rankings.
8. EXPANSION CLUBS TO WINTER ABROAD?
Orlando City are finalizing plans for preseason and, despite being a regular fixture at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Pro Soccer Classic during their USL days, it does not appear the new MLS side will play any games in Florida in the buildup to their first season, regardless of what recent reports might say. Reports out of England, meanwhile, indicate that New York City FC might spend their first preseason in the warm, sunny climes of ... England?
9. FIRE IN THE MIDFIELD
The Chicago Fire seem to love a British player, or at the very least the English press love linking them with British players. Sky Sports claims former Wolverhampton Wolves midfielder Jamie O'Hara, now a free agent, could join the MLS side. The Fire could use another midfielder, as Patrick Nyarko has been ruled out for 6-8 months with a torn ACL.
10. SCHOENFELD’S BIG WEEK
Last week was a busy one for Columbus Crew striker Aaron Schoenfeld. The forward managed to score two goals against the New York Red Bulls at the weekend, his confidence perhaps boosted by recently getting engaged.
11. MLS EXPANSION NEWS
Las Vegas's MLS expansion bid is generating a lot of talk about what it could mean to the city, as everyone gears up for a vote in early December on the proposed stadium plan. This week, The New York Times broke it all down. Meanwhile, Atlanta Falcons and MLS Atlanta owner Arthur Blank thinks David Beckham should at least consider getting his proposed Miami team to share a stadium with an American football team.
12. CAMERON SET TO BATTLE
US international Geoff Cameron made his return for Stoke City last weekend, and despite talk of a transfer move during the summer, he says he is committed to winning a central place in the Potters' lineup. Could he be just what the team is missing?
13. TRACKING FREDDY ADU
Is Freddy Adu looking to upgrade from Serbia to Sweden? Sources say there's some interest.
14. MONEYBALLER
In some circles, Billy Beane is perhaps most famous as the protagonist of Moneyball, but the Oakland Athletics general manager is also a big fan of soccer and, according to Beane himself, he wouldn’t mind trying his hand as the GM of a soccer team one day.
15. BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH SOCCER
A New York Police Department precinct is using the game to help repair its relationship with a local community.
MLSsoccer.com Musts
MVP Ladder: Who holds the lead heading into the final weekend?
Zac MacMath back in goal for the Union
Cruz Azul-Alajuelense CCL decider ends in a brawl
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