Six games, 23 goals, three extra time periods. This was the binary data from the first round of the 2019 Major League Soccer playoffs, but not even these numbers do justice to the dramatic introduction made to the post-season. This was playoff soccer at its absolute best. This was everything these games are meant to be.
FC Dallas fought back from 2-2 down, and then 3-2 down, to take the Sounders to extra time at a fervent CenturyLink Field only for Jordan Morris to score a winner for the hosts. DC United also earned themselves extra time with a late equalizer away to Toronto FC, but then conceded four times to eventually lose 5-1 in what was Wayne Rooney’s final MLS appearance.