LA, San Jose deliver another nail-biting California Clasico; Refs help Orlando

NYCFC's 2-0 win over the Sounders in Seattle is the type of result that might get a coach fired, and it remains to be seen if Seattle has any interest in making a difficult decision regarding Sigi Schmid's leadership. There are enough caveats at play to reasonably argue that he deserves only part of the blame for the disastrous season that is unfolding.
Losing at home to a second-year expansion franchise, in a game that again showed how unbalanced and unproductive the Sounders attack is, makes everyone involved look bad. It only matters slightly that Frank Lampard's goal for NYCFC looked to be a handball, since the Sounders simply couldn't find a way to put the ball in the net on the other end.
There was no sharpness without Clint Dempsey, but it's worth wondering if his imminent return will change things all that much. If Seattle's season hinges on a 33-year-old finding a scoring groove after a grueling month on international duty, it might already be time to start planning for next year.
It is probably unfair to throw all the blame on Schmid, but as sports has proven time and time again, the head coach is simply the most convenient scapegoat. Firing a manager looks like action, even if it does nothing to correct the underlying problems.
A note on NYCFC, since Patrick Vieira's team now has its second winning streak of the year and is holding firm at second in the East: With this win, NYCFC now has four wins and a draw from seven road games, a mark that leads the league. In fact, it is the only team with a winning away record.
Referees in the news again
Lampard's handled goal was just one of a number of calls -- missed or made -- that significantly impacted results.
Portland's 3-2 comeback win over the Dynamo at Providence Park was aided by two penalty calls. One was clear and prompted little disagreement from Houston; the second, however, appeared to be a dive by Lucas Melano after Houston goalkeeper Tyler Deric pushed the ball away.
A (soft at best) penalty also played a role in Montreal's 2-2 draw at Stade Saputo with Kansas City, who itself had a claim denied for a spot kick foul.
In an interesting reversal of recent fortune, Orlando actually benefited from a questionable late call when Drew Moor was whistled for a foul in the box on Julio Baptista late into added time. Baptista sold it well but Moor did have his hands on the striker.
The more these calls appear to help or hurt teams in the standings, the more refereeing becomes the dominant narrative among fans. That's not just a little problem, and it's worth wondering why MLS and the Professional Referee Organization haven't take more drastic steps to address what is obviously a drain on the league's quality.
Team of the week

Jason Davis' MLS best XI.

Jason Davis is a writer from Virginia covering American soccer. He also hosts a daily soccer podcast that covers the beautiful game. Follow him @davisjsn.