re: 2016 Major League Soccer Regular Season Wrapup & Playoff Extravaganza

Why did y'all get rid of Barnes?

Alright, so after last night's match results here are the updated playoffs:

2016 MLS Playoffs

Knockout Round: Single elimination game. Winners advance to the conference semifinals.

Conference Semifinals: Two-game series, aggregate goal format between conference top seed v lowest advancing seed from knockout round and conference second seed v highest seed from knockout round.

Conference Championships: Two-game series, aggregate goal format.

Eastern
(1) New York Red Bulls bye knockout round, through to semifinals on Oct 30

(2) New York City bye knockout round, through to semifinals on Oct 30

(3) Toronto FC defeated (6) Philadelphia 3-1 in knockout round, advance to semifinals on Oct 30

(4) DC United v (5) Montreal in knockout round on Oct 27@7:30Eastern (Unimas, TSN1, RDS2)

Western
(1) FC Dallas bye knockout round, through to semifinals on Oct 30

(2) Colorado bye knockout round, through to semifinals on Oct 30

(3) LA Galaxy defeated (6) Real Salt Lake 3-1 in knockout round, advance to semifinals on Oct 30

(4) Seattle v (5) Sporting Kansas City in knockout round on Oct 27@10Eastern (FS1, Unimas, TSN1)

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Love to hear! Have you made it out personally??

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Unfortunately, no. I have only seen pictures and broadcasts although I did fly over the stadium once. It looked great from a few thousand feet lol.

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Benny hates Salt Lake. Like really really hates us.

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I forgot about that point. There was some dustup between a couple players among RSL and SKC if I recall now.

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But expected. Time to get rid of Cassar.

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Some notes on LA Galaxy v Real Salt Lake:

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“It was partly the way we played,” said Kyle Beckerman, “just our game plan wasn’t working. It actually benefited them, got them into a rhythm. Then in the second half when we changed we put some pressure on them, we switched in the midfield, two high, one back, and it really seemed to stifle them a little. We were able to get more of the ball, get our chances, get a chance to get back into the game.”

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Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena made a tactical switch after RSL converted their penalty kick. The opening twenty minutes had Boateng and Ashley Cole trying to expose Chris Wingert down the left side, but had only resulted in a goal coming from the right side through Giovani dos Santos and Landon Donovan. Arena then switched Boateng to Demar Phillips’ side, and continued to press with four attackers.

The 22-year-old Ghanian proved too quick for the 33-year-old Phillips.

“When they push four people high on you,” said Jeff Cassar, “you have to defend 1v1 sometimes and I don’t think our defending 1v1 was very good. Then to follow it up I don’t think our shape behind it was very good; the cover. When he’s able to beat Demar and then go straight to goal, that’s unacceptable."

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MLSsoccer.com

Regarding Toronto v Philadelphia:

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At the end of Toronto FC’s first home playoff match—a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union—the home players ran over to the club’s supporters section and clapped in unison with their drumming. Philadelphia head coach Jim Curtin didn’t make his players remain on the pitch for the celebration, but Alejandro Bedoya took in the scene anyways.

“I stayed after the game to try and soak it all in,” the Union midfielder said after the match. “This atmosphere is a sign of how far the league has come.”

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Indeed, in the minutes after Bedoya’s goal, his team was on the ascendancy. Bedoya ran across the pitch to harry Toronto FC players off the ball. He was far more visible than in a largely anonymous first half that was capped off by a 43rd minute yellow card. For perhaps the first time since the game’s opening exchanges, the Union was dictating the pace of the game, and Bedoya was now at the centre of the action.

Then Jozy Altidore scored to double Toronto’s lead with only five minutes left in the game. 3-1. That, Bedoya conceded, “takes the air out of the game.”

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MLSsoccer.com

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"It was amazing. It almost feels like soccer in Toronto is reborn again, for Toronto FC," star forward Jozy Altidore told ESPN after the match. "So to be a part of a night like this where you saw the fans kind of come alive again like they were that first year. I remember playing here [in 2007 with the New York Red Bulls] and it was amazing. So to be a part of it was a special night."

Altidore set up the first Toronto goal by forward mate Sebastian Giovinco and then the reigning MLS MVP returned the favor on the goal that sealed the win in the 85th minute. Altidore collected a cross from Giovinco in the Union penalty area, but a misplay by Philly defender Ken Tribbett allowed Altidore to get a second crack at a shot and put the match away.

"We have that partnership," Altidore said. "I do that [the dirty work] and he’s special in his quality. And I just try to bring what I can to the team. I think together we work really well and we’re hard to deal with and tonight we showed up in a big moment for our team."

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MLSsoccer.com

Highlights:

LA Galaxy v Real Salt Lake

Toronto v Philadelphia

Matches on tap for tonight:

(4) DC United v (5) Montreal @7:30Eastern (Unimas, TSN1, RDS2)

(4) Seattle v (5) Sporting Kansas City @10:00Eastern (FS1, Unimas, TSN1)

Both single elimination matches, knockout round, with winners through to semifinals.

SKC just got fricked by the refs.

Dominated the game, but undone by an offside goal.

Such freaking bullshite. Melting hard rn

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So....DC didn't show up for this one.

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A disappointing showing for them. Mauro Biello has clashed with Didier Drogba over his role, preferring to start Matteo Mancosu (on loan from Bologna) and use Drogba as a second half sub. Drogba has challenged Biello over this but it is hard to fault the manager after that two goal, one assist performance by Mancosu.

Regarding Seattle - SKC:

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Dominated the game, but undone by an offside goal.

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Nelson Valdez did look like he could be offside.

Valdez Goal At 87th Minute

I'm torn because I'm really happy for Valdez after all his struggles to have that moment. It's just a shame that it is with controversy.

And how savage was Benny Feilhaber last night? He was fantastic on the pitch and I've never seen him so outdone with a ref. Benny had a problem with the ref from early in the match and the issue just continued to brew all night.

Feilhaber Angry & Booked

Osvaldo Alonso was lucky IMO to not see red. I know that you don't want to red card a player in a game like this one but Alonso crashed with both legs and never got the ball.

Alonso Reckless Challenge & Subsequent Chippiness

Did anyone else see Graham Zusi waste that beautiful pass from Benny? Zusi sitting in front of goal and he skied it.

A tough, tense match and I really enjoyed it.

BTW & FWI, I am updating the playoff schedule on the first page.

I'm a neutral. Enjoyed the game. Feilhaber was the best player on the pith by far. And the Valdez goal was offside.

Game was awesome if you forget about the missed calls.

Alonso committed what is often a red card but got a yellow.

He definitely could have been yellowed again on the tackle against Benny in the 2nd but got nothing.

Besler's goal was maybe the slightest of offsides. SKC didn't get the benefit of a 50/50 call.

Valdez' goal was offsides, and by a huge margin compared to Besler's, which was called offside, but Seatte gets the call.

Benny was a beast. I hope he stays in SKC.