The MLS Cup Playoffs have begun and we now know the obstacles on the path to the MLS Cup Final.
[ MORE: Inter Miami schedule, Messi’s stats ]
Eighteen teams qualified initially for the playoffs, but it’s clear who is in pole position: Inter Miami.
The Herons are tangling with rival and wild card round winner Atlanta United in a best of three series and they got off to a winning start on Friday.
Luis Suarez scored just two minutes in as the home crowd in Miami got the party started early, but Atlanta equalized through Saba Lobzhanidze. Messi then set up Jordi Alba to smash home a stunner from outside the box and that was the difference as Miami now head to Atlanta for Game 2 next Saturday.
Messi and Suarez have fired the Herons to the Supporters’ Shield, and now set their sights on the club’s first MLS Cup.
Messi has 31 goal contributions despite missing significant time through injury after Copa America, while Suarez has 26. Only six other players have registered at least 25 this season.
Gerardo “Tata” Martino is seeking to become the seventh coach to win multiple MLS Cups, and the fourth to do it with both teams. Martino led Atlanta United to the 2018 crown.
A whopping 18 of Major League Soccer’s 29 franchises make the postseason, but the field was trimmed to 16 quickly before the first round gives the favorites some leeway.
Wild card round, October 23: 8th vs 9th place in each conference, single-elimination
Round one, begins October 25-November 10: Best-of-three series. 1st place team in each conference plays wild card winner while second meets seventh, third meets sixth, and fourth meets fifth. The top seed in each pairing gets the first and, if necessary, third matches at home.
Conference semifinals, November 23-24: Single-elimination at better regular season side
Conference finals, November 30-December 1: Single-elimination at better regular season side
MLS Cup Finals, December 7: Two-legged, home-and-away
Eastern Conference: Inter Miami (1), Columbus Crew (2), FC Cincinnati (3), Orlando City, New York City FC, Charlotte FC, New York Red Bulls. CF Montreal, Atlanta United
Western Conference: LA Galaxy (1), LAFC (2), Seattle Sounders (3), Real Salt Lake, Houston Dynamo, Colorado Rapids, Minnesota United, Vancouver Whitecaps, Portland Timbers
Montreal 2-2 (4-5 pens) Atlanta
Vancouver 5-0 Portland
Round one (Best of three)
First legs
Inter Miami 2-1 Atlanta United
LA Galaxy 5-0 Colorado
Orlando City vs Charlotte — 7:30pm Sunday Oct. 27
LAFC vs Vancouver— 9:45pm Sunday Oct. 27
FC Cincinnati vs NYCFC — 6:45pm Monday Oct. 28
Seattle vs Houston — 9pm Monday Oct. 28
Columbus vs New York Red Bulls — 6:45pm Tuesday Oct. 29
Real Salt Lake vs Minnesota United — 9pm Tuesday Oct. 29
Second legs
Charlotte vs Orlando City — 7:30pm Friday Nov. 1
Colorado vs LA Galaxy — 9:30pm Friday Nov. 1
NYCFC vs FC Cincinnati — TBD Saturday Nov. 2
Atlanta United vs Inter Miami — 7pm Saturday Nov. 2
Minnesota United vs Real Salt Lake — 9pm Saturday Nov. 2
New York Red Bulls vs Columbus Crew — 4:30pm Sunday Nov. 3
Houston vs Seattle Sounders — 6:30pm Sunday Nov. 3
Vancouver vs LAFC — 8:45pm Sunday Nov. 3
Third legs
If necessary
