[ad_1]
MLS Decision Day is upon us. For the league, simply getting to this point is an achievement amid the COVID-19 pandemic, although we will see how the MLS Cup playoffs fare.
– MLS Playoffs: who’s in, who’s out and all the key information
– MLS regular season: updated table of points per game
– Stream MLS games LIVE, watch replays on ESPN + (US only)
There’s a trophy up for grabs, as well as postseason spots and seeded spots to be determined in the generously expanded playoffs that have 10 qualifiers from the Eastern Conference and eight from the West.
This is how things are moving heading into the weekend.
Two teams set their sights on Shield
Wednesday’s results, which included the Columbus Crew SC’s 2-1 loss to the 10-man Orlando City SC, as well as the Portland Timbers’ 1-0 loss to the Colorado Rapids, mean that only the Philadelphia Union and Toronto FC continue to compete for Supporters. ‘ To protect. (Orlando could catch both on points, but would lose in the win-per-game tiebreaker.)
Featured
- MLS Power Rankings: Philadelphia Remains Atop Despite Shield Setback Schelotto’s tenure at LA Galaxy was a flop, but his firing won’t fix a broken franchise. Who will score USMNT goals on the road to the World Cup?
2 Related
The Union had a chance to clinch the trophy last week, but fell on the road 2-1 to the Crew, while TFC did their part by beating Inter Miami CF 2-1. Still, Philadelphia remains in control of its Shield fate. All Philadelphia needs to do is match or better Toronto’s result, and it will claim its first ever trophy.
Both teams have complicated tasks ahead of them. The Union will host the New England Revolution at home, while Toronto will travel to Harrison, New Jersey to face the New York Red Bulls. Of the two, Philadelphia seems to have a slight advantage. In three previous meetings, the Union have had two wins and a draw, while Philadelphia is also a perfect 8-0-0 at home this season. And yet the Union does not have everything its own way.
Goalkeeper Andre Blake is out with a broken wrist, and while Joe Bendik did what he could to intervene against the Crew, he fell short of the level of the man he replaced. That will have to change on Sunday. Midfield Jose Martinez’s wrecking ball could return, giving coach Jim Curtin a big boost.
New England also appears to be on the mend at the right time, with the Designated Player triumvirate of Carles Gil, Gustavo Bou and Adam Buksa all healthy.
There is also the not so small matter of the story. The Union has been on the cusp of some distinctive victories, reaching the US Open Cup final in 2014, 2015 and 2018, only to fall short. Claiming the Shield on Sunday would be a great moment for this team.
LIVE ON ESPN + (SELECTED GAMES)
Upcoming games LIVE on ESPN + (US):
FRIDAY NOV. 6
• Chongqing Lifan v Shandong L (2.25 AM ET)
• Cardiff v Bristol City (12.55 pm ET)
• Bremen v Cologne (2.20 pm ET)
• Sassuolo v Udinese (2.35 pm ET)
• Harrogate v Skelmersdale (2.40 pm ET)
• Alloa Athletic v Dundee (2.40 pm ET)
As for Toronto, the Reds are a bit under attack too, with Jozy Altidore, Pablo Piatti and Justin Morrow all set for the Red Bulls game. The two teams drew 1-1 in their only regular-season meeting this year, but the additional hardships TFC has had to endure this season, including having to play some of their home games in East Hartford, Connecticut, have strengthened the Reds by one degree.
Given manager Greg Vanney’s passionate comments about the Shield when it looked like it wouldn’t be awarded this season, there’s no question Toronto will be highly motivated. But so will the Red Bulls, who will be itching for a free pass in the first round when the playoffs begin in late November.
play1: 06Gomez: Chicharito has a long way to go to repair his image
Herculez Gómez explains why Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández will stay with the LA Galaxy despite his poor game.
Mostly settled in the West
Let the team that most embodies chaos bring order to the Western Conference playoff race. The week’s results mean the postseason participants are all locked in thanks to the San Jose Earthquakes 3-2 win over LAFC, a victory that completed the Quakes’ transformation from conference mat to playoff qualifiers for the first time. since 2017. The approach will support watching, winning or losing.
ESPN FC DAILY BROADCAST ON ESPN +
Dan Thomas joins Craig Burley, Shaka Hislop and others in bringing you the latest highlights and debating the biggest stories. Stream on ESPN + (US only).
The Rapids also deserve a lot of credit, as they posted a pair of victories and qualified for the postseason after a COVID-19 outbreak threatened to change their campaign and resulted in a significantly shortened schedule. The two wins over the Seattle Sounders and the Timbers meant that even if the league had used total points, and not points per game, to decide the league’s ranking, the Rapids would still have qualified.
That means that all that is left to decide in the West is positioning. Sporting Kansas City has the inside track to claim first place in the West. A win over a Real Salt Lake team with nothing to play for other than pride will do, though both Seattle and Portland are still in contention.
– Postseason closing scenarios (via MLS)
– MLS game points classification (via MLS) | Hours | Statistics
There is also an incentive to take home advantage for at least the first round. In that regard, the game between Minnesota United FC and FC Dallas is the most intriguing given that the Loons are just behind Dallas in the standings, although LAFC and the Rapids could jump to the top four.
The drama is in the East
Beyond the quest for the Supporters Shield, most of the attention in the Eastern Conference will be on the Demolition Derby to be held for the final two playoff spots, where five teams: Montreal Impact, Chicago Fire, Atlanta United FC and DC United – they’re still in contention for the postseason.
It’s a wonder any of these teams are still on the hunt, but MLS’s postseason bounty is expanding more and more. One of the qualifiers may have a 1.0 points per game average, a dubious mark that would break the post-shootout record of 1.1 set by the 2004 New England Revolution.
Montreal and Chicago control their respective destinations, with Impact taking on a DC team that apparently passed a few weeks ago, but has been rejuvenated under interim manager Chad Ashton. Winger Paul Arriola could make a surprising comeback from ACL surgery earlier in the year, helping the Blacks and Reds’ risky gamble. Chicago faces a tough task facing a fit New York City FC team, especially after blowing a two-goal midweek lead against Minnesota.
It’s embarrassing for Atlanta United to even be in this position given the heights it climbed over its first three seasons, but there they are, needing a result against Columbus to have any hope of making the postseason. And yes, Inter Miami is still in contention with probably the easiest assignment of any of the contenders: a home date with FC Cincinnati.
Source: espn.co.uk
[ad_2]
