Catch up with everything that happened in MLS in Week 23.
THE TOP STORY
Three weeks after Steven Gerrard enjoyed a memorable MLS debut with a goal and assist in a 5-2 win over the San Jose Earthquakes, his new teammate Giovani Dos Santos replicated the feat in his MLS bow in a 3-1 win over the Seattle Sounders.
THE STORY AT THE TOP
D.C. United and the Vancouver Whitecaps stayed atop the Eastern and Western Conference, respectively, after winning in two very different ways on Saturday night. United won 1-0 at Montreal, becoming the first club in MLS history to win a game after taking only one shot the entire match (they were outshot 25-1). That one shot was the game-winner by Chris Rolfe, and goalkeeper Bill Hamid did the rest.
The Whitecaps plastered RSL, 4-0, to match their single-season record for wins in a season (13). Cristian Techera was the man of the match, striking twice for a 'Caps attack that has definitely hit its stride (10 goals in last three games).
THE RIVALRY REPORT
The tifo raised at the final whistle said it all: "3 Games. 9 Points. #NYisRed." The New York Red Bulls beat crosstown rivals New York City FC for the third time this year, firmly establishing themselves as Kings of the Big Apple in the first year of the rivalry. Bradley Wright-Phillips and Felipe did the damage on the scoresheet, while David Villa did a little damage to Felipe's shorts.
THE BIG DEBATE
After the Chicago Fire, Real Salt Lake are next in line to host the US Open Cup final if they can survive Wednesday's semifinal at Sporting Kansas City. Facing that scenario, RSL manager Jeff Cassar decided to rest five of his most influential starters (Nick Rimando, Tony Beltran, Kyle Beckerman, Javier Morales and Joao Plata), but the move backfired in Vancouver. "We have to live with it," said Cassar, but it's a move that will cause plenty of discussion.
THE SHOCK RESULT
Playing without starters Dom Dwyer (suspended), Graham Zusi (calf injury) and Roger Espinoza (injury), Sporting Kansas City went into BMO Field and beat Toronto FC fairly comfortably with an organized, professional road performance. They also had little-used Jimmy Medranda playing his first-ever match at left back (and doing it to rave reviews).
Don't look now, but Sporting KC are still tied for the best points-per-game despite being in what many consider a tougher Western Conference. And they host a US Open Cup semifinal on Wednesday night. They have an MVP candidate (Benny Feilhaber), a Coach of the Year candidate (Peter Vermes) a Newcomer of the Year contender (Kristzian Nemeth), a Goalkeeper of the Year possibility (Tim Melia) and there's a good argument that Kevin Ellis has been as good as any other defender in MLS this year.
THE "RED LINE" UPDATE
In the race for the MLS playoffs, the six teams above the red line in each conference remained unchanged after Week 23. However, the Seattle Sounders, with their eighth loss in nine matches, must be sweating that sixth and final spot in the West, especially with the Houston Dynamo continuing to roll with a 2-1 win over San Jose on Saturday. The Dynamo are 3-1-2 in their last six.
THE MUST-SEE HIGHLIGHT: A goal that didn't happen but would've won our vote for AT&T Goal of the Year if it had.
THE STAR WATCH: All three big names took the field for both Toronto FC (Sebastian Giovinco, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore) and the LA Galaxy (Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and Giovani Dos Santos), but both clubs finished on opposite ends of a 3-1 result. Clint Dempsey was a late scratch for Seattle, who are still without Obafemi Martins. Kaká returned for Orlando City, but couldn't help them get a goal in a 0-0 draw with Philadelphia.
Then there was new Montreal Impact signing Didier Drogba. As he works his way to fitness, he watched his new team lose a stunner to D.C. United at Stade Saputo.
THE MVP RACE
Of all those players, only Giovinco is in the running for the MVP award with Crew SC forward Kei Kamara and Sporting Kansas City midfielder Benny Feilhaber widely recognized as the two other contenders. The latter two players may only be making up the numbers, according to Feilhaber, who gave his concession speech with 13 matches to play.
"Giovinco is the best player in this league and he is the MVP," Feilhaber said. "For me, I’m playing well because of the guys around me. It’s about our team for us, and without the guys around me I can’t do the things I do. Giovinco you can probably put him on any team and he is going to be a superstar."
THE GOLDEN BOOT RACE
Giovinco and Kamara are engaged in a separate battle for the league scoring crown. Just a few days after Giovinco's hat trick vaulted him atop the leaderboard with 16 goals, Kamara responded with two of his own against the Rapids, leading Crew SC's comeback from a 1-0 deficit. Kamara's 17 goals are three fewer than the Rapids have scored all year (20).
THE QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Toronto FC manager Greg Vanney was not happy after his club's 3-1 home loss to Sporting Kansas City.
"The individual bad decisions it’s just individual accountability," Vanney said. "If guys can’t make the individual decisions then they can’t be on the field, period. As a defender you have to be mindful and have to make the right play 99% of the time. That’s being a defender."
THE STYLE GUIDE
Kudos to Orlando’s Aurelien Collin for surviving a bruising battle with former teammate CJ Sapong and for having a hand in the shutout vs. Philadelphia. But major props on the old school, all-black cleats. They're like something right out of Victory.
THE HEARTBREAK
Can't feel anything but bad for Orlando City rookie Conor Donovan, who was forced to come out of the game due to a knee injury just 13 minutes into his first-ever MLS start. And then there was Seattle's Chad Barrett, who scored less than a minute after kickoff and hurt his right hamstring during his celebration.
THE GAFFE OF THE WEEK
Chicago's Jason Johnson had this ball incredibly fall to his feet, but to be fair, it all happened very quickly and unexpectedly.
