Just like that, the First Round of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs is done and dusted, and it went exactly the way everyone thought it would. Four upsets—with three coming in the East alone—including the elimination of both the defending champions and the record-setting number one seed—so predictable. And the Loons being the only team to pull off the upset in the West? Man, predicting these playoffs is child’s play.
What’s that? You read my playoff preview and kept the receipts? Oh. Well in that case, let’s just go through my results and take a look ahead to the Conference Semifinals.
How’d I Do?
We’ll start—as the alphabet demands—with the Eastern Conference. My picks were as follows:
- Inter Miami over Atlanta United
- Orlando over Charlotte
- NYCFC over FC Cincinnati
- Columbus Crew over New York Red Bulls
Now, two out of four isn’t bad, especially given the resumes of the two teams I was wrong about. Sure, Miami built a team full of very good, rather elderly players and they set a new single-season points record. Sure, the Crew played some of the most attractive soccer in the league and fought for nearly every title available to them in 2024. They were superteams of two very different styles, and this year, neither style worked out. We may have witnessed the two biggest upsets in MLS playoff history in the same season, and while the Crew fan in me is devastated, I love what this means for the league.
I wasn’t even sure Atlanta or New York would make the playoffs this year, let alone advance past the two teams I originally picked to meet in the Eastern Conference Final. But they did, and they’re still dancing. Anyone can beat anyone; we’re getting better across the board.
When Miami won the Supporters’ Shield, it felt like a formality, a precursor to their inevitable march to MLS Cup. But our league is outgrowing the retired superstar model, and I am so here for it. Lionel Messi didn’t look like himself against Atlanta, and while critics may say he simply didn’t care, I think that’s reductive and, frankly, too negative for my taste. Atlanta exposed Miami’s weakness on the counter, and in their hubris, the Herons didn’t adjust. Instead, they pushed 40-year-old Brad Guzan into the net because he was playing like a spring chicken. Evidently, Leo Campana is not a big poultry fan.
Enough Miami; I did get a few things right. Orlando deserved the win over Charlotte, showing real grit in crunchtime of Game 3 to equalize. Duncan McGuire is a legend, dislocating his arm and getting it popped back in place without missing a beat. NYCFC let Cincy come at them, and they never lost their heads. The Red Bulls played fantastic soccer off the ball, limiting and frustrating one of the league’s most creative teams. Now we’ve got a Hudson River Derby where everyone expected a Hell is Real rematch; how’s that for a coincidence?
I’m feeling a Pigeons vs. Peaches Eastern Conference Final on account of Atlanta’s devastating counterattacking ability and their recent win over Orlando in the regular season. I don’t think NYCFC will play into their New Jersey rivals hands quite like the Crew, and if the Red Bulls are forced to use the ball, I can only see them shooting themselves in the foot.
Come on, Vancouver
Alright, let’s get to the good stuff, aka, where I did the best. Here are my Western Conference picks:
- Vancouver Whitecaps over LAFC
- Seattle Sounders over Houston Dynamo
- LA Galaxy over Colorado Rapids
- Minnesota United over Real Salt Lake
In my defense, I divined that a one seed would fall in the first round—I just picked the wrong one. Vancouver gave it their best shot, so I don’t feel too bad. Other than that, though, I was spot on for the West. It’s almost like watching Western Conference teams is my job or something.
Aside from LAFC, each of the winners were able to sweep the competition, with the Sounders proving to be too much for Hector Herrera’s swan song with the Dynamo and the other LA team running riot on the river. The Galaxy did look fantastic, but the Rapids looked a bit tragic. Riqui Puig has never been tired in his life, and if the Loons aren’t careful, the bouncy little Spaniard might strike late against them as well.
I called it the Wild West in my playoff preview, but it hasn’t felt very wild in comparison to its counterpart. A largely predictable First Round saw just one upset, and it was one that most fans saw coming anyway. The real tests start now, and with LAFC taking on Seattle and the Loons facing the Galaxy, we’ve got two incredible matchups on our hands.
I can’t forget just how many times LAFC humiliated the Sounders this year, but I don’t know what to do with that information. The Falcons took down Seattle four times this year: twice in the league, once in Leagues Cup, and once in the U.S. Open Cup. I feel safe backing them to make it five out of five, but four losses in a row is pretty good bulletin board material for a Sounders squad that has more than a little fight in them.
In the other matchup, the Galaxy are in some fantastic goal-scoring form, while the Loons have conceded just two goals in their last seven games. It’s the classic unstoppable force meets immovable object proverb, and when it’s that close, I have to go with the club lining my pocke—I mean, I have to pick with my heart. I expect to see the Loons take out one LA team just to be met by the other in the Western Conference Final.
The first two Conference Semifinals are set for Saturday, November 23, with NYCFC hosting NYRB at some other baseball field at 4:30 before LAFC hosts Seattle at 9:30. Then, be sure to tune into MLS Season Pass again on the big day, November 24, as Orlando hosts Atlanta in the warmup to the main event: MNUFC traveling to LA to take on the Galaxy at 5:00 p.m. CT. My predictions are as good as truth, but I recommend tuning in just in case.
