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5 things we learned in MLS Week 20: Giovinco's still got it, New York is red

Reuters

Week 19 of the 2016 MLS season was jam-packed with action, as several teams played two matches in this double-header round. New York City FC snagged yet another away win, this time over the Montreal Impact, while a nine-man San Jose Earthquakes squad defeated Toronto FC.

Here's what we learned in Week 20:

The Big Apple is red

The 2016 iteration of the Hudson River Derby was completed this week as the New York Red Bulls and crosstown rival New York City FC played out the third of three total league fixtures this season.

Throughout the season, both teams have claimed New York City to be either red or blue - ignoring the fact that the city is probably mostly gray, with some green speckled within it, and also ignoring the fact the Red Bulls don't actually have a claim to New York because the team is based in New Jersey.

But that's beside the point; if this rivalry is to be judged purely on the field, it very much slants toward the Red Bulls.

The Red Bulls' comprehensive 7-0 victory on May 21 should have been enough to secure bragging rights, but NYCFC managed to redeem itself July 3 with a 2-0 win to tie up the series. On Sunday, though, the Red Bulls reminded NYCFC where they each stand, winning 4-1 to wrap up this season's rivalry.

New York is, at least symbolically, as red as can be.

Change is coming to Seattle

The winds of change are blowing through CenturyLink Field as the Seattle Sounders announced Tuesday the club has mutually parted ways with the franchise's first and only head coach, Sigi Schmid.

Losing Schmid means a new identity is coming to Seattle, an experience the club hasn't yet dealt with since joining MLS in 2008; Schmid was not only the longest-serving member of the organization, but also a huge part of the reason why Seattle was a constant playoff contender over his eight seasons.

But recent results cannot be ignored, and with the Sounders slumping to a 6-12-2 (W-L-D) record thus far in 2016, a change was most certainly needed.

Whoever Seattle hires, the issue doesn't necessarily lie in the quality of the players themselves. The club features plenty of competent pieces across the park that are underperforming; rookie forward Jordan Morris has seven goals, which is great, but what of Clint Dempsey? Nelson Valdez? Neither has stepped up to the plate, nor have they filled in to replace Obafemi Martins.

The new coach's goal will be establishing a new way of playing and winning, one that isn't bogged down by the precedents of the past - a breath of fresh air.

Giovinco is back

Toronto FC star Sebastian Giovinco turned around a nine-game slump with a double-record breaking hat trick, propelling himself back into the Golden Boot race and earning the MLS Player of the Week nod in one fell swoop.

The Atomic Ant scored a pair of free kicks and a third tap-in goal in a 4-1 win over D.C. United, and his double from the dead ball saw him surpass David Beckham for most free-kick goals in MLS since 2010.

Giovinco also extended his club goal total to 35, surpassing Dwayne De Rosario's 33 goals to become the club's all-time top scorer.

Anything Giovinco can do ...

Didier Drogba can do better (or, at least, also do).

The Montreal Impact man has been going stride for stride with Giovinco since joining the league midway through 2015, scoring at an even higher rate of 0.82 goals per game (with 19 goals in 23 regular-season contests), compared to the Italian's 0.63 goals per game (52 league games with 33 goals).

So fittingly, on a week when Giovinco celebrated a return to form with a hat trick, Drogba stole the spotlight with a hat trick of his own, scoring three times in a 5-1 win over the Philadelphia Union.

Timbers are in trouble

Something's not quite right with the Portland Timbers of 2016.

The team sits firmly mid-table and has remained so throughout the entirety of the campaign thus far, with little sign of significant progress.

In fact, if the Timbers make any move in the standings, it will likely be downward, especially after key defender Nat Borchers was ruled out for the rest of the season after requiring Achilles surgery.

If the Sounders are planning for change, the Timbers might be forced to deal with a dash of trouble.

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