1. SALT LAKE EDGE PAST THE GALAXY
Real Salt Lake booked their place in the US Open Cup semifinals after a late goal from defender Aaron Maund, the first senior goal of his professional career, secured a 1-0 win over the LA Galaxy and also ensured that Steven Gerrard’s first official competitive match for LA ended in a loss.
2. CANADA’S GOLD CUP COMPETITION IS OVER
While a 0-0 result against Costa Rica is quite impressive, it wasn't enough for Canada who crashed out of the Gold Cup after failing to score in the competition for the second tournament running. Still, while MLSers Tesho Akindele and Cyle Larin are disappointed, the team is trying to focus on the positives. In Tuesday’s other Gold Cup match, Jamaica secured the top spot in Group B with a 1-0 win over El Salvador, a result which leaves La Selecta with just two points and sends Panama (three points in Group A) to the quarterfinals as one of the two best third-place teams.
3. THE BATTLE FOR FIRST IN GROUP C
With four points, Mexico are already through to the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup, but if El Tri can manage a win against Trinidad and Tobago tonight (8.30 pm ET, Fox Sports 2 and UniMas) they’ll finish top in their group. There are a number of things to watch for in the game, including the referee: Mexico manager Miguel Herrera doesn’t believe his side are getting the calls they deserve. Meanwhile, with Trinidad and Tobago sitting in first place, head coach Stephen Hart believes the Soca Warriors can hold their own against anyone in the tournament.
4. A TIME FOR CHANGE ON USMNT ROSTER
With the weekend’s quarterfinals in mind, US national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has made three changes to his roster for the Gold Cup knockout stage. Alfredo Morales, Greg Garza and Jozy Altidore are all out, with Joe Corona, DaMarcus Beasley and Alan Gordon being named as the replacements. Speaking after the announcement, Klinsmann was more than happy to share his reasons for the switches.
5. DYNAMO DUO RETURN
While Honduras are left with a lot of questions following their early Gold Cup exit, the Houston Dynamo stand to benefit from their defeats with the return of Luis Garrido and Oscar Boniek Garcia. However, it looks like the latter may have picked up an injury.
6. ASHE TO ORLANDO
The Houston Dynamo were also involved in a trade on Tuesday, sending left-back Corey Ashe to Orlando City in exchange for a 2017 second-round draft pick and allocation money. Keep track of all the latest moves in MLS with MLSsoccer.com's Trade Tracker.
7. NYCFC BRING IN DEFENDER
NYCFC were also wheeling and dealing on Tuesday. First they acquired an additional international roster spot from the LA Galaxy in exchange for allocation money. Then they filled that slot with the signing of Colombian defender Jefferson Mena, with the 26-year-old joining the club from Independiente Medellín.
8. CALDWELL CALLS IT A DAY
Injury may have limited veteran defender Steven Caldwell’s playing time with Toronto FC this season, but it still came as a blow when the club’s former captain announced his retirement on Tuesday. However, the fiery Scotsman will still be around, taking up a position with Toronto owners MLSE as director of corporate development.
9. FRIBERG MAKES “PERFECT” RETURN
The deal may have been finalized earlier this month, but it was officially unveiled on Tuesday: Erik Friberg is once again a Seattle Sounder. The Swede, who last played for the club in 2011, addressed his return at his first media outing, stating: "They knew that one day I wanted to come back. Now I’m here. It’s perfect.”
10. FINLAY FOCUSES ON THE FUTURE
Ethan Finlay is having a fine season for Columbus Crew SC, but it wasn't enough for him and fellow stat-leader Kei Kamara to make the 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star Fan XI. However, Finlay isn’t letting that get him down, with the 24-year-old instead focusing on what might come next.
11. IS SHAUN SET TO STAY?
Shaun Wright-Phillips' training spell with the New York Red Bulls has been extended an extra week amid continuing rumors he might be joining the MLS side. The Red Bulls are currently preparing for their game against Orlando City on Saturday and, while they expect the conditions to be difficult, head coach Jesse Marsch is glad to be back on the sidelines again.
12. UNION FILLING IN THE HOLES
Although the Philadelphia Union fell 4-1 to new EPL side Bournemouth in an exhibition game on Tuesday, the club also confirmed their plans to add “a missing rung in the ladder” and launch their own USL side in 2016. It could provide a stepping stone for graduates from the Union's own high school, but how will the facility produce world-class talent?
13. D.C. UNITED DOING IT THEIR WAY
Despite a number of big-name signings joining the league and the introduction of Targeted Allocation Money, D.C. United appear content to stay the course rather than rush out and add any marquee signings. It makes sense, as the club currently sits in first in both the Eastern Conference and the Supporters' Shield standings.
14. UPDATES FOR EXPANSION HOPEFULS
With a large crowd expected in Charlotte tonight for the two Gold Cup games, can this help the city’s bid to one day host an MLS expansion team? As for two other potential future teams, both still in need of stadiums, it seems Saint Paul continues to gain steam as an option for Minnesota United while Miami-Dade’s mayor offered a brief update on David Beckham’s plans in a short Q&A.
15. ADU RETURNS
It’s been just over two years since Freddy Adu departed the Philadelphia Union but, following difficult spells in Brazil, Serbia and Finland, the former next-big-thing is finally heading back to the US, this time linking up with his former US Under-20 head coach Thomas Rongen at the NASL’s Tampa Bay Rowdies.
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