MLS Round Six: Five lessons from the week

Not only did Colorado Rapids score, they scored four, the USA is planning to bid for the World Cup and New York Red Bulls showed they will fight until the end.

Here are the five things we learnt from Game Week Six....

1) MLS is anybody’s guess

Montreal Impact are the only franchise yet to win a game, even though they’re heading to the CONCACAF Champions League Final.

The latest round of results has tightened the standings up even more and the race for the post season is set to be the fiercest in MLS history.

Impact aside, both Conferences are divided by only seven points and preseason favourites LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders are both outside the play-off spots. 

Badji got the first in Rapids four goal demolition

2) Colorado can actually score

After hitting the post three times in Week Five, the Rapids finally find the back of the net – an incredible four times – to end the drought.

The fact that they have only lost once in the four games when they failed to score suggests that if this is a corner turned, they may be a team to watch.

After ending an 18-match winless run against one of MLS’ strongest outfits, they may now well be a dark horse for the play-offs come the end of the season. 

3) The best team doesn’t always win

Last season’s Supporters’ Shield Winners, Seattle Sounders, faced off against MLS Cup holders LA Galaxy as two of MLS’ giants faced off.

With Galaxy bottom of the Western Conference they came in low on confidence and put in a display few were anticipating or even aware they could pull off.

It was a backs to the wall job as Sounders were relentless in attack, peppering the hosts’ goal but unable to end LA’s 25 game unbeaten run at the StubHub Centre.

Soccer President Sunil Gulati with manager Jurgen Klinsmann

4) USA will bid for World Cup again

U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati is adamant that the FIFA World Cup will return to the USA after finishing second to hold the 2022 tournament.

Bidding for the 2026 World Cup is expected to begin in June and the US are favourites to win, as FIFA continue to cycle hosting between confederations.

And Gulati is confident that the USMNT can even challenge for glory: “Winning the World Cup at home? That would be pretty cool,” he said.

5) New York Red Bulls fight till the end

MLS' oldest rivalry, the Atlantic Cup, will run into a third game as New York Red Bulls and D.C. United shared the spoils at the RFK Stadium.

The Red Bulls won their March clash 2-0, but were forced to fight back for a point this weekend with former Charlton Athletic winger Lloyd Sam scoring a late equaliser.

The result also ensured their unbeaten run extended to four games and they remain the only side not to suffer a defeat in a competitive Eastern Conference.  

Images courtesy of Doug Pensinger and robert melok, with thanks.