The Rondo, MLS semifinals edition: Lionel Messi's Inter Miami look unstoppable, are San Diego FC for real, and where does Whitecaps vs. LAFC rank all-time?

Tom Hindle: In the East? No way. NYCFC did an admirable job by springing an upset on Philadelphia, and will put up a good fight. But Miami are a tier above - especially the way a certain Argentine is playing. Beyond that, it's tough to say. The Herons match up well with San Diego, and would certainly be favored there. But Vancouver are a trickier side to play against - and have already beaten them convincingly earlier this year. Right now, that's the dream final. 

Ryan Tolmich: It sure doesn’t seem like it! Even compared to his usual form, Messi is on another level right now and seems totally determined to lift this team to a trophy. When he’s in that type of mood, and at this fitness level, more importantly, there’s not much anyone can do to stop him. Have fun, NYCFC!

TH: Yes - and it's not particularly close. Messi has been at his best for a month now, and that form has only continued. He's on fire, and Miami are, too. 

RT: We all know how to really answer this question. Ultimately, none of this matters unless there’s a trophy in the end. What we can say, though, is if that trophy lift does happen in Florida, yeah, this was the one, for sure.

TH: If not, what more would you like out of a game? Aside from a physical fight, a couple (more) red cards or some sort of act of a divine power, this has a pretty good claim. Perhaps the only better one is the LAFC and Philadelphia Union final from a few years back. But even that simmered for a while. This was mad from the first minute. That Thomas Muller signing now looks like absolute genius. 

RT: Not the GOAT, but in the top five or 10. There have been some classics over the years: Toronto vs. Montreal and LAFC vs. Philadelphia both come to mind. Let this serve as a reminder of how good the playoffs can be when they’re at their chaotic best.

TH: BIG. NYCFC went to Philadelphia, suffering from injury and suspension, and managed a pretty convincing win. This was no 1-0 smash and grab, either. Philly certainly had their chances, but NYCFC played football, and were rewarded for it. Most had this pegged for a comfy victory for the Union. What happened was the opposite. 

RT: A little? The biggest factor were the injuries, as NYCFC went into this game so, so shorthanded. The Union, however, showed signs of weakness all season long against the league’s good teams, the ones that wouldn’t wilt to their tactics. NYCFC are one of those teams, so no surprise they were able to at least make it a 50-50 game and come out on the right side of their 50 thanks to some great goalkeeping.

TH: One shot on target, one goal. So, yeah, in that sense. But they also dominated the play for long periods, and were defensively effective at the right moments. Anders Dreyer is also very good at this sport. This was always going to be an ugly one, and the scoreline matters way less than the result. Vancouver now gets pretty interesting...

RT: Lucky on the field? No. Lucky with the draw? Sure. They’ve avoided the West’s two best teams in the previous two rounds, but they earned that right with their Regular Season run. Now, we’ll really see how real they are when they run into a Whitecaps team with so, so much momentum.

TH: That if Messi doesn't win MLS Cup, he is forever cursed. The Argentine is toying with the league at the moment.

RT: That this stuff is extremely, extremely fun. Is it quirky? Yes. Is it super Americanized? For sure. However, there’s nothing better than knockout soccer. The desperation and the drama lead to magical moments, and we’ve already had a few this month. That’s the takeaway: soccer is about moments, and the playoffs always have a bunch.