The dramatics of MLS's Decision Day weren't reserved for Sunday's encounter between Austin FC and the Colorado Rapids with los Verdes locked in as the West's number two seed and the Mighty Pids still coming to terms with a fall from first to 10th over the course of a year.
Real Salt Lake welcomed the Portland Timbers to Rio Tinto Stadium for Decision Day knowing it needed a win to make the MLS Cup Playoffs. A 3-0 rout secured the victory and sent Pablo Mastroeni’s side to the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
The Eastern Conference playoff bracket was set earlier in the day, and now the Western Conference side is clear after the dust settled on Sunday's Decision Day action.
The marquee matchup out West was a winner-takes-all clash between free falling Minnesota United and a climbing Vancouver Whitecaps side in front of a record crowd at Allianz Field in Saint Paul.
FC Cincinnati clinched its first-ever MLS Cup Playoffs berth with a comprehensive 5-2 win on the road over DC United. A flurry of early goals got the ball rolling and the visitors never let up as Brazilian forward Brenner bagged a first-half hat-trick.
It's only Decision Day but the MLS Cup Playoffs have started in mind, body and spirit with the Eastern Conference picture now clear.
In a remarkable winner-take-all showdown between Orlando City and Columbus Crew at Exploria Stadium on Sunday, the Crew — needing only a league-leading 17th draw to qualify for the playoffs — threw away a 1-0 lead to crash out of the main event.
American defender Auston Trusty was the hero for EFL Championship side Birmingham City on Saturday after scoring a brace in his team’s 3-0 victory vs. Bristol City.
The 24-year-old from Media, Pennsylvania, isn’t known for scoring goals. Trusty had three goals across 181 games in his club career coming into the game. Saturday’s clash with Bristol City will be one that the Arsenal loanee never forgets.
Here we are. Decision Day. A season potentially summed up in one moment. For the seven teams whose campaigns still hang in the balance, defeat is simply not an option. For spectators, the tension has been turned up to the max as six of the seven sides play each other in their final games of the season. After 90 minutes of intensity, stress will give way to both elation and agony. As we go into Decision Day, let’s break down what every team is playing for.
With a video featuring Javier "Chicharito" Hernández, MLS and Liga MX revealed the details for the first edition of the highly-anticipated 2023 Leagues Cup — the tournament to revolutionize soccer in North America.
Among those details were the Leagues Cup schedule, dates, format and prizes involved.
This is the all-new @LeaguesCup.
Andre Shinyashiki scored in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time for a 2-2 tie against visiting Columbus on Wednesday, but Charlotte FC were still eliminated from playoff contention in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte trailed 2-0 in the second half.
The Crew (10-7-16, 46 points) currently hold the seventh and final playoff spot in the East. Inter Miami previously sat below Columbus, but they defeated Orlando 4-1 later Wednesday night and now sit at fifth in the conference. Cincinnati, which also has 46 points, sits at sixth.
The New York Red Bulls announced a new four-year contract for defender John Tolkin on Wednesday.
The deal runs through the 2027 season and includes an option for 2028.
"We are very excited to sign John to a new contract and keep him with the club," NYRB head of sport Jochen Schneider said in a news release. "He had a very successful season, and we are pleased to have him on our team for years to come."
INKED ✍️