There was one key reason why Los Angeles FC did not progress further in the playoffs last season and ultimately beat out Sporting Kansas City into the number-one seed in the West: Defence.
LAFC scored a staggering 68 goals last season, bettered by only Atlanta United. They boasted one of the most vicious attacks in the league, led by MVP candidate Carlos Vela, and could score two, three, four in quick succession.
And yet, for all of their attacking dominance, they still lost nine matches on the season and failed to win a playoff game, again, because Real Salt Lake were able to score three times against a porous defence.