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It was fitting, as Tchani was traded for Manneh.

It was a game that saw the Caps yield possession, as they have all season, to a team that craves possession. They found goals through counter attacks and crosses.

They didn’t dominate, but Yordy Reyna did hit the post twice. A little more luck (they’ve had a lot this season) and it would have been another thrilling, but surprising win for the Caps.

You do wonder if coach Carl Robinson and his players will look back at this game and say that was where two points were lost, two points that could have made a huge difference in their playoff position.

Yes, playoffs. It’s time to talk about them.

There are four teams within spitting distance of each other.

The Whitecaps are first with 45 points. Portland, Kansas City and Seattle all have 44 points. Sporting Kansas City and the Caps hold games in hand on both Portland and Seattle.

All three top-of-the-table competitors will face the Whitecaps over their final three games; their destiny is pretty much in their hands.

For any of that to count, the Whitecaps must first beat bottom dwellers Colorado next week.

Then things really get interesting: the Caps face the Sounders in Seattle the following Wednesday, then three days later they’re up against SKC in Kansas City. A week later they’re in New York.

The Whitecaps will almost certainly seal their seeding floor over that week. Sure, there will be three games left, including the season finale Oct. 22 in Portland. That last one sure could decide the team’s final placing, given how much this race has been a turtle derby for much of the summer.