The Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs continue with three pivotal, win-or-go-home Game 3 matches in the Round One Best-of-3 Series. With only three spots remaining in the Conference Semifinals, six teams will be battling for their playoff lives as they look to earn a victory in the decisive Game 3 matches.
Eastern Conference Round One Best-of-3 Series Game 3
No. 3 Columbus Crew vs. No. 6 Atlanta United
Series tied 1-1
- Game 1: Columbus Crew 2-0 Atlanta United
- Game 2: Atlanta United 4-2 Columbus Crew
- Game 3: Sunday, November 12 (7 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass)
The stars have shined during this Round One Best-of-3 Series between the Columbus Crew and Atlanta United. With three goals in two games, Cucho Hernández has excelled in his postseason debut and extended his current scoring streak to four games dating back to Oct. 7 with a goal in the club’s Game 2 loss. That contest also saw Giorgos Giakoumakis score the first Audi MLS Cup Playoffs goal of his career while adding two assists and 2023 MLS Young Player of the Year Thiago Almada capped off the 4-2 victory with his own inaugural postseason goal. The stage is set for Game 3 at Lower.com Field as each of these stars looks to take full control of this series and lead their side to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Western Conference Round One Best-of-3 Series Game 3
No. 2 Seattle Sounders FC vs. No. 7 FC Dallas
Series tied 1-1
- Game 1: Seattle Sounders FC 2-0 FC Dallas
- Game 2: FC Dallas 3-1 Seattle Sounders FC
- Game 3: Friday, November 10 (10 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass)
In the Round One Best-of-3 Series, it almost seemed destined that the series between Seattle Sounders FC and FC Dallas would be decided in Game 3. Since 2014, these sides have met six times in the postseason, including this year, and many iconic moments have emerged, including FC Dallas’ penalty-kick shootout win in 2015 and Jordan Morris’ hat trick to lift Seattle to victory in 2019 after extra time. Morris is back to his scoring ways yet again with two goals in two games, but a rampant Bernard Kamungo and a hungry Jesús Ferreira will be a thorn in the Sounders’ sides even as they return to Lumen Field ahead of this win-or-go-home Game 3.
No. 4 Houston Dynamo FC vs. No. 5 Real Salt Lake
Series tied 1-1
- Game 1: Houston Dynamo FC 2-1 Real Salt Lake
- Game 2: Real Salt Lake 1-1 Houston Dynamo FC (RSL won 5-4 on penalties)
- Game 3: Saturday, November 11 (6 p.m. ET, MLS Season Pass)
Momentum returned to Real Salt Lake after their Game 2 penalty-kick shootout victory over Houston Dynamo FC, as 20-year-old phenom Diego Luna scored the decisive penalty kick and star forward Cristian ‘Chicho’ Arango returned to the field from injury. However, Houston returns home to Shell Energy Stadium where they have been dominant throughout 2023 and will look to midfielders Héctor Herrera and Adalberto Carrasquilla to stifle a gritty RSL side that is hungry for an upset.
