Lionel Messi's playoff debut rightfully got a lot of attention, but several other MLS teams made statements
The Game 1s of the First Round of the MLS Playoffs are in the books, and they certainly didn't disappoint.
Inter Miami sealed a dramatic win over play-in side Atlanta United FC, one in which the biggest highlights didn't come from Lionel Messi or Luis Suarez – but rather Jordi Alba and former U.S. international Brad Guzan turning back the clock with nine saves in Miami's 2-1 win. The match also delivered big time for the league, as the Oct. 25 stream was the most widely viewed sporting event ever presented by Apple, according to the platform.
Beyond Messi's playoff debut, other teams made strong statements: LA Galaxy dominated an injury-hit Colorado Rapids, Orlando City SC proved their status as a top contender by defeating Charlotte FC, and LAFC handled Vancouver, despite a late push from the visitors. Then it was all capped off by the New York Red Bulls putting aside a mostly disappointing campaign and stunning the Crew in Columbus.
Here are the key takeaways from Game 1s in the playoffs.
Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowMLS teams aren't going to give Inter Miami red carpet treatment
Atlanta got into the MLS playoffs, sneaking in thanks to several permutations on Deadline Day. In the opener, they were dominated statistically by Inter Miami, but responded in-kind with a few strong punches of their own.
That's the new reality forYes, it would be a marketing dream for MLS to have Inter Miami secure its first MLS Cup with Messi leading the way, but opponents aren't going to be willing participants. Each is going to give Miami their absolute best, Messi and Suarez's legacies notwithstanding.
More important, once the initial Miami onslaught came and went, with Suarez scoring the opening goal in the first two minutes, Atlanta's Rob Valentino's tactics were spot on afterwards. It could provide a potential formula for beating Tata Martino's side: Hit Miami with pace on counterattacks and test goalkeeper Drake Callender on set pieces.
Callender has been underrated cog in Miami's juggernaut, but he looked shaky on several corners for the home side in the first round playoff opener. The Five Stripes likely don't have the quality in personnel to capitalize on Miami's weaknesses, but other more prolific MLS teams might be able to. The blueprint is there.
AdvertisementImagnRed Bulls did what?
The New York Red Bulls entered this season promising the ambition was back after years of heavily relying on their academy and bargain-bin signings. After all, Red Bull Arena is technically the house Thierry Henry – and to a much lesser extent, Tim Cahill – built.
The club opened the offseason with a bold statement by recruiting Emil Forsberg from their Bundesliga affiliate RB Leipzig. Yet, following the Forsberg signing and recruiting respected German manager Sandro Schwarz, it appeared as if the team didn't completely follow through on those ambitions, as additional high-level signings didn't come. Then there were off-the-pitch controversies. Not to mention, Forsberg was amazing when he played, with nine goals and five assists, but he was limited to essentially a half season.
All of this is to say, none of what happened on Tuesday against the Columbus Crew should make sense. The Crew are largely expected to be the second-best squad in MLS following a certain club in South Florida. Yet, the Red Bulls appeared to be delivering on sky-high expectations thanks to an lucky first goal by Felipe Carballo and some incredible goalkeeping by Carlos Coronel with eight saves. It sets up what should be the first must-watch match of the MLS Playoffs when the Red Bulls host the Crew on Sunday.
ImagnFacundo Torres show
To be fair, Facundo Torres doesn't score Orlando's opener without some crafty dribbling and penetration from Ivan Angulo, but Uruguayan's clinical finish still deserves praise. Top right corner without any chance of being saved, it continues to show the growth from the 24-year-old.
Torres didn't deserve to be in the MVP conversation – that is a valid debate between Messi and Cucho Hernandez. But the forward has been in MVP-level form since Aug. 31, scoring six goals in nine appearances, including his goal Sunday. Torres and Orlando continue to be a team that few are talking about, but the East is wide open, especially if the Crew somehow exit in the first round. Florida's other team shouldn't be lightly regarded as it could end up making a run.
ImagnEl Trafico in the WCF feels inevitable
The LA Galaxy were not happy.
After all, this was a team that held on to Western Conference summit until literally the last second of the MLS regular season, before conceding the advantage to their bitter rival LAFC due to a loss to the Houston Dynamo. So unfortunately, the injury-hit and out of form Colorado Rapids were the bystanders of that frustration.
The Rapids, who were without their top two midfielders in Djordje Mihailovic and Cole Bassett, did the best they could to contain LA on the road, but then Dejan Joveljić and Riqui Puig took over: Galaxy 5-0, at the final whistle.
In downtown L.A., LAFC also largely took care of business against a plucky Vancouver Whitecaps side. While the result was less assured, judging on the rest of the field in the Western Conference – it appears as if this is setting up for what should be a dramatic El Trafico in the Western Conference final.
The two LA teams are responsible for seven of the eight goals scored in the Western Conference playoffs — the other coming from the Whitecaps. Game 2s should provide more action, but at the moment, all eyes will be on what happens in Los Angeles.
