For the first time since May, Canadian teams have actually won some games in MLS play. 

Now, with the World Cup break and Leagues Cup, there haven't actually been many regular-season games across MLS, but there were still some long winless skids broken this weekend for both Toronto and Vancouver.

Meanwhile, Montréal played well, but a lack of finishing cost them three points. We'll get there later. Here's what stuck out in MLS' matchday 20.

A good result, but not many good signs

It would be mean to rain on the parade in Toronto, as the Reds took home their first win in 14 games and 133 days against a good New England side at BMO Field.

Niklas Dorsch scored an absolute screamer on his home debut after Theo Corbeanu's attempted cross went off Will Sands and past Matt Turner. Both of these tallies came at the end of the first half, when the Revs switched off for just a moment and allowed an opportunistic Toronto to take advantage of the situation.

But opportunistic is probably the kindest way to describe TFC's performance. While a win is, of course, needed, it's not often you win games getting outshot 25-3, losing the xG battle 2.29-0.24, and taking a red card. 

Even Robin Fraser admitted post-game that the defending in general was not as good as expected, though he did praise his team's effort in terms of their box defending, which bordered on desperation as the minutes ticked away in the second half.

At this point, Toronto will take any three points they can get. But in terms of the project of becoming a truly good team, these wins will need to become sustainable in some way. Getting dominated and holding on for dear life is not a sustainable way to win.

Kings of Cascadia

The Whitecaps' 2-0 win over Seattle on Sunday Night Soccer will taste sweet in more ways than one.

Not only does it keep the Cascadia Cup in Vancouver for a second consecutive season, but it also ends a seven-match winless run in all competitions, dating back to a win over Cavalry in the Canadian Championship in July.

For a while in this one, it seemed like it was destined to be a frustrating 0-0 draw, with both the 'Caps and Sounders entering the match on long winless runs as injuries and departures were derailing their seasons.

Each side seemed too timid in the final third, scared to make a mistake and acting on impulse rather than design. A good amount of chances went missing on both ends, with a Thomas Müller volley from a corner that was cleared off the line by Paul Rothrock the only real big chance in the match.

But Vancouver was always the better team, and their pressure finally paid off in the 77th minute. 

Rayan Elloumi was played through by Emmanuel Sabbi and made no mistake on the finish, scoring his first league goal in 2026. A miscommunication minutes later between Nouhou and Andrew Thomas led to an indirect free kick goal from Müller, and the Whitecaps rode those two moments to a big 2-0 road win at Lumen Field.

In all honesty, Vancouver were a bit unlucky over this winless stretch, and just needed a performance where it all came together. The Sounders, who have now lost seven straight regular-season games, were the perfect opponent to face at this moment.

Now for the 'Caps, the schedule turns around fast for a battle atop the West against the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday. Win that, and the Shield race might come back into the picture.

Frustration, and another missed opportunity

Even with Alexis Sánchez coming, time might be running out on CF Montréal's season.

There have been a few games recently that have been looked at as true six-pointers, and a chance to really kickstart a playoff push. Once against DC right before the World Cup break, once against Toronto, and now again facing DC, who cling to the final playoff spot in the East.

Winning any of these games would've been a big jolt to the Impact's playoff chances, and all three ended in draws.

This weekend's affair might have been the most frustrating of those, as well, with the excitement around the DP signing of Sánchez, the missed opportunities in the game, as well as letting go of a lead.

While United aren't a possession team at all, the bleu-blanc-noir still held 67% of the ball, outshot their opponents 23-7 and won the xG battle 2.35-0.71. 

Yet, Owusu's penalty was the only one of those chances to find the goal. The Ghanaian striker had plenty more chances go begging, and Hennadiy Synchuk missed a good chance as well.

In a vacuum, this is playing well against a team that's above you in the standings. It's a good thing to do. But three points were imperative to close the seven-point gap between these two sides, and they only walked away with one.

Montréal's winless run in league play now extends to eight games, as they travel to Columbus on Wednesday in another six-pointer in the Eastern Conference playoff race.