2019 MLS Cup Playoffs

The 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs (branded as the 2019 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for sponsorship reasons) was the post-season championship of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top soccer league in the United States and Canada. It was the 24th edition of the MLS Cup Playoffs, the tournament culminating at the end of the 2019 regular season. The playoffs began on October 19, 2019, and concluded with MLS Cup 2019 on November 10.[1]

Main article: 2019 Major League Soccer season
2019 MLS Cup Playoffs
CountryUnited States
Canada
DatesOctober 19 – November 10
Teams14
Defending championsAtlanta United FC
ChampionsSeattle Sounders FC (2nd title)
Runners-upToronto FC
Semi-finalists
Matches played13
Goals scored53 (4.08 per match)
Attendance442,476 (34,037 per match)
Top goal scorer(s) Raúl Ruidíaz
(4 goals)
← 2018
2020 →

The playoffs were contested by fourteen teams under a new format, with the top seven teams from both conferences qualifying based on their regular season performances. All rounds used single-elimination matches that were hosted by the higher remaining seed, and no rounds would be re-seeded unlike previous years.[1] The first round (October 19–20) featured the second through seventh-seeded teams in each conference playing each other, with the first-placed teams each receiving a bye. The winners of the first round advanced to the Conference Semifinals (October 23–24) along with the first-placed team from each conference. The winners of the Conference Semifinals then advanced to the Conference Finals (October 29–30) for an MLS Cup berth.[1][2]

Atlanta United FC were the defending MLS Cup champions, having won their first title in MLS Cup 2018, but they were eliminated by Toronto FC in the Conference Finals. The 2019 regular season Supporters' Shield champions were Los Angeles FC, but they were also eliminated in the Conference Finals, by Seattle Sounders FC.

For the first time in league history, the four conference finalists were all expansion teams and did not feature any of the ten original teams from the inaugural season.[3]

Qualified teams

[4]

Eastern Conference
Western Conference

Conference standings

The top seven teams from each conference advanced to the MLS Cup playoffs, with the top team in each conference receiving a first round bye. Background colors denote playoff teams, with green also qualifying for the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League, and blue also qualifying for the 2020 Leagues Cup. Non-playoff Montreal Impact qualified for the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League as winners of the 2019 Canadian Championship.

Bracket
  First round
October 19–20		 Conference Semifinals
October 23–24		 Conference Finals
October 29–30		 MLS Cup
November 10
                                     
       
  E1 New York City FC 1  
    E4 Toronto FC 2  
E4 Toronto FC (a.e.t.) 5
E5 D.C. United 1  
  E4 Toronto FC 2  
Eastern Conference
  E2 Atlanta United FC 1  
E2 Atlanta United FC 1  
E7 New England Revolution 0  
  E2 Atlanta United FC 2
    E3 Philadelphia Union 0  
E3 Philadelphia Union (a.e.t.) 4
E6 New York Red Bulls 3  
  E4 Toronto FC 1
  W2 Seattle Sounders FC 3
       
       
  W1 Los Angeles FC 5
    W5 LA Galaxy 3  
W4 Minnesota United FC 1
W5 LA Galaxy 2  
  W1 Los Angeles FC 1
Western Conference
  W2 Seattle Sounders FC 3  
W2 Seattle Sounders FC (a.e.t.) 4  
W7 FC Dallas 3  
  W2 Seattle Sounders FC 2
    W3 Real Salt Lake 0  
W3 Real Salt Lake 2
W6 Portland Timbers 1  

Note: The higher seeded team hosted matches, with the MLS Cup host determined by overall points.
Source: 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs Bracket

Results

First round

Eastern Conference

In the opening match of the playoffs, defending champions Atlanta United FC hosted the New England Revolution in a rematch of the final regular season match they played two weeks prior.[5] Atlanta won 1–0 with a goal scored in the 70th minute by defender Franco Escobar, who finished a through ball from Ezequiel Barco with a one-time shot.[5]

Fourth-seeded Toronto FC hosted the fifth seed, D.C. United, at BMO Field in the second Eastern Conference playoffs match. Toronto took a lead in the first half through a goalkeeping error by Bill Hamid that resulted in a successful chance for Marky Delgado, but D.C. equalized in second half stoppage time with a sequence on a Wayne Rooney corner kick that ended with a goal for Lucas Rodríguez. Toronto scored four unanswered goals in extra time, advancing with a 5–1 victory, with two goals from Jonathan Osorio and one apiece from Richie Laryea and Nick DeLeon.[6]

The Philadelphia Union hosted the New York Red Bulls on the following day and fell behind with a 3–1 halftime lead for the visitors, who took advantage of mistakes by goalkeeper Andre Blake.[7] The Union responded with two unanswered goals in the second half to tie the match at full time. In first half stoppage time during extra time, substitute Marco Fabián scored from a chipped shot that gave the Union a 4–3 win, their first playoffs victory.[8]

Atlanta United FC1–0New England Revolution
 Report
Attendance: 66,114
Referee: Kevin Stott
Toronto FC5–1 (a.e.t.)D.C. United
 Report
BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario
Attendance: 25,331
Referee: Allen Chapman
Philadelphia Union4–3 (a.e.t.)New York Red Bulls
 Report
Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 18,530
Referee: Chris Penso

Western Conference
Seattle Sounders FC4–3 (a.e.t.)FC Dallas
 Report
Attendance: 37,722
Referee: Nima Saghafi
Real Salt Lake2–1Portland Timbers
 Report
Attendance: 17,452
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Minnesota United FC1–2LA Galaxy
 Report
Attendance: 19,939
Referee: Ted Unkel

Conference Semifinals

Eastern Conference
New York City FC1–2Toronto FC
 Report
Attendance: 19,829
Referee: Jair Marrufo
Atlanta United FC2–0Philadelphia Union
 Report
Attendance: 41,507
Referee: Ismail Elfath

Western Conference
Seattle Sounders FC2–0Real Salt Lake
 Report
Attendance: 37,722
Referee: Alan Kelly
Los Angeles FC5–3LA Galaxy
 Report
Attendance: 22,902
Referee: Kevin Stott

Conference Finals

Eastern Conference
Atlanta United FC1–2Toronto FC
 Report
Attendance: 44,055
Referee: Alan Kelly

Western Conference
Los Angeles FC1–3Seattle Sounders FC
Atuesta  17' Report
Attendance: 22,099
Referee: Jair Marrufo

MLS Cup 2019
Main article: MLS Cup 2019
Seattle Sounders FC3–1Toronto FC
 Report
Attendance: 69,274
Referee: Allen Chapman

Top goalscorers

There were 53 goals scored in 13 matches, with an average of 4.08 goals per match.

Rank Player Club Goals[10]
1 Raúl Ruidíaz Seattle Sounders FC 4
2 Jordan Morris Seattle Sounders FC 3
3 Nick DeLeon Toronto FC 2
Adama Diomande Los Angeles FC
Julian Gressel Atlanta United FC
Nicolás Lodeiro Seattle Sounders FC
Jonathan Osorio Toronto FC
Alejandro Pozuelo Toronto FC
Carlos Vela Los Angeles FC

Notes
  1. New York City FC hosted their Eastern Conference Semifinal playoff match at Citi Field in New York City. Yankee Stadium was not available due to the New York Yankees advancing to the 2019 American League Championship Series.[9]
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References
  1. Bogert, Tom (December 17, 2018). "MLS announces new playoff format for 2019 season". Major League Soccer. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  2. "MLS announces schedule for Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs". Major League Soccer. August 28, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019.
  3. Boehm, Charles (October 27, 2019). "Changing of the guard? For first time ever, no founding MLS clubs in Conference Finals". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  4. "Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs Bracket". MLSsoccer.com. October 6, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  5. Fuhrmeister, Chris (October 19, 2019). "Atlanta United edges New England Revolution to advance in MLS Cup playoffs". Pro Soccer USA. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  6. Goff, Steven (October 19, 2019). "D.C. United's season ends with extra-time collapse in MLS playoffs". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  7. Tannenwald, Jonathan (October 21, 2019). "Union's Andre Blake overcomes awful first half vs. Red Bulls, stands tall by end of playoff win". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  8. Tannenwald, Jonathan (October 21, 2019). "Marco Fabián's goal gives Union 4-3 win over New York Red Bulls, first playoff win in team history". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  9. "New York City FC Announces 2019 Playoff Pricing and Hosting Scenarios". NYCFC. October 1, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  10. "Playoffs Top Scorers". Major League Soccer.
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