MLS Playoffs Get Underway With Knockout Round
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FC Dallas can make history in the Major League Soccer playoffs.
Dallas won the U.S. Open Cup in September and then claimed the MLS Supporters' Shield for the team with the best regular-season record on Sunday. If they can win the MLS Cup, it will mark the first time a team has won all three trophies — an unprecedented "treble" — in a single season.
"It's fine to dream about it, but for them it's just one game at a time," coach Oscar Pareja said. "It's a lot, but now we have the next objective and it's the playoffs and obviously that will make us feel that the treble is possible."
Dallas has a knockout-round bye in the playoffs, as does Colorado in the Western Conference. In the East, the New York City Red Bulls and New York City FC will sit out the opening round. The two-legged conference semifinals start on Sunday.
A look at the knockout round matches:
PHILDAELPHIA UNION AT TORONTO FC: Wednesday night, BMO Field.
Toronto FC snapped a five-game winless streak with a 3-2 victory over Chicago in the regular-season finale and finished with 53 points, a franchise best. The third seed in the Eastern Conference, Toronto (14-9-11) has a talented roster with Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley and Sebastian Giovinco, who leads the team with 17 goals and 15 assists.
The sixth-seeded Union (11-14-9) was winless in their last seven matches, including a 0-2 loss to the Red Bulls in the final, but eked out a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2011. The Union are led by Chris Pontius with 12 goals and six assists.
"We're going to need guys to make big plays in important moments and we're going to need the fans to make this one of the most special nights in the club's history," Bradley said about the team's first home playoff appearance.
REAL SALT LAKE AT L.A. GALAXY: Wednesday night, StubHub Center.
The story surrounding the Galaxy this season is the return of Landon Donovan, who has started the last two games, including a scoreless draw with FC Dallas in the regular-season finale. Robbie Keane says he'll return from hip flexor soreness for the playoffs but the third-seeded Galaxy (12-6-16) could be without Steven Gerrard, who is still nursing a hamstring injury and is a game-time decision.
Real Salt Lake, the sixth seed in the Western Conference, returns to the playoffs after missing out last season. RSL (12-12-10) has been winless in seven matches, including a 2-1 loss to the Seattle Sounders on Sunday.
MONTREAL IMPACT AT D.C. UNITED: Thursday night, RFK Stadium.
The Impact, the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, had clinched a playoff spot before the last game of the regular season, but missed out on a chance to host in the knockout round with a 3-0 loss to the New England Revolution. Ignacio Piatti leads Montreal (11-11-12) with 17 goals, but much of the focus will be on whether forward Didier Drogba, unhappy with a recent move to the bench, will play.
The fourth-seeded United (11-10-13) are hosting a knockout round match for the second straight season. The team won three straight before a 4-2 loss to Orlando City in the finale. Lamar Neagle leads United with nine goals, while Luciano Acosta has 11 assists.
"I think the boys are feeling confident that we can make a real push," United midfielder Rob Vincent said.
SPORTING KANSAS CITY AT SEATTLE SOUNDERS: Thursday night, CenturyLink Field.
Sporting Kansas City (13-13-8) finished as the fifth seed in the West after defeating the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0. Sporting, making its sixth straight postseason appearance, are led by Dom Dwyer with 16 goals this season. Benny Feilhaber has seven assists.
Fourth-seeded Seattle (14-14-6) had an amazing comeback after a disappointing first half and the dismissal of longtime coach Sigi Schmid. The Sounders climbed six spots in the West, capped by Sunday's 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake, to make their eighth straight playoffs. The team is led by homegrown forward Jordan Morris with 12 goals.
"We realize we have a big hurdle in regards to Seattle," Sporting coach Peter Vermes said. "They are a good team. They made a lot of changes at the midway point that have changed their team. They have guys back from injury so they are feeling good about themselves. We are going in to the lion's den and it's going to be a difficult game."
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