The MLS Cup playoffs start friday with two games: the Montreal Impact in New England Revolution (6:30 p. m. ET on FS1) and Inter Miami at Nashville SC (9 p. m. ET on ESPN2).
The 18-team playoffs will end with the MLS Cup on December 12 (on FOX), which is the last of the qualifying primary of the year that League Soccer played its championship game.
We interviewed the USA TODAY Network team of football experts for their predictions about which groups can succeed in the MLS Cup final, which groups are black horseback candidates for the name game, and the biggest X-points in the run-up to the playoffs.
How we see the end of the MLS playoffs:
Pat Brennan, The Cincinnati Enquirer
MLS Cup: Philadelphia Union vs. Philadelphia Union Portland Timbers – The Timbers demonstrated in the MLS is Back tournament that they can eliminate matches with taste and skill. Even without the injured Sebastian Blanco and Jaroslaw Niezgoda, Portland is expected to emerge from the heavier Western Conference. dust settled on resolution day, Philadelphia Union won the Supporters’ Shield with plenty of area. From front to back, the Union is a complete team. They have experience in playoffs, they haven’t lost a single point in Subaru Park this season. and have shown on the day of resolution that they can deliver a trophy when the tension is high. There’s a lot to love in the Philadelphia case for having achieved the national “double. “
Black Horse Candidate: Nashville SC – They’re in the most sensible part of the East Conference group and hope to have a tough path to reach the playoffs, but I wouldn’t need to face Nashville SC in the playoffs. club that has quality, knows its strengths and weaknesses and plays by itself, is seer but gives results, adding up along the way. This team is difficult to break (22 goals allowed in 2020) and is perfectly capable of pulling a hammer from the east conference’s appearance of the playoffs.
X-factors of the playoffs: Diepass Valeri and Diepass Chara, Portland Timbers: I’m one of those who nostalgia, so I looked to pass with Chris Wondolowski, who enters the relatively hot playoffs for San Jose, but the stage in Portland is much more intriguing. My commitment to Portland to advance to the MLS Cup is necessarily a commitment to Valeri and Chara’s combined ability to advise the Timbers on The Injuries of White and Niezpassda. Valeri and Chara can help Portland succeed over those staff losses, but if they fail, the club may not stay long in the playoffs.
Drake Hills, le Tennessean
MLS Cup: Philadelphia Union vs Seattle Sounders – Supporters’ Shield winner Union has the juice and its 4-2 record against matches at war in the playoffs the last month of the regular season is favorable on Philadelphia’s merit will continue its form of purpose against Toronto FC in the Eastern Conference finale. After making the most of the paintings in the first entry against LAFC, the Seattle Sounders will score an expired purpose to beat Sporting Kansas City in the Final West for their consecutive MLS Cup appearance moment.
Black Horse Candidate: New York City FC – NYCFC is not comfortable with highlights in them. The number 1 seed in the East last year was a curse. In 2020, it’s hard to see any other convention foe that matches the form of Valenton Castellanos, Jess Medina and Maxi Moralez. La key to NYCFC is when can the club recover Alexander Callens after his duty abroad to Peru?
Playoff Factor X: NYCFC back row: From Daryl Dike and Chris Mueller of Orlando City, to Sergio Santos and Kacper Przybylko of the Union, Alejandro Pozuelo and Ayo Akinola of Toronto, there are offensive duets in the New York playoffs that require Callens, Maxime Chanot, Ronald Matarrita and Anton Tinner. Late will result in an early departure.
PLAYOFF MLS STORY: Philadelphia Union, key teams from Seattle Sounders
PLAYOFFS MLS: full program and TV news
Jacob Myers, Columbus shipping
MLS Cup: Seattle Sounders vs. Seattle Sounders Philadelphia Union – With all the power, Seattle has arguably the most productive offensive trio in the MLS with Nico Lodeiro, Jordan Morris and Raul Ruidiaz and has allowed the fewest goals in a very offensive Western Conference. Philadelphia has had a special, season with some of the most productive MLS players in each and every position, but there’s something about this level that will give Seattle its consecutive championship moment.
Dark Horse Candidate: Los Angeles FC – Although I think Seattle will win the MLS Cup, it’s a shame that they’re up against a LAFC team that’s in full force as the seventh seed. season, 2019 MVP Carlos Vela returned just in time to lead his club on a redemption tour to an MLS Cup that eluded them last season.
X-things from the playoffs: Darlington Nagbe and Lucas Zelarayan: Nagbe or Zelarayan can be considered the X thing of the Columbus Crew in the playoffs, however, their overall effectiveness will determine how far the team is advancing. Started together, crew went 6-1-2 with two victories over Philadelphia.
Nate Scott, for the victory
MLS Cup: Sporting Kansas City vs. Toronto FC – Peter Vermes has rebuilt his Sporting KC team this season hardening in the middle of the park, arguably the MLS team, ending the season with a 6-1-1 streak. Add Alan Pulido’s now healthy goals, and this team has what they want to watch the tournament. In the East, I hope Philadelphia’s dream season will come to an end with a Toronto FC team that’s harder than you think.
Black Horse Candidate: Los Angeles FC – A bumpy year has allowed LAFC to enter the tournament as the seventh seed, but with Carlos Vela back fully after a sprained MCL, there’s enough skill here to beat anyone. a smart team from Seattle and maybe make it to the MLS Cup final.
Playoff Factor X: Carlos Vela: If Vela is healthy, healthy, the current MLS MVP absolutely revolutionizes what is expected of the Western Conference. LAFC will go from being an attractive candidate for the black horse to an outdoor contender. if your knee is straight and fit.
Jim Reineking, USA TODAY Sports
MLS Cup: Seattle Sounders vs Philadelphia Union – Coach Brian Schmetzer’s Sounders team is a veteran team, tested in the playoffs and fully capable of achieving its fourth MLS Cup in five years. As in the US Open Cup final, the US Open Cup was the only one in the world. strolling through Chester, Pennsylvania, and spoiling all the laughter of the Union, which still had its season.
Black Horse Candidate: Orlando City – Coach Oscar Pareja has made this perpetual non-factor a contender in his first year at the helm, and his team is having their transition to adulthood in the MLS is Back tournament, where he reached the final. This delight in gaining Orlando’s advantages in his first playoff appearance.
Playoff Factor X: Matt Freese – Andre Blake of the Philadelphia Union, one of the league’s most sensitive goalkeepers, may miss the playoffs after breaking his hand last October. Freese enters, a local player who made his first and Solo began 2020 in the final of the normal season, in which he had a blank blade while the Union won his first trophy. You’ll have to reflect that functionality if Blake misses games.
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