The conference semifinals of the MLS Cup playoffs are in the books, and only four teams remain in the quest for the title. Lionel Messi and Inter Miami CF are now the team to beat after steamrolling FC Cincinnati , New York City FC took down the Supporters' Shield-winning Philadelphia Union , Thomas Müller 's Vancouver Whitecaps snuck past Son Heung-Min and LAFC in a shootout, and the Western Conference No. 1 San Diego FC eked past Minnesota United FC ..

What stood out from a surprising round of action? ESPN turned to Cesar Hernandez and Joseph Lowery to sum up the best and worst of the conference semifinals.

Talk of the round

MLS Cup goes through Miami

Up to this point, the playoffs have confirmed what so many of us predicted in our postseason brackets: the road

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