And, well, after Madrid, there aren’t many other opponents you can bring in that will raise the bar. Even a big English or German or Italian side will feel like seeing a bar band after you’ve had the chance to teleport to 1968 and see the Stones live in the flesh.

Haber confirmed that he has inked a one-year deal with Apollon Limassol FC, who finished sixth in the Cypriot League last season but won the domestic cup, which puts it into the qualifying rounds of the Europa League.

For the second week in a row, a Vancouver Whitecap is MLS Player of the Week.

Beating Houston in normal soccer weather would be difficult enough. But when its 30-31 C at kickoff, with humidity hovering around 80 per cent, the Dynamo’s home-field advantage is exaggerated. Sure, it gets that warm in Toronto in the summer, but BBVA Compass Stadium has a very special way of holding in the heat at field level.

“I’m devastated,” said FCE coach Colin Miller. “I couldn’t have asked any more from the guys. When we drove here, it was 100 degrees (F)... How do we prepare for this? We train like buggers all week long."

“The guys here have been on trial since February the 18th,” Miller said. “I’ve already made my mind up about a couple of guys who moving in and moving out.”

“We are in a situation where the player hasn’t committed either way, to play for Canada or to play for Scotland. If Fraser opts to play for Scotland, that’s fine, we wish him the best of luck. But, looking at the best interests of our national team, we have made a formal approach to Rangers and the player.”

The ‘Caps haven’t had a clean sheet in MLS play since the first week of the season, and even giving up a single goal per game is a rarity.The ‘Caps haven’t had a clean sheet in MLS play since the first week of the season, and even giving up a single goal per game is a rarity.

On Wednesday, on the road in Paderborn against another elite national team, the Germans, the Canadians lost 1-0. But even though the scoreline was less severe, it was a more sobering reality check than the match against the U.S.

For the second time this year, a Vancouver Whitecaps player has been suspended for an offence that didn't receive a red card during the game in question, but was later deemed to be red-card worthy by the MLS Disciplinary Committee.