c/o Major League Soccer
With the Major League Soccer playoffs kicking off this Saturday (Nov. 20), a breakdown of the matchups and favorites is in order. In the week before the playoffs were set, a week the MLS refers to as Decision Day, the drama of elimination began.
To start off the action, Real Salt Lake defeated Sporting Kansas City in a 95th minute game-winner. The goal reverberated throughout the league, stunning the LA Galaxy, who dropped to eighth place and out of the playoffs after they tied 3–3 against Minnesota United FC. However, the drama did not end there. The Monday after the game, the Professional Referee Organization issued a statement apologizing for a missed handball in the penalty area, a call that would have given SKC a penalty in the 90th minute and a penalty that would have sealed LA Galaxy’s spot and eliminated RSL. But alas, mistakes are made, and RSL will try to ride out their luck against the No. 2 seeded Seattle Sounders.
In considering playoff matchups, I will start with the western conference. With the first seed and a first-round bye, the Colorado Rapids hope to continue their underdog season. In the playoff lineup, there is only one other team that started the season with lower odds to win the MLS Cup. Colorado also had the lowest payroll in the league and their roster seems as goofy as the kids from “The Sandlot.” One can only draw connections to the 2002-03 “Moneyball” Athletics team who, after putting together a wacky lineup with low funds, went on to win 26 games in a row and their division. However, the A’s season ended early when they lost in the first round. We will have to see if Colorado can escape this fate and make a deep run into the playoffs.
The first matchup in the conference is No. 2 Seattle Sounders vs. No. 7 Real Salt Lake. The match heavily favors Seattle; however, Seattle has struggled with six winless weeks to finish out the season. The six games cost them the first seed and could be a sign that their playoff hopes might die early. On the other side of the matchup, RSL looks like they will capitalize on their dramatic bid. The team has a way of scoring and opening games up, but with a shaky defense and the scoring potential of Seattle, they will have to hope for a little more drama to make their way into the next round.
Next is No. 3 Sporting Kansas City vs. No. 6 Vancouver Whitecaps FC. If you want to bet on an upset, this might be the game. SKC has failed to be consistent in big games and Vancouver, under their charismatic interim coach, has never looked better.
In the final matchup of the western conference No. 4 Portland Timbers play No. 5 Minnesota United FC. The Timbers hold an important home-field advantage with rowdy fans and an impeccable home record. Minnesota will have to come out and run up the goals if they hope to compete, but luckily for viewers, Minnesota can do just that. If you want to watch a nail-biter, this will certainly be one of the best.
Moving to the eastern conference, the No. 1 seeded New England Revolution hold the first-round bye. The team won its first ever Supporter’s Shield (best regular season record) in their 26-year history. And they won it with ease. They were almost twenty points over second in the east (73–54) and over ten points over the best team in the west (73–61). Their 73 points beat out LAFC (72) for the most points in a regular season, an impressive feat considering that three years ago they were at the bottom of their conference. But an impressive season does not always mean a successful postseason (Golden State went 73–9 but lost to Cleveland; LAFC got 72 points but lost in the Conference Finals). The pressure is on, but can New England keep their composure?
In the first matchup of the eastern conference, No. 2 Philadelphia Union will take on No. 7 New York Red Bulls. The Bulls, although being last in the seeding, have not lost in their last twelve games. An impeccable finish, but it might not be enough to lift them over Union. The Union boasts one of the best midfielders in the league, dominating possession and pressuring their opponents backline. While this game could yield an upset, a victory for the Union is most likely.
Next are No. 3 Nashville SC vs. No. 6 Orlando City SC. In the three matches between these two, they all ended in draws. And with their final standing being only three points apart, choosing a favorite is difficult. The game will most likely be a low-scoring grinder, one that viewers who enjoy defensive tactics will want to tune in to.
The last matchup of the first round is No. 4 New York City FC vs. No. 5 Atlanta United. Look for a striker duel as the 2021 Golden Boot winner Valentín Castellanos of NYCFC faces off against arguably the best MLS forward in history, Josef Martínez. The game could go either way, but it’s hard not to favor Atlanta because of the scoring ability of Martínez.
While New England and Seattle make up almost 50% of the odds to win it all, the rest of the field is even in their chances for glory. So, either hop on the bandwagon or choose an underdog and get ready for the excitement.
Eli Seaver can be reached at eseaver@wesleyan.edu.