Top Things to Watch in MLS this Week
The Push to the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs Continues
With just two weeks remaining in the 2022 MLS regular season, Week 33’s matchups will have a critical impact on the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs picture for more than half of the league’s teams. Eight positions in the postseason remain up for grabs, with 15 still in contention for a coveted spot.
In the Eastern Conference, six teams either sit in playoff position or within three points of the playoff line, including the defending MLS Cup champions New York City FC (49 points, 14-11-7), which are in position to clinch a postseason berth this week. FC Cincinnati (45 points, 11-8-12), which play two matches this week, look to continue their terrific turnaround campaign by securing the first playoff position in club history, while expansion side Charlotte FC (38 points, 12-17-2) aim to stay alive in the race to the postseason.
In the Western Conference, seven teams remain in contention for the final four playoff spots, , including five teams who advanced to the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs, as well as Nashville SC who earned an Eastern Conference playoff berth in 2021. Nashville SC (47 points, 12-9-11), led by Landon Donovan MLS MVP frontrunner Hany Mukhtar, looks to lock up a spot in the postseason as they take on Houston Dynamo FC at GEODIS Park on Sunday night (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+). The Portland Timbers (46 points, 11-8-13), who advanced to last year’s MLS Cup, can take one step closer to the postseason with a result over LAFC on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ABC / ESPN Deportes).
With each of the weekend’s 14 matches carrying postseason implications via clinching, elimination, or seeding, excitement abounds at the MLS season races towards the finish.
LAFC On the Brink of Supporters’ Shield Title
As a stellar regular season comes to a close, the Los Angeles Football Club (64 points, 20-8-4) sits on the brink of history, as the club can secure its second Supporters’ Shield title in four seasons in Week 33. LAFC would earn the title of the league’s best regular season club in 2022 with a victory over the Portland Timbers on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ABC / ESPN Deportes) combined with a Philadelphia Union loss at Charlotte FC on Saturday (5:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+).
LAFC looks to punctuate one of the best regular seasons in league history, as the club sits on the verge of winning with the Supporters’ Shield and joining some of the top teams in league annals. With victories in each of their last two matches, LAFC would tie the 2018 New York Red Bulls and the 2021 New England Revolution for the most wins (22) in non-shoot-out seasons in MLS history and would propel the club to become just the fourth different team in MLS history to produce at least 70 points in a single season. A Supporters’ Shield title would be the club’s first since 2019 and would make LAFC only the sixth club in league annals to record multiple Supporters’ Shields, alongside the LA Galaxy (four), D.C. United (four), Columbus Crew (three), New York Red Bulls (three), and San Jose Earthquakes (two).
Will LAFC continue their historic run this weekend or will Philadelphia keep the race for the Supporters’ Shield open until Decision Day?
Teams on Major Streaks Fight Their Way into Postseason Contention
With spots in the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs available for the taking, three clubs – FC Cincinnati, Nashville SC, and the Portland Timbers – have produced impressive and clutch unbeaten streaks in recent weeks. All three clubs aim to further cement their place in the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs race if their undefeated runs continue this week.
- Searching for their first-ever postseason berth, FC Cincinnati has not lost since July 17, posting a club-record 10-game unbeaten streak (4-0-6). First-year head coach Pat Noonan leads the club into a crucial week with a Tuesday night trip to face Seattle Sounders FC (10 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+) at Lumen Field, followed by a home contest against Chicago Fire FC on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+). If Cincinnati earns positive results, they will have an opportunity to punch their postseason tickets.
- With the Western Conference playoff picture fluctuating weekly, Nashville SC rose to the occasion, winning four of their last six games without a defeat. Landon Donovan MLS MVP candidate Hany Mukhtar has seven goals in his last four starts and the club looks to lock up a playoff spot on Sunday against Houston Dynamo FC (8:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+).
- The Portland Timbers are on another late-season surge with wins in four of their past five contests – all by a one-goal margin. The Timbers are eyeing their sixth consecutive postseason appearance but will have to take down Supporters’ Shield leaders LAFC on Sunday at Providence Park (3 p.m. ET, ABC / ESPN Deportes) to do so.
Déjà Vu: LA Galaxy & Real Salt Lake Battle for Seventh in the West
The LA Galaxy’s postseason hopes were dashed last season after Real Salt Lake finished above them for the seventh and final seed in the playoffs on a tiebreaker. Now, the Galaxy find themselves three points ahead of RSL in the Western Conference with an opportunity for revenge and to improve their lead over Real Salt Lake to six points with a third consecutive win on Saturday (10:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+) at Dignity Health Sports Park.
The Galaxy have had their scoring boots on over the last two months, and midfield magician Riqui Puig has been at the epicenter of their chance creation over that stretch. The 23-year-old completed more passes (499), passes in the opposition’s half (311), and had more touches (656) than any MLS player since making his debut on Aug. 19. Benefiting from the recent spark in midfield as well has been Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández, who will be looking to bag his ninth goal in his last 10 games for the Galaxy in the most pivotal match of the club’s season.
Real Salt Lake knows better than any team from last season that clinching a playoff position puts your MLS Cup destiny back in your hands. After beating out the Galaxy for the seventh seed in 2021, RSL upset the Seattle Sounders and Sporting Kansas City to advance to the Western Conference Final. With an opportunity to put themselves in a position to go on another postseason run, RSL will look to their leading goal scorers Sergio Córdova and Jefferson Savarino to vault them over the line this weekend.
Will history repeat itself on Saturday, or can the Galaxy vanquish the demons of 2021 to move one step closer to qualifying for the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs?
Pozuelo Returns to Toronto to Keep Miami in the Playoffs
Inter Miami CF and Alejandro Pozuelo travel to Toronto FC on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+) as their battle for a playoff position in the Eastern Conference continues. Pozuelo, who arrived in Miami from Toronto in the summer, faces his former side for the second time since his departure as he looks to bolster Miami’s postseason hopes.
The 2020 Landon Donovan MLS MVP winner has already dealt the dagger blow to Toronto earlier in the season, assisting Miami’s game-winning goal when the two clubs faced each other in Miami earlier this season. Since then, Miami is undefeated when Pozuelo scores or assists in a game (6-0-2), and he has continued to develop his partnership in attack with Gonzalo Higuaín. The duo has combined for three goals this season, with Pozuelo assisting on three of Higuaín’s team-leading 13 goals in 2022.
With just three regular season games remaining, the battle for seventh in the East will come down to the wire starting with this Friday’s clash north of the border.
Argentina’s Almada could push Atlanta United into the postseason
After his debut appearance alongside Lionel Messi for the Argentina National Team last week, 21-year-old Atlanta United midfielder Thiago Almada is turning heads in both domestic and international competition. The young dynamic Designated Player earned his first international cap on Friday night, entering the pitch in the 54th minute against Honduras, and received some high praise from a global soccer icon.
Returning to league play this week and with Atlanta United sitting in ninth place and just below the playoff line, Almada’s contributions have raised his profile and the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs hopes of his club. Almada’s 11 assists this MLS season are tied with Chicago Fire FC midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri for most among first-year players, with the Atlanta midfielder ranking among the top three newcomers in goal contributions behind only Shaqiri (seven goals, 11 assists) and Mikael Uhre (12 goals, six assists).
With Atlanta facing the New England Revolution on Saturday (1:30 p.m. ET, UniMás / TUDN / Twitter for English audio), every point matters. Will Almada’s luster be strong enough for Atlanta to shine into the postseason picture?
Columbus and St. Louis to Host MLS NEXT Pro Conference Finals on Sunday
After a thrilling first round of MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs last weekend, the Eastern and Western Conference Finals matchups are set. Columbus Crew 2 will host Toronto FC II in the East (5:00 p.m. ET), with St Louis CITY2 hosting Tacoma Defiance in the West (8:30 p.m. ET). Both matches will be played on Sunday, October 2 with a trip to the first-ever MLS NEXT Pro Cup on the line. The inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Cup champions will be crowned on Saturday, October 8. Both Conference Finals matches can be viewed live on mlsnextpro.com this Sunday.
MLS NEXT Pro Best XI, Coach, and Goalkeeper of the Year Winners Announced
Following the conclusion of the regular season, MLS NEXT Pro last week announced the winners of its year-end awards. Columbus Crew 2 head coach Laurent Courtois was named Coach of the Year, while his team’s keeper Patrick Schulte was honored as the Goalkeeper of the Year. The Best XI consisted of the top players at their positions and represented eight MLS NEXT Pro clubs. Nine of the Best XI competed in the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs over the weekend, with six advancing to the Conference Finals this Sunday.
