Major League Soccer’s Decision Day (the final match week of the regular season) came and went this past Sunday and served as the perfect precursor to the main event: we have absolutely no idea how this’ll all pan out. You’ll find our how to watch MLS Playoffs 2018 and a knockout round preview below.
On the aforementioned D-Day, we witnessed two massive shocks: (1) Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s LA Galaxy failed to defeat an already eliminated Houston side in Los Angeles and crashed out of the playoffs, giving the six-seed in the West to Real Salt Lake and (2) an already eliminated Toronto FC hammered Atlanta United at BMO Field, handing the Supporters’ Shield and the one-seed in the East to the New York Red Bulls.
Additionally, the final match day revealed a playoff place for #SavedTheCrew, who’ll play Wayne Rooney’s D.C. United at its new fortress (United has a home record of 12W-1D-2L at Audi Field), and the completion of a remarkable surge to the two-seed in the West by Seattle, meaning that both LAFC and Dallas have to settle for home matches in the knockout round.
How To Watch MLS Playoffs 2018
The #MLSCupPlayoffs are here!
Who's your pick to win it all? pic.twitter.com/tmrCaOMCNC— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 29, 2018
2018 MLS Cup Playoffs Knockout Round Schedule
Eastern Conference
No. 3 New York City FC vs. No. 6 Philadelphia Union
Wednesday, October 31 | 7:00 p.m. ET | Yankee Stadium, The Bronx
- TV: FS1 and UniMas
- Stream: Fubo TV, Sling TV, Fox Sports GO, Univision NOW
No. 4 D.C. United vs. No. 5 Columbus Crew
Thursday, November 1 | 8:00 p.m. ET | Audi Field, Washington D.C.
- TV: FS1 and UniMas
- Stream: Fubo TV, Sling TV, Fox Sports GO, Univision NOW
Western Conference
No. 4 FC Dallas vs. No. 5 Portland Timbers
Wednesday, October 31 | 9:30 p.m. ET | Toyota Stadium, Frisco
- TV: UniMas and Root Sports Northwest
- Stream: ESPN+, Fubo TV, Sling TV, Univision NOW
No. 3 Los Angeles FC vs. No. 6 Real Salt Lake
Thursday, November 1 | 10:30 p.m. ET | Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles
- TV: ESPN2 and UniMas
- Stream: WatchESPN, Fubo TV, Sling TV, Univision NOW, YouTube
Conference Semifinals
First legs will take place on Sunday, November 4; second legs will take place on Sunday, November 11. Kickoff times TBD.
Eastern Conference
No. 1 New York Red Bulls vs. Highest Remaining Seed
No. 2 Atlanta United vs. Lowest Remaining Seed
Western Conference
No. 1 Sporting Kansas City vs. Highest Remaining Seed
No. 2 Seattle Sounders vs. Lowest Remaining Seed
Conference Championships
First legs will take place on Sunday, November 25; second legs will take place on Thursday, November 29.
2018 MLS Cup
The host will be the finalist with the best regular season record. The match will be played on Saturday, December 8.
2018 MLS Cup Playoffs: Knockout Round Preview
Win or go home.
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 29, 2018
Eastern Conference
No. 3 New York City FC vs. No. 6 Philadelphia Union
Records at a Glance
NYCFC: 16W-10L-8T (12-1-4 home) | 59 GF, 45 GA
Union: 15W-14L-5T (6-8-3 away) | 49 GF, 50 GA
Top Scorers and Providers
NYCFC: David Villa (10 goals); Maxi Moralez (9 assists)
Union: Cory Burke and Fabrice-Jean Pinault (10 Goals); Borek Dockal (12 assists)
No. 4 D.C. United vs. No. 5 Columbus Crew
Records at a Glance
United: 14W-11L-9T (13-2-2 home) | 60 GF, 50 GA
Crew: 14W-11L-9T (3-9-5 away) | 43 GF, 45 GA
Top Scorers and Providers
United: Wayne Rooney (12 goals); Luciano Acosta (15 assists)
Crew: Gyasi Zardes (19 goals); Federico Higuain (6 assists)
Western Conference
No. 3 Los Angeles FC vs. No. 6 Real Salt Lake
Records at a Glance
LAFC: 16W-9L-9T (9-1-7 home) | 68 GF, 52 GA
RSL: 14W-13L-7T (3-11-3 away) | 55 GF, 58 GA
Top Scorers and Providers
LAFC: Carlos Vela (14 goals); Vela (10 assists)
RSL: Damir Kreplach (12 goals); Jefferson Savarino (9 assists)
No. 4 FC Dallas vs. No. 5 Portland Timbers
Records at a Glance
FCD: 16W-9L-9D (10-2-5 home) | 52GF, 44GA
Timbers: 15W-10L-9T (4-8-5 away) | 54 GF, 48 GA
Top Scorers and Providers
FCD: Maximiliano Urruti and Roland Lamah (8 goals); Urruti (7 assists)
Timbers: Diego Valeri and Sebastian Blanco (10 goals); Valeri (8 assists)
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