A semifinal is a funny thing. Making it to the final four of any tournament is certainly an accomplishment, from the heaviest favorite to the most unlikely Cinderella. But making it to the penultimate phase of any competition only puts falling short of the final into sharper relief. If nobody remembers the runners-up, crashing out of the semifinals is something only the nerdiest historians even care about.
Still, there are memories to be made and trophies to be won. As always, Major League Soccer — in its seemingly interminable quest for relevance — wants to lay down the marker against Liga MX.