MLS, Week 3: A day for draws as five matches on Rivalry Day end deadlocked

Yes, the centre back managed to get a faint touch on the ball before bringing Johnson down. But he also went in from behind with a two-footed scissor tackle, the kind of challenge that breaks legs. Referee Kevin Stott opted to ignore the laws of the game as well as common sense by waving away the visitors’ appeals. That call would ensure that the match remained 1-0 at halftime, and did nothing to calm the rather combative mood permeating CenturyLink Field.

Unsurprisingly, the foul-first mentality didn’t do much to make the game watchable. The hosts didn’t really mind the lack of quality -- as long as the match consisted of a laughably poor midfield battle they’d keep their lead -- but the Timbers didn’t seem particularly interested in doing things like passing to their teammates or moving into space.

That’s four points in the last two weeks that the Earthquakes have managed to squeeze out of games in which they trailed after the 70th minute. It hasn’t been quite as dramatic as the nine stoppage-time goals they scored last year, but it does continue a rather ridiculous trend.

So, maybe there are some limits to the this “formula.” But it sure works in the regular season.

It’s easy to get excited for the start of the MLS season. It’s equally easy for that excitement to wane after a couple weeks.

Enter Rivalry Weekend.