2016 MLS Cup playoffs
{{main|2016 Major League Soccer season}}
{{Short description|2016 edition of the MLS playoffs}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2017}}
{{infobox football tournament season
| title = MLS Cup Playoffs
| year = 2016
| country = United States
Canada
| image = File:2016 MLS Cup Playoffs logo.png
| num_teams = 12
| defending champions = Portland Timbers
{{small|(did not qualify)}}
| champions ={{nowrap|Seattle Sounders FC {{small|(1st title)}}}}
| runner-up = Toronto FC
| semi-finalist1 = Colorado Rapids
| semi-finalist2 = Montreal Impact
| attendance = {{#expr:
21759 + 12773 + 18124 + 36151
+ 28220 + 28355 + 15027 + 24314 + 24487 + 17782 + 37073 + 14878
+ 61004 + 36000 + 42774 + 17695
+ 36045
}}
| matches = 17
| goals = 50
| top goal scorer = {{flagicon|USA}} Jozy Altidore
{{small|(5 goals)}}
| prevseason = 2015
| nextseason = 2017
}}
The 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs (branded as the 2016 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for sponsorship reasons) began on October 26, and ended on December 10 with MLS Cup 2016, the 21st league championship match for MLS.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/09/06/mls-announces-broadcast-schedule-format-audi-2016-mls-cup-playoffs|title=MLS announces broadcast schedule, format for Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs|publisher=Major League Soccer|access-date=September 25, 2016|date=September 6, 2016|archive-date=October 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002124227/http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/09/06/mls-announces-broadcast-schedule-format-audi-2016-mls-cup-playoffs|url-status=dead}} This was the 21st version of the MLS Cup Playoffs, the tournament culminating the Major League Soccer regular season.
Twelve teams (the top 6 per conference) competed. The first round of each conference had the third-seeded team hosting the sixth seed while the fourth-seed hosted the fifth in a single match to determine who advanced to the Conference Semifinals. In the Conference Semifinals, the top seed played the lowest remaining seed while the second played the next-lowest. The winners advanced to the Conference Finals. Both the Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals were played as two-legged aggregate series. The winners advanced to the MLS Cup, a single match hosted by the participant with the better regular season record.
Seattle Sounders FC defeated Toronto FC 5–4 on penalties to win their first-ever MLS Cup. The game ended scoreless after extra time.
It was the first MLS Cup in league history that two expansion teams participated in the final.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/story/sounders-vs-toronto-fc-2016-mls-cup-final-preview-121016|title=Toronto FC vs Seattle Sounders is the best MLS Cup matchup you could ask for|work=foxsports.com}} It was also the first time in the league's history that a Canadian MLS team competed in the MLS Cup.
Conference standings
The top 6 teams from each conference advance to the MLS Cup playoffs. Green background denotes also qualified for 2018 CONCACAF Champions League.
{{col-start}}
{{col-3}}
Eastern Conference
{{2016 Major League Soccer Eastern Conference table|show_limit=6||only_pld_pts=true}}
{{col-3}}
Western Conference
{{2016 Major League Soccer Western Conference table|show_limit=6||only_pld_pts=true}}
{{col-3}}
{{col-end}}
Bracket
{{4RoundBracket|legs=1/2/2/1|aggregate=score|byes=1|nowrap=y
|RD1=Knockout round
|RD3=Conference finals
|RD4=MLS Cup
December 10 – Toronto, Ontario
|RD2-group1=Eastern Conference
|RD2-group2=Western Conference
|RD1-group1=October 27 – Washington, D.C.
|RD1-seed3=E4|RD1-team3=D.C. United|RD1-score3=2
|RD1-seed4=E5|RD1-team4=Montreal Impact|RD1-score4=4
|RD1-group2=October 26 – Toronto, Ontario
|RD1-seed7=E3|RD1-team7=Toronto FC|RD1-score7=3
|RD1-seed8=E6|RD1-team8=Philadelphia Union|RD1-score8=1
|RD1-group3=October 27 – Seattle, Washington
|RD1-seed11=W4|RD1-team11=Seattle Sounders FC|RD1-score11=1
|RD1-seed12=W5|RD1-team12=Sporting Kansas City|RD1-score12=0
|RD1-group4=October 26 – Carson, California
|RD1-seed15=W3|RD1-team15=LA Galaxy|RD1-score15=3
|RD1-seed16=W6|RD1-team16=Real Salt Lake |RD1-score16=1
|RD2-seed1=E5|RD2-team1=Montreal Impact|RD2-score1-1=1|RD2-score1-2=2
|RD2-seed2=E1|RD2-team2=New York Red Bulls|RD2-score2-1=0|RD2-score2-2=1
|RD2-seed3=E3|RD2-team3=Toronto FC|RD2-score3-1=2|RD2-score3-2=5
|RD2-seed4=E2|RD2-team4=New York City FC|RD2-score4-1=0|RD2-score4-2=0
|RD2-seed5=W4|RD2-team5=Seattle Sounders FC|RD2-score5-1=3|RD2-score5-2=1
|RD2-seed6=W1|RD2-team6=FC Dallas|RD2-score6-1=0|RD2-score6-2=2
|RD2-seed7=W3|RD2-team7=LA Galaxy|RD2-score7-1=1|RD2-score7-2=0|RD2-score7-agg=1 {{small|(1)}}
|RD2-seed8=W2|RD2-team8=Colorado Rapids {{pso}}|RD2-score8-1=0|RD2-score8-2=1|RD2-score8-agg=1 {{small|(3)}}
|RD3-seed1=E5|RD3-team1=Montreal Impact|RD3-score1-1=3|RD3-score1-2=2
|RD3-seed2=E3|RD3-team2=Toronto FC (a.e.t.)|RD3-score2-1=2|RD3-score2-2=5
|RD3-seed3=W4|RD3-team3=Seattle Sounders FC|RD3-score3-1=2|RD3-score3-2=1
|RD3-seed4=W2|RD3-team4=Colorado Rapids|RD3-score4-1=1|RD3-score4-2=0
|RD4-seed1=E3|RD4-team1=Toronto FC|RD4-score1=0 {{small|(4)}}
|RD4-seed2=W4|RD4-team2=Seattle Sounders FC {{pso}}|RD4-score2=0 {{small|(5)}}
}}
Knockout round
=Summary=
{{OneLegStart}}
|-
|colspan="5" bgcolor=#87CEFA align=center|Eastern Conference
{{OneLegResult|Toronto FC||3–1|Philadelphia Union}}
{{OneLegResult|D.C. United||2–4|Montreal Impact}}
|-
|colspan="5" bgcolor=#FFAEB9 align=center|Western Conference
{{OneLegResult|LA Galaxy||3–1|Real Salt Lake}}
{{OneLegResult|Seattle Sounders FC||1–0|Sporting Kansas City}}
|}
=Matches=
{{Football box
|id = Toronto FC v Philadelphia Union
|date = {{Start date|2016|10|26}}
|time = 7:30 PM EDT
|team1 = Toronto FC
|score = 3–1
|report = http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-10-26-toronto-fc-vs-philadelphia-union
|team2 = Philadelphia Union
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
- Bedoya {{goal|73}}
|stadium = BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario
|attendance = 21,759
|referee = Baldomero Toledo
}}
----
{{Football box
|id = D.C. United v Montreal Impact
|date = {{Start date|2016|10|27}}
|time = 7:30 PM EDT
|team1 = D.C. United
|score = 2–4
|report = http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-10-27-dc-united-vs-montreal-impact
|team2 = Montreal Impact
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
|attendance = 12,773
|referee = Jair Marrufo
}}
----
{{Football box
|id = LA Galaxy v Real Salt Lake
|date = {{Start date|2016|10|26}}
|time = 10:30 PM EDT
|team1 = LA Galaxy
|score = 3–1
|report = http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-10-26-la-galaxy-vs-real-salt-lake
|team2 = Real Salt Lake
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
- Plata {{goal|21|pen.}}
|stadium = StubHub Center, Carson, California
|attendance = 18,124
|referee = Alan Kelly
}}
----
{{Football box
|id = Seattle Sounders FC v Sporting Kansas City
|date = {{Start date|2016|10|27}}
|time = 10:00 PM EDT
|team1 = Seattle Sounders FC
|score = 1–0
|report = http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-10-27-seattle-sounders-fc-vs-sporting-kansas-city
|team2 = Sporting Kansas City
|goals1 =
- Valdez {{goal|88}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington
|attendance = 36,151
|referee = Ismail Elfath
}}
Conference semifinals
=Summary=
{{TwoLegStart}}
|-
|colspan="5" bgcolor=#87CEFA|Eastern Conference
{{TwoLegResult|Toronto FC||7–0|New York City FC||2–0|5–0}}
{{TwoLegResult|Montreal Impact||3–1|New York Red Bulls||1–0|2–1}}
|-
|colspan="5" bgcolor=#FFAEB9|Western Conference
{{TwoLegResult|LA Galaxy||1–1 {{pso|1–3}}|Colorado Rapids||1–0|0–1 {{aet}}}}
{{TwoLegResult|Seattle Sounders FC||4–2|FC Dallas||3–0|1–2}}
|}
=Matches=
{{Football box
|id = Toronto FC v New York City FC
|date = {{Start date|2016|10|30}}
|time = 7:00 PM EDT
|team1 = Toronto FC
|score = 2–0
|report = http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-10-30-toronto-fc-vs-new-york-city-fc
|team2 = New York City FC
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario
|attendance = 28,220
|referee = Silviu Petrescu
}}
{{Football box
|id = New York City FC v Toronto FC
|date = {{Start date|2016|11|6}}
|time = 6:30 PM EST
|team1 = New York City FC
|score = 0–5
|report = http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-11-06-new-york-city-fc-vs-toronto-fc
|team2 = Toronto FC
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York
|attendance = 28,355
|referee = Kevin Stott
}}
Toronto FC won 7–0 on aggregate.
----
{{Football box
|id = Montreal Impact v New York Red Bulls
|date = {{Start date|2016|10|30}}
|time = 3:00 PM EDT
|team1 = Montreal Impact
|score = 1–0
|report = http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-10-30-montreal-impact-vs-new-york-red-bulls
|team2 = New York Red Bulls
|goals1 =
- Mancosu {{goal|61}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = Saputo Stadium, Montreal, Quebec
|attendance = 15,027
|referee = Robert Sibiga
}}
{{Football box
|id = New York Red Bulls v Montreal Impact
|date = {{Start date|2016|11|6}}
|time = 4:00 PM EST
|team1 = New York Red Bulls
|score = 1–2
|report = http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-11-06-new-york-red-bulls-vs-montreal-impact
|team2 = Montreal Impact
|goals1 =
- Wright-Phillips {{goal|77}}
|goals2 =
- Piatti {{goal|51||85}}
|stadium = Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey
|attendance = 24,314
|referee = Baldomero Toledo
}}
Montreal Impact won 3–1 on aggregate.
----
{{Football box
|id = LA Galaxy v Colorado Rapids
|date = {{Start date|2016|10|30}}
|time = 5:00 PM EDT
|team1 = LA Galaxy
|score = 1–0
|report = http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-10-30-la-galaxy-vs-colorado-rapids
|team2 = Colorado Rapids
|goals1 =
- Dos Santos {{goal|55}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = StubHub Center, Carson, California
|attendance = 24,487
|referee = Drew Fischer
}}
{{Football box
|id = Colorado Rapids v LA Galaxy
|date = {{Start date|2016|11|6}}
|time = 2:00 PM EST
|team1 = Colorado Rapids
|score = 1–0
|aet = yes
|report = http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-11-06-colorado-rapids-vs-la-galaxy
|team2 = LA Galaxy
|goals1 =
- Gashi {{goal|36}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado
|attendance = 17,782
|referee = Mark Geiger
|penalties1 =
|penaltyscore = 3–1
|penalties2 =
- {{pengoal}} Gerrard
- {{penmiss}} Dos Santos
- {{penmiss}} Cole
- {{penmiss}} Larentowicz
}}
1–1 on aggregate. Colorado Rapids won 3–1 on penalties.
----
{{Football box
|id = Seattle Sounders FC v FC Dallas
|date = {{Start date|2016|10|30}}
|time = 9:30 PM EDT
|team1 = Seattle Sounders FC
|score = 3–0
|report = http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-10-30-seattle-sounders-fc-vs-fc-dallas
|team2 = FC Dallas
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington
|attendance = 37,073
|referee = Ricardo Salazar
}}
{{Football box
|id = FC Dallas v Seattle Sounders FC
|date = {{Start date|2016|11|6}}
|time = 9:00 PM EST
|team1 = FC Dallas
|score = 2–1
|report = http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-11-06-fc-dallas-vs-seattle-sounders-fc
|team2 = Seattle Sounders FC
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
- Lodeiro {{goal|54}}
|stadium = Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
|attendance = 14,878
|referee = Hilario Grajeda
}}
Seattle Sounders FC won 4–2 on aggregate.
Conference finals
=Summary=
{{TwoLegStart}}
|-
|colspan="5" bgcolor=#87CEFA|Eastern Conference
{{TwoLegResult|Montreal Impact||5–7|Toronto FC||3–2|2–5 {{aet}}}}
|-
|colspan="5" bgcolor=#FFAEB9|Western Conference
{{TwoLegResult|Seattle Sounders FC||3–1|Colorado Rapids||2–1|1–0}}
|}
=Matches=
{{Football box
|id = Montreal Impact v Toronto FC
|date = {{Start date|2016|11|22}}
|time = 8:00 PM EST
|team1 = Montreal Impact
|score = 3–2
|report = http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-11-22-montreal-impact-vs-toronto-fc
|team2 = Toronto FC
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec
|attendance = 61,004
|referee = Juan Guzman
}}
{{Football box
|id = Toronto FC v Montreal Impact
|date = {{Start date|2016|11|30}}
|time = 7:00 PM EST
|team1 = Toronto FC
|score = 5–2
|aet = yes
|report = http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-11-30-toronto-fc-vs-montreal-impact
|team2 = Montreal Impact
|goals1 =
- Cooper {{goal|37}}
- Altidore {{goal|45}}
- Hagglund {{goal|68}}
- Cheyrou {{goal|98}}
- Ricketts {{goal|100}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario
|attendance = 36,000
|referee = Jair Marrufo
}}
Toronto FC won 7–5 on aggregate.
----
{{Football box
|id = Seattle Sounders FC v Colorado Rapids
|date = {{Start date|2016|11|22}}
|time = 9:35 PM EST
|team1 = Seattle Sounders FC
|score = 2–1
|report = http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-11-22-seattle-sounders-fc-vs-colorado-rapids
|team2 = Colorado Rapids
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
- Doyle {{goal|13}}
|stadium = CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington
|attendance = 42,774
|referee = Chris Penso
}}
{{Football box
|id = Colorado Rapids v Seattle Sounders FC
|date = {{Start date|2016|11|27}}
|time = 4:00 PM EST
|team1 = Colorado Rapids
|score = 0–1
|report = http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-11-27-colorado-rapids-vs-seattle-sounders-fc
|team2 = Seattle Sounders FC
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
- Morris {{goal|56}}
|stadium = Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado
|attendance = 17,695
|referee = Ricardo Salazar
}}
Seattle Sounders FC won 3–1 on aggregate.
MLS Cup
{{main|MLS Cup 2016}}
{{:MLS Cup 2016}}
Top goalscorers
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| Rank
!Player !Club |
|---|
| rowspan="1"|1
|align="left"|{{flagicon|USA}} Jozy Altidore |align="left"|Toronto FC |rowspan="1"|5 |
| rowspan="4"|2
|align="left"|{{flagicon|ITA}} Sebastian Giovinco |align="left"|Toronto FC |rowspan="4"|4 |
| align="left"|{{flagicon|URU}} Nicolás Lodeiro
|align="left"|Seattle Sounders FC |
| align="left"|{{flagicon|ITA}} Matteo Mancosu
|align="left"|Montreal Impact |
| align="left"|{{flagicon|ARG}} Ignacio Piatti
|align="left"|Montreal Impact |
| rowspan="6"|6
|align="left"|{{flagicon|GHA}} Emmanuel Boateng |align="left"|LA Galaxy |rowspan="6"|2 |
| align="left"|{{flagicon|USA}} Jordan Morris
|align="left"|Seattle Sounders FC |
| align="left"|{{flagicon|GHA}} Dominic Oduro
|align="left"|Montreal Impact |
| align="left"|{{flagicon|CAN}} Jonathan Osorio
|align="left"|Toronto FC |
| align="left"|{{flagicon|CAN}} Tosaint Ricketts
|align="left"|Toronto FC |
| align="left"|{{flagicon|PAR}} Nelson Valdez
|align="left"|Seattle Sounders FC |
References
{{reflist}}
{{MLSCup}}
{{2016 in American soccer}}
{{2016 in Canadian soccer}}
{{2015–16 in North and Central America, and Caribbean football (CONCACAF) |state=collapsed}}
{{2016–17 in North and Central America, and Caribbean football (CONCACAF) |state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mls Cup Playoffs 2016}}