WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
THE RECAP
A brief recap today after a short slate. There's still plenty to unpack though. Let's talk it out.
D.C. UNITED - 0 | SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES - 0
What happened?: Technically, nothing.
So, did we learn anything?: Normally I would just say "No." and we could move on with our morning, but we're past that point in the season. Both D.C. and San Jose entered this one in one of their conference's final two playoff spots, needing to show a bit of urgency to hold onto those spots. Instead, we go that. To be fair, D.C. put up a ton of shots and were unlucky not to see one hit the back of the net. But a scoreless draw at this particular place in the season isn't a great omen for either side. D.C., with Inter Miami coming up impossibly fast behind them, should be particularly worried anytime they don't get three points from here on out. Especially at home.
INTER MIAMI - 3 | SPORTING KC - 2
L. Campana (25' PK, 45'), F. Farías (60') | D. Sallói (9'), A. Pulido (78')
What happened?: A rare mistake from Drake Callender gifted Daniel Sallói an opener and it seemed like Messi-less Miami might be in trouble. However, Leonardo Campana earned and converted a penalty moments later and then got on the end of a DeAndre Yedlin cross before the half closed to earn a brace. In the second half, a quickly taken free kick from Sergio Busquets sent Facundo Farias in on goal and the Herons took a 3-1 lead.
So, did we learn anything?: Well. Folks. That's that then. It's almost rude of Inter Miami's B-team to take all the mystery out of the playoff race but there's almost a comfort in knowing that this is happening. Like, yeah, you could stress and panic and try to outrun the Terminator chasing you. Or you could relax. Have a drink or two. And let what's going to happen anyway happen.
The Herons are still 14th in the East, but they're just six points out of ninth place with two games in hand. The scale has officially tipped toward Miami missing the playoffs as the more surprising outcome. At that point, well, you saw what happened in Leagues Cup. Everything is on the table.
Meanwhile, SKC should be kicking themselves for letting an early lead slip away like that. They finished the night in 12th place and could end the weekend tied on points with the 13th-place Galaxy. Once again, it's starting to seem like a rough start to the season is going to derail a decent finish down the stretch.
MINNESOTA UNITED - 1 | NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION - 1
F. Fragapane (90'+3') | C. Gil (38')
What happened?: Carles Gil gave the Revs the lead and forced Minnesota to resort to desperate measures. With time winding down, the Loons called goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair forward to join the attack on a corner. The ball pinballed around the box until it fell to St. Clair, who deftly slid the ball to Franco Fragapane. Fragapane finished and Minnesota earned a wild draw.
So, did we learn anything?: If you're the Revs…[shrug]...MLS happens. It's a road point all the same. There are worse outcomes. If you're the Loons, you're stoked about the ending but still wondering why you can't get more out of your home performances. They still have just three home wins on the season, the second-worst mark in the West.
PORTLAND TIMBERS - 2 | LAFC - 0
L. Mabiala (28'), C. Bravo (53')
What happened?: The Timbers got two goals from defenders because of course they did and officially reinserted themselves into the playoff discussion a couple of weeks after firing their head coach… because of course they did.
So, did we learn anything?: One day I'll stop trying to figure out the Timbers and just admit that the only thing we ever truly know about them is that we know nothing. I thought they were buried following Gio Savarese's firing. You might have thought so too. But here we are. They've taken seven points from a three-game stretch of RSL, Seattle and LAFC. That's about as impressive as it gets in the West. The Timbers have played a couple of extra games, but they're only one point behind ninth-place Dallas. They're not thriving but they're not nearly as dead as some folks (me) might have thought.
The Timbers aren't the only big story here though. LAFC are…spiraling? They've taken three points from four post-Leagues Cup games. It seemed like they had turned a corner in the tournament after getting some rest but they've tripped over the corner and face-planted in MLS. Yes, they're still third in the West. But they're just three points ahead of eighth-place San Jose. This could get far more stressful than expected down the stretch for the reigning champs.
THE AND OTHER THINGS
THE READING RAINBOW
FULL TIME
Good luck out there. Become unkillable.
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