Article by Matt Lichtenstadter
The MLS playoffs always provide more than a few surprises, and if the trend from the knockout round continues, there could be some surprising results in store for the conference semifinals. Sunday’s first legs offered no evidence that will not be the case. Here is a recap of what happened in case you missed it, and what to look for in the second legs.
Crew 1 Red Bulls 0: With all the pedigree the New York Red Bulls came into Sunday with, it was a surprise to watch them be tactically outwitted in a major way by Gregg Berhalter. To be fair, he did mostly the same to DC United, but the Red Bulls are a step up in class. Berhalter took a risk and left knockout round hero Federico Higuain on the bench, and the gamble paid off. In the second half he was electric, helping set up the goal and providing the creative impetus that left the Red Bulls at bay. New York’s press didn’t create almost any havoc against a solidly organized Crew set-up and going forward they offered next to nothing. Earlier this year against a similar Chivas team in CCL, the Red Bulls could only huff and puff, not break the door down. There’s now fear that something similar may happen against the Crew.
Timbers 2 Sounders 1: There’s injury to insult to this scoreline for the once scorching Sounders: they lost both Cristian Roldan and Chad Marshall to injuries which likely keeps them out of the second leg Thursday night. Seattle started brightly and pegged the Timbers back but once Gio Savarese’s team got their legs, they found a way to push forward themselves and score two well taken goals. Seattle however was far better in the second half once they got their legs under them and tactically shifted to compensate for the losses. Brian Schmetzer has some questions for his Thursday lineup to answer, and it will be those decisions that likely decides the tie. Seattle’s away goal could loom crucially here, especially if this is a case of the Timbers trying to protect what they have, which seems likely.
NYCFC 0 Atlanta 1: Tata Martino put on a tactical masterclass in this game the likes of which he hasn’t yet done in MLS. They played ugly; real ugly after they got their ugly goal and protected it brilliantly. NYCFC could do almost nothing going forward to trouble the Five Stripes no matter what they tried, and now they have to open up against a team so lethal on the counter, especially with Miguel Almiron back. Strange things can happen in this league, especially in the playoffs, but this does not look like a favorable situation for NYCFC heading into the hornet’s nest of Mercedez-Benz Stadium.
RSL 1 SKC 1: This has been an underrated rivalry ever since they met in the 2013 MLS Cup Final, and there was great intensity in this game as well. Both goals were of great quality, and both teams should feel positive after this result. RSL won at LAFC with two shots on target (and three goals), despite leaking defensively the entire night. They have to open up at Sporting KC, and that will be difficult to do, but with the way Damir Kreilach is playing (seriously, look up some of his goals and assists, they’re insane), perhaps it’s more likely than form would suggest. SKC were fairly listless going forward, but still got a goal and were defensively solid themselves, only really giving up a golazo. That should favor them, but again, stranger things have happened, especially when there’s some lingering tension between the clubs.
Everything is finely poised for what should be an amazing set of second legs Thursday in Seattle and Sunday everywhere. The MLS playoffs always offer up something entertaining and unique, and there’s nothing to suggest that’s not happening again.
