2019 MLS Cup playoffs
{{Short description|2019 edition of the MLS playoffs}}
{{main|2019 Major League Soccer season}}
{{use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{use American English|date=February 2022}}
{{infobox football tournament season
| title = MLS Cup Playoffs
| year = 2019
| country = United States
Canada
| image = File:2019 MLS Cup Playoffs Logo.png
| dates = {{nowrap|October 19 – November 10}}
| num_teams = 14
| defending champions = Atlanta United FC
| champions = Seattle Sounders FC
(2nd title)
| runner-up = Toronto FC
| semi-finalist1 = Atlanta United FC
| semi-finalist2 = Los Angeles FC
| matches = 13
| attendance = {{#expr:
17452 + 66114 + 25331 + 37722 + 18530 + 19939
+ 19829 + 37722 + 41507 + 22902
+ 22099 + 44055
+ 69274
}}
| goals = 53
| top goal scorer = {{flagicon|PER|football}} Raúl Ruidíaz
(4 goals)
| prevseason = 2018
| nextseason = 2020
}}
The 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs (branded as the 2019 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for sponsorship reasons) was the post-season championship of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top soccer league in the United States and Canada. It was the 24th edition of the MLS Cup Playoffs, the tournament culminating at the end of the 2019 regular season. The playoffs began on October 19, 2019, and concluded with MLS Cup 2019 on November 10.{{cite web |last=Bogert |first=Tom |date=December 17, 2018 |title=MLS announces new playoff format for 2019 season |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/12/13/2019-mls-playoff-structure |publisher=Major League Soccer |access-date=December 17, 2018}}
The playoffs were contested by fourteen teams under a new format, with the top seven teams from both conferences qualifying based on their regular season performances. All rounds used single-elimination matches that were hosted by the higher remaining seed, and no rounds would be re-seeded unlike previous years. As a result, the playoffs were played over a 23-day period without interruptions from an international break, as was previously the case.{{cite news |last=Evans |first=Jayda |date=October 10, 2019 |title=Sounders torn on MLS's new playoff format: Some apprehension, yet 'it's going to be super dramatic' |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sounders/sounders-torn-on-mls-new-playoff-format-some-apprehension-yet-its-going-to-be-super-dramatic/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=April 13, 2023}}
The first round (October 19–20) featured the second through seventh-seeded teams in each conference playing each other, with the first-placed teams in each conference receiving a bye. The winners of the first round advanced to the Conference Semifinals (October 23–24) along with the first-placed team from each conference. The winners of the Conference Semifinals then advanced to the Conference Finals (October 29–30) for an MLS Cup berth.{{cite news |date=August 28, 2019 |title=MLS announces schedule for Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/08/28/mls-announces-schedule-audi-2019-mls-cup-playoffs |publisher=Major League Soccer |access-date=August 31, 2019 |archive-date=September 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902083730/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/08/28/mls-announces-schedule-audi-2019-mls-cup-playoffs |url-status=dead }}
Atlanta United FC were the defending MLS Cup champions, having won their first title in MLS Cup 2018, but were eliminated by Toronto FC in the Conference Finals. The 2019 regular season Supporters' Shield champions were Los Angeles FC, but they were also eliminated in the Conference Finals by Seattle Sounders FC. For the first time in league history, the four conference finalists were all expansion teams and did not feature any of the ten original teams from the inaugural season.{{cite news |last=Boehm |first=Charles |date=October 27, 2019 |title=Changing of the guard? For first time ever, no founding MLS clubs in Conference Finals |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/10/27/changing-guard-first-time-ever-no-founding-mls-clubs-conference-finals |work=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=October 27, 2019}} Seattle hosted MLS Cup 2019 and won 3–1 in their third finals played against Toronto FC.
Qualified teams
{{col-float-begin}}
- Atlanta United FC
- D.C. United
- New England Revolution
- New York City FC
- New York Red Bulls
- Philadelphia Union
- Toronto FC
{{col-float-break}}
- FC Dallas
- LA Galaxy
- Los Angeles FC
- Minnesota United FC
- Portland Timbers
- Real Salt Lake
- Seattle Sounders FC
{{col-float-end}}
Conference standings
The top seven teams from each conference advanced to the MLS Cup Playoffs, with the top team in each conference receiving a first-round bye. Background colors denote playoff teams, with green also qualifying for the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League, and blue also qualifying for the 2020 Leagues Cup. Non-playoff Montreal Impact qualified for the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League as winners of the 2019 Canadian Championship.
{{col-start}}
{{col-3}}
Eastern Conference
{{2019 Major League Soccer Eastern Conference table|show_limit=6||only_pld_pts=true}}
{{col-3}}
Western Conference
{{2019 Major League Soccer Western Conference table|show_limit=6||only_pld_pts=true}}
{{col-3}}
{{col-end}}
Bracket
{{14TeamBracket
| RD1=First round
October 19–20
| RD2=Conference semifinals
October 23–24
| RD3=Conference finals
October 29–30
| RD4=MLS Cup
November 10
| team-width=16em
| RD2-group1=Eastern Conference
| RD2-group2=Western Conference
| RD1-seed01=E4
| RD1-team01=Toronto FC {{aet}}
| RD1-score01=5
| RD1-seed02=E5
| RD1-team02=D.C. United
| RD1-score02=1
| RD1-seed03=E2
| RD1-team03=Atlanta United FC
| RD1-score03=1
| RD1-seed04=E7
| RD1-team04={{nowrap|New England Revolution}}
| RD1-score04=0
| RD1-seed05=E3
| RD1-team05=Philadelphia Union {{aet}}
| RD1-score05=4
| RD1-seed06=E6
| RD1-team06=New York Red Bulls
| RD1-score06=3
| RD1-seed07=W4
| RD1-team07=Minnesota United FC
| RD1-score07=1
| RD1-seed08=W5
| RD1-team08=LA Galaxy
| RD1-score08=2
| RD1-seed09=W2
| RD1-team09={{nowrap|Seattle Sounders FC {{aet}}}}
| RD1-score09=4
| RD1-seed10=W7
| RD1-team10=FC Dallas
| RD1-score10=3
| RD1-seed11=W3
| RD1-team11=Real Salt Lake
| RD1-score11=2
| RD1-seed12=W6
| RD1-team12=Portland Timbers
| RD1-score12=1
| RD2-seed01=E1
| RD2-team01=New York City FC
| RD2-score01=1
| RD2-seed02=E4
| RD2-team02=Toronto FC
| RD2-score02=2
| RD2-seed03=E2
| RD2-team03=Atlanta United FC
| RD2-score03=2
| RD2-seed04=E3
| RD2-team04=Philadelphia Union
| RD2-score04=0
| RD2-seed05=W1
| RD2-team05=Los Angeles FC
| RD2-score05=5
| RD2-seed06=W5
| RD2-team06=LA Galaxy
| RD2-score06=3
| RD2-seed07=W2
| RD2-team07=Seattle Sounders FC
| RD2-score07=2
| RD2-seed08=W3
| RD2-team08=Real Salt Lake
| RD2-score08=0
| RD3-seed01=E4
| RD3-team01=Toronto FC
| RD3-score01=2
| RD3-seed02=E2
| RD3-team02=Atlanta United FC
| RD3-score02=1
| RD3-seed03=W1
| RD3-team03=Los Angeles FC
| RD3-score03=1
| RD3-seed04=W2
| RD3-team04=Seattle Sounders FC
| RD3-score04=3
| RD4-seed01=E4
| RD4-team01=Toronto FC
| RD4-score01=1
| RD4-seed02=W2
| RD4-team02=Seattle Sounders FC
| RD4-score02=3
}}
Note: The higher seeded team hosted matches, with the MLS Cup host determined by overall points.
{{#if:{{{source}}}|
{{small|Source: [https://www.mlssoccer.com/mls-cup-playoffs/2019/bracket 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs Bracket]}}}}
First round
=Eastern Conference=
In the opening match of the playoffs, defending champions Atlanta United FC hosted the New England Revolution in a rematch of the final regular season match they played two weeks prior.{{cite news |last=Dell'Apa |first=Frank |date=October 19, 2019 |title=New England Revolution eliminated from playoffs |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/soccer/2019/10/19/new-england-revolution-eliminated-from-playoffs/oGAEmuEhM9HUsvQyIvJccI/story.html |work=Boston Globe |accessdate=November 7, 2022}} The match was scoreless through the first half and after half-time until a formation change and substitutions by Atlanta manager Frank de Boer allowed the hosts to score. Defender Franco Escobar finished a through ball from Ezequiel Barco with a one-time shot in the 70th minute, which gave Atlanta the 1–0 victory.
Fourth-seeded Toronto FC hosted the fifth seed, D.C. United, at BMO Field in the second Eastern Conference playoffs match. Toronto took a lead in the first half through a goalkeeping error by Bill Hamid that resulted in a successful chance for Marky Delgado, but D.C. equalized in second half stoppage time with a sequence on a Wayne Rooney corner kick that ended with a goal for Lucas Rodríguez. Toronto scored four unanswered goals in extra time, advancing with a 5–1 victory, with two goals from Jonathan Osorio and one apiece from Richie Laryea and Nick DeLeon.{{cite news |last=Goff |first=Steven |date=October 19, 2019 |title=D.C. United's season ends with extra-time collapse in MLS playoffs |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/10/19/dc-uniteds-season-ends-with-extra-time-collapse-mls-playoffs/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=October 27, 2019}}
The Philadelphia Union hosted the New York Red Bulls on the following day and fell behind with a 3–1 halftime lead for the visitors, who took advantage of mistakes by goalkeeper Andre Blake.{{cite news |last=Tannenwald |first=Jonathan |date=October 21, 2019 |title=Union's Andre Blake overcomes awful first half vs. Red Bulls, stands tall by end of playoff win |url=https://www.inquirer.com/soccer/mls-playoffs-philadelphia-union-andre-blake-new-york-red-bulls-20191021.html |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |access-date=October 27, 2019}} The Union responded with two unanswered goals in the second half to tie the match at full time. In first half stoppage time during extra time, substitute Marco Fabián scored from a chipped shot that gave the Union a 4–3 win, their first playoffs victory.{{cite news |last=Tannenwald |first=Jonathan |date=October 21, 2019 |title=Marco Fabián's goal gives Union 4-3 win over New York Red Bulls, first playoff win in team history |url=https://www.inquirer.com/soccer/mls-playoffs-philadelphia-union-new-york-red-bulls-marco-fabian-20191020.html |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |access-date=October 27, 2019}}
----
{{Football box
|date = October 19, 2019
|time = 1:00{{nbsp}}p.m. EDT
|team1 = Atlanta United FC
|score = 1–0
|report = https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-10-19-atlanta-united-fc-vs-new-england-revolution/recap
|team2 = New England Revolution
|goals1 =
- Escobar {{goal|70}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = Mercedes-Benz Stadium
|location = Atlanta, Georgia
|attendance = 66,114
|referee = Kevin Stott
}}
----
{{Football box
|date = October 19, 2019
|time = 6:00{{nbsp}}p.m. EDT
|team1 = Toronto FC
|score = 5–1
|aet = yes
|report = https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-10-19-toronto-fc-vs-dc-united/recap
|team2 = D.C. United
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
- Rodríguez {{goal|90+3}}
|stadium = BMO Field
|location = Toronto, Ontario
|attendance = 25,331
|referee = Allen Chapman
}}
----
{{Football box
|date = October 20, 2019
|time = 3:00{{nbsp}}p.m. EDT
|team1 = Philadelphia Union
|score = 4–3
|aet = yes
|report = https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-10-20-philadelphia-union-vs-new-york-red-bulls/recap
|team2 = New York Red Bulls
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = Talen Energy Stadium
|location = Chester, Pennsylvania
|attendance = 18,530
|referee = Chris Penso
}}
=Western Conference=
{{Football box
|date = October 19, 2019
|time = 12:30{{nbsp}}p.m. PDT
|team1 = Seattle Sounders FC
|score = 4–3
|aet = yes
|report = https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-10-19-seattle-sounders-fc-vs-fc-dallas/recap
|team2 = FC Dallas
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = CenturyLink Field
|location = Seattle, Washington
|attendance = 37,722
|referee = Nima Saghafi
}}
----
{{Football box
|date = October 19, 2019
|time = 8:00{{nbsp}}p.m. MDT
|team1 = Real Salt Lake
|score = 2–1
|report = https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-10-19-real-salt-lake-vs-portland-timbers/recap
|team2 = Portland Timbers
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
- Asprilla {{goal|47}}
|stadium = Rio Tinto Stadium
|location = Sandy, Utah
|attendance = 17,452
|referee = Ismail Elfath
}}
----
{{Football box
|date = October 20, 2019
|time = 7:30{{nbsp}}p.m. CDT
|team1 = Minnesota United FC
|score = 1–2
|aet =
|report = https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-10-20-minnesota-united-fc-vs-la-galaxy/recap
|team2 = LA Galaxy
|goals1 =
- Greguš {{goal|87}}
|goals2 =
- Lletget {{goal|71}}
- Dos Santos {{goal|75}}
|stadium = Allianz Field
|location = St. Paul, Minnesota
|attendance = 19,939
|referee = Ted Unkel
}}
Conference semifinals
=Eastern Conference=
{{Football box
|date = October 23, 2019
|time = 7:00{{nbsp}}p.m. EDT
|team1 = New York City FC
|score = 1–2
|report = https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-10-23-new-york-city-fc-vs-toronto-fc/recap
|team2 = Toronto FC
|goals1 =
- Tajouri-Shradi {{goal|69}}
|goals2 =
- Pozuelo {{goal|47||90|pen.}}
|stadium = Citi Field{{efn|New York City FC hosted their Eastern Conference Semifinal playoff match at Citi Field in New York City. Yankee Stadium was not available due to the New York Yankees advancing to the 2019 American League Championship Series.{{cite web |date=October 1, 2019 |title=New York City FC Announces 2019 Playoff Pricing and Hosting Scenarios |url=https://www.nycfc.com/post/2019/10/01/new-york-city-fc-announces-2019-playoff-pricing-and-hosting-scenarios |publisher=NYCFC |access-date=October 6, 2019}}}}
|location = New York City, New York
|attendance = 19,829
|referee = Jair Marrufo
}}
----
{{Football box
|date = October 24, 2019
|time = 7:30{{nbsp}}p.m. EDT
|team1 = Atlanta United FC
|score = 2–0
|report = https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-10-24-atlanta-united-fc-vs-philadelphia-union/recap
|team2 = Philadelphia Union
|goals1 =
- Gressel {{goal|10}}
- J. Martínez {{goal|80}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = Mercedes-Benz Stadium
|location = Atlanta, Georgia
|attendance = 41,507
|referee = Ismail Elfath
}}
=Western Conference=
{{Football box
|date = October 23, 2019
|time = 7:00{{nbsp}}p.m. PDT
|team1 = Seattle Sounders FC
|score = 2–0
|report = https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-10-23-seattle-sounders-fc-vs-real-salt-lake/recap
|team2 = Real Salt Lake
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
|stadium = CenturyLink Field
|location = Seattle, Washington
|attendance = 37,722
|referee = Alan Kelly
}}
----
{{Football box
|date = October 24, 2019
|time = 7:30{{nbsp}}p.m. PDT
|team1 = Los Angeles FC
|score = 5–3
|aet =
|report = https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-10-24-los-angeles-football-club-vs-la-galaxy/recap
|team2 = LA Galaxy
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
- Pavón {{goal|41}}
- Ibrahimović {{goal|55}}
- Feltscher {{goal|77}}
|stadium = Banc of California Stadium
|location = Los Angeles, California
|attendance = 22,902
|referee = Kevin Stott
}}
Conference finals
=Eastern Conference=
{{Football box
|date = October 30, 2019
|time = 8:00{{nbsp}}p.m. EDT
|team1 = Atlanta United FC
|score = 1–2
|aet =
|report = https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-10-30-atlanta-united-fc-vs-toronto-fc/recap
|team2 = Toronto FC
|goals1 =
- Gressel {{goal|4}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = Mercedes-Benz Stadium
|location = Atlanta, Georgia
|attendance = 44,055
|referee = Alan Kelly
}}
=Western Conference=
{{Football box
|date = October 29, 2019
|time = 7:00{{nbsp}}p.m. PDT
|team1 = Los Angeles FC
|score = 1–3
|report = https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2019-10-29-los-angeles-football-club-vs-seattle-sounders-fc/recap
|team2 = Seattle Sounders FC
|goals1 = Atuesta {{goal|17}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = Banc of California Stadium
|location = Los Angeles, California
|attendance = 22,099
|referee = Jair Marrufo
}}
MLS Cup 2019
{{main|MLS Cup 2019}}
{{#lst:MLS Cup 2019}}
Top goalscorers
There were 53 goals scored in 13 matches, with an average of 4.08 goals per match.
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left" |
| Rank
!Player !Club !Goals{{cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/stats/season?franchise=select&year=2019&season_type=PS&group=goals&op=Search|title=Playoffs Top Scorers|publisher=Major League Soccer}} |
|---|
| align="center"|1
|align="left"|{{flagicon|PER|football}} Raúl Ruidíaz |align="left"|Seattle Sounders FC !align="center"|4 |
| align="center"|2
|align="left"|{{flagicon|USA}} Jordan Morris |align="left"|Seattle Sounders FC !align="center"|3 |
| rowspan="7" align="center"|3
|align="left"|{{flagicon|USA}} Nick DeLeon |align="left"|Toronto FC !rowspan="7" align="center"|2 |
| align="left"|{{flagicon|NOR}} Adama Diomande
|align="left"|Los Angeles FC |
| align="left"|{{flagicon|GER}} Julian Gressel
|align="left"|Atlanta United FC |
| align="left"|{{flagicon|URU}} Nicolás Lodeiro
|align="left"|Seattle Sounders FC |
| align="left"|{{flagicon|CAN}} Jonathan Osorio
|align="left"|Toronto FC |
| align="left"|{{flagicon|ESP}} Alejandro Pozuelo
|align="left"|Toronto FC |
| align="left"|{{flagicon|MEX}} Carlos Vela
|align="left"|Los Angeles FC |
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{MLSCup}}
{{2019 in American soccer}}
{{2019 in Canadian soccer}}
{{2018–19 in North and Central America, and Caribbean football (CONCACAF) |state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mls Cup Playoffs 2019}}