The Philadelphia Union endured the early stretch of the season by reaching the Concacaf Champions League semifinals and staying within striking distance of the top of the Eastern Conference. But in doing so some of their flaws have also been exposed.
New York City FC followed the script that Atlanta United wrote in the first half of the Concacaf Champions League opening leg with an all-out attack down the wings. They changed formations with Anton Tinnerholm and Gudmundur Thórarinsson playing more as wing backs, moved Maxi Moralez out wide, and ran a three-man attack with dynamic movements all across the field.