Jeremiah’s take on the puzzling lack of rotation is a good one. I think that we all sort of felt like this result was coming yesterday - the story is too familiar.

Short rest, traveling, minimal rotation in the lineup, start quick, then someone is a step too slow and we give up a goal against the run of play. Chase the game, tired legs, chemistry breaks down as everyone tries to do too much - hold possession but without any real goal threats. Then, as everyone tires out, the balance starts to swings and we give up a second - game over.

In retrospect, it seems like the better call would have been to rotate heavily for Wednesday and save some of the vets for Saturday, I guess. But in another sense, this is down to fixture congestion and a lack of MLS honoring the international breaks, and how teams are equipped to navigate that.

I was particularly puzzled by the decision to bring Raul off the bench while surrounding him with the kids. His movement was so vital in pulling the defense around in the Vancouver match and opening up space for others to operate in. It seemed a waste to run him out when the service providers were gassed and/or subbed out?