After a long, dramatic regular season, the MLS play-off rounds are finally here.
New York Red Bulls finished atop the Eastern Conference, while Atlanta United finished closely behind them in second, with both sides securing byes into the conference semi-final, while the same can be said for Western Conference winners Sporting Kansas City and runners-up, Seattle Sounders.
The next few days will see eight sides battling it out for the right to play one of the aforementioned teams and take their shot at winning the MLS Cup.
Here is Squawka’s preview of the MLS play-off rounds.
When do the MLS play-offs take place?
Competition: MLS Cup
Eastern Conference fixtures: New York City FC v Philadelphia Union (31/10/18, 11 pm GMT) & DC United v Columbus Crew (2/11/18, 12 am GMT)
Western Conference fixtures: FC Dallas v Portland Timbers (1/11/18, 1.30 am GMT) & Los Angeles FC v Real Salt Lake (2/11/18, 2.30am GMT)
MLS play-off preview
With New York Red Bulls and Atlanta United already safely through to the Eastern Conference semi-final due to their league position, the opening fixture of the knockout rounds gets underway with New York City (NYC FC) facing Philadelphia Union at the Yankee Stadium. NYC FC finished 13 and 15 points behind the Red Bulls and Atlanta respectively in the regular season but did end up in third place in the Eastern Conference, six points clear of sixth-placed Philadelphia.
The game kicks off at 11 pm GMT on Wednesday night, with the winners facing the Red Bulls in one of the conference semi-finals.
Once this first clash is done and dusted, attention turns to the Western Conference, where fourth-placed FC Dallas take on Portland Timbers, who finished fifth in the regular season and just three points behind Dallas. The two sides have almost identical records in terms of goals scored and conceded, too, which points toward an incredibly close affair at the Toyota Stadium. The winner of this game will go on to face Western Conference runners-up, Seattle Sounders – a potential derby match for Portland Timbers.
Friday morning then brings around the final two opening knockout fixtures of the 2018 MLS Cup, with DC United, who were remarkably fired from obscurity to play-off contenders by the form of Wayne Rooney, taking on Columbus Crew first at 12 am GMT at the Audi Stadium. The winner of this fixture earns the right to take on Eastern Conference runners-up Atlanta United.
At 2.30am GMT, the final clash of this knockout round will get underway as Los Angeles FC, who were just two points away from second-place and a bye in the Western Conference, coming up against Real Salt Lake at the Banc of California Stadium. The winner will go on to face Sporting Kansas City, who finished top of the Western Conference.
Where can I watch live?
All four knockout games will be shown live on Sky Sports Football, channel number 403 for Sky customers and channel 513 for Virgin Media users.
The game is also available to watch on fuboTV for US-based viewers.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about fuboTV
Five MLS wonderkids to watch in the play-offs
Ezequiel Barco (Atlanta United)
(Photo credit MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP/Getty Images)
An Argentinian U20 international and Copa Sudamericana winner with Independiente, Ezequiel Barco arrived at Atlanta United with an already burgeoning reputation.
That reputation has only gone up as the 19-year-old has put in some stellar performances for the Five Stripes this season, with the attacking midfielder firing in four goals and two assists in 19 games and earning a place in the 2018 MLS All-Star team that faced Juventus in August.
Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Such is Tyler Adams’ incredible versatility, this season has seen the 19-year-old appear in holding midfield, box-to-box and on the right wing, while he is also capable of playing at full-back.
This adaptability, along with obvious footballing talents and maturity beyond his years, has seen Adams pick up seven caps for the US national team already, making him one of the hottest properties in MLS at the moment, playing for arguably the best MLS side.
Yangel Herrera (New York City FC)
(Photo credit JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images)
On loan from New York City FC’s big brother, Manchester City, Yangel Herrera has rediscovered his mojo after missing more than four months of action due to ankle surgery.
The midfielder returned to the NYC FC side in early October and has still managed four assists in 15 games despite his injury troubles. The playoffs could provide Herrera, 20, with a great platform to show Manchester City what he is capable of, as well as proving the class that has seen him win six caps for Venezuela already.
Jesus Medina (New York City FC)
(Photo credit EITAN ABRAMOVICH/AFP/Getty Images)
Herrera’s NYCFC teammate Jesus Medina, 21, has exploded onto the MLS scene this season, smashing an impressive six goals from 28 games, while also providing four assists from his right-wing berth.
Medina’s direct style and fearless running make him a real threat on the counter-attack, while spending a season alongside the evergreen talents of David Villa has helped develop maturity in a player whose only previous club experience was in the Paraguayan football league.
Diego Rossi (Los Angeles FC)
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Ten goals in 39 caps for Uruguay at youth level and 13 goals 46 games for Penarol makes for a mightily impressive CV for a 20-year-old forward.
All of which becomes even more impressive when you learn that Diego Rossi has bagged 17 goals in 36 games in all competitions during his maiden Los Angeles FC campaign, chipping in with another eight assists along the way.
Rossi is agile and quick off the mark, while his lethal finishing makes him a great focal point for Los Angeles FC.
Predictions and betting tips
Register with William Hill HERE & bet £10, get £30 in free bets. Terms & conditions apply. 18+ only. BeGambleAware.org.
New York City v Philadelphia Union – New York City -1 @ 13/8
New York City ended the regular season with a home fixture against Philadelphia Union and picked up a 3-1 victory at Yankee Stadium. The Bronx Blues finished four places clear of the Union in the Eastern Conference and the Pennsylvanian side have struggled on the road of late, drawing with Columbus Crew and losing the US Open Cup Final in their two away games prior to that loss to NYCFC last week. The hosts’ superior quality should shine through for a comfortable win here.
Tip: New York City to win with a -1 goal handicap @ 13/8 with William Hill – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (31/10/2018, 14:30)
18+ only. Ts&C’s apply. BeGambleAware.org
FC Dallas v Portland Timbers – Away win to nil @ 7/1
FC Dallas ended the season in the worst possible manner with a trio of defeats to DC United, Sporting Kansas City and Colorado Rapids. Despite being one of the better attacking sides in MLS in recent years, Toros have scored just once in their last three games and as such, so the Timbers may be playing them at the perfect time here. Portland have kept two clean sheets in their last four, which is no mean feat in a league that’s full of goals and their defence could come out on top in Texas.
Tip: Portland Timbers to win to nil @ 7/1 with William Hill – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (31/10/2018, 14:30)
18+ only. Ts&C’s apply. BeGambleAware.org
DC United v Columbus Crew – Wayne Rooney to score at any time @ 5/4
It’s no secret how much of an impact Wayne Rooney has had on this DC United team since leaving Everton to join them halfway through the MLS season. The former Manchester United man has taken to life in the USA like a duck to water, racking up 12 goals in just 20 appearances and going from strength to strength as the season has progressed. In his last six matches at DCU’s new Audi Field stadium, Rooney has managed eight goals including braces against New York City, Chicago Fire and Montreal Impact so the price of 5/4 for him to score at any time in this one looks like great value.
Tip: Wayne Rooney to score at any time @ 5/4 with William Hill – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (31/10/2018, 14:30)
18+ only. Ts&C’s apply. BeGambleAware.org
Los Angeles FC v Real Salt Lake – Over 3.5 goals @ 6/5
We’re backing the goals in this one. Los Angeles FC’s inaugural Major League Soccer season saw them finish as top scorers in the Western Conference with 68 goals in just 34 matches and their playoff opponents Real Salt Lake were just two goals behind with 66. Both sides ended the regular season with some high-scoring games, too, with LAFC’s last two home games seeing them score six and concede four and Mike Petke’s side shipping eight and scoring five in their last three. As such, goals have to be expected at the Banc of California stadium.
Tip: Over 3.5 goals @ 6/5 with William Hill – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (31/10/2018, 14:30)
18+ only. Ts&C’s apply. BeGambleAware.org
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