One leg down, one leg to go.
The home teams took care of business last weekend, setting up some tense encounters for all four higher seeds in the second leg of the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs conference semifinals this Sunday.
What will it take for the lower seeds to hang on? Can any of the higher seeds battle back?
Let’s dig in:
Colorado Rapids vs. LA Galaxy
2 pm ET, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, ESPN and ESPN Deportes in the US, TSN in Canada
LA lead 1-0
Colorado: Keep calm and carry on | LA: Counter culture
The Galaxy have the Rapids in an uncomfortable situation. Colorado, as we well know, have trouble scoring, yet the onus will be on them to go on the attack this weekend after falling 1-0 at LA last Sunday.
LA will likely invite them forward. Colorado don’t have an abundance of creative attacking talent, and the Galaxy will probably sit deep and dare the Rapids to break them down. They’ll look to race out on the counter through Landon Donovan, Giovani dos Santos and Ema Boateng every chance they get. If they can finish one of those breaks for an away goal, they’d just about wrap the series up.
For the Rapids, patience will be hugely important. They’ll likely have trouble breaking down LA if the Galaxy do indeed drop deep, but they have some weapons – particularly on set pieces – and a full 90 minutes to find just one goal. They’ll get some chances, but they’ll need to find a balance between pushing numbers forward and making sure they don’t get caught out in defense. An LA away goal would be fatal.
New York Red Bulls vs. Montreal Impact
4 pm ET, Red Bull Arena, ESPN and ESPN Deportes in the US, TSN and RDS in Canada
Montreal lead 1-0
RBNY: Happy finish | Montreal: Efficiency over everything
Stylistically, this one should play out pretty similarly to the first leg. Montreal will bunker in and counter, while New York will hold the lion’s share of the ball and likely create a decent amount of chances.
The matchup will be decided in front of goal. If New York can finish, particularly if they can finish early, they’ll have a good shot at moving on. But the longer the Impact, who put the clamps on star No. 10 Sacha Kljestan in Leg 1, can keep them off the board, the tighter things will get at Red Bull Arena.
On the other side, the Impact have been clinical with their chances in the postseason. If that continues, watch out – we could be in for an angst-ridden Sunday in Harrison.
New York City FC vs. Toronto FC
6:30 pm ET, Yankee Stadium, FS1 and FOX Deportes in the US, TSN in Canada
Toronto lead 2-0
NYCFC: Pitch the shutout | TFC: Steady, steady
New York City FC strayed away from their identity in Leg 1, and they paid the price. Toronto dominated proceedings at BMO Field, getting two huge late goals to take a pretty considerable lead into the Bronx.
Patrick Vieira will almost assuredly get his lineup and tactics back to normal on Sunday. That could mean some serious fireworks at Yankee Stadium, as NYCFC have to come out of the gate firing. They certainly have the horses to make up a two-goal deficit against Toronto’s defense, which – while stingy for most of the regular season – struggled a bit down the stretch.
I’m confident that New York will get their chances, but I’m not so confident that they’ll be able to keep TFC off the board. Like Colorado, the key for them will be finding the proper balance between pushing numbers forward and staying committed in the back. One moment of brilliance from Sebastian Giovinco or the on fire-Jozy Altidore and Toronto could essentially put the series out of reach. NYCFC, which gave up a boatload of goals this year, will have to stay in-tune with those two all night, and take their chances well on the offensive end.
For Toronto, it’s all about discipline. TFC will need to stay strong defensively and hit on the counter through Giovinco, Altidore and the rest of their attackers when they get their opportunities. Managing the moment, staying calm and keeping their shape against NYCFC’s dynamic attack will be key if TFC want to continue re-writing their organizational history.
FC Dallas vs. Seattle Sounders
9 pm ET, Toyota Stadium, FS1 and FOX Deportes in the US, TSN in Canada
Seattle lead 3-0
FCD: Kitchen-sink time | Seattle: Find Jordan and Nico
Dallas don’t have much choice – or much hope. Down their best attacking player, FCD will have to throw everything at the Sounders on Sunday.
Seattle, who have given up just seven goals in their last nine games and could get Roman Torres back from injury for Leg 2, will be content to sit back, soak up pressure and let Nico Lodeiro find Jordan Morris on the counter when the opportunity arises. One away goal would put the nail in FCD’s coffin.
