MLS
MLS Cup Playoffs: Round Of 16 Round-Up
The first round of MLS playoff matches have been settled. The new playoff setup is on show with the top team from each conference getting a bye. The other 6 qualifying teams from each division clash with the 2nd facing seed 7, seed 3 playing the 6th seed, and the 4th seed taking on the 5th seed.
In the playoffs this season, all matches will be single elimination with the higher seed earning home field advantage. As we saw this weekend, this forces teams to really go for it. The six first round matches accumulated an astounding 27 goals and 3 games went to extra time. Viewers got more soccer than they bargained for. Unfortunately, Toronto, Seattle, and Philly will all have tired legs come midweek after playing 120 minutes over the weekend.
MLS Cup Holder’s Hassled at Home
The Current Holders of the MLS Cup hosted the New England Revolution as over 66,000 fans watched on in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Atlanta has turned their stadium into a fortress going 14-3-2 during the regular season. Frank De Boer’s men were heavily favored in this match, especially after beating the Rev’s 3-1 on the final day of the season.
However, the hosts struggled to take the game to the Revolution for the majority of the match. The Revolution had the majority of the chances, but an alert Brad Guzan was a brick wall between the sticks. The goalkeepers 6 saves kept the Five Stripes in contention as the game began to slip away from them.
Atlanta’s typically potent attack was struggling to impose themselves on the game and time was waning quickly. Josef Martínez was stranded up top and was visibly frustrated with his lack of touches, managing only 23 in the match.
Extra time was looking more and more likely as neither team could find the breakthrough. Until the 70th minute. Star of the match, Ezequiel Barco, slotted a pass through to Franco Escobar who rocketed it into the top of the net from a tight angle.
In the 88th minute, Josef Martínez had a chance to seal the victory and relieve the tension in the stadium. However, the Venezuelan fluffed his lines leading to an edgy final few minutes for the current champions.
Atlanta United now host the Philadelphia Union as their bid to defend their MLS Cup title continues on.
Morris Hat-Trick Spares Sounders
In Seattle, it was a much more frantic affair, to say the least. The referee had his hands full with two feisty teams determined to come away victorious. Two quick-fire first half goals from the Sounders set the pace early. A long range effort from Raúl Ruidíaz and a tame near post shot from Jordan Morris gave the Sounders an early lead. Reggie Cannon got one back for FC Dallas before halftime.
FC Dallas came out of halftime with noticeably more confidence. Three second half corners resulted in goals, two for Dallas and one for Seattle. Headers from Matt Hedges and Bryan Acosta drew Dallas back level twice, either side of a close range Jordan Morris shot. Neither side could kill the game off in 90 minutes so we headed to extra time.
In the first half of extra time, the Sounders were hanging on by a thread against a relentless FC Dallas attack. Stephen Frei made three vital saves in the 15 minutes to give his team hope. The Toros young squad was noticeably more energetic and the Sounders home fans grew more and more impatient as their team labored toward halftime.
The second half of extra time started much the same. The Sounders looked tired and were void of any creativity. Against the run of play, a goal-mouth scramble resulted in a Jordan Morris header to give him his first career hat-trick.
With five minutes remaining, tensions ran high and a bust up between Nouhou and González ensued. The keeper should have seen red, leaving FC Dallas with no keeper and no substitutions. However, some extremely lenient refereeing saw no action taken. The Seattle Sounders managed to hold on to their lead.
The Sounders now host Real Salt Lake in the MLS Cup quarterfinals.
Toronto Triumphs as DC Collapses in Extra Time
Wayne Rooney and company traveled to Toronto to face Michael Bradley and Toronto FC.
The first half was dominated by the home team but they couldn’t find their breakthrough. Then, just before halftime Bill Hamid failed to collect a speculative effort by Alejandro Pozuelo. The shot was parried into the path of Marco Delgado who slammed it home from close range.
Rooney squandered 3 second half chances to get back into the match. Ola Kamara was then played through by a terrible back pass by Nicolas Benezet. However, the finish was poor and the game seemed destined to end 1-0. But, In the 93rd minute a Wayne Rooney corner was eventually turned in by Lucas Rodriguez.
It only took 3 minutes into extra time for Toronto FC to restore their lead. A wonderful team goal ended with Richie Laryea slotting home from inside the 6 yard box. DC United were shell-shocked by the quick response and crumbled in the first have of extra time. Toronto native Jonathan Osorio took the limelight scoring two goals and assisting another in the first 15 minutes of extra time. Despite Bill Hamid making 12 saves, the Toronto attack was too much for DC. The match ended 5-1 to TFC sending DC United packing in embarrassing fashion.
DC United head home and Wayne Rooney heads back to England to join Derby County, ending his short stint in the MLS. Toronto now travels to Yankee Stadium to face eastern conference winners NYCFC in the quarterfinals.
Real Salt Lake vs Portland Timbers
Real Salt Lake hosted the Portland Timbers on Saturday’s final game. Rain poured down on the Rio Tinto Stadium which should have played into the hands of the Timbers.
However, the first half was all Real Salt Lake. RSL created 6 chances and managed 5 shots on target while the Timbers struggled to get anything going. In the 28th minute Damir Kreilach’s header gave Real Salt lake the reward they deserved. The Croatian, who has scored 3 playoff goals for RSL last season, just managed to beat the offside trap.
The rain continued to come down at the start of the second half. The Timbers got off on the front foot and won a corner a minute into the half. Dairon Asprilla powerfully headed Sebastián Blanco’s corner into the ground, leveling the score at one. The Timbers dominated the majority of the second half but could not but the RSL to the sword. Some fine saves by Nick Rimando kept his MLS career alive for at least one more match.
Then, in the 87th minute a sliding shot by Jefferson Savarino settled the game. RSL will now travel to rainy Seattle to take on the Sounders.
Philly Fight Back in Seven Goal Thriller
The Philadelphia Union hosted the New York Red Bulls and found themselves 2 goals behind at halftime. In the 6th minute Josh Sims scored emphatically and a sloppy bit of play in the box finished by Tim Parker gave the Red Bulls control.
Alejandro Bedoya got one back before halftime giving the Union a fighting chance. However, New York went into halftime 3-1 up after some poor goalkeeping by Andre Blake gifted Tom Barlow a goal.
Following the Red Bulls third goal, opportunities were few and far between for them. Buoyed by the home crowd, Union found themselves on the front foot. Jack Elliot headed in a rebound off of the crossbar making it 3-2.
Some fine substitutions by Jim Curtin settled the game. Fafà Picault come on in the 72nd minute and only needed six minutes to make an impact. The 5 foot 8 inch leaped over 6 foot 2 Tim Parker to head home.
Picault equalized and Union smelled blood in the water. A barrage ensued on Luis Robles’ goal but they couldn’t end the match in regular time.
Philadelphia took the lead for the first time in the 105th minute. Marco Fabián was on the pitch for less than 2 minutes when his cross deflected into the top corner, just out of Luis Robles’ reach. Jim Curtin’s subs provided two vital goals and helped see off a tough New York Red Bulls side.
Things were not all positive for Philly. A quadricep injury forced goalscorer and captain Alejandro Bedoya off in the 109th minute, making him doubtful for their midweek clash against Atlanta United.
LA Galaxy vs Minnesota United
In the final game of the weekend, Minnesota United hosted LA Galaxy in their first ever MLS Cup Playoff match.
The Loons dominated the first half but Ethan Finlay, Ángelo Rodríguez, and Robin Lod all missed opportunities to take the lead. Zlatan Ibrahimović was uncharacteristically poorly in the first half and as per usual, he made is frustration known. Prior to this match, Ibrahimovic had failed to score when playing against two time MLS defender of the year Ike Opara.
The breakthrough finally came in the 70th minute. Zlatan scuffed a shot that deflected into the path of Sebastian Lletget, who slotted past an outstretched Vito Mannone. Less than five minutes later Jonathan dos Santos smashed a beautiful effort into the bottom corner from outside the box.
In the 87th minute Ján Greguš gave Minnesota a lifeline by cooly placing Darwin Quintero’s pull back into the bottom corner. However, it was too little too late for the Loons and the LA Galaxy held on for the final minutes. The result was harsh on Minnesota but LA were much more clinical and comfortable in the final third. This sets up a mouthwatering El Tráfico as the LA Galaxy now face Supporters’ Shield winners LAFC.
Where to Watch the MLS Cup Playoffs Quarter Finals
- Toronto FC vs New York City FC: Wednesday, October 23rd on FS1 at 7:00pm
- Real Salt Lake vs Seattle Sounders FC: Wednesday, October 23rd on FS1 at 10:00pm
- Philadelphia Union vs Atlanta United: Thursday, October 24th on ESPN 2 at 8:00pm
- LA Galaxy vs LAFC: Thursday, October 24th on ESPN at 10:30pm
Written by Chase Brittingham
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