MLS is 10 weeks into the season, and clubs with high expectations are beginning to crawl out of their early-season slumps.
Last season's finalists are enjoying their first winning streaks of the season, with Atlanta United impressively securing a win in Kansas City, while the Portland Timbers won their third on the bounce to continue their climb back to relevance. The Supporters' Shield-holding New York Red Bulls also have won consecutive games for the first time all season, a feat made more impressive when considering it's come without the services of their top two players.
We'll start this week's look back with the defending MLS Cup champions, though, who continued to receive a strong contribution from a player with high potential, only to realize that he'll be gone for a very busy upcoming stretch due to international duty:
I.