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As per usual, Major League Soccer delivered some brilliant headlines over the weekend.
This is what we learned from the action.
Timbers truly never say die
The season got off to a horrid start for the Portland Timbers, but as we approach the second half of the run-in, things are a bit brighter out West.
An early season slump of nine games without a win suggested Phil Neville’s men might be condemned to the bottom half, but they have recently shown a never-say-die attitude.
The Timbers bounced back from a 3-2 loss to FC Dallas (their only loss in nine matches) with an emphatic showing against visiting Nashville SC. The hosts notably scored four goals in 11 minutes even without star man Evander.
In the past, they’ve let a poor result weight them down. Looking at the table, Portland registered three consecutive losses on two occasions this season. Sandwiched in between was a run of three draws, too.
But it’s a new-look side as the Timbers continue to creep up the table and rightfully sit fifth after facing themselves in the mirror and demanding better.
Toronto FC must shake their slump
Contrary to the storyline above, things couldn’t be more painful for Toronto FC.
The John Herdman era started strong, but it steadily declined as the Canadian club continued moving down the table. They have more losses than wins and draws combined, with the latest a 4-0 hammering arriving at the hands of Columbus Crew.
Four of their 13 losses came at home, and the club has now lost six in a row.
The schedule doesn’t make things any easier, either.
TFC shift away from MLS action and play their Canadian Championship semi-final first leg against a talented Forge FC side from the Canadian Premier League. They have upset MLS teams in the past and will be looking to do it again against a struggling Toronto.
When TFC return to MLS, it’s a home match with Philadelphia, a trip to Inter Miami and a rivalry clash with CF Montreal. They can’t afford to stay in this slump.
Real Salt Lake can run with the big boys
Questions were asked of Real Salt Lake ahead of their clash with Atlanta United to see if they could finally run with the big boys in the West.
And boy, did they turn up. Some five goals from five different goal scorers, including the opening strike within less than a minute, virtually secured their status at the top of the table.
One Diego Luna earned MLS Player of the Matchday honours with his performance, scoring the fifth of the night and setting up three team-mates.
It’s now an entertaining three-club race for first as RSL sit alongside Los Angeles FC (whose match was cancelled due to weather conditions) and LA Galaxy with 43 points each.
If they continue this form, it could very well go down to the wire.
Miami’s shiny exterior shattered
Inter Miami have a plethora of stars, and recently seemed to get the job done even without the talented Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
However – their confidence will be in shambles after a 6-1 humbling at the hands of Supporters’ Shield rivals, FC Cincinnati.
They also played the final half-hour with 10 men, as veteran Sergio Busquets received two yellows in 20 seconds for arguing with the referee.
Miami’s defence failed to contain continuous waves of attack, which left goalkeeper Drake Callender spending more time picking the ball out of his net than he would have liked.
The humbling was the eighth match in a row where Miami have conceded and they only have four clean sheets after 24 games this season in MLS.
We’re sure they’ll bounce back, but the rest of the league now has a perfect blueprint for beating the star-studded squad. Messi or no Messi, this is messy for Miami.
Cincinnati are the real deal
Finally we shine a light on a prolific FC Cincinnati side.
Many would have expected the hosts to put up a considerable fight against Eastern Conference leaders Miami, but you wouldn’t have expected this showing.
Six goals, courtesy of five different scores from 10 shots on target, meant Cincinnati held on to three vital points in the race for the Supporters’ Shield. They have a one-point lead at the top, which could extend to four given their game in hand.
It was men against boys when the time came to rise to the occasion, and what fans saw at TQL was an absolute demolition after Cincinnati perfectly executed their game plan.
The question is, can they do it again in Miami in August?