After clinching a spot in the MLS playoffs with a regular-season-ending win on Saturday, CF Montreal and Atlanta United will meet in an Eastern Conference wild-card game on Tuesday.
The winner of the contest in Montreal will have a tough task in the East quarterfinals. It was a best-of-three series between Inter Miami and Lionel Messi, who set the league’s single-season scoring record. Messi’s hat trick lifted Miami past the New England Revolution on Saturday with a 22-4-8 record and 74 points.
The Revolution set a previous record with 73 points in 2021.
In the conference quarterfinals, each team will play Match 1 and (if necessary) Match 3 at the home of the higher seed, with the lower seed hosting Match 2.
The Columbus Crew, defending MLS Cup champions and second seed in the East, will face the New York Red Bulls in a quarterfinal series. Other matchups in the East quarterfinals will consist of No. 3 seed FC Cincinnati vs. No. 6 seed New York City FC, and No. 4 seed Orlando City vs. No. 5 seed Charlotte FC.
Los Angeles FC defeated the San Jose Earthquakes 3-1 on Saturday and then clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference after the Los Angeles Galaxy lost 2-1 to the Houston Dynamo on a goal 11 minutes into second-half stoppage time. Obtained. .
Both Los Angeles teams had 64 points with 19 wins, 8 losses, and 7 draws, but LAFC won first thanks to a tiebreaker based on goal difference. LAFC finished at plus-20 and the Galaxy at plus-19.
The Portland Timbers will face the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday in a single-match wild-card playoff, with the winner earning a best-of-three matchup with LAFC.
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In the other Western Conference quarterfinal series, the Galaxy will play the No. 7 seed Colorado Rapids, No. 3 seed Real Salt Lake will take on No. 6 seed Minnesota United, and No. 4 seed Seattle will take on the -The Sounders will face the fifth-seeded Dynamo.
The only quarterfinal date announced as of Saturday night was Miami, which will host its first playoff game on Friday.
