ASN: ASN previews and predicts the primary spherical of the 2019 MLS playoffs

The postseason kicks off on Saturday and the MLS playoffs are sometimes unimaginable to foretell. That does not imply ASN’s Brian Sciaretta will not give it a shot. As he’ll do over the course of the subsequent month, listed here are his first wave of previews and predictions. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
October 18, 2019
8:00 AM

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THE OPENING ROUND the 2019 MLS playoffs will happen all day on Saturday and Sunday. As with every thing on this league, the outcomes might be tough to foretell and it stays to be seen if the video games might be entertaining, or will it’s one-way visitors.

Here’s a fast preview and a prediction for every of the video games.

Atlanta United – New England Revolution
Saturday, October 19
1:00pm EST
Univision
Atlanta completed second within the Japanese Convention and is the league’s defending champion. Nonetheless, predicting an upset stays tempting. Till the all-star recreation, Atlanta’s gamers weren’t too keen about taking part in beneath Frank de Boer. Josef Martinez missed video games in direction of the tip resulting from an damage and now central defender Miles Robinson is out after selecting up an damage on U.S. nationwide group responsibility. Because the defending champion, there may be all the time the difficulty of complacency.

In the meantime, New England has been taking part in effectively as of late and had its probabilities to upset Atlanta within the season finale earlier than dropping 3-1. Earlier than that, it defeated New York Metropolis at house and drew Portland away.

However there may be the Bruce Issue on this. The group fully turned its fortunes round when he changed the faltering Brad Friedel. This looks like a sort of stage the place we will see Enviornment pulling off an upset after which basking within the highlight.

Prediction: Choosing an upset is comprehensible however I nonetheless imagine Atlanta nonetheless has an excessive amount of expertise and Robinson’s damage appeared to counsel this group is offended about it (based mostly on de Boer’s press convention on Thursday. It might be shut, however I can’t guess towards Martinez in the sort of recreation

Atlanta 2-1 New England

Seattle Sounders – FC Dallas
Saturday, October 19
3:30pm EST
FS1

The Seattle Sounders are the deserved favorites heading into this match. Whereas FC Dallas demolished Sporting Kansas Metropolis on Choice Day to seal a playoff berth, it’s nonetheless arduous to see them pulling an upset. After all, many followers of U.S. Soccer have taken FC Dallas to coronary heart with its large footprint on U.S. youth nationwide groups and its willingness to play younger gamers, Dallas hasn’t been convincing on the street (simply two factors from its final six street video games). Now it must play in one of many hardest house subject benefits within the league.

It will likely be fascinating to see how Dallas’ younger gamers react. The membership didn’t launch Paxton Pomykal, Brandon Servania, or Jesus Ferreira to the U.S. U-23 group this previous break to organize for this recreation. Solely Reggie Cannon left, however he went to the total U.S. group.

Additionally for Dallas, Zdenek Ondrasek needs to be feeling optimistic after scoring the sport successful purpose for the Czech Republic towards England through the worldwide window.

Dallas is definitely trending up. However this Seattle Sounders group is hard to guess towards within the playoffs – particularly when taking part in at house. The group has balanced scoring with the likes of Nicolas Lodeira, Jordan Morris, and Raul Ruidiaz. Seattle merely has so many alternative methods it might probably rating.

Prediction: If FC Dallas wins this recreation, it could a outstanding assertion. The group’s youthful strategy is so endearing. However Seattle provides us no cause to assume they received’t get it carried out.

Seattle 3-1 FC Dallas

Toronto FC – DC UNITED
Saturday, October 19
6:00pm EST
Jozy Altidore is listed as questionable for this recreation and that makes this recreation maybe the toughest to foretell of your entire first spherical.

DC United has regarded like each stable and horrible at occasions this season. The group additionally got here up fully empty on Choice Day when a easy win over a nine-man FC Cincinnati would have seen the membership host the first-round recreation.

Toronto, in the meantime, depends closely on Altidore and the drop-off between Altidore and Mullins is large at middle ahead. Alejandro Pozuelo goes to must put Toronto on his again.

Prediction: In a season the place DC United has been unimaginable to foretell, we’re going to virtually baselessly say they’ll get it carried out. Invoice Hamid has made some unbelievable saves down the stretch he’ll most likely discover a option to tip the stability once more. Wayne Rooney’s time within the league is drawing to an in depth however maybe this received’t be the ultimate chapter and he’ll assist DC United stay to combat one other day.

Toronto FC 0-1 DC United

Actual Salt Lake – Portland Timbers
Saturday, October 19
10:00pm EST
ESPNnews
Actual Salt Lake earned the best to host this recreation after successful its final two video games. However there are many causes to assume Actual Salt Lake goes to keep away from the upset on this recreation.

For one, RSL has performed effectively down the stretch after the dismissal of Mike Petke and beneath interim head coach Freddy Juarez. Second, RSL has a pleasant house subject benefit the place the altitude is excessive and the house help is reliable. Lastly, RSL has many alternative methods to beat its opponents – Damir Kreilach, Jefferson Savarino, Albert Rusnak are all robust to defend.

In the meantime, Portland stumbled down the stretch, did not benefit from a 10-game homestand the place it ought to have completed close to the highest of the desk. It’s costly ahead Brian Fernandez is out of the image after getting into into the league’s substance abuse program (whereas additionally being suspended), and Diego Valeri’s contract negotiations have been a distraction. So Portland doesn’t have rather a lot going for it.

It will take an upset for Portland to win this recreation and along with Valeri being on the high of his recreation, the membership will want U.S. U-23 ahead Jeremy Ebobisse to play as much as his potential. One silver lining for Portland has additionally been the distinctive play of its goalkeeper Steve Clark in current weeks.

Prediction: There are just too many good causes to assume RSL will discover its option to get it carried out. Sure, Portland does discover methods to go on postseason runs, however the momentum isn’t there.

Actual Salt Lake 2-0 Portland Timbers

Philadelphia Union – New York Crimson Bulls
Sunday, October 20
3:00pm EST
FS1
Final yr’s Supporters Protect winners are a shell of their former selves. Supervisor Chris Armas has had his fingers full this yr. The entrance workplace didn’t adequately exchange Tyler Adams. Father Time caught as much as Bradley Wright-Phillips. Aaron Lengthy, Kemar Lawrence, and Kaku have been distracted by switch rumors which all fell by means of.

Philadelphia, in the meantime, has had rather a lot go proper this season and Jim Curtin has carried out an awesome job. It’s younger central defenders answered the decision. It had good veteran management from Alejandro Bedoya and Haris Medunjanin. Teenager Brenden Aaronson has been extraordinarily spectacular and ahead Kacper Przybylko has scored some necessary targets.

Neither group can declare the momentum edge both. Philadelphia misplaced its final two video games whereas the Crimson Bulls had a dreadful 3-0 loss to Montreal on Choice Day to blow its possibilities of internet hosting a primary spherical playoff recreation.

The Crimson Bulls want its central defenders to step up and Tim Parker and Aaron Lengthy have all of the expertise to take action. The potential lack of fullback Kyle Duncan is important given how effectively he performed down the stretch.

Philadelphia has by no means received a playoff recreation in its historical past and that isn’t a very good factor. There’s stress on everybody to lastly get it carried out. The Crimson Bulls have some gamers who’re x-factors – gamers like Danny Royer and Josh Sims has been fascinating since his arrival.

Prediction: This might be an in depth one however I’ve a way the Crimson Bulls will discover a option to get it carried out, barely. This group has been breaking the hearts of its followers since 1996. They’ll do it once more throughout these playoffs, however not on Sunday.

Philadelphia 1-1 Crimson Bulls (Crimson Bulls win in a shootout)

Minnesota United – LA Galaxy
Sunday, October 20
8:30pm EST
ESPN
Minnesota United is coming off a pleasant season the place it completed in fourth place within the Western Convention. It earned this house recreation within the playoffs and Allianz Subject might be an electrical surroundings when Minnesota hosts the LA Galaxy.

For the Galaxy, there are two tales. Can Zlatan Ibrahimovic ship a memorable efficiency? If he doesn’t, the Galaxy are doubtless carried out. The second is its protection. The Galaxy’s protection is the worst of any playoff group and has been taking part in poorly as of late. However can it discover a option to give the Galaxy a combating likelihood.

Minnesota is a well-balanced group that performs arduous. It has the league’s Defender of the 12 months in Ike Opara. It has stable defensive midfielders and a good assault with Darwin Quintero.

Prediction: There’s a whole lot of stress on Zlatan on this recreation as a result of he’s the one participant that can provide the Galaxy an opportunity. After all, the Galaxy has different big-name gamers like Cristian Pavon nevertheless it has by no means actually clicked for this group. Zlatan has been a frequent critic of the MLS playoffs however the excellent news for him is that he is perhaps over very quickly.

Minnesota United 3-2 LA Galaxy