USMNT x MLS: Sebastian Berhalter's brace keeps Vancouver Whitecaps in hunt for top spot in West, but concerns for Zack Steffen and Paxten Aaronson's Colorado Rapids

Rayan Elloumi and Thomas Muller laid the groundwork, but ultimately, it would take a rare scoring outburst from Berhalter to give Vancouver breathing room against a desperate San Jose Earthquakes side fighting to get into the playoffs.

With Vancouver aiming to protect their 2-0 lead, Berhalter received a ball from 10 yards out of the box and blasted it through with his rocket right foot. The 24-year-old typically saves his long-range shots for dead ball situations, but this happened in the run of play.

San Jose got one back in the 89th minute through Beau Leroux, but Berhalter added one more for good measure. The midfielder blasted from almost the same spot to push the home side's advantage to 4-1. 

Coincidental or not, Berhalter had the first brace of his professional career just days after being omitted from the USMNT's October camp. He also continues to a breakout season, where he is now up to career highs in goals (four) and assists (11). The win was also critical for the Whitecaps.

While San Diego currently hold the No. 1 spot, due to a tiebreaker, Vancouver has a game in hand. The Whitecaps face a tough stretch in their final two games, taking on playoff teams Orlando City and FC Dallas. But if they win out, the West could be theirs.

Houston had been fighting against the playoffs odds for months now. Every time they appeared out, they'd pull out a crucial win - usually off the back off of a strong McGlynn performance. Unfortunately with McGlynn out with a foot injury, the magic stopped and the Dynamo were bounced out of the playoffs. 

Houston were at home, but they had no answers San Diego's incisive attack. A key goal came from USMNT hopeful Luca de la Torre. The Dynamo were tied 1-1 until De la Torre scored in the box off a great assist from Amahl Pellegrino in the 85th minute.

The 4-2 win continues San Diego's incredible first season - the club has 18 wins and 60 points, both MLS expansion-side records.

"You have to celebrate that man. You have to celebrate that - 60 points," San Diego coach Mikey Varas said after the game. "Nobody can take that away from us. That's written down right now until somebody else breaks it. That's a huge testament to these guys and how they work, how they believe in us, how they commit to being great teammates, to being top professionals, to showcasing their talent, to having that fighting spirit. And on top of that, we did it our way."

For Houston, however, the loss left a lot of questions. Manager Ben Olsen's future is in doubt after failing to build off last season's fifth-place finish. And there are questions over McGlynn's future, as well. He was linked with a move to Europe during the summer window. While he did sign an extension with the club, it doesn't preclude from potentially considering his future next summer.

The Rapids brought in Paxten Aaronson in a blockbuster move aimed to secure back-to-back trips to the MLS postseason. Things aren't looking good, however, heading into next week's Decision Day following a 1-0 loss to heated rivals RSL on Saturday. 

Colorado have won just one game since Aaronson's arrival, a dramatic 2-1 victory against Houston in which he scored. Overall, since his first game on Aug. 23, the team is 1W-1D-4L. Team president Padraig Smith stressed to GOAL he was not content with where the Rapids are, considering their talent, heading into the final stretch of the season. 

"We're not happy with where we are right now. We're not happy that our playoff position is going to come down to the final two games. I think this is a team that should be guaranteed to be in the playoffs at this point in time," he said.

That doesn't sound promising for manager Chris Armas, who faces an uphill battle to secure the playoffs as his team needs to beat Son Heung-Min and LAFC. It could also impact the stock of still-hopeful USMNT players on the side. 

Missing out of the playoffs would leave Aaronson and Zack Steffen, two players who were called up this year by U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino, without matches for months. That would impact the chance to make an impression on the USMNT staff, with limited windows until the 2026 World Cup.

After playing one of his worst games since joining Charlotte FC, Tim Ream was back in a big way in Charlotte FC's 1-0 win over D.C. United. Yes, the three points came against the East's worst team, but United have played better since the arrival of new manager René Weiler. There is a talent deficit in D.C., but it is easy to see Weiler driving culture change.

The result was massive for Charlotte, putting them back into the East's top four and assuring a home playoff spot in the opening round. And Ream showed up, with four clearances, one interception and connecting on an impressive 96.6 percent of his passes. And it comes at the right time as Ream rejoins the USMNT for upcoming friendlies.

+ Although it wasn't entirely his fault, New England's Matt Turner was on the wrong end of a 4-1 rout by Lionel Messi's Inter Miami. The American had four saves, but could not help his team get over some questionable defending in the loss. 

+ Miles Robinson and FC Cincinnati piled on the misery for the New York Red Bulls, who saw their 15-year postseason streak come to an end with a 1-0 loss. 

+ Walker Zimmerman and Nashville were shocked by struggling CF Montreal in a 1-1 draw. 

+ Two U.S. internationals faced off in the Crew's 1-1 draw with Orlando City SC - Patrick Schulte and Alex Freeman. Schulte had three saves for Columbus, while Freeman also played the full 90 and connected on a through ball for Orlando.

+ Cristian Roldan played the full 90 minutes as the Seattle Sounders beat Pacific Northwest rivals, Portland Timbers, 1-0.