Other MLS Playoff Games – Round 1

[613reppingTFC]

Due to finishing in first in their respective conferences LAFC & Philly both skip the first round of playoffs and will begin on Thursday, October 20th. Both teams are heavily favoured to win but in a one game takes all situation anything can happen. For now, round one begins this weekend and all games are being broadcast on TSN.

Saturday, October 15:
Cincinnati @ Red Bulls NY – 12pm – Cincinnati have never beat the Red Bulls..unless we are going back to when they were a part of USL and they beat the Red Bulls II. This is going to be a mind game for them as much as it is experience since they have never had a playoff game. They do have 64 goals scored which is 4th overall though and Acosta lead the league in assists. I still expect Red Bulls to win once again here.

Nashville @ LA Galaxy – 3pm – Looks like this will only be their 3rd meeting, LA have won 1 and the tied last month. LA somehow snuck into a home field advantage when only a few weeks ago they were outside a playoff spot when they came to BMO. I expect Nashville will do to LA what they did to us in the playoffs two years ago and steal the win.

Sunday, October 16:
RSL @ Austin – 3pm – Austin have shown some dominance this year 65 goals scored and 3rd only behind Philly and LAFC. For their 2nd year in the league they put together quite a good run and were pushing for the supporter’s shield the majority of the time. I expect them to win this game and move on.

Orlando @ Montreal – 8pm – They haven’t played each other since February & May, both teams won a game. Montreal has put up record breaking numbers in their best season. They have only had one loss since July 16th. Orlando on the other hand has looked shaky, giving up 13 goals in their last 6 (that includes a clean sheet against us). I expect Montreal should take this game if they are at full strength with Quioto back.

Monday, October 17:
Miami @ NYCFC – 7pm – NYC will be playing away (red bulls arena) even though they are the home team here. Will this factor into anything? Besides a regular size pitch and better viewing angles for anyone watching. NYC have steadied out a bit over the last month without suffering a loss. However, Miami have also picked things up (despite their loss on the weekend to Montreal). This game could go either way. My guess is Miami upset the former champs and move on to play Montreal in a re-match of last weekend’s decision day game.

Minnesota @ Dallas – 9:30pm – I don’t watch much of Dallas (and I could be wrong about this) but from what I read on here everyone seems to $hit on them for not spending the money and yet they finished 3rd in the West. However, they did pick up Velasco, Lletget & Arriola this season and Ferreira has bee on fire with 18 goals. As for Minnesota I always thought Reynoso looked fairly decent and he just Re-signed a 3-year deal. He put up double digit goals and assists for them through the season. I think this will be a close game but Dallas will win.

[Smokecell]

Errr isn't the NYCFC game at Citi Field?

[613reppingTFC]

Oh Jeez, looks like you are right. I wrote this up two days ago and it showed it was being played in Red Bull Arena on the MLS website

I guess ignore my comments on that..however they are still playing away from home. And probably still some terrible angles whenever you are playing on a baseball field.

[gracos]

MLS is done for the year

[ag futbol]

You might actually be right re: RB Arena

Yankees are in the playoffs and have a game the next day on the 17th. I would bet good money they told NYCFC there’s not a chance in hell they are using the field during the same stretch.

[jloome]

For anyone interested, FC Cincy and Red Bulls is being streamed for free on mlssoccer.com


https://www.mlssoccer.com/

[spe18]

For anyone interested, FC Cincy and Red Bulls is being streamed for free on mlssoccer.com


https://www.mlssoccer.com/

And just like that we have our first road victory in these playoffs with first participants FC Cincinnati beating what seems to be perennial underachievers New York Red Bulls!

Included in this match was 12 minutes of stoppage time in the 2nd half.

[MikeForbes]

I am happy for Cincinnati. They have a great fanbase who has watched some awful soccer these past years.

The Galaxy against Nashville up next. Delgado starts for LA. Vazquez and Shaff both on the bench.

[spe18]

Chicharito scores to make it 1-0 for LA Galaxy, only for VAR to call it back off a foul on the other end of the field :)

[spe18]

Ararujo scores a few mins later to really make it 1-0 :)

[MikeForbes]

Shaff comes on in the 69th minute. Nice.

[OgtheDim]

Glad those 2 teams are out - ugly football winning the Cup is always a bad thing.

[kottisinick]

Let’s see if the 1rst round byes go out first game . If this Happens again then being the best throughout the seasons Doesn’t mean anything.

[MikeForbes]

RSL and Austin going to extra time. RSL went up 2-0 before Druissi scored. Afterwards Rubio got a second yellow and RSL has been completely under siege ever since.

[Donald Duck]

No sub allows for the extra time as well.

[Smokecell]

MLS really likes when officiating is the most talked about thing after a game.

[OgtheDim]

No sub allows for the extra time as well.

I seem to recall this season is using some old rules because it technically started before the rules came into force.


********

Glad to see Austin win. Not a fan of their ownership but their fans bring it all game long & RSL is anti-football ugly to the nth degree. Would be interested to see a Cup Final in Austin.

[OgtheDim]

I actually thought the reffing in that match pretty good - sure, softish yellow for the first foul but the hand ball calls were correct & the second yellow was a booking any day.

[ag futbol]

I actually thought the reffing in that match pretty good - sure, softish yellow for the first foul but the hand ball calls were correct & the second yellow was a booking any day.
I was going to say the same. Didn’t see the first yellow but the second and the penalty call? Looked bang on.

[Smokecell]

You never make that PK call in stoppage time, much less in a playoff game. The player was like a foot and a half away when the ball was struck - how do you make a judgement that a hand wasn’t in a natural position without replay.

[Amir.]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FfOiAOYX0AAn04T?format=jpg&name=medium

[OgtheDim]

You never make that PK call in stoppage time, much less in a playoff game. The player was like a foot and a half away when the ball was struck - how do you make a judgement that a hand wasn’t in a natural position without replay.

Every PK call is checked

[OgtheDim]

Not wanting to hear Caldwell & co - I'm done with them

ESPN is covering this - anybody got a feed for their coverage?


LOL at TSN still using Johnson's shirt picture from Nashville in the lineup graphic when he's been with Montreal all season....they are such lazy clowns sometimes.

[OgtheDim]

Orlando without a single US or Canadian player starting.....

[MikeForbes]

Funny that TSN completely ignores Montreal all year, but tonight are acting like they are the beacon of hope for all of Canadian soccer.

[leedsandTFC]

Orlando blew the biggest opportunities.

Should be up right now.

[Section 223]

Orlando blew the biggest opportunities.

Should be up right now.
Congratulations on Montreals victory very well built team with a fantastic coach and GM and even better ownership with Mr Shapiro and doing it all on a fraction of what MLSE spends

[Section 223]

Mr Joey Saputo

[leedsandTFC]

Congratulations on Montreals victory very well built team with a fantastic coach and GM and even better ownership with Mr Shapiro and doing it all on a fraction of what MLSE spends
They losing half their team this off-season.

Had a ton of luck in this roster, will be bCk in 9th soon.

[Section 223]

They losing half their team this off-season.

Had a ton of luck in this roster, will be bCk in 9th soon.
Well we have been in 13th place the last two years spending multi millions more so again hats off to the Montreal organization

[OgtheDim]

They play a good game

Their coach is good

That bell, although I hate hearing it, is the best & most brilliant crowd idea in all of MLS - it makes Portland's lumberjack look like what he is..a freaking team mascot

A whole lot of that team ain't coming back next season


*****

their stadium is crud

Their ultras are dangerous thugs

Their ownership is notoriously short sighted

They already announced this year that their change in logo & name was wrong

[Section 223]

They play a good game

Their coach is good

That bell, although I hate hearing it, is the best & most brilliant crowd idea in all of MLS - it makes Portland's lumberjack look like what he is..a freaking team mascot

A whole lot of that team ain't coming back next season


*****

their stadium is crud

Their ultras are dangerous thugs

Their ownership is notoriously short sighted

They already announced this year that their change in logo & name was wrong
Nothing special about our stadium, our ownership hired Bill Manning, our ultras are mostly liquored up punks, they get to watch another home playoff game next week , we get to talk about how to fix this team all winter

[ensco]

^I dislike them, how can you not, but man, they just completely and utterly schooled TFC in the CMNT “game”.

They went out and got Miller and Johnston, both of whom we could have had. Both Toronto guys. At least we would have had that to enjoy this year. They left Kaye for us, great. Plus they grew Kone (which feels more like luck but still)

I was excited to see Kone glide into space like that and do the business. Suspect Kaye may never see the field in Doha if Oso can go, Kone will get those minutes.

[leedsandTFC]

Well we have been in 13th place the last two years spending multi millions more so again hats off to the Montreal organization

Nah, fuck em.

Very happy they're losing all their best players in a couple months.

[ag futbol]

^I dislike them, how can you not, but man, they just completely and utterly schooled TFC in the CMNT “game”.

They went out and got Miller and Johnston, both of whom we could have had. Both Toronto guys. At least we would have had that to enjoy this year. They left Kaye for us, great. Plus they grew Kone (which feels more like luck but still)

I was excited to see Kone glide into space like that and do the business. Suspect Kaye may never see the field in Doha if Oso can go, Kone will get those minutes.
I don’t know if Kaye was left for us as much as we basically kicked in the door and said “We’ll do anything! Take all our money!” (And they did).

But I otherwise agree with the point. They are schooling us in roster construction. We are taking flyers on children. They play youth players who are ready only. We’ve barely found any veteran talent. They found cheap veterans or guy who are mid career who were overlooked / under utilized on their old teams (like Miller).

And notice Nancy plays a system intended to beat the press rather than just be another copy cat who plays it.

[Oldtimer]

Nothing special about our stadium, our ownership hired Bill Manning, our ultras are mostly liquored up punks, they get to watch another home playoff game next week , we get to talk about how to fix this team all winter

Give it a break. Og is speaking the truth about their stadium and their ultras UM02, as anyone who has actually bothered to travel to Montreal to support the team would know.

[leedsandTFC]

Nothing special about our stadium, our ownership hired Bill Manning, our ultras are mostly liquored up punks, they get to watch another home playoff game next week , we get to talk about how to fix this team all winter

This man isn't a tfc fan.

[Canary10]

Mr Joey Saputo

You're the first person I've ever heard say Joey Saputo is a shining beacon of MLS ownership. Lol!

[ag futbol]

You're the first person I've ever heard say Joey Saputo is a shining beacon of MLS ownership. Lol!
Hahah!

He’s definitely gotten lucky with Nancy running the ship. In terms of spending, I would say they are middle of the pack. They seem to find money for decent DP’s but certainly aren’t slashing on the names we are.

The real issue (in my opinion) appears to be Saputo’s tinkering behind the scenes. He always seems to jump in at the first opportunity.

[leedsandTFC]

Hahah!

He’s definitely gotten lucky with Nancy running the ship. In terms of spending, I would say they are middle of the pack. They seem to find money for decent DP’s but certainly aren’t slashing on the names we are.

The real issue (in my opinion) appears to be Saputo’s tinkering behind the scenes. He always seems to jump in at the first opportunity.

Thet got lucky finding kone and 38 year old kei Kamara resurgence also

[ag futbol]

Thet got lucky finding kone and 38 year old kei Kamara resurgence also
They are definitely lucky with Kone. They have a very decent pipeline of youth players coming through and already established though. And the all-around squad depth is pretty admirable (begrudgingly).

They’ve rode any of Toye, Quioto, and Kamara this year when the situation called for it. Secret sauce is the service IMO, not the strikers. But every time I watch Karmara hold up the ball and fight off two defenders I can’t help but be pissed our strikers look like flailing inflatable tube men in comparison. knocked over by the wind and easily dispossessed of the ball.

They’ll definitely need to re-tool next year but keep in mind everyone who is leaving is being sold for transfer fees. So at least they’ll have resources to do it.

[leedsandTFC]

They are definitely lucky with Kone. They have a very decent pipeline of youth players coming through and already established though. And the all-around squad depth is pretty admirable (begrudgingly).

They’ve rode any of Toye, Quioto, and Kamara this year when the situation called for it. Secret sauce is the service IMO, not the strikers. But every time I watch Karmara hold up the ball and fight off two defenders I can’t help but be pissed our strikers look like flailing inflatable tube men in comparison. knocked over by the wind and easily dispossessed of the ball.

They’ll definitely need to re-tool next year but keep in mind everyone who is leaving is being sold for transfer fees. So at least they’ll have resources to do it.

it's true, but chances of them going 5/5 for signings to replace key starters are pretty slim.

they'll be in a transitional phase at least for next year.

chances are kamara isn't back (or not in same way), wanyama, johnston, mihailovic, kone, and maybe miller will almost certainly be gone.

basically the entire core of the team.

[ag futbol]

it's true, but chances of them going 5/5 for signings to replace key starters are pretty slim.

they'll be in a transitional phase at least for next year.

chances are kamara isn't back (or not in same way), wanyama, johnston, mihailovic, kone, and maybe miller will almost certainly be gone.

basically the entire core of the team.
Yep. That’s sort of the rub for these meddling teams though. They can’t spend like we do and build a consistent winner, so this is about as close as they’ll get.

My criticism of Mtl would be this is the first time they did this “successfully”.

And I’m with you on Kamara. It’s one of the oddest things I’ve ever seen. Old headcase was the tag line. Thought that was a high risk low reward signing. Yet, it’s probably been one of the best moves in the off-season.

[Section 223]

You're the first person I've ever heard say Joey Saputo is a shining beacon of MLS ownership. Lol!
LOL? What do you find so amusing ? I know that MLSE will lose more money on our soccer club this year then Saputo will spend on his , last I checked they are playing a home playoff game next weekend , we have been living in the basement these last two years. Really think the joke is on us and I’m sure Mr Saputo is doing a lot of LOL when he thinks about our club

[Canary10]

LOL? What do you find so amusing ? I know that MLSE will lose more money on our soccer club this year then Saputo will spend on his , last I checked they are playing a home playoff game next weekend , we have been living in the basement these last two years. Really think the joke is on us and I’m sure Mr Saputo is doing a lot of LOL when he thinks about our club

Why would I need to even explain this on a TFC supporters site? We can start with 0 MLS Cups, 0 Supporters Shields, 3 logo/branding changes in the last 3 years, Clubfoot Montreal, firing/hiring coaches on whims (remember when Joey couldn't get along with the current Leeds United manager?), etc. But if I have to go through the whole history, you haven't been paying much attention before this year.

[jloome]

Anyone watching Miami-NYFC? Neither of these clubs is winning anything. Defensive pressure of two jr high teams.

[leedsandTFC]

Why would I need to even explain this on a TFC supporters site? We can start with 0 MLS Cups, 0 Supporters Shields, 3 logo/branding changes in the last 3 years, Clubfoot Montreal, firing/hiring coaches on whims (remember when Joey couldn't get along with the current Leeds United manager?), etc. But if I have to go through the whole history, you haven't been paying much attention before this year.

amazing post

[leedsandTFC]

Anyone watching Miami-NYFC? Neither of these clubs is winning anything. Defensive pressure of two jr high teams.
i think NYCFC have looked quite sharp, especially considering the consditions.

they're also on a 5 match winning run now.

[jloome]

i think NYCFC have looked quite sharp, especially considering the consditions.

they're also on a 5 match winning run now.

They were much better in the second half.

[Hala Hrvatska]

This man isn't a tfc fan.

He's a day 1 season ticket holder. As I am. He's a super fan like myself. We demand excellence. So please, ease up with the who is a fan or who isn't talk. We all love this team.

[OgtheDim]

You're the first person I've ever heard say Joey Saputo is a shining beacon of MLS ownership. Lol!

He's the first person I've heard use the word Mr. in front of Joey Saputo....

[Hala Hrvatska]

I don’t know if Kaye was left for us as much as we basically kicked in the door and said “We’ll do anything! Take all our money!” (And they did).

But I otherwise agree with the point. They are schooling us in roster construction. We are taking flyers on children. They play youth players who are ready only. We’ve barely found any veteran talent. They found cheap veterans or guy who are mid career who were overlooked / under utilized on their old teams (like Miller).

And notice Nancy plays a system intended to beat the press rather than just be another copy cat who plays it.

They are definitely doing a lot more with a lot less, credit where credit is due. Nancy is doing a great job this year.

In particular seeing Miller and Johnston come here and beat us with Johnston scoring also, hurt. Was like seeing Buchanan do it as well with NE when he had that great header. Not sure how we keep missing out on the quality guys right in our own backyard who no doubt* would have loved to play for us.

Montreal is looking good this year and with a home date coming up, might make a deep run.

*IMO disclaimer

[TheGoodson]

Jesus… club foot or the impact or whatever they are called have been a dumpster fire for longer than we have been; just because they have one good season they are far from an ideal model to follow. Seattle on the other hand is the only team I would want tfc to model themselves

Just a reminder to all of you who think they are team to emulate, this is what they haven’t won:

supporters shield
mls cup
Treble

and that mickey mouse club has never been the greatest team ever assembled in the MLS like the 2017 tfc team

[ag futbol]

Jesus… club foot or the impact or whatever they are called have been a dumpster fire for longer than we have been; just because they have one good season they are far from an ideal model to follow. Seattle on the other hand is the only team I would want tfc to model themselves

Just a reminder to all of you who think they are team to emulate, this is what they haven’t won:

supporters shield
mls cup
Treble

and that mickey mouse club has never been the greatest team ever assembled in the MLS like the 2017 tfc team
I think limited acknowledgement of their “success” (and I bracket that intentionally because they really have nothing to show other than a 3rd place league showing this year) is fair.

There are three Canadian teams and opportunities to build using undervalued / overlooked Canadian players sounds appealing when there’s less competition.

It’s annoying to have the league’s highest paid (and arguably best) player on the payroll in his prime years and then get peddled some slow-play approach about taking multiple windows to build. We would already be further ahead than we are right now if we had simply shown better judgement.

[Oldtimer]

Why would I need to even explain this on a TFC supporters site? We can start with 0 MLS Cups, 0 Supporters Shields, 3 logo/branding changes in the last 3 years, Clubfoot Montreal, firing/hiring coaches on whims (remember when Joey couldn't get along with the current Leeds United manager?), etc. But if I have to go through the whole history, you haven't been paying much attention before this year.

Section 223 only joined the board in late 2021. We haven't had that many Clubfoot/L'Impact fans on here over the years, probably because we were winning against them from 2015-2020. But they're welcome here as long as they don't get too toxic. (That's more than UM02 would give on their board to anyone supporting Toronto).

[Oldtimer]

Speaking of Montreal, they'd have a little more credibility if they knew how to measure the lines properly in the penalty box.

[Mr. Inbetween]

Speaking of Montreal, they'd have a little more credibility if they knew how to measure the lines properly in the penalty box.

https://media0.giphy.com/media/7NS9ubljEclMePHIOB/200w.gif?cid=82a1493bf44fydpcg7xi8f8w7zeo71rpnxqbc 8y9x9i6xiiw&rid=200w.gif&ct=g