March came in like a lion, and went out like this:
... is spectacular from front to back. Take a bow, Dairon Asprilla, and finish it for him, Mr. Ousted. That's the kind of soccer people pay money to watch.
It's also emblematic of the one persistent problem we've seen from Vancouver this season: an inability to get pressure to important spots in the midfield at the right time. It happened above partially because of Asprilla's footwork, and also because of Darlington Nagbe's ridiculous one-touch pass that put it on Fanendo Adi's boot, but it also happened on Portland's only goal of the game when Nagbe was inexplicably given 30 yards of space to run into.
Carl Robinson tried a couple of lineup adjustments, bringing in youngsters Kianz Froese and Deybi Flores, and eventually the third sub – veteran striker Robert Earnshaw – got the game-winner. None of the three really tilted the field, however, and like Caleb Porter, I was left scratching my head as to how the hosts had taken all three points.
Regardless, Vancouver deserve credit for getting the results they want even when things aren't going perfectly. That's probably the mark of a good team.
Or, like the Impact of two years ago, it could be the sign of a fatally flawed group. Robinson has to figure that out over the next couple of months.
A few more things to ponder...
7. Above, I wrote about how much possession has traditionally mattered to RSL. On Saturday, I wrote about two teams who really don't give much of a damn about possession following New England's 2-1 win over San Jose.
6. I also wrote just a little bit about Seattle's struggles with breaking down a 10-man FC Dallas team in what eventually became a scoreless draw. Some history was made:
5. You should expect the New York Red Bulls to climb the Power Rankings following Saturday's 2-1 win at Columbus. Their midfield trio has been as good as any in the league, and Dax McCarty will get my vote for Player of the Month.
He also wins MatchDay 4's Pass of the Week:
Find space, spin away from pressure while receiving, then hit an off-foot defense-splitting through ball to the winger. No big deal.
4. The other New York team was handed their first loss in franchise history that same day, with Ike Opara thumping in a Matt Besler long throw for the 1-0 final. Don't say you weren't warned.
Man of the Match in that one was Sporting's Benny Feilhaber, who's taken to his box-to-box role with aplomb. His 19 recoveries were the most any player has had in a single game since 2013.
3. You'll probably see this Kaká goal, from Saturday's 2-2 draw at Montreal, up for AT&T Goal of the Week. That first touch is just so, so smooth.
2. It's feeling a little like a replay of 2015 in D.C., with United playing not-all-that-well but still squeezing out results. They beat the Galaxy (also not playing all that well) 1-0 thanks to a last-second goal from Chris Pontius, but they're desperately missing either a creative presence to bring the whole thing together, or a target forward to win a few of the crosses they blast into the 18 from whistle to whistle:
1. With Saturday's scoreless draw at Houston in the books, the Colorado Rapids are now at 510 minutes without a goal. They're also at 17 straight without a win, the second-longest streak in MLS history. And their three straight scoreless draws to start the season? That sets the league mark.
Pablo Mastroeni wins our Face of the Week:
