Top Things to Watch in MLS this Week
Supporters’ Shield Race Heats Up with Western Conference Clash: It’s League-Leading No. 1 LAFC vs. No. 3 Austin FC
The top two teams in the West are gearing up for a star-studded showdown that could have Supporters’ Shield implications, as the first-place Los Angeles Football Club (57 points,14-4-9,) travel to second-in-the-West Austin FC, who rank third overall in MLS standings with 48 points (18-5-3).
This made-for-primetime matchup on Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN Deportes will feature stars on both sides, as Austin FC plays host at Q2 Stadium, shining the spotlight squarely on Landon Donovan MVP candidate Sebastián Driussi and his MLS-leading 18 goals. Austin remains the only team to defeat LAFC in Los Angeles this season, and the Verde and Black’s raucous home-field advantage could be to LAFC’s disadvantage, as four of LAFC’s five losses this season have come on the road against Western Conference opposition.
At the top of the table, however, LAFC won’t take this match lightly with a front three that features Cristian “Chicho” Arango, Carlos Vela, and 21-year-old Kwadwo Opoku, who have combined for 27 goals and 17 assists during the 2022 season. After already clinching a berth to the Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs in record time, LAFC’s focus now shifts to winning the Supporters’ Shield in record-breaking fashion, as they remain on pace to surpass the single-season points record (73) set by the New England Revolution last season.
With the makings of a potential Western Conference Final preview, will Austin FC rise at home close the gap, or will LAFC pull away with the Supporters’ Shield still within each club’s grasp?
Portland-Seattle Rivalry Match Puts Postseason Positioning on the Line
The already massive stakes just got even more real for this week’s rivalry match between the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders FC, as the pair of perennial Western Conference powerhouses go head-to-head with critical Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs positioning on the line. The two sides meet this Friday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN, and both Portland and Seattle are tied with 33 points, sitting one point below the playoff line in the West.
The playoffs have become tenet of tradition for both clubs, with each team featuring in the postseason every year since 2014. Seattle’s consecutive postseason berth streak dates back to their inaugural 2012 season, and both clubs have combined to appear in the last five straight league championships, including MLS Cups from 2016-2021 (Seattle: 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020; Portland 2018, 2021).
Recent history would give Sounders FC the advantage, as Seattle has posted four victories in the last five games at Providence Park by a collective 13-5 scoreline. Seattle will look to capitalize on the return to form during last weekend’s 3-3 draw against the LA Galaxy that saw Raúl Ruidíaz rediscover his goal-scoring touch and Jordan Morris and Nico Lodeiro get back in the flow of consistent offensive production.
For the Timbers, goals have not been a problem, as their 43 finishes are the third-most in the Western Conference this season. Sebastián Blanco scored last time out for his sixth goal of the season, while 22-year-old Santiago Moreno continues to showcase his quality as one of the top young wingers across the league. Portland has the opportunity to dramatically affect their biggest rival’s playoff run while also notching a two-win, regular season double over their neighbors to the North.
The added implications have heightened the intensity to another level, as Friday’s match has two rivals’ playoff futures weighing in the balance.
Wilfried Nancy & CF Montréal Surging at Stade Saputo
CF Montréal head coach Wilfried Nancy has his team on a tear, as they are vaulting up the Eastern Conference standings with 14 goals, five wins and no defeats in their last seven games from July 16 through Aug. 20. As Montréal is surging full steam ahead, a home Audi 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs match could be in their sights for the only the second time in the club’s 11-year history.
The last time Montréal hosted a home postseason contest was in 2015, and at the time, Nancy was the club’s U-16 academy coach. A first-team assistant from 2016-2020, Nancy’s ascension through the club’s coaching ranks is exactly why the Frenchman has made such an impact in his second year as head coach. Nancy has given Montréal an identity – patient and unafraid soccer that is built to pick apart any of the best defensive teams in the league, as shown in last week’s convincing 4-0 victory over the New England Revolution.
Nancy is bringing out the best of top talents, and a beneficiary of his leadership is Romell Quioto, who scored a brace last week and extended his career high goals total to 14 on the season. The Honduran international has been a menace for defenses all season with perfectly timed runs and clinical finishing, which has given Montréal the elite forward they had been craving.
As the Montréal faithful ride this late-season surge, Nancy and Quioto have the club inching closer to a top spot in the Eastern Conference when they face Chicago Fire FC on the road this Saturday (8 p.m. ET, MLS LIVE on ESPN+).
St Louis CITY2 and Tacoma Defiance First to Clinch Spots in 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs
On Sunday night, St Louis CITY2 and Tacoma Defiance became the first two MLS NEXT Pro clubs to punch their tickets to the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs, with Tacoma also clinching the Pacific Division title.
CITY2 solidified their postseason plans with a 5-2 road victory over Earthquakes II, combined with MNUFC2’s 1-1 tie against Real Monarchs. St Louis’ result over Quakes II also helped the Tacoma Defiance in their playoff quest: after the Defiance’s 1-0 win against Sporting KC II on Saturday night, the loss by Earthquakes II on Sunday secured the division and a playoff spot for Tacoma.
Falling out of the postseason picture, Sporting KC II’s loss to Tacoma eliminated them from playoff contention. FC Cincinnati 2 and Colorado Rapids 2 were also both eliminated from contention on Sunday, joining Real Monarchs and Timbers 2, who entered the weekend already out of contention.
Chicago Fire II staved off elimination on Saturday with a resounding 5-0 win over NYCFC II.
With four weeks remaining in the regular season, six playoff spots are still up for grabs. Eight total teams - four from each conference (two division champions and the two teams with the next highest points in the standings) – will qualify for the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs. Who will be the next to clinch? Follow @mlsnextpro to find out.
