ΒΕΤΤΙΝG NEWSLETTERS: Kick Off: Montreal Impact move one step closer to Champions League final

Kick Off: Montreal Impact move one step closer to Champions League final | Colorado Rapids have new jersey sponsor

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

1. ONE STEP CLOSER

A quick start and a 2-0 victory at home (HIGHLIGHTS) in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions League semifinal on Wednesday gives the Montreal Impact a definite advantage over Alajuelense. However, with the Canadians still having to make a trip to Costa Rica, they know there's still work to be done. As for Alajuelense, they still have hope for "a magical night in Costa Rica."

2. FILLING THE SPACE

As Pablo Mastroeni continues to reshape the Colorado Rapids in his second year in charge, the team has made another big off-field move, announcing on Wednesday that they've secured a deal with Transamerica which will see the financial services company become their new jersey sponsor.

3. STADIUM NEWS

While LAFC still have plenty of time ahead of their 2017 MLS debut, they're marching along with their stadium search and one site in particular has emerged as an area of interest, according to a report from the LA Times.

4. CRUZ CONTROL

Danny Cruz is officially on his way to Norway, with the Philadelphia Union sending the winger on a season-long loan to FK Bodo/Glimt. However, this does not mean Cruz's time with the Union is over; rather, the club see the move as a way of securing valuable first-team minutes for the 25-year-old.

5. REVS SIGN A ROOKIE

Despite a pretty impressive resume, Timi Mulgrew went undrafted out of college. Yet having been with the New England Revolution throughout preseason, making six appearances and notching one assist, the forward has signed his first professional contract.

6. UGLY GOALS, BEAUTIFUL RESULTS

Orlando City have scored two goals so far this season and, let's be completely honest: Neither was a contender for AT&T MLS Goal of the Week. Yet every goal counts, and the Lions don't care if they score ugly goals, just as long as they score.

7. LOOKING DOWN THE ROSTER

While Toronto FC have a bye this weekend, that gives them a little bit longer to work out how they might deal with the potential absence of five starters for their game against Real Salt Lake. Still, with the club appealing Justin Morrow's red card, that number could be reduced.

8. CREW DEBUT

Stepping in for the suspended Tony Tchani, Mohammed Saeid made a big impression in his Columbus Crew SC debut last Saturday. He's not the only one to make a good start either. Despite missing a good chunk of the club's preseason, right back Hernan Grana has hit the ground running.

9. MISSING THE PARTY

The San Jose Earthquakes open their new stadium this weekend, and the club's unique app is already available for download, but one person who won't be around for that game is Brandon Barklage, after the club and the player agreed to mutually part ways with the termination of his contract.

10. MISTAKES WERE MADE

Brad Evans is not a natural center back - not yet, anyway - and both he and Seattle Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid agree that the club captain had a bad night against the San Jose Earthquakes last Saturday. Yet Evans is set to continue in that position, vowing to learn from his mistakes.

11. GETTING THE CALL

You can add Kevin Molino to the growing list of international call-ups for this month's international fixture games after the midfielder was selected for Trinidad & Tobago's game against Panama. Meanwhile, Miguel Herrera has finished announcing his Mexico squad for games against Ecuador and Paraguay, with no place for Erick Torres amongst the domestic call-ups.

12. FILL IT UP

Ticket sales for Orlando City's next home game, Saturday against the Vancouver Whitecaps (7:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE), are hovering around the impressive 24,000 mark. But they'll be opening up the entire Citrus Bowl in the not-to-distant future after the announcement of a friendly between Mexico and Costa Rica.

13. BACK TO MEXICO

Benji Joya spent the whole of last season on loan with the Chicago Fire, he had trials with the Seattle Sounders and Colorado Rapids during preseason and he was attracting interest from D.C. United, according to his agent. Yet despite all this, Joya has found himself back where he began: with Santos Laguna in Liga MX.

14. SET FOR THE SUMMER

There was interesting news from the world of women's soccer on Wednesday, as all-time leading scorer Abby Wambach announced she will skip the NWSL season to focus on this summer's World Cup instead. Although Wambach would only have played three club games before the World Cup, does her decision set a double standard or worrying precedent?

15. WARNING: RIDICULOUSLY ADORABLE VIDEO

With Portland Timbers fans having lined up in their thousands to have a photo shoot with the Timbers' axes, the players decided to get in on the action as well. Now, we're not saying there should be one, but IF there were a prize for team with the best-looking families ... well, this would take some beating.

MLSsoccer.com Musts

MLS Fantasy: How to keep your league engaged

MLS NOW: Check out Kei Kamara's best goal celebrations

Avaya stadium opens Sunday; How have other teams fared in stadium openers?