MLS Takeaways: Week 18
Photo by Chris Young from The Canadian Press
We’re getting into that really weird part of the schedule, where there are still games every single weekend but lots of teams are missing crucial players for the Gold Cup.
But MLS does not stop. MLS never stops.
So let’s go over the past weekend in MLS.
Charlotte draws Montreal 0-0
Charlotte just doesn’t seem to make sense to me.
They either score at will, or just can not buy a goal.
Regardless, it ain’t the worst thing in the world if their opponent doesn’t score either!
Columbus defeats Nashville 2-0
Columbus welcomed red hot Nashville to town and blew the doors off of them.
Nashville is still good, but that performance shows what Columbus is made of heading into the back half of the season.
DC United defeats Cincinnati 3-0
FC Cincy is far and away the best team in MLS and is currently running away with the supporters shield, and they just got demolished by a borderline playoff DC United team.
Just MLS things.
New England defeats Toronto 2-1
One last blown lead for Bob Bradley in Toronto, as the coach was let go earlier this morning.
About two months too late, if you ask me.
New York Red Bulls defeat Atlanta 4-0
The Red Bulls keep slowly creeping up towards a playoff spot ever since their coaching change.
The streak may just live.
Philadelphia defeats Miami 4-1
Hey, this Miami team isn’t very good!
Messi and Busquets and company might be fun, but they’re still not good!
Chicago defeats Kansas City 1-0
SKC was scorching hot and now they’re suddenly falling right back to Earth.
Hopefully for their sake, this will be the flash in the pan as opposed to their hot streak.
Austin defeats Houston 3-0
Houston has been a surprising club so far this year while Austin has been incredibly disappointing, so it makes total sense that Austin runs away with a 3-0 easy win.
Again, just MLS things.
Colorado draws LA Galaxy 0-0
Colorado can at least say they don’t have the talent to get goals.
What’s the Galaxy’s excuse?
Real Salt Lake draws Minnesota 2-2
If you remember last year, I’m sure you remember people referring to RSL’s “xDawg” which throws away all analytics and simply says they got that dawg in them.
The xDawg is back, as RSL scored twice in the 79th and 98th minute to get a 2-2 draw.
Take your analytics and shove it.
Vancouver defeats LAFC 3-2
LAFC, after a couple of bad weeks, got two wins to get themselves back on track.
But this performance was back to the old for LAFC.
Vancouver, however, continues to impress.
Portland draws NYCFC 1-1
A 1-1 draw at Providence Park between Portland and LAFC?
Reminds me of 2021 MLS Cup, except without the fun.
St. Louis defeats San Jose 2-1
St. Louis started hot while SKC struggled, then SKC got it turned around right when St. Louis hit a rough patch.
St. Louis now gets it turned around and SKC is struggling again.
Hmmmmm……
Seattle draws Orlando 0-0
Another game where the Sounders get countless chances to score, another game where they don’t score.
The underlying numbers continue to say the Sounders are a top team in MLS, but games aren’t played on paper.
At some point, those underlying numbers need to turn to goals.
When Ruidiaz, Morris and Roldan come back, maybe they will.
But until then, it’s cause for concern.
