ΒΕΤΤΙΝG NEWSLETTERS: Kick Off: MLS stars shine bright in epic opening weekend

Kick Off: MLS stars shine bright in epic opening weekend | Orlando goes gaga over OCSC

Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:

1. KAKA SAVES THE DAY

In a tense game between two MLS debutants, both Orlando City and New York City FC fans came away with something to cheer following a 1-1 draw (HIGHLIGHTS) on Sunday in front of more than 62,000 fans at a sold-out Citrus Bowl. Mix Diskerud dedicated the opening goal to the NYCFC fans while, despite having Aurelien Collin sent off, Kaká was on hand to salvage a point for Orlando, with a little help from a deflection. That was just part of the fun of opening weekend.

2. SOUNDERS SHOW THEIR CLASS

Anyone doubting the Seattle Sounders this season might want to think again, as Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins showed off their usual fancy footwork in a 3-0 win over the New England Revolution (HIGHLIGHTS) in Sunday's late game. Yet while the Revolution lament their inability to cope with the Sounders' attack, Sigi Schmid was more impressed with his defense.

3. 10-MAN SKC HOLD ON FOR DRAW

Despite playing the final 20 minutes against 10 men following an uncharacteristic red card to Matt Besler, the New York Red Bulls could not find a breakthrough in their 1-1 draw at Sporting Kansas City (HIGHLIGHTS) on Sunday. Nor could KC's Dom Dwyer, who believes his wife might have been more effective than him.

4. JOZY'S BACK

Jozy Altidore won't soon forget his first game back in MLS after a seven-year hiatus, as he scored two goals to help Toronto FC to a 3-1 comeback victory over Canadian rivals Vancouver Whitecaps (HIGHLIGHTS) on Saturday evening. Having taken an early lead, the 'Caps had other opportunities to score, but as head coach Carl Robinson summed up, "They take their chances, we don't."

5. DERIC COMES UP BIG

Columbus Crew SC were one of several side left to rue missed opportunities on Saturday as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Houston Dynamo (HIGHLIGHTS). That result means Owen Coyle won his first MLS game in charge of the Dynamo, but a lot of the praise is due to goalkeeper Tyler Deric, whose six saves kept Houston in the game.

6. UNITED EDGE OUT MONTREAL

Jairo Arrieta scored the only goal in D.C. United's 1-0 victory over the Montreal Impact (HIGHLIGHTS) on Saturday afternoon, and United are thrilled with their offseason acquisition. However, for the Impact, far more worrying than the result was Justin Mapp's injury scare. Thankfully, the influential midfielder only dislocated his elbow.

7. EXPERIENCE WINS THE DAY

In a team praised for its talented youth, it was 33-year-old Blas Perez who was in the right place to score a 92nd-minute winner for FC Dallas in their 1-0 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes (HIGHLIGHTS). It was a somewhat harsh punishment for the Quakes in what Dominic Kinnear called "a game of mistakes."

8. FIGHTING FOR A POINT

With a lineup that included two rookies and a rebuilt back line, the Colorado Rapids fought hard to leave PPL Park with a 0-0 draw against the Philadelphia Union (HIGHLIGHTS) on Saturday afternoon despite finishing with 10 players due to a red card. It could have gone very differently had the Philadelphia Union taken their chances.

9. TIMBERS UNHAPPY WITH DRAW

In front of a sold-out Providence Park crowd that included a couple of newly-weds, neither the Portland Timbers nor Real Salt Lake could find a breakthrough in their 0-0 draw (HIGHLIGHTS) on Saturday night. The Timbers certainly thought they deserved more though, while RSL were happy with a point on the road as they transition away from the midfield diamond.

10. WHERE WERE WE?

The LA Galaxy opened the new season on Friday night, picking up right where they let off in December and beating the Chicago Fire 2-0 (HIGHLIGHTS). While the Fire players agree they have serious work to do following their defeat, it seems the LA Galaxy are also looking for improvements.

11. SIGNING BONANZA

Ahead of the new season which started on Friday, several teams added new players to their rosters ahead of their opening matches. New York City FC added Pablo Alvarez Nunez and confirmed the loan of Shay Facey; the LA Galaxy signed both Edson Buddle and Mika Väyrynen; D.C. United signed Luke Mishu; James Riley joined his record seventh MLS club in Colorado; and Dane Richards made his return to the New York Red Bulls.

12. US, CANADA WOMEN CONTINUE STRONG STARTS

13. WINNING RUNS OVER FOR U-17s

The winning streaks came to an end for both the US and Canada in the CONCACAF U-17 Championship, but both sides still grabbed decent results. The Canadians earned a 1-1 draw with Mexico on Friday, while the US battled to a 2-2 draw with host Honduras on Sunday.

14. MAPPED OUT

Ever wondered where most of your club's fans come from? Well, you can gain a better idea of which clubs rule which parts of North America now, thanks to FOX and Facebook teaming up to generate this fan map.

15. A LOOK BACK

The 20th season of Major League Soccer is shifting into gear after an exciting opening weekend, and for some perspective on what the league has been up to this point, SI.com looked back at some of the best players and moments of the first 19 seasons.

MLSsoccer.com Musts