The playoffs are set
6:23 PM ET —The bracket is set for the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs as all 12 games have gone final.
Eastern Conference:
- Atlanta United (2) vs. New England Revolution (7)
- Philadelphia Union (3) vs. New York Red Bulls (6)
- Toronto FC (4) vs. D.C. United (5)
Western Conference:
- Seattle Sounders (2) vs. FC Dallas (7)
- Real Salt Lake (3) vs. Portland Timbers (6)
- Minnesota United (4) vs. LA Galaxy (5)
Galaxy fall behind Dynamo
6:10 PM ET —It's looking like Galaxy disappointment on Decision Day against the Dynamo for the second year in a row.
The Dynamo took a 3-2 lead over the Galaxy through Christian Ramirez. Barring a late equalizer then winner, the Galaxy will hit the road for a Round One playoff game. They are currently lined up to travel to Allianz Field to face Minnesota United.
Portland get insurance goal
6:01 PM ET —The Portland Timbers are one step closer to the playoffs.
Sebastian Blanco's golazo gives Portland a 3-1 lead over the Quakes, who need a win to get above the line. The Timbers are in sixth place, currently lined up to face Real Salt Lake on the road in Round One of the playoffs.
Injuries pile up
5:59 PM ET —A few more stars have been substituted due to injury.
LAFC's Walker Zimmerman left with a potential concussion while Toronto FC's Jozy Altidore took a knock and was substituted as well.
Playoff seeding update...
5:49 PM ET —In both conferences the seedings have gotten a jolt with goals in the past few minutes.
First, Toronto FC took the lead against Columbus. Thanks to D.C. United currently being tied with 9-man FC Cincinnati, TFC have jumped into fourth place. Out West, the Dynamo have equalized against the Galaxy again, dropping LA back out of the top four. Minnesota United are back into fourth place.
Timbers take lead over Quakes
5:45 PM ET —Dairon Asprilla has put Timbers ahead of San Jose 2-1 and now Portland have one foot in the playoffs.
A win or draw would do it for the Timbers, who are 2-1 up over San Jose after 59 minutes. It'll take a heroic resurrection from the Quakes to get back above the playoff line.
Portland jump into sixth place with Dallas in seventh as things stand.
Dallas up 4-0
5:39 PM ET —Not to jinx it or anything, but it looks like FC Dallas are headed to the playoffs.
Dallas have opened up a 4-0 lead over Sporting KC and are sitting sixth place in the West.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy restored their lead over the Dynamo through Cristian Pavon and are back in position for a Round One home playoff game. Minnesota United have dropped to fifth.
Vela gets his hat-trick, Josef gets his goal
5:35 PM ET —Carlos Vela has his record in style and he's trying to make it as untouchable as possible.
Vela completed his hat trick against the Rapids, now up to 34 goals in his historic 2019 season. Meanwhile, Jose Martinez scored in his first start back from injury. Kings do king things.
As things stand...
5:16 PM ET —It’s halftime. It’s time to take a breath. Actually, take a few breaths.
Here’s where things stand on all the biggest storylines:
- The Timbers and Quakes traded goals, but we’re right where we started: All tied up. This score would send Portland to the playoffs with the Quakes at home. San Jose need a win.
- FC Dallas, leading SKC 2-0, also have stayed above the playoff line. With the current scorelines, FCD would finish 6th and Portland 7th. Dallas need a win to clinch playoff qualification.
- Vela has taken a three goal lead in the Golden Boot race and is up to 33 goals on his historic 2019 season.
- DC United currently have the final home playoff game out East, two points ahead of the Red Bulls (losing 2-0 to Montreal) and Toronto FC (tied 0-0 with Columbus). DCU are tied 0-0 with FC Cincinnati, who are down to 9 men after two red cards.but the Quakes need just one more goal to swap places with the Timbers.
- The Round One home games out West currently belong to Seattle, Real Salt Lake and Minnesota. The Galaxy (tied 1-1 with Houston) can still get back into the top four.
Wondo equalizes for Quakes
5:07 PM ET —Chris Wondolowski comes up huge again.
The league's all-time leading scorer nestled a diving header off the crossbar and in, leveling the Quakes' game against Portland in the 39th minute. It was just 10 minutes after the Timbers took the lead.
Portland are still above the playoff line but the Quakes need just one more goal to swap places with the Timbers.
Portland takes lead over San Jose
5:03 PM ET —The Timbers have put themselves closer to the playoffs.
Needing just a draw against the Quakes, Portland have taken the lead at Providence Park through Larrys Mabiala in the 29th minute. Portland have been controlling play against the Quakes with that playoff spot on the line.
The goal pulls Portland back into sixth place with Dallas back to seventh, who still lead Sporting KC 2-0 in their match.
Vela breaks record
4:54 PM ET —Carlos Vela: Major League Soccer's single-season goal king.
The superstar scored his 32nd goal of the season, now taking sole possession of the single-season goals record.
Three minutes later, Vela scored a close-range bike, his 33rd goal of the season. LAFC are now on track to break the league's single-season record for points.
Zlatan pulls within one goal of Vela
4:40 PM ET —Zlatan Ibrahimovic isn't letting Carlos Vela win the Golden Boot without a fight.
Vela entered the day up two goals on Zlatan, but Ibrahimovic's golazo pulls the Swede within one of Vela early into proceedings on Decision Day.
Reminder: Vela has already tied the single-season goals record with 31. Zlatan now has 30.
FC Dallas inch closer to playoffs
4:38 PM ET —FC Dallas are first to find the back of the net in the West's playoff chase.
Needing a win to seal playoff qualification, FC Dallas have taken the lead over Sporting KC through Zdenek Ondrasek in the 9th minute. Three minutes later, Matt Hedges doubled their advantage.
As things stand: Dallas have moved to 6th and Portland slipped to 7th.
Reminder: Last season the LA Galaxy needed a win on Decision Day to get into the playoffs, they too got out to a 2-0 lead at home against an already-eliminated team. It's not over yet.
Heber out with injury
4:33 PM ET —Another pre-game injury concern. NYCFC leading scorer Heber has been scratched from the starting lineup just before kick off with a lower leg injury.
Heber had missed a month with a quad injury, before returning to the starting lineup last weekend. He's tied for fifth in league with 15 goals with Przybylko, who also was a late scratch due to an injury.
With Josef Martinez returning from his injury today, each of the East's top three teams had big injury-related pieces of news to their leading scorers.
And we're off...
4:25 PM ET — All 12 games have kicked off. It's Decision Day, people. Let's get weird.
Kacper Przybylko injury concern
4:20 PM ET — Last week, club captain Alejandro Bedoya pulled up lame and had to exit the Union’s loss to Columbus. Today, leading scorer Kacper Przybylko has given Philly an injury scare before their game against NYCFC has even kicked off.
Przybylko has been removed from the starting lineup with a left foot injury and has been replaced by Fafa Picault. The striker had started 25 straight games for the Union and is tied for fifth in MLS with 15 goals. Definitely one to watch moving forward.
For what it's worth: The injury nightmare that Przybylko endured in Germany was breaking multiple bones multiple times in his right foot. Today's injury is his left foot.
He's back
3:30 PM ET — Josef Martinez, after a potentially serious injury a few weeks ago, is back in Atlanta United's starting XI after missing just two games.
No Pity Martinez in the starting XI for Atlanta, but Ezequiel Barco returns as well for the first time since August 23. He made an appearance off the bench last week but this is his first start.
No Valeri for Timbers
3:15 PM ET — As the Timbers chase one of the two final playoff places up for grabs on Decision Day, they'll have to do so without their talisman.
Valeri isn't on the team sheet as the Timbers host the Quakes. The Argentine was on the injury report with a calf injury and his future has been the subject of speculation, as he and the club have reportedly reached a contract impasse.
The Timbers are already without Brian Fernandez as the forward is serving a suspension following a red card last weekend.
Welcome to Decision Day!
3:10 PM ET — It all comes down to Decision Day presented by AT&T. Here's a quick primer of what to watch for today.
The final two playoff places out West are up for grabs, as the Portland Timbers and FC Dallas have the inside track. The San Jose Earthquakes are one point below the playoff line while the Colorado Rapids have a flicker of hope.
Portland host the Quakes, Dallas host Sporting and the Rapids are on the road against LAFC. Whoever wins between Portland and San Jose are in; If Dallas win they're in. If Portland draw, they're in.
LAFC, meanwhile, need a win to make MLS history, as three points would set a new single-season league record for points. Carlos Vela needs one goal to take sole possession of the league's single-season goal scoring record, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic enters the day just two points behind Vela in this year's Golden Boot race.
Sit in, relax and get ready for the chaos. It's going to be fun.
