The very lengthy opening round of the MLS Cup Playoffs is behind us and there was plenty to talk about.
With upsets galore, and a wide-open race to the final, let’s dig into some of the biggest stories.
The bigger they are, the harder they fall
Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy draws up a scheme as his team huddles for an injury stoppage during the second half of the MLS Cup Playoffs first round game against the New York Red Bulls at Lower.com Field in Columbus on Oct. 29.
The Eastern Conference playoffs have provided a handful of upsets in the last few weeks, as all of the top-three seeds in the conference — Inter Miami, Columbus Crew, and FC Cincinnati — all crashed out.
Parity is the name of the game in MLS. And while the gap between the big spenders at the top of the table and the clubs down at the bottom is growing by the season, the idea that anybody can beat anybody on any given night remains as true as ever.
The Crew learned the hard way that late rescue acts can only take you so far when your opponent has penalty-shootout heroics in their locker. Meanwhile, FC Cincinnati have yet to find a true goalscoring number nine and it showed.
Inter Miami, on the other hand, had been shaky defensively all season and it killed them when it truly mattered. You can have the fanciest engine in the world, but without a steering wheel, you won’t get very far.
Even in MLS, defense can win you titles
Nov 3, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; The Seattle Sounders FC watch during a round of penalty kicks against the Houston Dynamo FC in a 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One match at Shell Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Everybody knows that MLS squads are rather top-heavy. With the current set of roster rules, money is poured into the pockets of attacking players while most teams hit the bargain-bins for the defensive core.
The Seattle Sounders may be one of the few teams in the division that go against that trend. With a well-balanced and rock-solid backline of Alex Roldán, Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, and Nouhou, the Sounders don’t need to score all that much to get through games.
Brian Schemtzer’s side conceded the least goals of any side in MLS during the regular season, and they continued that trend by conceding just once in two games against Houston.
Seattle are the proverbial ‘tough nut to crack’ when it comes to knockout football, and their solid rearguard is the leading factor.
Discipline, discipline, discipline
Oct 28, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Houston Dynamo FC midfielder Artur (6) talks with the lead official after midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla (20) is issued a red card in the second half against the Seattle Sounders FC in a 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One match at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
It’s hard enough to win a best-of-three series in the MLS, but it’s even harder when your best players seemingly have a screw loose when it really matters.
The Houston Dynamo learned that lesson the hard way, seeing their two talismanic midfielders, Coco Carrasquilla and Hector Herrera, both sent off in separate games for braindead incidents.
The Dynamo fell in two to games to the Seattle Sounders, who struggled in attack. With their two best players pulling the strings for the full of 180 minutes in the series may have just been the difference — but we’ll never know now, will we?
The best-of-three format leaves a bit to be desired
New York City FC goalkeeper Matthew Freese (49) celebrates with New York City FC defender Mitja Ilenic (35) after winning the match between FC Cincinnati and New York City FC in Penalty Kicks at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024.
The MLS playoff format is a hot topic in every corner of the U.S. and Canada, but the overall feeling after another few weeks of best-of-three series appears to be exhaustion.
The first game in the majority of the series saw low attendances, and a general malaise. Perhaps the ‘two more chances to win’ feeling permeated through the players themselves as it had some of the fans.
MLS is constantly growing and looking to find the right balance for their postseason, but for one round to take nearly three weeks appears to have left a lot of MLS fans fatigued before the real show even gets underway.
And it’s not just the fans who are feeling the effects, as LA Galaxy star-man Riqui Puig took to twitter to show his displeasure.
Insane… 22 days for the next Play-off game…
Come on @MLS— Riqui Puig (@RiquiPuig) November 2, 2024
It is probably not a permanent format. But one thing is for sure — a permanent set up needs to be nailed to down sooner than later.
Life isn’t fair, Jordi
Nov 9, 2024; Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA; Inter Miami FC defender Jordi Alba (18) battles Atlanta United FC midfielder Saba Lobzhanidze (9) for the ball in the second half in a 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One match at Chase Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The fallout from Inter Miami’s catastrophic defeat in the opening round to Atlanta United has been as painful as expected.
The Herons came into the playoffs having wrapped up the regular season points record on the final day of the campaign, and looked rather untouchable given the major sprinkling of stardust in the squad.
But after a match-three defeat in south Florida to see their season end in capitulation, Inter Miami star Jordi Alba took to the media to criticize the playoffs as a whole.
In a way, he’s right. The champions of the conferences should play in the final. But the good news for Alba is that is exactly what happens. The bad news? Miami didn’t even reach the conference semifinals, never-mind winning it.
In any case, the best-of-three format favors the top finishers in the regular season. Alba and his Miami mates had not one, not two, but three chances to advance past a team they finished 34 points ahead of in the regular season.
Welcome to the realities of the MLS Cup Playoffs, Inter Miami.