Sixteen days after it began, Round 1 of the MLS Cup playoffs came to a close on Sunday night. And if the momentum of the postseason wasn't moving slowly enough, it will now stop altogether with the November international break now underway.

With the best-of-three series fresh in mind, though, what better time to look back at the playoffs' opening salvos? The favorites looked good, the GOAT is into the conference semifinals for the first time in his MLS career, and a half-dozen shootouts provided plenty of drama.

ESPN turned to Cesar Hernandez and Joseph Lowery to sum up the best and worst of Round 1.

Talk of the round

The favorites march on

For those MLS fans out there who want some stunning and surprising upsets, they'll have to wait just a bit longer in this year's playoffs.

In t

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