MIAMI
Admit it. You were a little distracted by the whole Becks-does-south-Florida thing yesterday. Tough to blame you there. The glitzy event and the worldwide spotlight diverted your attention and kept you from tracking MLS events as carefully as you usually do.
It's OK. We're here to help at Inside MLS. Here's a look at everything you missed while focusing on Miami:
● Vancouver signed Sebastián Fernández and Nicolás Mezquida from the wonderfully named Uruguayan side Boston River, per a club release. Whitecaps boss Carl Robinson admitted no one at the club had seen either of the two players live before completing the deals. Mezquida at least attracted interest from Celtic and Schalke over the past couple of seasons, according to The Province. Daigo Kobayashi is also back at the club trying to earn a deal on reduced terms for the upcoming season.
● Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz held his annual State of the Union conference call. The big topic of discussion: building a training facility. Sakiewicz dubbed it the club's top priority, according to MLSsoccer.com.
● New York City FC boss Jason Kreis told Manchester City's official website he will have the ability to take four City players on loan when NYCFC joins MLS in 2015. Kreis noted he is carefully evaluating potential additions during his time in Manchester.
● Chicago won the weighted lottery for US under-20 international midfielder Benji Joya. The Santos Laguna product has signed a one-year loan deal with MLS with an option to purchase available at the end of the term.
● Joya's arrival provided a brief respite in the ongoing battle between club officials and Sector Latino over the possibility of moving the supporters' group to a different section adjacent to Section 8 for the upcoming season. Sector Latino is worried about losing its unique identity in the transition after moving into its own section in 2010, while a Fire official told Chicago Fire Confidential the club planned to continue discussions with Sector Latino over the change.
● Montreal announced a three-year agreement with TSN 690 to broadcast all 34 Impact matches on English-language radio this season. Moroccan trialist Oussama Essabr will hope for a similar pact at the end of his training spell, while coach Frank Klopas told MLSsoccer.com the club is negotiating with Uruguayan striker Santiago González.
● Rob Friend notched his first goal for LA Galaxy in a 2-2 draw with Chivas USA.
● Will Johnson and Max Urruti pounced in the second half to hand the Timbers a 2-0 victory over Houston in Tucson, Ariz.
● Jairo Arrieta scored the only goal of the game as Columbus defeated Swedish champions Malmö FF 1-0 in Bradenton, Fla.
● Obafemi Martins struck twice to give Seattle a 2-1 win over San Jose in Tucson, Ariz.
● Last, but certainly not clearest: Toronto FC relied on a Bright Dike goal to dispatch D.C. United 1-0 in Bradenton, Fla. Both teams somehow managed to play the game despite a dense fog engulfing the field for much of the match.
