ΒΕΤΤΙΝG NEWSLETTERS: Kick Off: Orlando City, Colorado Rapids hunt first home wins tonight

Kick Off: Orlando City, Colorado Rapids hunt first home wins tonight | New Yorkers battle on Sunday

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

1. THE BATTLE OF NEW YORK

This is the big one, folks: the inaugural cross-Gotham meeting between the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC (Sunday, 7 pm ET, Fox Sports 1 and Fox Deportes in the US, TSN5 in Canada). Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright Phillips knows how important a win would be for their fans, and NYCFC supporters group The Third Rail are apparently planning to bring 1,500 fans to the game.

2. MOVING UP

The New England Revolution have only lost two games this season, while Orlando City have only won two, and none at home. So the away team will perhaps be favorites when the two meet at the Citrus Bowl tonight (8 pm ET UDN in the US, MLS LIVE in Canada). The Lions will likely be featuring Brek Shea in a more familiar position, while the Revolution’s defense features a player who, much like Orlando City, spent last season in the USL.

3. THE LOSS OF INNOCENCE

As the San Jose Earthquakes get set to close out a rough three-game road trip with a visit to the Colorado Rapids (Friday 10 pm ET, UDN in the US, MLS LIVE in Canada), the club suffered a major injury blow with the news that Innocent Emeghara is set to miss 4-6 months following surgery on a torn meniscus. The Rapids, on the other hand, have a growing list of strikers at their disposal, including a revived Gabriel Torres.

4. 20 UNDER 20

Tab Ramos has named his US U-20 national team squad for the World Cup in New Zealand next month. There’s a spot reserved for Gedion Zelalem should he become eligible in time, but no place for Columbus Crew winger Romain Gall, as Ramos explains his reasons for selecting/snubbing certain MLS players.

5. NO PLACE FOR PEREZ?

The Chicago Fire host Real Salt Lake and the seemingly unbeatable Nick Rimando on Saturday (3 pm ET, MLS LIVE). While head coach Frank Yallop is already making plans for how to incorporate returning stars like Mike Magee, Victor Perez is struggling to earn playing time even without their presence.

6. TIMBERS STRIKE A BALANCE

Further north, the Portland Timbers visit Quebec this Saturday to take on the Montreal Impact (4 pm ET, TSN in Canada, MLS LIVE in the US). The goals haven’t necessarily flowed for the Timbers this season, yet Caleb Porter is pleased with his side’s balanced output. The Impact, meanwhile, have opted to place midfielder Blake Smith on waivers.

7. CAN UNITED STOP BENNY?

Playing with a chip on their shoulders, D.C. United have continued to surprise observers with a club-record start to the year. But they'll need their starting XI firing on all cylinders if they want to deal with Sporting Kansas City and early MLS MVP candidate Benny Feilhaber Saturday (7 pm ET, MLS LIVE). Sadly, it looks more and more likely that D.C. striker Eddie Johnson may call time on his impressive career.

8. ‘CAPS TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED

With only one win in 10 games for the Philadelphia Union, it could be easy for the Vancouver Whitecaps to underestimate their opponents on Saturday (7 pm ET, TSN1 in Canada, MLS LIVE in the US). The 'Caps insist they won’t, though one thing they’re not overly concerned about is who’ll start in goal for the Union.

9. THOSE LEFT BEHIND

Columbus Crew SC host the Seattle Sounders on Saturday (7:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE) with both teams featuring a young midfielder who missed out on the US U-20 squad. Yet while Cristian Roldan and Romain Gall will miss the international tournament, Justin Meram’s Crew SC career continues its steady rise. Stefan Frei will no doubt be in goal for the Sounders as he looks to extend his impressive record.

10. CAN TESHO TURN IT AROUND?

Amid all the talk of which nation (Canada or the US) he might chose to represent, reigning MLS Rookie of the year Tesho Akindele hasn’t exactly lit things up on the field this year. The FC Dallas attacker will have another chance to turn things around when his side host the LA Galaxy Saturday (8:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE).

11. TFC RETURNING HOME

Toronto FC are expecting a sellout crowd for their first game at the newly renovated BMO Field on Sunday. The Houston Dynamo are the visitors for that match (5 pm ET, ESPN2 in the US, TSN & RDS2 in Canada) and while the club searches for more goals, Mexico manager Miguel Herrera has said that he advised summer arrival Erick "Cubo" Torres to join the Dynamo sooner.

12. RUMOR AFTER RUMOR

The Red Bulls have found themselves linked with yet another World Cup star, as reports on Thursday state that the club has put a discovery claim on Kevin Prince Boateng, potentially signaling a move for the Ghana international. In other transfer news, is Republic of Ireland winger James McClean set to join either the Red Bulls or Orlando City? Also, would anyone be interested in a little-known Italian midfielder by the name of Pirlo?

13. KAKA EXCITED ABOUT GERRARD

As Steven Gerrard prepares himself for an emotional farewell at longtime club Liverpool FC, the club captain is also looking forward to a new challenge with the Galaxy. One big-name DP who’s already made the journey to the US is confident Gerrard's move will be good for everyone involved.

14. ON MLS TV FIGURES

Nine weeks into the season, and MLS’s TV ratings are looking healthier than ever. The numbers are especially good in the coveted 18-49 demo. "We know our audience is young – those young working professionals who participate in our supporters groups – and these numbers are proving that,” said Seth Bacon, MLS's senior vice president of media.

15. FLORIDA <3s SOCCER

The Miami Fusion are back! (Sort of.) The new incarnation, who held a first press conference on Thursday, will play in the fourth-tier NPSL, adding to Florida’s growing claim as one of the soccer capitals of the US.

MLSsoccer.com Musts

MLS Insider: Giovinco at home in Toronto

ExtraTime Radio: NYCSoccerWarz with NYCFC’s Jason Hernandez |Tab Ramos on U20 World Cup

Armchair Analyst: on the U20 selections and Klinsmann’s diamond mining