Article by Matt Lichtenstadter
After the first legs of the MLS conference finals, one tie looks all but settled and the other is still a jump ball. Before Sunday, many would not have expected the results to go the way they did, but two-legged ties always provide surprising play and results, especially in this league. Here’s what happened on Sunday, and what it might suggest for the second legs on Thursday:
Atlanta 3 NYRB 0: Once the Five Stripes and Red Bulls confirmed they’d play each other in the East Final, many expected an incredible tie filled with high pressing, high energy and intensity. What we saw on Sunday was one team playing scared, and it was surprisingly the Red Bulls. Under Chris Armas, they are no longer a press everywhere all the time team, but the press is still their bread and butter. They completely abandoned it on Sunday to play Tony Pulis style soccer: bunker and bunker and see out the 90 minutes. The Red Bulls are not equipped to play like this, even though they have such a stellar defensive record. Playing in Atlanta is not easy, but the Red Bulls won in Atlanta earlier this year playing their game and style and did exactly the sameagainst them at Red Bull Arena back in September. Why did they play like that when it only could spell disaster?
Kemar Lawrence was out for the Red Bulls, a key defensive injury. Yes, they also had a goal chalked off for offside when there was an “interference with the goalie” offside decision that was, by the letter of the law, correct. But that does not excuse the tactical decisions made by the Red Bulls that cost them perhaps a chance at MLS Cup. Atlanta weren’t supremely clinical, and they at first seemed surprised by the tactics they were going up against, hoofing long balls over the top of the supposed press to beat it. But once they settled in, it was only one-way traffic. One Atlanta team did blow a supposedly insurmountable lead in a big game once, but it’s hard to imagine this team doing that Thursday night.
Portland 0 Sporting KC 0: This tie was a jump ball heading into the game, and it’s a jump ball heading to Kansas City on Thursday. Portland had a goal chalked out for offside, both teams were a little wasteful in front of goal, and both teams are saying they’re fine with the result, which is to be expected. They played to a well-earned stalemate. Portland had the better of the attacking chances, which is a not a surprise since they were at home, but Sporting KC were very resolute. Portland not conceding an away goal is massive, but Sporting KC are easily capable of putting goals past anyone, especially since they didn’t have their super attacking sub in Diego Rubio available. Portland’s MO has always been about organization defensively, with the creativity and ingenuity to counter, and Sporting Kansas City are always about their intensity of play, especially at home. Who does the 0-0 favor more? No one, really. Both teams will think they have a good chance to advance if they execute on Thursday, and they’re right.
It sure looks like MLS Cup 2018 will be played in front of a crazy crowd in Atlanta after Sunday’s result, but it’s an open question who they’ll face. Even in a year when the best teams were fairly obvious to all to see, when they played each other at the critical moment, the answers we got weren’t what we expected. Will that continue on Thursday?
