With the new promise and opportunity of joining MLS comes a host of rules, regulations, and systems that might be new to some Orlando City fans. With the 2014 MLS playoffs getting underway on Wednesday night, we kick off our “MLS 101” series with a look at how the MLS playoff system operates.
Before the playoffs begins, the league awards the team with the most points at the end of the regular season with the Supporters’ Shield trophy. The trophy gets its name from the group of supporters who proposed the idea and raised money to create the shield. The MLS has recognized the award since the 1999 season, and the winner of the shield has earned a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League (more on this in another 101 installment) since 2006. The Seattle Sounders and L.A. Galaxy squared off in the final game of the 2014 regular season for the rights to the Supporters’ Shield. This was the first time in MLS history such a match occurred, and Seattle secured the shield with a 2-0 victory.
Once the regular season is settled, the playoffs begin. The current MLS playoff system has been in place since 2012. The top five teams from each conference are separated into two five teams brackets by conference. The first game in the bracket on both sides is a 1-game playoff known as the “Knockout Round” between the 4th and 5th seeds with the higher seed hosting. The winner of this match goes on to face the 1st seed in the conference semifinals.
This week's Knockout round games are:
- Wed., Oct 29 - FC Dallas defeat Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1.
- New York Red Bulls vs Sporting Kansas City - Thur., Oct. 30, 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, TSN
The conference semifinals consist of home-and-away format matches with aggregate scoring. The team that has the highest goal count after both games advances to the conference finals which institute the same format.
A big change to this year’s playoff aggregate scoring format was the addition of the away goals rule for both the semifinal and final. The purpose of the rule is to prevent teams from going into a shell while playing on the road. For example, if a team were to lose the opener of the home-and-away on the road by a score of 3-1, but return home to win 2-0, the 3-3 aggregate score would fall in their favor because of their positive margin in road goals.
Here is a list of the upcoming conference semifinals:
Eastern Conference Semifinals
First Leg (Home teams listed first)
- Columbus Crew vs. New England Revolution - Sat., Nov. 1, 4:00 p.m. ET (UDN, MLS Live, MLS Direct Kick)
- New York Red Bulls or Sporting Kansas City vs. D.C. United - Sun., Nov. 2, 4:00 p.m. ET (UDN, MLS Live, MLS Direct Kick)
Second Leg (Home teams listed first)
- D.C. United vs. New York Red Bulls or Sporting Kansas City - Sat., Nov. 8, 2:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
- New England Revolution vs. Columbus Crew - Sun., Nov. 9, 5:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, TSN2)
Western Conference Semifinals
First Leg (Home teams listed first)
Real Salt Lake vs. LA Galaxy - Sat., Nov. 1, 8:00 p.m. ET (NBCSN, RDS2)
FC Dallas vs. Seattle Sounders - Sun., Nov. 2, 9:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, TSN2)
Second Leg (Home teams listed first)
- L.A. Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake - Sun., Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, TSN2, RDS2)
- Seattle Sounders FC vs. FC Dallas - Mon., Nov. 10, 10:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN, UDN, TSN2, RDS2)
Once the semifinal and conference finals are over, it’s on to the MLS Cup Final. Starting in 2012, the MLS Cup Final would no longer be held in a neutral venue, but would be hosted by the team with the highest point total from the regular season. Along with securing the coveted Philip F. Anschutz trophy, the winner is awarded with a berth into the CONCACAF Champions League.
For more information on this week’s knockout round, visit MLSsoccer.com
