The MLS Cup Playoffs begin with two wild-card matches between the Nos. 8 and 9 seeds in each conference this week.
First, No. 8 CF Montreal will host No. 9 Atlanta United in the Eastern Conference wild-card match Tuesday night. The winner advances to meet Lionel Messi’s No. 1-seed Inter Miami on Friday.
Then, No. 8 Vancouver will visit No. 9 Portland in the Western Conference wild-card match Wednesday due to a stadium scheduling conflict. The winner will visit No. 1 LAFC on Saturday.
Here’s everything you need to know about the MLS wild-card playoff games this week:
Montreal enters the playoffs with the worst goal differential in the field, being outscored by 16 goals this season. But they were able to secure the eighth seed with five wins in their last seven matches. Josef Martinez leads Montreal with 11 goals, and the 2018 MLS MVP who helped Atlanta win MLS Cup the same year will face his former club.
Atlanta United squeezed into the No. 9 seed with wins in its final two matches, and a 3-0 loss by DC United on Decision Day. The club has six wins, six draws and six losses since assistant Rob Valentino was named interim coach in June. Saba Lobjanidze leads Atlanta with nine goals and seven assists, while newcomer Alexey Miranchuk has three goals in nine games since departing Italian Serie A club Atalanta.
Vancouver is the higher seed, but won’t host this match at BC Place due to a Supercross event occupying the venue until Saturday. So, Portland will host the match.
Portland’s Evander (15 goals, 19 assists) is an MVP candidate, forming a dynamic trio with Jonathan Rodriguez (16 goals) and Felipe Mora (14 goals) this season. Portland has scored 65 goals, which ranks tied for fourth-most in MLS. But they’ve been shaky with 12 wins, 11 draws and 11 losses this season.
Brian White (15 goals) and Ryan Gauld (10 goals, 15 assists) lead the way for Vancouver, which has lost its last four matches and is winless in its last seven MLS games. Vancouver last two wins: A 2-0 win over last-place San Jose on Sept. 14, and the Canadian Championship on Sept. 25 against Toronto.
