The MLS regular season is slowly but surely winding down, yet there is still plenty to talk about as the standings begin to take their final form. Here are some of our main takeaways from matchday 30.
LAFC may have hit their wall (for now)
Aug 31, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; LAFC defender Maxime Chanot (25) and Houston Dynamo FC forward Ezequiel Ponce (10) react to an official in the first half at BMO Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY
LAFC are one of the best teams in Major League Soccer, that remains true. However, a tumultuous week or so has left us with some question marks over where they might be mentally heading into the final two months of the campaign.
Steve Cherundolo’s side were shown their level by the Columbus Crew once again in the Leagues Cup final, and while they scraped a victory in Seattle in the U.S. Open Cup during the week, they looked leggy in a 2-0 home loss to Houston over the weekend.
The addition of Olivier Giroud is a bonus, thats for sure. But the likes of Eduard Atuesta, Denis Bouanga, and others crucial to LAFC’s success simply looked tired against the Dynamo.
The Black and Gold will certainly be in the conversation for favorites in the Western Conference, but they will need to find a way to recover on the fly.
The Timbers proved they can win another way
Aug 31, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Timbers defender Juan David Mosquera (29) and Portland Timbers goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau (16) celebrates after the match against the Seattle Sounders at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Phil Neville’s Timbers have been an enigma all season. In attack they look nearly unplayable at times. The trio of Evander, Felipe Mora, and Jonathan RodrĂguez has been the bane of MLS defenders all season, and when you sprinkle in the Colombian connection of Santi Moreno and Juan David Mosquera down the right, you have a recipe for great success.
On the flip-side however, the Timbers have leaked goals throughout the 2024 campaign, conceding 46 so far this season, the most of any team in the playoff spots. But against their bitter rivals Seattle over the weekend, the Timbers showed a glimpse of defensive steel and grit that we haven’t seen much this season.
The Timbers conceded a flurry of corners as the Sounders pushed to level the score in stoppage-time, but every attempt was swatted away. “I thought it was our best performance of the season,” Phil…