The Galaxy have been away from the postseason for so long that the playoff format has completely changed since their last visit.
That statement is completely true. But this is also a bit unfair, as the only constant when it comes to the MLS playoffs is change.
This is the third time the league has used the format this year since 2018 and the 10th time in the league’s 29-year history. It’s also the most confusing one so far. First, 18 of the league’s 29 teams made it to the postseason, meaning MLS played an eight-month, 34-game regular season and eliminated just 11 teams.
Only the NBA, which allows 20 of its 30 teams to advance to the postseason, has a lower bar.
Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney is not a fan of the current MLS format.
(Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press)
Next is the format itself. For the second year in a row, the tournament began with one wild-card game in each conference, followed by a best-of-three first-round series with direct penalties in the event of a tie. The final three rounds of the conference semifinals, finals and MLS Cup final will all be single games, with overtime played if necessary.
Can you find a round that doesn’t belong?
For most of its history, MLS has used a two-leg home-and-way format for the early rounds of the playoffs, with the winner advancing either by total goals or a one-game knockout round. These are familiar formats used in championships around the world. The unwieldy best-of-three format, on the other hand, fits like a square peg in a round hole.
LAFC captain Aaron Long said Sunday after his team opened a best-of-three series against Vancouver with a 2-1 win. “We don’t like playing third. I think both of the other options are good. Most guys go that way.”
Galaxy coach Greg Vanney agreed.
“Honestly, I’ve always been a big fan of home and away and total scores,” he said.
There’s a reason. After a 5-0 blowout of the Colorado Rapids in last Saturday’s playoff opener, which rivals the most lopsided playoff result in the franchise’s storied history, the Galaxy must avoid advancing. They would have to lose by six goals in Game 2 in suburban Denver on Friday. Go to the next round in the old format.
The Galaxy have never lost by six goals.
But rather than the Galaxy being rewarded for their dominant performance in Game 1, under the new regime that score will be wiped out and the team will start in Game 2 as well.
“This game is over. Nothing we do today will affect the next game,” Vanney said. “That’s the reality. I loved it. [the old format] Because as a coach, I felt like there were always different scenarios and nuances that I had to constantly prepare for and consider. But in the third game, you take this, now we get it. [one] A game to win. ”
The same goes for LAFC. Rather than taking a combined one-goal lead into Sunday’s game in Vancouver, the teams will be reset and the Whitecaps will need to win by any score to force a decisive Game 3. .
“The best approach for us is to always try to win each game,” LAFC coach Steve Cerundolo said. He, too, dislikes the new format, but has been careful to share his opinion.
MLS said the new format is designed to favor higher-seeded teams and make upsets more difficult. And it paid off in the first year, with only one upset in the first round.
But Vanney makes valid points about different scenarios. If the total still counts, the Rapids will have plenty of room to play after falling behind 3-0 early in the second half Saturday. Keeping the scoreline close and adding an away goal in the second half would put Colorado in good position to advance.
If anything, the Rapids seemed to have lost interest and didn’t bother taking shots on target, knowing it didn’t matter what they did because the only thing that carried over to Friday was the result. It’s as if MLS gave Colorado a mulligan and the way the game was played suffered as a result.
“No matter what, the game always had purpose and meaning,” Vanney said of the total. “There’s always a scenario after a game where someone has to chase. Someone has to drive the attack, but we also have to defend because we can’t just concede a lot of goals.
“Today, at 3, 4, and 5 o’clock, [goals]they can think, “Well, we have the next game at home and this doesn’t really matter anymore.” ”
Another issue with scheduling is, well, scheduling. The MLS Playoffs will span the FIFA International break, so teams that win the first two games of their first round series will have three weeks of rest between the first and second rounds. That may sound like a perk, but it’s not. After playing nearly every week or more for eight months, taking a long break at this point can throw a team out of rhythm.
Consider the New England Revolution, who had the best regular season record in the modern MLS era three years ago. Under the different playoff format, New England received a bye in the first round, which was further extended by the international break, and after three weeks of inactivity, the Revolution was eliminated from the playoffs in a penalty shootout in the first round.
For those, like Vanney, who aren’t fans of the current playoff format, history offers this solace. Just be patient because that could change soon.
⚽ I read the latest episode of Kevin Baxter’s On Soccer. Our weekly column takes you behind the scenes and spotlights unique stories. Hear Baxter’s story on this week’s episode of “.“Corners of the Galaxy” Podcast.
