There was only one upset in the opening round of the MLS Cup playoffs. We were treated to two penalty shootouts and a table set for an appetizing final four.
With the conference semifinals kicking off on Thursday, Jeff, Kyle, Dan, and Austin are predicting which teams will move on to the final four and which players will join the league's other 20 clubs already watching the playoffs.
Go to: Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Montreal, NYCFC, LAFC-Galaxy, and Austin- Dallas.
During their first three years in the MLS, FC Cincinnati weren't bad. As a team entered the league, they almost redefined how bad a team can get. At the time, first-year success was common and several, replicable blueprints for success had been established around the league. When things got out of control, the club took a step back and wondered what had worked.
The Philadelphia Union was over. After beating the New York Red Bulls in the first round of the playoffs, Cincinnati appointed Chris Albright as their general manager and hired Pat Noonan as their head coach.
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The speed in which Cincinnati turned things around speaks to the importance of a front office that has experience in the league. The Supporters' Shield was not won by Philadelphia because of the wins-tiebreaker, but they were the best team in the entire league. The Union are heavy favorites to win the game at home, where they did not lose during the season. There is something to be said about familiarity being an equal.
There are predictions.
FCC have done well to change the trajectory of the organization, but the Union seem to be a bridge too far, and should prevail over their former apprentices in Cincinnati GM Chris Albright and manager Pat Noonan. -- Carlisle
The Union were the best team in the league during the regular season (certainly during the second half), have a historically dominant defense and were undefeated at home. There is no logic in picking against them. -- Bonagura
Sure, I've said I was a sucker for an underdog, but that Pollyanna notion has an expiration date when Philadelphia is on the opposing half. The Union allowed only 26 goals all season. Twenty-six! Their plus-46 goal differential was the second-best tally in a decade. Andre Blake, who'll win his record third MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award, is an MVP finalist. The Union and Blake's storybook season doesn't end with the Orange and Blue. -- Hajducky
The most prolific attack in MLS, the stingiest defense in the league, an MLS-best goal differential nearly twice as good as their nearest rivals, Philadelphia just have too many ways in which they can beat opponents. -- Lindberg
NYCFC have won five in a row and looked back to their best in their Round One win over Inter Miami. They are a long shot to beat Montreal on Sunday.
The last time they lost was in the middle of July. They have earned 36 points from 45 available. LAFC and Philadelphia both took 27 and 34 points over the same time period.
In the two meetings between the Bronx Blues and Montreal this season, the Bronx Blues took four points but the Montreal team played better in both games. Despite the score of 4-1 in NYCFC's favor, the Quebecois outshot their rivals 26-15 and outchanced them 16-13.
If it weren't for the glamor of LAFC or the model-franchise designation of Philadelphia, this team would be the talk of MLS in these playoffs.
There are predictions.
The Blues seemed to regain some of their championship swagger in eliminating Inter Miami, but Montreal's consistency means they rarely get flustered, and with Ismael Kone, Djordje Mihailovic and the ageless Kei Kamara clicking, CFM should get the win. -- Carlisle
Neither team has lost in more than a month and both looked the part in decisive first-round wins, but Montreal get the edge playing at home. -- Bonagura
It's a testament to how good NYCFC are, top to bottom, that they lost 2021 Golden Boot winner Valentin Castellanos to Girona and still made the conference semis. But New York stumbled to the playoffs, winning only four MLS matches from Aug. 6 to season's end. The offensive trio of Montreal's Romell Quioto, Kamara and Mihailovic -- each with at least nine goals and six assists -- will be too much for the Bronx Blues. -- Hajducky
Since the middle of July, Montreal have lost just once, demonstrating consistently impressive play, contrasted against NYCFC's stretch of one win in ten that preceded their current five-game winning streak. CFM may lack the pedigree and glamor signings, but it's been one of the best teams -- in the truest sense of the word -- in MLS all season. -- Lindberg
There has been a lot of change since the LAFC victory. The back has been restructured with the addition of Martin Caceres and the addition of two new players in the middle of the field. Six new players have been brought in by LAFC, including Giorgio Chiellini and Denis Bouanga.
The new arrivals didn't have the effect that LAFC wanted. While the Black and Gold are mostly playing the same, the additions of Puig and Brugman have a big impact on the rest of the lineup. Douglas Costa can stick to the wing and not have to worry about the creative burden that goes with it. The possession and passing has improved as a result of this.
What does this mean for the Western Conference semifinals? It means a battle in the center of the park, with LAFC's Ilienchez, Jose Cifuentes and Kellyn Acosta tasked with stopping the other players. The LAFC will be able to feed their potent frontline of Costa, Samuel Grandsir, and JavierHernandez if they prevail in that area.
There are predictions.
The Galaxy seem to be jelling at the right time, especially with Puig and Brugman operating in midfield. That makes for another Supporters' Shield winner to fall short of an MLS Cup double. -- Carlisle
The winner of the MLS Cup playoffs will be predicted by Sebastian and Herculez.
The Black and Gold fixed something that wasn't broken by adding Bale, Chiellini and DPs Bouanga and Cristian Tello during the regular season. The moves all made sense on paper, but it hasn't worked out according to plan. Meanwhile, the Galaxy turned things around in the second half and appear to be peaking at the right time. LAFC are on notice, but talent should still win the day. -- Bonagura
Another conference semifinals El Trafico, the first since 2019. Does the Supporters' Shield curse -- only seven winners have also won an MLS Cup -- rear its ugly head? Or do LAFC finally hoist the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy? It's LAFC's -- and Carlos Vela's -- year. -- Hajducky
In the 11 games since Puig's arrival, the Galaxy have been playing at a 1.81 points-per-game pace, a level of play that extrapolated across a full season would've made them a No. 2 seed in the West. Meanwhile, LAFC have lost five of their past nine. -- Lindberg
Austin scored more goals than any other MLS team in the year 2000. One conceded less than Dallas. The FCD side will try to contain the Texas capital club, and it's going to be interesting to see how they organize.
Austin got little in the way of chance creation from attackers in the first round of the playoffs, which suggests that Dallas could match up favorably. Sebastian Driussi, who scored both of the Verde's goals in that win, has a knack for running into pockets of space and conjuring opportunities from deeper starting positions.
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