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Decision Day has come and gone, the Supporters’ Shield has been awarded and the field is now set for the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Beginning Wednesday, October 28th, we’ll begin whittling down the field of contenders until only two remain for the league's showpiece event, the 2015 MLS Cup.
Here are the players, teams and storylines to follow over the course of this week’s 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs knockout round.
2015 MLS Cup Playoffs - Knockout Round Preview
Clash of the Western Conference Titans
Seattle Sounders versus LA Galaxy
October 28th, 10 PM ET | UniMás
A rematch of last year’s Western Conference Final, in which the Galaxy scrapped by on away goals, this is the marquee match-up of the knockout round.
Both clubs finished the season on 51 points, a dramatic downturn from 2014 when the Sounders finished with 64 and the Galaxy 61.
As the #4 and #5 seeds in the West, many are questioning whether these two clubs have ultimately reached a crossroads with their current squads.
Steven Gerrard, Giovani dos Santos, Robbie Keane, Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins still make this an MLS Marketing Executive’s dream, but, with the exception of dos Santos, all of the star power on display Wednesday night will be aged 30 or older.
In the case of Keane, however, age seems to be just a number. With a career-high 20 goals, including 17 goals in his last 14 league games, the Irishman shows no signs of slowing down.
Meanwhile, Gerrard has been unable to match the heights of his fellow Designated Player, experiencing an inconsistent debut season in Los Angeles.
Gerrard’s deployment in a more advanced role for the Galaxy has been anything but a smooth transition for the team. Unbalanced, aging and stumbling into the playoffs, this Galaxy team doesn't have the same feel as its MLS Cup winning predecessors. Could the defending champions fall at the first hurdle? Their miserable record away from home, including only two road victories, seems to forecast as much.
Meanwhile, this is a Seattle team that is approaching full-strength after struggling with injuries, absences and suspensions throughout the course of the season. Factor in the monstrous crowd that’ll be present at Seattle’s CenturyLink Field, and this has all the makings of an October classic.
For the game’s loser, the result could mean the end of an era and signal drastic roster changes. The game’s winner will avoid these difficult questions, at least for another week.
Didier Drogba versus Sebastian Giovinco
Montreal Impact versus Toronto FC
October 29th, 7 PM ET | UniMás
Sebastian Giovinco’s 2015 numbers are surreal. 22 goals and 16 assists in 33 games represents a legitimate MVP season for the Italian.
His play has been simply mesmerizing at times, and he’s been an integral part of Toronto FC’s upcoming maiden playoff voyage.
For all the ridiculousness that Sebastian Giovinco has provided us with over the course of the season, Didier Drogba is doing his best to provide us with a condensed version of those feats. With 11 goals in 11 games, Drogba has turned Montreal into a legitimate contender.
Having given up a league worst 58 goals, damage mitigation will be key for Toronto; that or simply outscore their opponents with the help of the "supporting cast" of Michael Bradley, Jozy Altidore and Herculez Gomez. Regardless, expect to see goals in Montreal on Thursday.
Playoff soccer returns to Providence Park
Portland Timbers versus Sporting Kansas City
October 29th, 10 PM ET | UniMás
Upstart Portland takes on perennial power Sporting Kansas City in the Western Conference's other knockout game. Playoff soccer returns to Portland for the first time since 2013 and the Rose City is clearly ready.
In do-or-die matchups for both clubs on Sunday, the Timbers and Sporting showed a propensity to rise to the occasion.
For Sporting, victory will lie in Benny Feilhaber’s ability to orchestrate attacks through a staunch Timbers’ defense. With 10 goals and 15 assists on the year, Feilhaber is in the midst of his best year as a professional. In a match featuring two very balanced teams, this one could certainly be decided in extra time or penalties.
Playoff Dark horses go head to head
D.C. United versus New England Revolution
October 28th, 7:30 PM ET | UniMás
Whoever emerges victorious from this game will certainly pose major problems for their next Eastern Conference opponents. If D.C., who led the race for the Supporters' Shield for a large portion of the season, or New England were to play at their consistent best throughout the playoffs, the next MLS Champion could easily be one of these two.
The truth is that neither have shown the ability to do just that. The Revs have a wealth of attacking options in Lee Nguyen, Jermaine Jones, Charlie Davies, Juan Agudelo and Teal Bunbury, but United have turned RFK into a fortress this year. Something's got to give on Wednesday.
