The L.A.-based clubs might have all of the headliners, but there will be plenty of drama in the Hudson River Derby and Atlanta-Orlando series too..
Round 1 of the 2024 MLS Playoffs wrapped just less than two weeks ago in stunning fashion.
Lionel Messi's Inter Miami crashed out of the postseason, along with reigning-champions Columbus Crew and 2023 Supporters' Shield winners FC Cincinnati — the top three seeds of the East all done in the opening round.
It's been a dramatic postseason so far, but things are just starting to heat up. The Conference Semifinals return this weekend and it's a win-or-go-home situation for each team competing, with the three-match series format no longer in play. Matches will go straight to extra-time and will be followed by a penalty shootout if needed as knockout-style soccer enters the fray.
Olivier Giroud and LAFC host Jordan Morris and the Seattle Sounders, while Riqui Puig and the LA Galaxy clash with first-year head coach Eric Ramsay and Minnesota United in the West. In the East, the Hudson River Derby takes center-stage as New York City Football Club host New York Red Bulls at Citi Field in Queens, with the famed rivalry bringing the two teams together. In Florida, giant-slayers Atlanta United look to continue their Cinderella story run after defeating Miami when they visit Orlando City SC and Uruguayan star Facundo Torres.
GOALUS takes a look at each team's keys to success, players to watch and offers a bold prediction ahead of the four matches this weekend.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowUSA Today ImagesNo. 1 LAFC vs. No. 4 Seattle Sounders
LAFC's keys to success: Play the long game, and play for moments. Seattle will rarely mess up defensively, but where they can capitalize is either on the counter, or in moments where a lapse creates a hole in the back. They'll need either Mateusz Bogusz or Olivier Giroud to provide hold-up play in the middle of the final-third, which will allow their wingers to invert, allowing for scoring opportunities. It won't be easy for Steve Cherundolo's side, but all they need is one goal. If they can put Seattle under pressure by scoring first, it will force the Sounders to slowly move forward, allowing them more opportunity in and around the box.
Player to watch: Denis Bouanga
The 2023 Golden Boot winner, Bouanga is coming off an international break where he scored a brilliant curling strike for Gabon, meaning he's a man in form. If LAFC an get him space either on the edge of the box, or inside it, he will create scoring opportunities – that is a guarantee. Getting Giroud involved will also critical to this team's success.
Seattle's keys to success: The Sounders need to put pressure on LAFC early, and find the back of the net. They're not a high-scoring team, but the thing they are good at though, is absorbing and inviting pressure. If Seattle can find an early goal, it will allow the league's best defense to put on a clinic in their own end of the pitch. Seattle will let LAFC aim attack all they want, but the key is not allowing their opponents to get into dangerous areas.
Player to watch: Jordan Morris
The U.S. international is back after missing the majority of Round 1 due to injury, and that instantly boosts Seattle's odds. He is having a career season, and a playoff goal would only sweeten the taste of that phrase. Get him the ball, and he will surely get a chance or two to find the back of the net.
GOAL's prediction: The Sounders defensive resilience will see them come out on top here, upsetting the No. 1 seed. Jackson Ragen will score an 88th minute header to seal a 1-0 victory for the away side.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesNo. 2 LA Galaxy vs. No. 6 Minnesota United
LA's keys to success: Play fast and overwhelm Minnesota from the opening whistle. When the Galaxy find early momentum, they tend to end up on the positive end of a result. The struggled in the final-third against RSL in Round 1, meaning if LA can get an early goal, they will force MNUFC to push into the attack, which automatically opens up their back line, giving them more scoring opportunities as the match goes on.
With the league's most in-form attack, LA should plan everything around overwhelming the Loons defense, forcing them into mistakes.
Player to watch: Riqui Puig
Through two playoff games this season so far, he has four goals. His current form is something we have not seen previously from the ex-Barcelona man in MLS, and that's saying a lot as he's a two-time MLS MVP nominee. Get him the ball anywhere near around the box and he is an immediate threat.
MNUFC's keys to success: There are two ways the can play this match. The first, is locking down immediately and inviting pressure – similar to how they beat RSL. If Minnesota can own the first 45 minutes of the match and get into halftime scoreless, it will force LA manager Greg Vanney to make changes, which will ultimately be to its benefit. The second is, from the opening whistle, to pounce. If United can find a goal within the opening 15 minutes, they can sit back and invite LA to attack – an area where they excel.
Minnesota isn't flashy, but if there's one thing it is, it's composed under pressure and that might be where they have the best chance of getting a victory.
Player to watch: Kelvin Yeboah
He brought in to the club in August as a Designated Player from Serie A side Genoa, Yeboah has been impressive since his arrival. He recorded the assist that sent his team to penalties in Game 2 against RSL, and has seven goal-contributions in 11 appearances otherwise. If United an find him in the box, they'll be able to test the Galaxy's defense with a proven scorer.
GOAL's prediction: The Galaxy should be able to come clean with a victory here. That's not saying the won't put up a fight, but LA – on paper – is a better team with better attacking pieces. A 3-1 victory for the hosts feels like a potential result on the cards.
Getty Images SportNo. 4 Orlando City vs. No. 9 Atlanta United
Orlando's keys to success: Destroy Atlanta in the midfield. Dax McCarty has been brilliant this season, but he can only play so many minutes. Orlando needs to make Atlanta run for the ball with no easy access to passing lanes or channels. If they can force Atlanta to playing the long game, they can stretch them in the midfield, which will allow them to put more people forward in the box, creating attacking chances. If the can manage that, the odds instantly go in their favor.
Player to watch: Facundo Torres
The Uruguayan is a menace in front of net and around the box. Give him any space at all and he will make something happen, whether it's service, a shot on target or just advancing the ball forward.
Atlanta's keys to success: Embrace the underdog mentality and run with it. The world is expecting them to fall after beating Miami last round, because that's how storylines in sports work. However, Atlanta need to ride their momentum and prove the world wrong. What made them so successful against the was their ability to hit the counter-attack so quickly, while capitalizing on errors in the midfield. Against Orlando, they have to stay locked-in from the opening whistle onward, playing without mistakes themselves, while capitalizing on their opposition's.
Player to watch: Brad Guzan
It has to be, right? Through Round 1, he is hands-down the top performer of the postseason so far. If his goalkeeping heroics can give Atlanta an edge at all, it gives them a better chance to advance.
GOAL's prediction: The will continue dancing through the postseason. They feel like a team of destiny at the moment, and as a result, they're going to defeat Orlando 2-1 in regulation in the semifinals.
Getty Images SportNo. 6 NYCFC vs. No. 7 New York Red Bulls
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NYCFC's keys to success: Play freely with confidence. They've beaten the Red Bulls twice this season, both home and away, so they know they can pull out a result. More importantly, though, they're unbeaten this postseason and need to ride that momentum. If they can use home field to their advantage and make RBNY uncomfortable every time they are on the ball, mistakes will be made, and those are the moments where they need to capitalize on things.
Player to watch: Alonso Martinez
Their leading scorer, Martinez is their best bet for a goal against the Red Bulls. A threat on set pieces, on the counter or in the box, the Costa Rican is a danger in the final-third if he can be found.
RBNY's keys to success: Their first step towards winning, is ignoring the past. They had a rough second half of the season, but their performance against the Crew was a reminder of how good their roster is when they are at their best. The second is attack, nonstop, and don't let up. When NYCFC are at their weakest, it's when they are put under constant pressure. The third is to own the midfield – they need to control the tempo on the road and not let NYCFC win the middle of the park.
Player to watch: Emil Forsberg
The Swede is a versatile attacker who can both create and score. He was crucial in their Round 1 victory over the Crew, and is their X-factor heading into the match. Get him the ball, and he can make things happen.
GOAL's prediction: The will go three-for-three this season against RBNY, winning for the third time against their rivals across all competitions in 2024. It will be a much closer affair than their September meeting, though, when NYCFC won 5-1. An extra-time goal will settle things for the hosts before penalties after a scoreless regulation period.
