Kick Off: A weekend of MLS rivalries | Union coaching search | USMNT call-up shocks

News  |  Videos  |  Schedule & Stats  |  Clubs  |  Fantasy  |  Shop Forward To A Friend Kick Off: A weekend of MLS rivalries | Union coaching search | USMNT call-up shocks Here are the top 15 stories being talked about today: 1. SPORTING KC EYE TOP SPOT Sporting Kansas City and the Houston Dynamo have met three years in a row in the playoffs. That won't happen again unless the last-placed Dynamo find a groove and get more from goalkeeper Tally Hall when they travel to Sporting Park on Friday night (8 pm ET, NBCSN in the US, MLS LIVE in Canada). SKC, meanwhile, need a better defensive display than the one they produced against D.C. United if they are going to  reclaim first place in the Eastern Conference.   2. CASCADIA IN CANADA A week after losing to Seattle, the Portland Timbers have another Cascadia Cup clash this Saturday, away to the Vancouver Whitecaps (10:30 pm ET, TSN2 in Canada, MLS LIVE in USA). The Timbers will be without Norberto Paparatto after he was suspended for one game. The Caps, meanwhile, have just tied down left back Jordan Harvey to a new long-term contract. 3. CONVEY OUT FOR DC-NY Nasal surgery will keep Bobby Convey out of the New York Red Bulls' crucial clash with rivals D.C. United (Sunday, 2:30pm ET, NBCSN in US, MLS LIVE in Canada), but the DC fans will still honor the 2004 MLS Cup-winning United side that included Convey and Red Bulls coach Mike Petke. Going the other way, former Red Bulls defender Jeff Parke, now with United, helps break down the game.  4. GORDO WINNING HEARTS & MINDS IN LA As Alan Gordon works hard to win back the support of the  LA Galaxy fans, what better way to do it than scoring in what could very well be the final game against rivals Chivas USA in their current form (Sunday, 8 pm ET, Univision Deportes). However, Goats coach Wilmer Cabrera will be hoping his new signings ensure that doesn't happen. 5. TFC WARY OF REVOLUTION'S NEW THREAT Jermaine Jones could potentially make his New England Revolution debut when his side visit Toronto FC (Saturday, 5 pm ET, MLSsoccer.com, MLS LIVE, ESPN3), but can the US international help save their season? Toronto FC's studious coach Ryan Nelsen will be wary of a re-energized Revs side, but he'll also most likely have stars Jermain Defoe and Gilberto together up top.  Is that a good thing? 6. ANOTHER TOUGH TEST FOR THE RAPIDS  The Seattle Sounders' Chad Barrett will be hoping for another opportunity to celebrate when his side host the ailing Colorado Rapids (Saturday, 4 pm ET, MLS LIVE). The Rapids will definitely be without Danny Mwanga as well, after the forward officially went out on loan. 7. LAGERWEY'S RSL TALKS POSTPONED Real Salt Lake visit the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday (10:30pm ET, MLS LIVE), and while RSL look to keep pace with Seattle and a resurgent LA Galaxy, talk about general manager Garth Lagerwey's future has apparently been tabled until after the season. 8. IMPACT STILL TRYING TO END SLIDE New defensive signing Gege Soriola should help the Montreal Impact's chances of bagging their fifth win of the season when they host the Columbus Crew on Saturday (7:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE). Having made a strong impression in his Crew debut last weekend, is youth international Romain Gall ready for more? 9. CHICAGO LOOK WITHIN Ahead of their clash against high-flying FC Dallas on Saturday (8:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE), the Chicago Fire have signed US youth international Collin Fernandez. Dallas are on a 10-game unbeaten streak and could be boosted even further by the return of Moises Hernandez, who finally cleared the air about the foot injury that has kept him out of three games. 10. THE UNION COACHING LIST The Philadelphia Union picked up a 3-2 win in a Thursday friendly vs. "baby brother" Harrisburg City Islanders, but the big news concerns the club's coaching search. While we already knew current interim Jim Curtin was on the short list for the fulltime gig, some other, high-profile names have emerged. 11. USMNT LOOK TO THE FUTURE US national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann named his squad for the upcoming friendly against the Czech Republic and with the start of a brand new cycle the coach has opted to go with youth, including a shock call-up for Seattle Sounders academy star Jordan Morris. 12. CANADIAN ROSTER Canada coach Benito Floro announced his roster for the September 9th friendly against Jamaica in Toronto. Unlike the USMNT's Europe-based youth movemnt, Canada's squad sees a number of veterans and MLS players called, including Dwayne De Rosario, as they continue their quest for a first win in almost two years. 13. COULD KAMARA RETURN TO MLS? Former Sporting Kansas City star Kei Kamara has parted ways with English second-division side Middlesbrough by mutual consent. Could the Sierra Leone international make his way back to MLS? 14. CLAVIJO BATTLING BACK This week we learned the news that FC Dallas technical director Fernando Clavijo is battling cancer. The former US international is not taking the news lying down and is reportedly responding well to his treatment. 15. YANKS IN UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Anderlecht's Sacha Kljestan and Bayern Munich's Julian Green learned their group opponents in the UEFA Champions League. Let's just say it's better to be with Bayern than Anderlecht. 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