2015 MLS Cup playoffs

{{infobox football tournament season

| title = MLS Cup Playoffs

| year = 2015

| country = United States
Canada

| image = 200px

| num_teams = 12

| defending_champions = LA Galaxy

| winners = {{nowrap|Portland Timbers {{small|(1st title)}}}}

| num_titles = 1

| second = Columbus Crew SC

| semifinal1 = FC Dallas

| semifinal2 = New York Red Bulls

| matches = 17

| goals = 46

| scoring_leader = {{flagicon|SLE}} Kei Kamara
{{small|(4 goals)}}

| attendance = 388289

| prev_season = 2014

| next_season = 2016

}}

The 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs (officially the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs for sponsorship reasons){{cite web|title=MLS announces partnership with Audi, including presenting sponsorship of MLS Cup Playoffs|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/03/06/mls-announces-partnership-audi-including-presenting-sponsorship-mls-cup-playoffs|website=mlssoccer.com|publisher=Major League Soccer|access-date=October 5, 2015}} was the 20th post-season tournament culminating the Major League Soccer regular season. The tournament began on October 28 with D.C. United defeating New England Revolution and culminated on December 6, 2015, with MLS Cup 2015, the twentieth league championship match for MLS.

Twelve teams{{cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/10/27/armchair-analyst-ranking-audi-2015-mls-cup-playoff-teams-1-through-12|title=Armchair Analyst: Ranking the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoff teams, 1-through-12|work=MLSsoccer.com}} (top 6 per conference) competed, up from 10 the last 3 seasons. The first round of each conference had the third-seeded team hosting the sixth seed, while the fourth-seed hosts the fifth, in a single match to determine who advances to the Conference Semifinals. In the Conference Semifinals, the top seed plays the lowest remaining seed while the second seed plays the next-lowest. The winners advanced to the Conference Finals.

Both the Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals are played as two-legged aggregate series. If teams are level at the end of the second leg, the away goals rule will be used in attempt to determine a winner. If the away goals rule does not resolve the deadlock, 30 minutes of extra time will be played, but the away goals rule will not be applied after extra time. If scores are still level following extra time, a penalty shootout will be conducted.

The winners advance to the MLS Cup final, a single match hosted by the participant with the better regular season record.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2015/10/20/audi-mls-cup-playoffs-101-everything-you-need-know-about-postseason|title=Audi MLS Cup Playoffs 101: Everything you need to know about the postseason|work=MLSsoccer.com}}

The winner of MLS Cup 2015, Portland Timbers qualified for the 2016–17 CONCACAF Champions League. If a Canadian team were to win the MLS Cup, the next-best team from the United States will take their place.{{cite web|url=https://vancouversun.com/sports/Whitecaps+face+fine+balancing+settling+Voyageurs+lineup/11314360/story.html|title=Whitecaps face fine balancing act in settling on Voyageurs Cup lineup|last1=Kingston|first1=Gary|date=August 25, 2015|publisher=Vancouver Sun|access-date=September 1, 2015}}

On March 6, 2015, Audi was announced as the official sponsor of the playoffs starting in 2015.

The Portland Timbers won the MLS Cup by defeating the Columbus Crew SC by a score of 2–1. The Timbers' Diego Valeri scored the fastest goal in MLS Cup history at 27 seconds after Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark, made a fundamental error after he miscontrolled his defender's back-pass; allowing Valeri to strike at the opportunity.{{cite news|url=http://nesn.com/2015/12/diego-valeri-scores-fastest-goal-in-mls-cup-history-for-portland-timbers/|title=Portland Timbers' Diego Valeri Scores Fastest Goal In MLS Cup History (Video)|agency=NESN|date=December 6, 2015|access-date=December 6, 2015}}

2015 MLS Conference standings

The top 6 teams from each conference advance to the MLS Cup playoffs. Green background denotes also qualified for 2016–17 CONCACAF Champions League.

Eastern Conference

{{2015 Major League Soccer Eastern Conference table|show_limit=6||only_pld_pts=true}}

Western Conference

{{2015 Major League Soccer Western Conference table|show_limit=6||only_pld_pts=true}}

Bracket

{{12TeamBracket-Info|RD2-legs=2|RD3-legs=2|aggregate=y

|RD1=Knockout round

|RD2=Conference semifinals

|RD3=Conference finals

|RD4=MLS Cup

|RD2-text2={{center|Eastern Conference}}

|RD2-text4={{center|Western Conference}}

|RD1-text1 = October 29 – {{Lang|fr|Stade Saputo}}|RD1-seed1 = E6|RD1-team1 =Toronto FC|RD1-score1 =0|RD1-seed2 =E3|RD1-team2 =Montreal Impact|RD1-score2 =3

|RD1-text3 = October 29 – Providence Park|RD1-seed5 =W6|RD1-team5 =Sporting Kansas City|RD1-score5 =2 {{small|(6)}}|RD1-seed6 =W3|RD1-team6 =Portland Timbers {{pen}}|RD1-score6 =2 {{small|(7)}}

|RD2-seed1=E3|RD2-team1=Montreal Impact|RD2-score1-1=2|RD2-score1-2=1|RD2-score1-agg=3|RD2-seed2=E2|RD2-team2=Columbus Crew {{aet}}|RD2-score2-1=1|RD2-score2-2=3|RD2-score2-agg=4

|RD2-seed7=W4|RD2-team7=Seattle Sounders FC|RD2-score7-1=2|RD2-score7-2=1|RD2-score7-agg=3 {{small|(2)}}|RD2-seed8=W1|RD2-team8=FC Dallas {{pen}}|RD2-score8-1=1|RD2-score8-2=2|RD2-score8-agg={{nowrap|3 {{small|(4)}}}}

}}

Source: {{cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/playoffs/2015/bracket|title=MLS Playoff Bracket|access-date=October 29, 2015|work=MLSsoccer.com}}

Schedule

= Knockout round =

== Eastern Conference ==

{{Football box

|date = October 28

|time = 7:30 PM EST

|team1 = D.C. United

|score = 2–1

|report = [http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-10-28-dc-united-vs-new-england-revolution/boxscore Report]

|team2 = New England Revolution

|goals1 = Pontius {{goal|45}}
Rolfe {{goal|83}}

|goals2 = Agudelo {{goal|15}}

|stadium = RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.

|attendance = 11,554

|referee = Mark Geiger

}}

----

{{football box

|date = October 29

|time = 7:00 PM EST

|team1 = Montreal Impact

|score = 3–0

|report = [http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-10-29-montreal-impact-vs-toronto-fc/feed Report]

|team2 = Toronto FC

|goals1 = Bernier {{goal|18}}
Piatti {{goal|33}}
Drogba {{goal|39}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Saputo Stadium, Montreal, Quebec

|attendance = 18,069

|referee = Baldomero Toledo

}}

== Western Conference ==

{{Football box

|date = October 28

|time = 10:00 PM EST

|team1 = Seattle Sounders FC

|score = 3–2

|report = [http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-10-28-seattle-sounders-fc-vs-la-galaxy/boxscore Report]

|team2 = LA Galaxy

|goals1 = Dempsey {{goal|5}}
Valdez {{goal|12}}
Friberg {{goal|77}}

|goals2 = Lletget {{goal|6}}
Zardes {{goal|22}}

|stadium = CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington

|attendance = 39,537

|referee = Jair Marrufo

}}

----

{{Football box

|date = October 29

|time = 10:00 PM EST

|team1 = Portland Timbers

|score = 2–2

|report = [http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-10-29-portland-timbers-vs-sporting-kansas-city/boxscore Report]

|team2 = Sporting Kansas City

|goals1 = Wallace {{goal|57}}
Urruti {{goal|118}}

|goals2 = Ellis {{goal|87}}
Németh {{goal|96}}

|aet = y

|penalties1 = Valeri {{penmiss}}
Borchers {{pengoal}}
Ridgewell {{pengoal}}
Jewsbury {{penmiss}}
Urruti {{pengoal}}
Villafaña {{penmiss}}
Asprilla {{pengoal}}
Nagbe {{pengoal}}
Powell {{penmiss}}
Fochive {{pengoal}}
Kwarasey {{pengoal}}

|penaltyscore = 7–6

|penalties2 = {{pengoal}} Feilhaber
{{penmiss}} Dwyer
{{pengoal}} Zusi
{{penmiss}} Besler
{{pengoal}} Nagamura
{{penmiss}} Ellis
{{pengoal}} Mustivar
{{pengoal}} Peterson
{{penmiss}} Abdul-Salaam
{{pengoal}} Dia
{{penmiss}} Kempin

|stadium = Providence Park, Portland, Oregon

|attendance = 21,144

|referee = Armando Villarreal

}}

= Conference semifinals =

== Eastern Conference ==

{{Football box

|date = November 1

|time = 3:00 PM EST

|team1 = D.C. United

|score = 0–1

|report = [http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-11-01-dc-united-vs-new-york-red-bulls/feed Report]

|team2 = New York Red Bulls

|goals1 =

|goals2 = McCarty {{goal|72}}

|stadium = RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.

|attendance = 19,525

|referee = Fotis Bazakos

}}

----

{{Football box

|date = November 8

|time = 3:00 PM EST

|team1 = New York Red Bulls

|score = 1–0

|report = [http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-11-08-new-york-red-bulls-vs-dc-united/feed Report]

|team2 = D.C. United

|goals1 = Wright-Phillips {{goal|90+2}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey

|attendance = 25,219

|referee = Ted Unkel

}}

New York Red Bulls win 2–0 on aggregate

{{Football box

|date = November 1

|time = 7:00 PM EST

|team1 = Montreal Impact

|score = 2–1

|report = [http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-11-01-montreal-impact-vs-columbus-crew-sc/feed Report]

|team2 = Columbus Crew SC

|goals1 = Bernier {{goal|37}}
Venegas {{goal|77}}

|goals2 = Higuaín {{goal|33}}

|stadium = Saputo Stadium, Montreal, Quebec

|attendance = 17,655

|referee = Chris Penso

}}

----

{{Football box

|date = November 8

|time = 5:00 PM EST

|team1 = Columbus Crew SC

|score = 3–1

|report = [http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-11-08-columbus-crew-sc-vs-montreal-impact/feed Report]

|team2 = Montreal Impact

|goals1 = Kamara {{goal|4||111}}
Finlay {{goal|77}}

|goals2 = Duka {{goal|40}}

|aet = y

|stadium = MAPFRE Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

|attendance = 19,026

|referee = Armando Villarreal

}}

Columbus Crew wins 4–3 on aggregate

== Western Conference ==

{{Football box

|date = November 1

|time = 5:00 PM EST

|team1 = Portland Timbers

|score = 0–0

|report = [http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-11-01-portland-timbers-vs-vancouver-whitecaps-fc/feed Report]

|team2 = Vancouver Whitecaps FC

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = Providence Park, Portland, Oregon

|attendance = 21,144

|referee = Allen Chapman

}}

----

{{Football box

|date = November 8

|time = 10:00 PM EST

|team1 = Vancouver Whitecaps FC

|score = 0–2

|report = [http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-11-08-vancouver-whitecaps-fc-vs-portland-timbers/feed Report]

|team2 = Portland Timbers

|goals1 =

|goals2 = Adi {{goal|31}}
Chara {{goal|90+4}}

|stadium = BC Place, Vancouver, British Columbia

|attendance = 27,837

|referee = Ismail Elfath

}}

Portland Timbers win 2–0 on aggregate

{{Football box

|date = November 1

|time = 9:30 PM EST

|team1 = Seattle Sounders FC

|score = 2–1

|report = [http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-11-01-seattle-sounders-fc-vs-fc-dallas/feed Report]

|team2 = FC Dallas

|goals1 = Ivanschitz {{goal|67}}
Dempsey {{goal|86}}

|goals2 = Castillo {{goal|18}}

|stadium = CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington

|attendance = 39,599

|referee = Kevin Stott

}}

----

{{Football box

|date = November 8

|time = 7:30 PM EST

|team1 = FC Dallas

|score = 2–1

|report = [http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-11-08-fc-dallas-vs-seattle-sounders-fc/feed Report]

|team2 = Seattle Sounders FC

|goals1 = Akindele {{goal|84}}
Zimmerman {{goal|90+1}}

|goals2 = Marshall {{goal|90}}

|aet = y

|penalties1 = Diaz {{pengoal}}
Hollingshead {{pengoal}}
Akindele {{pengoal}}
Zimmerman {{pengoal}}

|penaltyscore = 4–2

|penalties2 = {{pengoal}} Dempsey
{{penmiss}} Ivanschitz
{{penmiss}} Barrett
{{pengoal}} Rose

|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas

|attendance = 17,287

|referee = Baldomero Toledo

}}

FC Dallas wins 4–2 on penalties after 3–3 draw on aggregate

= Conference finals =

== Eastern Conference ==

{{Football box

|date = November 22

|time = 5:00 PM EST

|team1 = Columbus Crew SC

|score = 2–0

|report = [http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-11-22-columbus-crew-sc-vs-new-york-red-bulls/boxscore Report]

|team2 = New York Red Bulls

|goals1 = Meram {{goal|1}}
Kamara {{goal|85}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = MAPFRE Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

|attendance = 21,617

|referee = Allen Chapman

}}

----

{{Football box

|date = November 29

|time = 7:30 PM EST

|team1 = New York Red Bulls

|score = 1–0

|report = [http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-11-29-new-york-red-bulls-vs-columbus-crew-sc/boxscore Report]

|team2 = Columbus Crew SC

|goals1 = Abang {{goal|90+3}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey

|attendance = 25,219

|referee = Baldomero Toledo

}}

Columbus Crew wins 2–1 on aggregate

== Western Conference ==

{{Football box

|date = November 22

|time = 7:30 PM EST

|team1 = Portland Timbers

|score = 3–1

|report = [http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-11-22-portland-timbers-vs-fc-dallas/boxscore Report]

|team2 = FC Dallas

|goals1 = Ridgewell {{goal|23}}
Asprilla {{goal|53}}
Borchers {{goal|90+1}}

|goals2 = Texeira {{goal|62}}

|stadium = Providence Park, Portland, Oregon

|attendance = 21,144

|referee = Ted Unkel

}}

----

{{Football box

|date = November 29

|time = 5:00 PM EST

|team1 = FC Dallas

|score = 2–2

|report = [http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-11-29-fc-dallas-vs-portland-timbers/boxscore Report]

|team2 = Portland Timbers

|goals1 = Hollingshead {{goal|68}}
Pérez {{goal|73}}

|goals2 = Adi {{goal|54}}
Melano {{goal|90+5}}

|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas

|attendance = 20,966

|referee = Ismail Elfath

}}

Portland Timbers win 5–3 on aggregate

= MLS Cup =

{{football box

|round=

|date = December 6

|time = 4:00 p.m. EST

|team1 = Columbus Crew SC

|score = 1–2

|report = [http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2015-12-06-columbus-crew-sc-vs-portland-timbers/boxscore Report]

|team2 = Portland Timbers

|goals1 = Kamara {{goal|18}}

|goals2 = Valeri {{goal|1}}
Wallace {{goal|7}}

|stadium = MAPFRE Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

|attendance = 21,747

|referee = Jair Marrufo

}}

Goalscorers

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Rank !Player !Club !Goals {{cite web\|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/schedule?month=all&year=2015&club=select&club_options=8\|title=Schedule\|work=MLSsoccer.com}}
rowspan="1"\|1 \|align="left"\|{{flagicon\|SLE}} Kei Kamara \|align="left"\|Columbus Crew SC \|rowspan="1"\|4
rowspan="4"\|2 \|align="left"\|{{flagicon\|NGR}} Fanendo Adi \|align="left"\|Portland Timbers \|rowspan="4"\|2
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|CAN}} Patrice Bernier \|align="left"\|Montreal Impact
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|USA}} Clint Dempsey \|align="left"\|Seattle Sounders FC
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|CRC}} Rodney Wallace \|align="left"\|Portland Timbers
rowspan="34"\|6 \|align="left"\|{{flagicon\|CMR}} Anatole Abang \|align="left"\|New York Red Bulls \|rowspan="34"\|1
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|USA}} Juan Agudelo \|align="left"\|New England Revolution
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|CAN}} Tesho Akindele \|align="left"\|FC Dallas
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|COL}} Dairon Asprilla \|align="left"\|Portland Timbers
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|USA}} Nat Borchers \|align="left"\|Portland Timbers
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|COL}} Fabian Castillo \|align="left"\|FC Dallas
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|COL}} Diego Chará \|align="left"\|Portland Timbers
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|CIV}} Didier Drogba \|align="left"\|Montreal Impact
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|USA}} Dilly Duka \|align="left"\|Montreal Impact
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|USA}} Kevin Ellis \|align="left"\|Sporting Kansas City
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|USA}} Ethan Finlay \|align="left"\|Columbus Crew SC
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|SWE}} Erik Friberg \|align="left"\|Seattle Sounders FC
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|ARG}} Federico Higuaín \|align="left"\|Columbus Crew SC
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|USA}} Ryan Hollingshead \|align="left"\|FC Dallas
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|AUT}} Andreas Ivanschitz \|align="left"\|Seattle Sounders FC
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|USA}} Sebastian Lletget \|align="left"\|LA Galaxy
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|USA}} Chad Marshall \|align="left"\|Seattle Sounders FC
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|ARG}} Lucas Melano \|align="left"\|Portland Timbers
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|USA}} Dax McCarty \|align="left"\|New York Red Bulls
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|IRQ}} Justin Meram \|align="left"\|Columbus Crew SC
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|HUN}} Krisztián Németh \|align="left"\|Sporting Kansas City
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|PAN}} Blas Pérez \|align="left"\|FC Dallas
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|ARG}} Ignacio Piatti \|align="left"\|Montreal Impact
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|USA}} Chris Pontius \|align="left"\|D.C. United
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|ENG}} Liam Ridgewell \|align="left"\|Portland Timbers
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|USA}} Chris Rolfe \|align="left"\|D.C. United
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|URU}} David Texeira \|align="left"\|FC Dallas
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|ARG}} Maximiliano Urruti \|align="left"\|Portland Timbers
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|PAR}} Nelson Valdez \|align="left"\|Seattle Sounders FC
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|ARG}} Diego Valeri \|align="left"\|Portland Timbers
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|CRC}} Johan Venegas \|align="left"\|Montreal Impact
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|ENG}} Bradley Wright-Phillips \|align="left"\|New York Red Bulls
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|USA}} Gyasi Zardes \|align="left"\|LA Galaxy
align="left"\|{{flagicon\|USA}} Walker Zimmerman \|align="left"\|FC Dallas

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

Rank

!Player

!Club

!Goals {{cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/schedule?month=all&year=2015&club=select&club_options=8|title=Schedule|work=MLSsoccer.com}}

rowspan="1"|1

|align="left"|{{flagicon|SLE}} Kei Kamara

|align="left"|Columbus Crew SC

|rowspan="1"|4

rowspan="4"|2

|align="left"|{{flagicon|NGR}} Fanendo Adi

|align="left"|Portland Timbers