MLS conference semifinals review: Toronto FC aren’t invincible

With the MLS Playoffs conference semifinals complete, a look back at what we learned and what’s next.

MLS’ four conference semifinal matchups concluded on Sunday night with six straight hours of second-leg knockout soccer. First, Toronto FC literally out-fought the New York Red Bulls en route to the scrappiest series win (2-2 on away goals) possible. NYCFC and Columbus Crew SC followed that up with a calmer, more entertaining 2-0 NYC win, sending the Crew through with a 4-3 aggregate victory. The nightcap came from a filled Providence Park in Portland, where the Houston Dynamo quieted the Timbers faithful with a surprising 2-1 victory. The other semi, on Thursday in Seattle, was a dreary 2-0 Sounders win over a blah Vancouver Whitecaps team.

In a nod to Bleacher Report NFL writer Mike Tanier’s weekly “game spotlight” feature, we recap the games and gather the takeaways as we prepare for 16 international break days before the conference finals.

Seattle Sounders vs. Vancouver Whitecaps

What happened?

Seattle and Vancouver made a concerted effort to force every fan watching their two-legged aggregate series to fall asleep. The first leg was a particularly excruciating endeavor in lifelessness, finishing 0-0 and combining for exactly one shot on target. Two goals were produced in Thursday’s second leg at Century Link Stadium, but I will tell you right now, I was no less sleepy watching that game than I was watching the first.

Both goals went to the Sounders, sending the Rave Green on to the conference finals in their quest to repeat as champs. Clint Dempsey, who missed the first leg on a red card suspension, scored two pretty-looking second-half goals to eliminate the ‘Caps, who forced Stefan Frei to make a save just once over the entire 180 minutes.

Vancouver decided they would count on nicking a set piece goal or having Yordy Reyna run through four defenders by himself rather than actually trying to win. The lack of ambition shown by Welsh manager Carl Robinson was very Welsh but also poorly-executed: he started Nosa Igiebor, who racked up a grand total of 73 minutes in the regular season, next to Aly Ghazal in central midfield ahead of proven starter Tony Tchani; the Nigerian proved incompetent.

What does it mean?

The Sounders know how to approach matches situationally, a quality that has mostly been reserved for Eastern Conference teams. Brian Schmetzer seems to have some ability to design game-plans specific to certain opponents, and with a squad that’s good enough to implement a variety of basic styles, they win.

The first leg was terrible soccer, but Seattle don’t walk out of BC Place 0-0 without ball-winners (Cristian Roldan) and redwoods (Chad Marshall, Roman Torres) down the spine. The second leg, for the most part, was also terrible soccer, but the Sounders bossed the game with possession circulated through Nicolas Lodeiro in the attacking third. That counts as versatility in this Western Conference.

What’s next?

Vancouver do a whole lot of soul searching. Seattle go to the ACL-eating BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston on November 21 for the first leg of the conference finals.

Toronto FC vs. New York Red Bulls

What happened?

This about sums it up:

Chaos reigned at BMO Field in the second leg between Toronto and New York. With NYRB needing to win by two to overcome a 2-1 deficit and knock off the favorites, things quickly got crazy. It started when 18-year-old Red Bulls midfielder Tyler Adams got into a shoving match with Sebastian Giovinco in the first half, with Jozy Altidore (Giovinco’s partner up top, and a large man) wasting no time to step in and show Adams who’s boss.

Not long after, there was another hockey-style scrum, this time with Altidore getting into it with Sacha Kljestan, his USMNT teammate and fellow MLS star veteran. It was intense, to say the least. Things escalated to the extreme after the halftime whistle, though.

As the teams walked to the locker rooms after busy referee Chris Penso blew for halftime, pushing and shoving began again out of public eye and away from the ESPN cameras. The coaches, Jesse Marsch and Greg Vanney, exchanged heated words. TFC and USMNT captain Michael Bradley was heavily involved. Tensions between Kljestan and Altidore were heightened to the highest point, enough to get both sent off.

Teams played 10-on-10 for the final 45. It didn’t really settle down. Giovinco picked up a yellow for screaming at Penso and will be suspended for TFC’s conference finals first leg. Fans threw stuff on the field. Not pretty, but fun and wild.

The actual game result? NYRB won 1-0 on a massively deflected shot, just barely falling short on aggregate. Same old story for Marsch and co.

What it means

Some kinks in the armor of Toronto FC, for sure. The Red Bulls showed it is possible cut down this attack and score some sketchy goals against an occasionally-vulnerable back-three. They may be the best regular season club in MLS history, but they’re not invincible.

Altidore and Giovinco will be suspended for the first leg in Columbus. Welcome to the Tosaint Ricketts show.

What’s next?

NYRB fans question Marsch, who is a great manager even in the playoffs, and Bradley Wright-Phillips, who is a great striker but not in the playoffs. Toronto try to keep their heads on straight against the Crew.

Columbus Crew SC vs. NYCFC

What happened?

Columbus escaped disaster and eked out a 4-3 aggregate win despite a 2-0 loss at Yankee Stadium. They had won 4-1 in the first leg, but struggled to break out of their attacking shell and almost saw that lead evaporate on Sunday. David Villa converted a penalty to put NYC up early, needing a three-goal win to complete what would be a miraculous comeback.

It looked increasingly possible as the game continued, as error-prone Crew center-back Jonathan Mensah headed the ball into his net in the 53rd-minute and gave NYC 37 minutes of desperation soccer: they needed just one more to put themselves ahead on away goals. It didn’t happen. Columbus, the team of destiny, advanced.

What does it mean?

The Crew are legit, even if they sleep-walked for stretches and had difficulties closing things out. They haven’t lost since August 5 and can score goals, possess the ball, beat you in midfield, and out-coach you. Riding high on #SaveTheCrew energy, this team looks on a mission.

The road to MLS Cup goes through Columbus. If the two Eastern Conference second legs on Sunday told us anything, it’s that the TFC-Crew series coming up in two weeks is going to be LIT.

What’s next?

NYCFC figure out how to build a more sustainable attack around Villa, who will be 36 next season. Columbus hope to pull the improbable on TFC.

Next: The best under-20 player on every MLS team

Houston Dynamo vs. Portland Timbers

What happened?

Houston pulled a road upset! After a 0-0 draw last week in Texas, the Dynamo notched a 2-1 victory in Portland to surprise a Timbers squad that couldn’t overcome a list of injuries rivaling that of my fantasy team. The hosts scored first, with Dairon Asprilla taking advantage of a Dylan Remick slip in the box, but Remick, the backup left-back, quickly responded with a stunning volley in the 43rd-minute. A 1-1 draw would have put Houston through on away goals.

Mauro Manotas, entering as a sub for Cubo Torres, made sure the Timbers would not set up the dream Seattle-Portland series by rolling a long-distance shot past Jeff Attinella, securing a Dynamo upset.

The Timbers made three injury subs in leg one and had to make two more in leg two, with striker Darren Mattocks leaving after 13 minutes and left-back Vytas forced out after 81. They were already without starting center-back Larrys Mabiala, crucial d-mid Diego Chara, and star No. 9 Fanendo Adi. Starting winger Sebastian Blanco — who, no joke, burned his foot the day of leg one by dropping boiling water on it — was only available off the bench. We should all just be thankful Valeri escaped unharmed.

What does it mean?

This young and feisty Dynamo team can go out and beat some clubs. They should (should) lose to Seattle in the conference finals based on matchups and talent, but they just might be good enough to steal some goals and pull another upset.

Wilmer Cabrera figured out the right combination on Sunday. He played Juan David Cabezas, Eric Alexander and Alex in midfield, a lockdown trio that moved well as a unit and had a much better time protecting the back-four than the usual midfield, which consisted of Cabezas alongside another deep mid and a true No. 10. With Tomas Martinez pushed wide, nominally as a winger in the 4-3-3, they retained fluidity and distribution ability while locking down the center of the park.

What’s next?

Portland players wrap their bodies in bubble wrap and try to avoid getting injured on the way home. Houston host Seattle in another attempt to knock off a favored Cascadian team.