MLS Playoffs: Opening Round Comes to a Close

Image courtesy of MLS

By Griffin Cappiello

Major League Soccer (MLS) recently wrapped up the first round of playoffs, and the drama was certainly on full display. 

The Audi MLS Cup Playoffs began with a best-of-three series for the first round, before moving onto single elimination in later rounds. Despite complaints about this format, playoff entertainment is at an all-time high at the conclusion of the opening-round series. 

In the Western Conference, the two-seed LA Galaxy took care of business, defeating the seven-seed Colorado Rapids 4-1 in the second game in the series. Scoring nine goals in two matches, the Galaxy looks like one of the hottest teams in the league, but this might come at a cost. 

Due to scheduling issues related to the FIFA international break, teams that won their series in two games must wait twenty-four days before playing their next playoff match. 

After their respective series wins, Minnesota United and the Seattle Sounders found themselves in the same situation as the Galaxy. 

Six-seed Minnesota drew three-seed Real Salt Lake 1-1, then won a penalty shootout 3-1 to advance. The four-seed Sounders also drew the five-seed Houston Dynamo 1-1 in a match that featured a Hector Herrera red card for spitting on the referee, before ultimately winning the shootout 7-6. 

LAFC, the first-place team in the Western Conference, fell to the eight-seed Vancouver Whitecaps 0-3, necessitating a third match, which LAFC won 2-1. This result led to more complaints over the playoff format, as Vancouver would have won the series on aggregate with a score of 4-3.

The first round of playoffs in the Eastern Conference had just as much drama, if not more. 

Four-seed Orlando City SC drew five-seed Charlotte FC, before losing 1-3 on penalties, which sent the series to three games. The third game narrowly ended 1-1 after a late Orlando goal off an assist by Duncan Maguire, who ran to the bench afterward to get his dislocated shoulder popped back into place. Orlando went on to win the ensuing penalty shootout 4-1 to advance to the next round. 

The two-seed and defending MLS Cup Champions Columbus Crew drew 2-2 to the seven-seed New York Red Bulls, before falling 4-5 on penalties to be eliminated from the playoffs. 

Three-seed FC Cincinnati fell 1-3 to six-seed NYCFC, then drew the third match 0-0. NYCFC won the shootout 6-5 to set up a Hudson River Derby against the Red Bulls in the Conference Semifinals. 

Finally, in the shock of the season, Supporters’ Shield Champions Inter Miami fell twice to nine-seed Atlanta United, 1-2 and 2-3. Lionel Messi’s MLS Cup dreams were crushed after an outstanding performance from Atlanta captain and former US men’s national team goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Former FC Barcelona and current Inter Miami left back, Jordi Alba, was critical of the league’s playoff structure after the second loss to Atlanta. 

“This format seems a little unfair to me,” Alba told ESPN after the match. “I would have the champion of one conference against the champion of the other.”  

Similar questions have plagued this year’s postseason, causing rumors to float that MLS will restructure the playoff format for future seasons. 

While these questions are prevalent among the MLS fan community, the show must go on; the conference semifinal matchups are set. In the West, LAFC hosts the Seattle Sounders on November 23 at 10:30 PM, and the LA Galaxy hosts Minnesota United on November 24 at 6:00 PM. In the East, NYCFC hosts the New York Red Bulls on November 24 at 5:30 PM, while Orlando City SC hosts Atlanta United on November 24 at 3:30 PM. 

After an opening round filled with upsets, one can only hope for more of the same as the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs continue.