The MLS Cup Playoffs are finally back after an extended break between rounds one and two. With a place in the conference finals on the line, the games have officially become do or die.
Let’s take a look at the four matchups.
LAFC vs. Seattle Sounders
LAFC has been a thorn in Seattle’s side in recent seasons. The SoCal club has defeated the Sounders six times in a row, and it’s never really been close.
But one thing will remain true as long as Brian Schmetzer is at the helm of Seattle: they are as tough as anyone in CONCACAF when it comes to knockout competition.
Steve Cherundolo’s side looked vulnerable at times in the three-match series with Vancouver, conceding four goals in those three games.
Meanwhile, Seattle scored just once from open play in their series against Houston, not to mention the fact that the Dynamo played with 10 men for large parts of both games.
You wouldn’t put it past Seattle to get a result, but LAFC just knows how to find an extra outfit in home games in the playoffs.
OneFootball prediction: LAFC advance
NYCFC vs New York Red Bulls
It’s a Hudson River Derby for the ages and the first in an MLS Cup knockout match for the two New York rivals.
After both sides completed their opening round upsets against the Columbus Crew and FC Cincinnati respectively, a path has opened for the winner of this highly anticipated derby showdown to make a truly special run.
While anything can happen in a derby, recent history portends bad news for the Red Bulls as they were truly humiliated on home soil by NYCFC by a staggering 5-1 margin in September.
But with the return of Emil Forsberg to the lineup for the playoffs, the Red Bulls should pose a bigger threat.
It’s simple: each of these two sides has talismanic attacking veterans and goalkeepers who, on their night, can single-handedly win you a game.
It might be the closest playoff game, and we can’t wait.
OneFootball prediction: NYCFC Progress
LA Galaxy vs Minnesota United
Forget Inter Miami and their flashy new toys: the Galaxy are the real big boys of the MLS and they have to show that against Minnesota United on Sunday.
After winning the opening round with Colorado by an aggregate score of 9-1 over two matches, the Galaxy have proven to be the most complete team left in the MLS Cup Playoffs, and perhaps the most complete Galaxy squad since the legendary era in which she won three MLS Cups between 2011 and 2014.
But setbacks are common in the playoffs, as we saw in the opening round.
Minnesota has proven to be a dangerous side at halftime, led from the front by Kelvin Yeboah, and has a goalkeeper in Dayne St. Clair who has had his own share of superhero performances.
Still, you can’t look away from a Galaxy side that can hurt you from every angle, and their relentless firepower should push them into the conference finals.
OneFootball prediction: LA Galaxy Progress
Orlando City vs. Atlanta United
We all saw it, we all loved it. Atlanta United pulled off perhaps the biggest upset in MLS Cup history when they dispatched Inter Miami over three games, and they will be looking to shock some Floridians again when they take on Orlando City.
The good news for Atlanta is that Orlando doesn’t have the superstar level of Inter Miami, but the bad news is that Óscar Pareja’s side won’t be nearly as vulnerable on the counter-attack.
Led by Facundo Torres and a bunch of star-studded substitutes, Orlando came into the playoffs as arguably the hottest team in MLS and the vibe around Inter & Co Stadium is that they will now continue to ride that wave well into November.
The Five Stripes did win in Orlando on the last day of the season, but playoff football is something completely different.
Was Atlanta’s victory in Miami just a standard knockout fluke? Or has Rob Valentino found the key to unlocking his expensively assembled team? It should be another fiercely contested showdown.
OneFootball prediction: Rise of Atlanta United
© Kelvin Kuo-Imagn images
