he MLS is Back Tournament Knockout Stage presented by Audi is starting to take shape. It’s time to win or go home.
The top two teams from each of the six groups earn automatic berths to the Round of 16 and four other wild cards will round out the field: the next four best 3rd-place finishers based on points total (and other tiebreakers, if necessary).
Round of 16 matchups
- July 25: Orlando City (A1) vs. Montreal Impact (C3)
- July 25: Philadelphia Union (A2) vs. New England Revolution (C2)
- July 26: Toronto FC (C1) vs. Wild Card A/B
- July 26: Sporting Kansas City (D1) vs. Wild Card B/F
- July 27: San Jose Earthquakes (B1) vs. Real Salt Lake (D3)
- July 27: Seattle Sounders vs. F2 (POR/LAFC/HOU)
- July 28: Columbus Crew SC (E1) vs. Minnesota United (D2)
- July 28: F1 (POR/LAFC) vs. FC Cincinnati (E2)
Here’s an early look at each of the confirmed Round of 16 matchups:
Orlando vs. Montreal
Saturday, July 25 (8 pm ET | ESPN2, ESPN Deportes in US; TSN in Canada)
Two clubs that have taken strong first steps under new coaches will now get a chance to make some more noise when Oscar Pareja’s Orlando City (2W-1L-2D) meet Thierry Henry’s Montreal Impact (2W-2L-1D). Neither team has enjoyed much success in the last few years, but their encouraging performances to start 2020 have offered hope that new heights may not be far off.
Orlando: The Lions have started to show flashes of being a dangerous attacking team under Pareja, regularly getting numbers forward in attack and averaging a pair of goals per game in the group stage, in part thanks to some standout showings from Chris Mueller. Despite being in a group with two Eastern Conference contenders (NYCFC and Philadelphia) and big-spending Inter Miami, Orlando looked right at home when the tournament kicked off, and will be feeling confident of continuing their run.
Montreal: The Impact got here by the skin of their teeth, but sometimes that’s all you need in a knockout tournament like this. After dropping their first two games, including a high-scoring Canadian Classique, the Impact were able to do just enough in a 1-0 win over D.C. United and advanced as one of the best 3rd-placed teams. Saphir Taider has been the star so far with three of Montreal’s four goals, while they have a number of other intriguing attackers, but ultimately Henry needs to ensure that his largely inherited roster can provide a variety of consistent scoring threats.
Series history: Montreal hold the series edge, with a 6W-4L-2D record against Orlando. This will be the first win-or-go-home meeting between the two sides, given that Orlando are yet to qualify for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and the two teams compete in separate domestic cups.
Philadelphia vs. New England
Saturday, July 25 (10:30 pm ET | ESPN2, ESPN Deportes in US; TSN in Canada)
Fans of these two clubs are eager to finally see their respective team make the leap from playoff material to championship contenders and both the Union (2W-1L-2D) and the Revs (1W-1L-3D) entered 2020 with heightened expectations after proving they were worthy postseason competition.
Philadelphia: Jim Curtin’s Union are a hard-working unit with few obvious weaknesses and captain Alejandro Bedoya sets the tone in midfield alongside Brenden Aaronson, whose stock continues to rise. What’s different about the MLS is Back Tournament is that Philly have been unabashed about their ambition to win it all well before they set foot in Orlando and they walked the walk in the group stage. Only the goal differential tiebreaker prevented them from topping Group A.
New England: The Revs, coached by Hall of Famer Bruce Arena, are equally solid and well-balanced, relying on star players Gustavo Bou, Adam Buksa and playmaker Carles Gil for the magic moments in attack. That’s why there’s concern among Revolution supporters after Gil was seen wearing a protective boot during the final group game. He starred in New England’s first two matches and then watched from the sidelines as his team picked up a 0-0 tie in the Group C finale.
Series history: The Union hold the slight edge in the regular season: 5W-3L-3D. The two teams have never met in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, but they did face off in two knockout matches in the U.S. Open Cup. The Union beat the Revs in the first meeting in the 2014 quarterfinals (2-0) and the Revs returned the favor in the 2016 quarters, advancing on penalty kicks.
San Jose vs. Real Salt Lake
Monday, July 27 (8:30 pm ET | FS1, FOX Deportes in US; TSN in Canada)
Two unfancied teams going into the tournament, San Jose Earthquakes (2W-1L-2D) and Real Salt Lake (1W-1L-1D) will meet in the Round of 16 knowing that they are now in a prime position to make a real mark in Orlando. Neither club has enjoyed much postseason success in recent years but both have shown they will take some stopping at MLS is Back.
San Jose: Arguably the cinderella story of the MLS is Back Tournament so far, San Jose thrilled both supporters and neutrals alike en route to taking seven points to top Group B. The team is the star for the Quakes, with every player demonstrating full commitment to coach Matias Almeyda’s intense full-pitch man-marking system. As they showcased in a sensational 4-3 comeback win over the Vancouver Whitecaps, San Jose can never be counted out, particularly with MLS record goalscorer Chris Wondolowski ready to come off the bench and show that even at the age of 37 he still has plenty of goals in his locker.
Salt Lake: There are few teams in MLS harder to break down than Real Salt Lake. Led by the defensive work of Justen Glad and the uncompromising Everton Luiz in midfield, Freddy Juarez’s team conceded just two goals in the group stage and both of those came in a defeat to Sporting KC after RSL had already qualified to the Knockout Stage. At the other end, though, they only scored two goals across three group matches and they will be hoping for a swift return of one of their main creative weapons, Albert Rusnak, after he missed the game against SKC with a hip injury.
Series history: The two teams could not be more evenly matched over a series dating back to 2005, with 11 wins apiece, and 11 draws, from their 33 matchups. Despite that lengthy history, the two teams have yet to meet in the playoffs.
Columbus vs. Minnesota
Tuesday, July 28 (8 pm ET | ESPN, ESPN Deportes in US; TSN in Canada)
The best team in the tournament so far will meet one of 2019’s most improved outfits in what should prove to be an intriguing matchup between two teams that will feel like they have a real shot at the title. The so-far-dominant Crew (4W-0L-1D) should be favorites, but Adrian Heath’s Minnesota (3W-0L-2D) have shown time and again over the last year that they are not to be counted out.
Columbus: The Crew have played pretty passing soccer, comfortably dispatched two Eastern Conference powers (albeit ones that seem to be sliding in 2020) and put up the tournament’s joint-largest margin of victory to date, all while rotating their squad. There have been a few injury questions in the team, but the star trio of Darlington Nagbe, Lucas Zelarayan and Gyasi Zardes are all playing at a high level and do not seem ready to let up anytime soon.
Minnesota: The Loons, who launched themselves into the league’s upper echelon in 2019 but are without reigning Defender of the Year Ike Opara for the MLS is Back Tournament, have had a solid, if not fully convincing showing in Orlando so far. They posted a memorable comeback win in their opener against Sporting Kansas City, which ultimately proved crucial to their advancement, and looked good value for the draws they earned in their final two group games. They may need to hit another gear to beat Columbus, though.
Series History: The two teams have met just three times prior, with Columbus holding a slight 2W-0D-1L advantage over their Western Conference opponents in MLS play. However, the Loons won their most recent meeting, on May 19, 2019, with none other than former Crew winger Ethan Finlay, also a two-goal scorer against Colorado on Wednesday night, getting the winner. The two squads have never met in postseason or Open Cup play.
mlssoccer.com
El MLS es Back Tournament Knockout Stage presentado por Audi está comenzando a tomar forma. Es hora de ganar o irse a casa.
Los dos mejores equipos de cada uno de los seis grupos obtienen literas automáticas para la Ronda de 16 y otros cuatro comodines completarán el campo: los siguientes cuatro mejores finalistas del 3er lugar según el total de puntos (y otros desempates, si es necesario).
Clasificación de grupo por grupo
Clasificación de comodines
Soporte completo del torneo
Ronda de 16 enfrentamientos
25 de julio: Orlando City (A1) vs. Montreal Impact (C3)
25 de julio: Philadelphia Union (A2) vs. New England Revolution (C2)
26 de julio: Toronto FC (C1) vs. Wild Card A / B
26 de julio: Sporting Kansas City (D1) vs. Wild Card B / F
27 de julio: San Jose Earthquakes (B1) vs. Real Salt Lake (D3)
27 de julio: Seattle Sounders vs. F2 (POR / LAFC / HOU)
28 de julio: Columbus Crew SC (E1) vs. Minnesota United (D2)
28 de julio: F1 (POR / LAFC) vs. FC Cincinnati (E2)
Aquí hay un vistazo temprano a cada uno de los enfrentamientos confirmados de la Ronda de 16:
Orlando contra Montreal
Sábado 25 de julio (8 pm ET | ESPN2, ESPN Deportes en EE. UU.; TSN en Canadá)
Dos clubes que han dado los primeros pasos con nuevos entrenadores ahora tendrán la oportunidad de hacer algo más de ruido cuando la Ciudad de Orlando (2W-1L-2D) de Oscar Pareja se encuentre con el Montreal Impact de Thierry Henry (2W-2L-1D). Ninguno de los equipos ha tenido mucho éxito en los últimos años, pero sus actuaciones alentadoras para comenzar 2020 han ofrecido la esperanza de que las nuevas alturas no estén muy lejos.
Orlando: Los Leones han comenzado a mostrar destellos de ser un equipo de ataque peligroso bajo Pareja, obteniendo números regularmente en ataque y promediando un par de goles por partido en la fase de grupos, en parte gracias a algunas presentaciones destacadas de Chris Mueller. A pesar de estar en un grupo con dos contendientes de la Conferencia Este (NYCFC y Filadelfia) y el Inter Miami de gran gasto, Orlando parecía estar en casa cuando comenzó el torneo, y se sentirá seguro de continuar su carrera.
Montreal: The Impact llegó aquí por la piel de sus dientes, pero a veces eso es todo lo que necesitas en un torneo eliminatorio como este. Después de perder sus primeros dos juegos, incluido un Classique canadiense de alto puntaje, Impact pudo hacer lo suficiente en una victoria por 1-0 sobre D.C. United y avanzó como uno de los mejores equipos en el tercer lugar. Saphir Taider ha sido la estrella hasta ahora con tres de los cuatro goles de Montreal, mientras que tienen una serie de otros atacantes intrigantes, pero en última instancia Henry necesita asegurarse de que su lista en gran parte heredada pueda proporcionar una variedad de amenazas de puntuación consistentes.
Historia de la serie: Montreal tiene la ventaja de la serie, con un récord de 6W-4L-2D contra Orlando. Esta será la primera reunión de ganar o irse a casa entre las dos partes, dado que Orlando aún no califica para los Playoffs de la Copa Audi MLS y los dos equipos compiten en copas nacionales separadas.
Filadelfia vs. Nueva Inglaterra
Sábado 25 de julio (10:30 pm ET | ESPN2, ESPN Deportes en EE. UU.; TSN en Canadá)
Los fanáticos de estos dos clubes están ansiosos por ver finalmente a su respectivo equipo dar el salto del material de playoffs a los contendientes al campeonato y tanto la Unión (2W-1L-2D) como los Revs (1W-1L-3D) entraron en 2020 con mayores expectativas después de demostrar fueron dignos de la competencia de postemporada.
Filadelfia: La Unión de Jim Curtin es una unidad trabajadora con pocas debilidades obvias y el capitán Alejandro Bedoya establece el tono en el mediocampo junto a Brenden Aaronson, cuyas acciones continúan aumentando. Lo diferente de la MLS es que Back Tournament es que Philly no se avergonzó de su ambición de ganarlo mucho antes de poner un pie en Orlando y caminar la caminata en la fase de grupos. Solo el desempate diferencial de goles les impidió encabezar el Grupo A.
Nueva Inglaterra: The Revs, entrenado por el miembro del Salón de la Fama Bruce Arena, son igualmente sólidos y equilibrados, y dependen de los jugadores estrella Gustavo Bou, Adam Buksa y el creador de juegos Carles Gil para los momentos mágicos en el ataque. Es por eso que existe preocupación entre los partidarios de la Revolución después de que Gil fue visto usando una bota protectora durante el último juego grupal. Protagonizó los primeros dos partidos de Nueva Inglaterra y luego observó desde el costado como su equipo recogió un empate 0-0 en la final del Grupo C.
Historia de la serie: La Unión tiene una ligera ventaja en la temporada regular: 5W-3L-3D. Los dos equipos nunca se han enfrentado en los Playoffs de la Copa Audi MLS, pero se enfrentaron en dos partidos eliminatorios en la Copa Abierta de EE. UU. La Unión venció a los Revs en la primera reunión en los cuartos de final de 2014 (2-0) y los Revs le devolvieron el favor en los cuartos de 2016, avanzando en los tiros penales.
San José vs. Real Salt Lake
Lunes 27 de julio (8:30 pm ET | FS1, FOX Deportes en EE. UU.; TSN en Canadá)
Dos equipos desconocidos que entrarán al torneo, San Jose Earthquakes (2W-1L-2D) y Real Salt Lake (1W-1L-1D) se enfrentarán en la ronda de 16 sabiendo que ahora están en una posición privilegiada para dejar una marca real. en orlando Ninguno de los clubes ha tenido mucho éxito en la postemporada en los últimos años, pero ambos han demostrado que se detendrán en MLS is Back.
San José: Podría decirse que la historia de Cenicienta de la MLS es Back Tournament hasta ahora, San Jos