What more could an MLS fan ask for than last weekend? Whether it was a North-South California Clasico, a Cascadia Cup clash, or an Atlantic Cup tilt with Supporters' Shield implications, the past several days had everything that the neutral could hope for. So, let's look back and think about the week that was in MLS...

LA's Supporters' Shield coronation stopped dead in its tracks

Since Steven Gerrard made his debut in the LA Galaxy's 5-2 victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on July 18th, LA had looked unstoppable. They entered Friday evening's California Clasico against the San Jose Earthquakes having taken 12 of 15 possible points from their last five matches and had just dismantled New York City FC 5-1, entrenching their status as MLS's premier glamour club. However, funny things happen in rivalry games.

Although in recent weeks, the attacking line of Robbie Keane, Sebastian Lletget, Giovani Dos Santos and Gyasi Zardes had looked unstoppable, the quartet were all on different wavelengths against the 'Quakes. Although they occupy very different places in the Western Conference standings, San Jose have now staked their claim as the form team in the league at the moment. They have won four matches in a row, including Friday's Clasico victory, a 2-0 victory over Eastern Conference table-topping DC United and a 5-0 thrashing of Sporting Kansas City.

Not only did this match confirm that the Supporters' Shield race is very much still alive, but it also sounded a warning call to the Seattle Sounders. Following Seattle's victory over the Portland Timbers on Sunday, the Sounders still occupy the sixth and final playoff place in the Western Conference on goal difference. However, given the form that San Jose is in at the moment, Zigi Schmid ought to be worried.

Seattle stops the riot, holds off Portland

The award for "most watchable game of the weekend" must undoubtedly go to this Cascadia Cup clash. This is the premier rivalry in the league, and it certainly delivered on Sunday. 

Heading into the match, opinion was divided as to whether or not this game was coming at the perfect time or the worst possible time for Seattle. It's often said that form is no marker of what happens in rivalry games, and the Sounders must be counting their lucky stars that was true. They entered the match having lost nine of their last 11 matches, and desperately needed a victory to remain in one of the playoff positions in the Western Conference.

That victory came, although it was far from deserved. Portland played some of the best football they've played all season, conjuring up memories of the "Porterball" we saw a couple of seasons ago. Diego Valeri looked like the best player in the league, and the Timbers created chance after chance. However, this game is about finishing, and that is something they could not do. In spite of being thoroughly outplayed over the game's opening 45 minutes, the Sounders led 2-0 at the half following an early goal from Obafemi Martins and a questionable penalty from Brad Evans. 

The penalty decision was incorrect no matter which side of the fence you find yourself on. Either it should have been a penalty and a straight red card to Timbers keeper Adam Kwarasey or it should have been a corner kick. Just awarding the penalty was completely incorrect. However, it gave the Sounders a comfortable lead at the break, and that lead proved to be just enough to hold onto. 

Although Jack Jewsbury did pull a goal back late to send the traveling Timbers Army contingent into raptures, there was no late equalizer on the cards for the men from the Rose City. The result means that Portland is eliminated from Cascadia Cup contention, although they retain their fifth place slot in the Western Conference. Seattle, meanwhile, pull to within just two points of the Timbers in sixth place in the West and now lead the Cup standings. A draw or a victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on September 19th will see Seattle win it for the first time since 2011.

New York Red Bulls in driver's seat out East, very much alive in the Supporters' Shield race

The rivalry double header on Sunday was completed when the Red Bulls hosted DC United at Red Bull Arena. These two old foes are duking it out yet again at the top of the Eastern Conference, and this was a genuine six-pointer. Had United won, they would have been eight points ahead of their Atlantic Cup rivals, nearly negating the three games in hand that the Red Bulls have on them.

However, New York outclassed the Red and Black on their way to a 2-0 victory which brought them to within touching distance of United. Sitting just two points behind DC and with three games in hand, the Red Bulls can now feel like the favorites to top the East in addition to feeling like one of only four teams really still in the running for the Supporters' Shield. While games in hand do not guarantee points (just ask the Montreal Impact), one win and one draw from their three games in hand on both New York and LA would leave them top of the East and level with the Galaxy in the race for the Shield.

Michael Bradley masterclass spells the end for Frank Klopas

Back in the spring when the Montreal Impact were on their magical run to the CONCACAF Champions League Final, few would have predicted that Frank Klopas would find himself out of a job come late August. However, that is exactly what came to pass on Saturday night when Klopas was relieved of his duties as the boss of the Montreal Impact. 

Entering the weekend, the "401 Derby" was the last of the four MLS derbies on most people's minds. However, its importance could hardly have been overstated for the two teams involved. Following the match, it became clear that Montreal's loss had spelled the end for Klopas while it further illustrated Toronto FC's playoff credentials.

The number of questions which pervaded this one felt endless following the match. How badly must Klopas have wished Didier Drogba were fit to start given the two golden chances Dominic Oduro missed? How lucky are TFC that Bradley isn't going to join up with the United States Men's National Team for their impending friendly against Peru and will instead be available for selection against Seattle this weekend? Are games in hand actually all that valuable in MLS? How far can Toronto go in the playoffs?

The answers to those questions: Given that he was sacked that night and Montreal would have won the game had Oduro buried those two sitters, it seems safe to say Klopas would have loved to have the Ivorian legend on the pitch. The Reds will need everything they can get from their mercurial captain over the rest of the season to make the push towards their first MLS Cup Playoff appearance. While it's nice to consider that you can pick up 12 points from four games in hand, the likelihood of that happening in a league like MLS is almost nonexistant; you'd be much better off sitting six points ahead of a rival who has played four fewer matches so that you can put pressure on them. Given that Jozy Altidore has remembered how to score goals, Michael Bradley is the best midfielder in MLS, and Sebastian Giovinco is the greatest player ever to play in the league, the Reds have every chance of winning the league.

A group of aging stars a good team does not make

A performance must be truly dreadful to cause a manager to publicly call out his team. Unfortunately for NYCFC supporters, their performance on Saturday was bad enough. The 2-1 loss at home to the Columbus Crew was horribly disappointing, if only because it showed how little things have changed for the Cityzens. Although they still sit in 8th place, just one point off a playoff spot, NYCFC have not built on the terrific 3-1 victory over DC United two and half weeks ago.

Last week, in the game that did not live up to its "Steven Gerrard - Frank Lampard" billing because Lampard was injured and unable to play, City fell 5-1. Andrea Pirlo had a shocker, and it was painfully clear just how far City have to go to be the sort of team the ownership already thinks they are. 

On Saturday, while he wasn't as poor, Pirlo again made a grievous error. He fell asleep while marking Federico Higuain and allowed the Argentine a free header to open the scoring. Although Andrew Jacobson scored a stunning goal with a strike worthy of an MLS Goal of the Week nomination, Spanish veteran defender Andoni Iraola carelessly gave the ball away just minutes from time and allowed Justin Meram to score a late winner. As long as there are aging international players playing like this is a retirement league, MLS has no chance of shedding its unfortunate moniker.

New England stays hot

After suffering their regular midseason dip in form in June and July when they lost five matches in a row, the New England Revolution have righted the ship. With their victory over the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, they have now won three matches in a row while picking 13 points from their last five matches. Manager Jay Heaps knows a thing or two about getting teams to peak at the right time. Last year, the midseason acquisition of Jermaine Jones led to the Revolution ending the regular season by picking up 28 of a possible 33 points en route to an appearance in the MLS Cup Final. This season, they've just gotten Jones back after a lengthy injury lay off and look set to make another push come playoff time.

Other results

Orlando City SC 1, Chicago Fire 1

Houston Dynamo 2, Vancouver Whitecaps 0

FC Dallas 2, Real Salt Lake 0

Colorado Rapids 2, Sporting Kansas City 1