2025 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs
- Thread starter Gene
- Start date
What on Earth is Dallas complaining about? Clear pen.
Full credit, that goal by Cabrera to make it 3-0 was a piece of work. Elloumi was in a real fight with Aboubakar, and Torquato was right there too. I really don't know how he got loose enough to put it through.
And then Cabrera had to beat Shaq Moore to the ball. That's three decent defenders who got beat.
And then Cabrera had to beat Shaq Moore to the ball. That's three decent defenders who got beat.
Vancouver looked sharp.
Kudos for addressing the schedule and calendar issue, but Home and Home is the worst possible option for MLS playoffs. It is a solution to a problem that MLS playoffs don't have. Two game series originated in a precursor to UCL called the Mitropa Cup. They exist to give both teams home games and avoid home field advantage in a knockout cup where everyone is in theory equal and should have an equal chance at winning. That's literally why they were invented: allowing one team to have HFA based on a random draw was a problem to be solved. There was no group stage and seeding. It was all a draw. It has an ancillary benefit of making it easier for both fanbases to see the contest, but balancing HFA was the big reason. Otherwise, nobody would invent a multiple game series with an even number of games and then deal with fixing all the problems that format creates. Otherwise, odd game series are the only reasonable way to proceed.
Because when the 2-game series is not solving that problem - which doesn't exist in MLS playoffs - a 2 game series has nothing but downsides. First, first games turned into giant defensive slogs. So they invented away goals, but that led to too may second games rendered almost meaningless. Our first historic home playoff game against Toronto in 2016 was effectively over after 1 goal in minute 6. UEFA, AFC and CONMEBOL club tournaments have all recently done away with the AGR, but the first game snooze problem never went away.
Second, it is entirely unsatisfying to have a team win its final [sort-of] game but be eliminated (NYCFC 2017), because a game should be a game and the point should be to win, not count aggregates. I know there have been amazing 2 games H&H sets with amazing second game comebacks. On the whole, they offer more uncompetitive final games than any other format. Because every odd game series ends with a discrete contest that starts 0-0 and one (or both) teams faces a lose and go home scenario. They never end with a win and go home result.
Third, and repeating myself but thisis the most important factor, the 2 game series all but eliminates HFA, which should be obvious because that was the reason they were invented and each team literally has the same number of home games. I guess now with Group Stage and seeding UCL and other tournaments could decide they want HFA but they don't. And there's tradition and that's fine. They should do as they want. But none of that applies here. We want HFA in MLS playoffs. Unless you yearn to make the MLS regular season even less meaningful, there's no excuse for wanting 2 game sets in MLS playoffs with no real home field advantage.
Honestly, even Europe knows the format is all too often a drama suck which is why they abandon it in the final and go single game neutral site.
As I've made clear many times, IDGAF how the rest of the world does things, but if it matters to you then let's get rid of the MLS playoffs, because almost nobody else does that and at least that wouldn't make winning MLS Cup even more random than it is. At most have just a 1 round Cup final: Expand to 36 teams, split the conference schedules, play everyone 2x, and have a single game championship between East and West.
ZYanksRule
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I do like the idea of the group stage first round that I've seen floated by some reporters.
1v4v5v8 on one side, 2v3v6v7 on the other side.
Top 2 teams move on to the conference semifinals.
Top seeds get all 3 home games. 2nd team gets 2 home games, 3rd team gets 1 home game, last team gets no home games. It would take the same amount of time as these current 3-game series, but would guarantee every team gets three playoff games, there's still lots of jeopardy but one loss doesn't eliminate you, and it guarantees that every game is played in each group.
1v4v5v8 on one side, 2v3v6v7 on the other side.
Top 2 teams move on to the conference semifinals.
Top seeds get all 3 home games. 2nd team gets 2 home games, 3rd team gets 1 home game, last team gets no home games. It would take the same amount of time as these current 3-game series, but would guarantee every team gets three playoff games, there's still lots of jeopardy but one loss doesn't eliminate you, and it guarantees that every game is played in each group.
I don't mind the 3-game series that opens the playoffs - partly because I get why they do it that way (the November international break).
However, I'd much rather that the winner be the team with the most points (3 for a win, 1 for a draw) rather than ending every tied game with a penalty shoot out to determine the winner. You'd only have penalties if the two teams are tied on aggregate points after 3 games.
First of all, it avoids penalty shootouts in most circumstances, and I hate penalties. Second, it should make it more likely that the series will advance to a third game as a team would have to win the first two games outright in order to close the series early. In the current format, where every game has to have a winner and a loser, it's a lot easier to get to two wins.
However, I'd much rather that the winner be the team with the most points (3 for a win, 1 for a draw) rather than ending every tied game with a penalty shoot out to determine the winner. You'd only have penalties if the two teams are tied on aggregate points after 3 games.
First of all, it avoids penalty shootouts in most circumstances, and I hate penalties. Second, it should make it more likely that the series will advance to a third game as a team would have to win the first two games outright in order to close the series early. In the current format, where every game has to have a winner and a loser, it's a lot easier to get to two wins.
ZYanksRule
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This tweet is not an exaggeration. I had no idea teams could have a meeting with their coach after allowing a goal. MLS is hilarious.
It's a fine enough goal, but I post it because I am amused that the scorer was kept onside by among other things, a defender who was literally inside the goal with the keeper, and that defender reflexively put his arm up to signal offside.
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ZYanksRule
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I was watching that game on FS1, I thought it was interesting that FS1 is using MLS Season Pass announcers, but not the normal teams. So Callum Williams was with Devon Kerr, who's not his normal partner on Apple. Could tell early they hadn't worked together a lot because Callum kept asking Devon questions, but he wasn't listening and the broadcast was just silent for a few seconds until Callum restarted his play-by-play.
ZYanksRule
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By the way, for a league that almost always wants to play on Saturdays or Sundays, putting multiple playoff games on a Monday or Tuesday opposite the World Series is A Choice.
The league that has hidden itself on a seldom-used streaming service complains no one watches, then makes boneheaded decisions like this.
The league that has hidden itself on a seldom-used streaming service complains no one watches, then makes boneheaded decisions like this.
I have to say I've enjoyed the Western Conference games better than the ones from the East so far. Vancouver, SD, and Seattle all play styles that are enjoyable to watch. Even Portland's counterattacks were fun yesterday, between when they woke up are the 30' and the red card that sadly ended what was shaping up to be an entertaining match.
