Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. US SETTLE FOR A POINT
The US national team garnered their fourth point in the first two games of CONCACAF 2018 World Cup qualifying with a 0-0 draw at Trinidad & Tobago on Tuesday. It’s an important point picked up on the road, but unfortunately, there was little else to admire from the US performance, with some players leaving lots to be desired.
2. CANADA HELD IN EL SALVADOR
Canada also had to settle for a goalless draw, tying El Salvador 0-0 at the Estadio Cuscatlan. Conditions in El Salvador weren’t easy for Canada and the road point could prove valuable, but given the hosts' weaknesses, might the draw end up costing them down the line?
3. MEXICO KEEP WINNING
Mexico, meanwhile, maintained a 100 percent start to their group following a 2-0 win over Honduras. The result leaves Honduras with zero points and, to make matters worse, Houston Dynamo midfielder Luis Garrido was forced to leave the game after suffering a horrific injury which will keep him out long term.
4. OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTION
There were plenty of other MLS stars in action over the international period as well, as a number of the league’s African players helping their nations advance to the next stage of their respective World Cup qualifying campaigns.
5. SABORIO RE-SIGNS WITH UNITED
D.C. United have re-signed another of their veteran players as they start making preparations for 2016, with the Eastern Conference side penning Costa Rican international Alvaro Saborio to a new contract.
6. RED BULLS FEELING RESTED
The New York Red Bulls are apparently rested and ready to go ahead of Sunday’s big Eastern Conference Championship first leg clash with Columbus Crew SC (5 pm ET, ESPN and ESPN Deportes in the USA; MLS LIVE in Canada), but can Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch help his side avoid any ill effects following the extended gap for international action?
7. WATCHING WRIGHT-PHILLIPS
One Red Bulls player who may not be ready for Sunday is Shaun Wright-Phillips, who is still listed as day-to-day by the club. Yet it seems Crew SC are more concerned about the other brother, Bradley Wright-Phillips, anyway.
8. COYLE’S LEARNED HIS LESSONS
It seems Owen Coyle’s first season in MLS was something of an eye-opener for the Scotsman, who has been talking about the lessons he’s learned in his inaugural year with the Houston Dynamo and how it compares to his time managing in England.
9. CELEBRATE WITH THE GALAXY
The LA Galaxy won’t be able to defend their MLS Cup title this year, having already been eliminated from the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs. But that doesn’t mean the Californian side won’t be busy on December 6, with the Galaxy announcing they’ll be hosting a Christmas party that very same day.
10. MANNEH TARGETS USMNT
While Darlington Nagbe recently acquired his US citizenship and made his US national team debut, he isn’t the only MLS starlet with such dreams. The Vancouver Whitecaps’ Kekuta Manneh is apparently months away from acquiring his US citizenship and has set his sights on a similar goal.
11. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Some good news for US national team fans: Jurgen Klinsmann and Fabian Johnson appear to have made up although the Borussia Monchengladbach player still stands by the way he exited the playoff against Mexico. Meanwhile, Bobby Wood explains some of his new outlook on soccer.
12. MORRIS SCOOPS AN AWARD
While we’re still not sure what the future holds for US international and Stanford standout Jordan Morris, the Seattle Sounders Academy product was voted the Pac-12 Player of the Year following another strong college campaign in which he scored eight goals in 13 games.
13. WHERE NEXT FOR DOS SANTOS?
Marc Dos Santos was recently named NASL Coach of the Year. But as the Ottawa Fury boss prepares to leave the Canadian club for an unspecified job in MLS, the question remains over where he’s actually going.
14. “THE MAYOR OF HANNOVER” WEIGHS IN
Unfortunately not every international scheduled for Tuesday was able to take place, as Germany’s friendly with the Netherlands was called off due to a bomb threat. The game was scheduled to take place in Hannover, and former US international Steve Cherundolo, assistant coach at Hannover 96, offered his thoughts on the situation.
15. THE SHOT HEARD AROUND THE WORLD
While last night’s US qualifier in Trinidad & Tobago may have finished goalless, 26 years ago another encounter between the US and Trinidad & Tobago finished 1-0 in the US’ favor, with the lone goal becoming known as the "billion dollar goal."
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