What happened: Ayoub Jabbari and Kyle Smith, who previously entered together in the 70th minute of a 2-1 July match, traded places in the 81st minute with the side trailing by a goal.

Why it matters: Jabbari has regularly been deployed in the closing stages of tight fixtures, including an 87th-minute appearance while down 2-1 on Sept. 20 and a 74th-minute exit on Sept. 10.

What to watch: Lineup selections for the next 2026 MLS regular-season match will show whether the late tactical switch alters the starting rotation.