GOAL takes a look at action from the MLS Conference semifinals, recapping a thrilling weekend of playoff soccer.
The 2024 MLS Playoffs kicked off with multiple upsets in the opening round and the semifinals continued what has been a dramatic postseason for the league.
After Atlanta United magically defeated Inter Miami in the first round of the playoffs, people thought they might be MLS' team of destiny in 2024. However, their fairytale run ran out in the Conference Semifinals, when Orlando City scraped by them with a 1-0 victory. Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the Hudson River Derby took center-stage in the playoffs as the New York Red Bulls were able to respond to two regular season defeats to their heated rivals New York City Football Club with a 2-0 win at Citi Field.
In the Western Conference, the upsets continued as No. 1 seed LAFC were stunned in extra-time by the resilient Seattle Sounders, who were missing two key players in Paul Rothrock and Nouhou Tolo, and lost a third in Yeimar Gomez to injury during the match. It was a heroic performance from Brian Schmetzer's side as they won 2-1. The Galaxy, though, would ensure they have a similar fate as they thumped Minnesota United 6-2. The win cements their current status as favorites for the tournament.
GOAL takes a look at what happened, who shined and what the major storylines were around each game.
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The Three P's of Riqui Puig, Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec stunned MNUFC in a 6-2 victory Sunday evening at Dignity Health Sports Park. The trio have been MLS' most dominant front-three all year long, and in the postseason, they've accounted for 10 of their 15 total goals scored through three games.
Against , though, it was Pec who carved them open. The Brazilian scored 27 seconds into the match to hand LA an early lead before adding his second five minutes into the second half. He had a chance for a hat-trick late in the match from the penalty spot, but the 2024 MLS Newcomer of the Year was denied by Canada international Dayne St. Clair in net.
were resilient all evening, but they collapsed late in the second half after being reduced to 10 men, lacking discipline with fouls, and succumbing to the pressure of Puig in the midfield and their blistering attack up front.
The Galaxy have now scored at least four goals in each of their postseason matches so far, putting on an absolute clinic in the final-third across their run through the Western Conference. Greg Vanney's experience on the touchline has them cooking, with the LA boss out-managing two first-year head coaches in Colorado's Chris Armas and Minnesota's Eric Ramsay through the first two rounds as well.
AdvertisementIMGANCinderella's shoe didn't fit
For a team like Atlanta United, coming off the high of defeating Lionel Messi and Inter Miami was difficult. They had to wait nearly two weeks in between matches, and when the time came to shine, their luck ran out.
A 39th-minute goal from Ramiro Enrique gave Orlando a 1-0 victory over the , but the victory didn't end up being the story of the match, rather, it was Atlanta's rotten injury history.
They lost game-three hero against the Jamal Thiare to injury in the first half, and his replacement, Daniel Rios, to injury in the 49th minute. That's on top of losing key defender Brooks Lennon to a season-ending injury earlier in the year, along with role player Edwin Mosquera.
To beat Messi and Miami, Atlanta needed an awful lot of luck – and it came in waves with heroics from Thiare, goalkeeper Brad Guzan and the rest of their XI. But against Orlando, nothing went to plan. After the injuries and with 40 plus minutes to spare, they had no traditional forward, subbing on a left-back in Ronald Hernandez to move around their attack to position people accordingly to push for an equalizing goal. It never came, and MLS' Cinderella story of 2024 had the book shut on them after previously recording one of the biggest upsets in league history.
IMGANRBNY earn respect
In a sold out lower bowl at Citi Field with a crowd of both RBNY and NYCFC fans, it was the Red Bulls who were loudest and proudest as they defeated the 2-0 in their home stadium.
After upsetting reigning champions Columbus in the first round, they dominated their rivals on the heels of a wondergoal from Felipe Carballo and a close-range finish from Dante Vanzeir. It was a complete showing from the Red Bulls in harsh conditions, with cold temperatures and raging wind in Queens taking over during the contest, but they were resilient in refusing to allow the hosts into the match.
Speaking postgame, star midfielder Emil Forsberg requested an "apology" from the rest of the league for doubting their quality and ambitions for the postseason.
"I think a lot of people should apologize to us now. Before coming into this, I was sure all the time. But some weren't.
"When we got that win in Columbus, I think started something in us. To like, okay, we can truly do this," Forsberg continued. "I'm proud of the team, but not just the team, the whole club. Everybody's working for Red Bull and what we want to achieve this year. It was my goal when I came here. So we have a lot of work to do still, but this is a good and fine victory."
Now, RBNY are off to the Conference Finals, seeking their first berth in MLS Cup since 2008. If they succeed, it would mark the first time the team — founded in 1996 as the MetroStars — lifts the trophy.
IMGANLAFC's gamble doesn't pay out
Expected to compete for MLS Cup after earning the top seed in the Western Conference, LAFC crashing out to the Sounders is nothing short but a disaster. Part of their failure to live up to expectations is down to failing to find a way to get star Olivier Giroud firing.
During the regular season and playoffs, the legendary French striker didn't score a single goal in 14 appearances. Manager Steve Cherundolo made a bold decision to start the striker after benching him in the club's previous win against Vancouver. Unfortunately it was more of the same for the
With 2023 Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga on the wing, France's all-time leading scorer in Olivier Giroud central and Mateusz Bogusz – a Poland international – alongside him, they should have been scoring goal after goal after goal. Instead, their star-studded attacking three managed just three total shots on target, while Giroud himself blanked and was hooked in the 70th minute as a result of his poor attacking performance.
The blame doesn't solely fall on Giroud, though. This is a talented team with U.S. internationals Timothy Tillman and Aaron Long on their roster, as well as ex-France and Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. The expectations of the club were monumental this season.
With Seattle being down two key players in Tolo and Rothrock from the start, and eventually a third due to an injury to Gomez, there was room for them to capitalize and advance. They couldn't break down the defense and made costly mistakes of their own and as a result, they crashed out of the postseason in rather embarrassing fashion. To make matters worse, it was LAFC's first home playoff loss in five years, with their last coming in October, 2019, when they lost to the… yep, you guessed it, Seattle Sounders.
They spent big, brought in elite talent, but in the end, there will be a lot of questions this offseason as to why this team couldn't deliver this season.