Mls Cup Playoffs Predictions: Every Game Two Clash In The First Round

The first information of nan MLS Cup playoffs ever brings nan drama. Teams will statesman advancing arsenic soon arsenic Saturday night, arsenic nan 2nd games successful nan first-round best-of-three bid return halfway stage. 

Across each 8 matchups successful nan Western and Eastern Conferences, only 1 bid saw an upset successful Game 1—fifth seeded New York City FC defeated a Wilfried Zaha-less Charlotte FC on nan road. 

Now, nan different 7 little seeded sides will effort to support their seasons live arsenic crippled 2 hosts and unit a decisive lucifer to wrap up nan first round.

Here are Sports Illustrated’s predictions for each crippled 2 crossed nan 2025 MLS Cup playoffs.

San Diego FC won their first playoff lucifer ever. / Courtesy of San Diego FC

San Diego FC mightiness person been a small stunned by really overmuch nan Portland Timbers pushed them. The description broadside secured a 2–1 triumph aft trouncing nan aforesaid broadside 4–0 connected Decision Day, moreover arsenic some results came without DP winger Hirving “Chucky” Lozano.

Still, Mikey Varas’s squad recovered a measurement to prime up nan triumph astatine location are apt to invited backmost nan Mexican superstar. While Portland technically has location advantage, San Diego had nan champion regular-season roadworthy grounds pinch 12 wins, a tie and 4 losses. Meanwhile, MLS MVP finalist Anders Dreyer vanished pinch a record-breaking 27 extremity contributions distant from Snapdragon Stadium. 

This 1 is shaping up to beryllium a San Diego win, which would spot them move connected to play either Minnesota United aliases nan Seattle Sounders. 

Score Prediction: Portland Timbers 1–3 San Diego FC

(5) Seattle Sounders vs. Minnesopta United (6)

Dayne St. Clair kissed his goalpost aft nan punishment shootout against Seattle. / Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images

There were plentifulness of doubts astir whether Minnesota United’s low-possession, counter-pressing style would activity successful nan MLS Cup playoffs. It worked for astatine slightest 1 crippled arsenic they battled to a scoreless tie earlier winning a punishment shootout.

While nan Seattle Sounders were by acold nan amended team, holding 70% possession and putting up 14 shots to Minnesota’s 10, they struggled to finish. They recovered themselves successful a business Minnesota apt wanted each along. After all, Dayne St. Clair is 1 of nan champion goalkeepers successful penalties successful MLS. 

With nan three-game bid system, though, things thin to plaything toward nan amended squad complete nan people of nan series. Expect to spot immoderate amended finishing from nan likes of Jordan Morris, Albert Rusnák and Paul Rothrock successful this 1 starring to nan Sounders forcing a 3rd game.

Score Prediction: Seattle Sounders 3–0 Minnesota United

Son Heung-min (center) wasn’t capable to effect nan crippled arsenic overmuch successful nan bid opener against Austin FC. / Kelvin Kuo-Imagn Images

LAFC began to reply immoderate questions arsenic they picked up their first triumph against a squad that vanished successful nan apical 8 since Son Heung-min signed for nan club.

Yet, moreover pinch Son and Bouanga starring nan line, they didn’t look unbeatable. Both were neutralized by Austin’s setup, which astir helped nan Texas squad bargain a triumph connected nan road. 

While Austin FC person struggled to nutrient discourtesy done Myrto Uzuni and Osman Bukari arsenic of late, they person immoderate momentum connected nan near side, wherever Jon Gallagher and Owen Wolff linked up successful nan first game. 

Austin will person nan backing of nan location crowd down them, but LAFC astir apt still person nan separator successful this game. 

Score Prediction: Austin FC 1–2 LAFC

(7) FC Dallas vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2)

Vancouver cruised to a 3–0 triumph against FC Dallas. / Courtesy of Vancouver Whitecaps FC

The Vancouver Whitecaps put connected a session successful crippled 1 winning 3–0 pinch goals from Daniel Ríos, Thomas Müller and Kenji Cabrera. Now, they could get MLS Defender of nan Year, Tristan Blackmon, backmost into nan lineup and moreover starring goalscorer Brian White.

When Müller signed successful Vancouver, he was clear astir his intentions to make nan Whitecaps a title-winning nine and alteration nan city’s sports mentality. So far, he’s backed up his words pinch 9 goals and 4 assists successful 9 games. 

The 2nd seed successful nan Western Conference prime up nan win.

Score Prediction: FC Dallas 1–3 Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Jack Elliott (left) and Milan Iloski (right) look disconnected erstwhile again. / James Lang-Imagn Images

The Philadelphia Union astir squandered a aureate opportunity successful crippled 1 earlier yet prevailing successful a punishment shootout. The comeback surely sparked assurance for Chicago, who are successful their first MLS Cup playoffs since 2017. 

Chicago would beryllium successful a overmuch different position if starring winger Phillip Zinckernagel, who suffered an wounded successful warmups, was disposable successful some matches. Under Gregg Berhalter, nan Fire did an exceptional occupation of shutting down Philadelphia’s cardinal strengths and talents, often sitting heavy earlier attempting to agelong nan game. 

So acold this season, Chicago person been a squad that tin frustrate moreover nan champion opponents, and will person nan backing of their fans successful crippled two. Even if they don’t person Zinckernagel, nan likes of Jonathan Bamba and Hugo Cuypers could beryllium capable to moreover nan bid and unit a travel backmost to Philadelphia. 

Score Prediction: Chicago Fire FC 2–1 Philadelphia Union 

(5) New York City FC vs. Charlotte FC (4)

Alonso Martínez helped New York City FC prime up an upset triumph against Charlotte FC. / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Charlotte FC and New York City FC sewage nan reliable extremity of nan schedule. While immoderate teams had much than an full week disconnected betwixt their 2 games, this bid sees a speedy turnaround of conscionable 4 days.

Charlotte leader Dean Smith wasn’t pleased pinch nan scheduling for nan bid and jokingly quipped, “Thank you, MLS” successful his post-match remarks aft nan club’s frustrating 1–0 loss. However, nan nonaccomplishment came without Wilfried Zaha, who has been nan motor down Charlotte’s occurrence this season. 

With Zaha backmost from suspension, they caput to Yankee Stadium pinch hopes of keeping their play alive. Earlier this year, they needed to prime up a triumph successful nan Bronx to break nan grounds for nan longest triumph streak successful MLS arsenic well, but faltered connected NYCFC’s mini pitch, snapping their nine-game streak. 

Will this 1 spell immoderate differently? We’re guessing NYCFC clinch their spot successful nan 2nd information successful an upset sweep. 

Score Prediction: New York City FC 1–1 Charlotte FC (NYCFC Advance connected Penalties)

Lionel Messi (left) will look to lead Inter Miami to a bid expanse against Nashville SC. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Inter Miami person ne'er made it past nan first information of nan MLS Cup playoffs, but they person besides ne'er looked arsenic motivated arsenic they do correct now. Ever since signing Lionel Messi successful 2023, nan extremity has been to triumph MLS Cup. The 2023 Leagues Cup and 2024 Supporters’ Shield person been great, but they’ve fallen short of nan eventual prize. 

On Saturday, they caput backmost to Nashville SC’s GEODIS Park for nan 2nd clip successful 2 weeks and will look to adjacent retired nan bid successful 2 games, earning a small much remainder for their seasoned core, and sparking further belief that they could spell connected and triumph nan club’s first MLS Cup title. 

The fairy communicative ending for Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets continues taking down Nashville connected nan road.

Score Prediction: Nashville SC 2–4 Inter Miami 

(7) Columbus Crew vs. FC Cincinnati (2)

Diego Rossi (left) will request to beryllium astatine his champion if nan Columbus Crew dream to level nan series. / Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

FC Cincinnati person often faltered successful nan MLS Cup playoffs, but picked up an invaluable 1–0 triumph successful crippled 1 astatine location against their Hell is Real derby rivals.

While nan trio of Kévin Denkey, Evander and Brenner hasn’t rather worked retired to nan level galore imagined erstwhile Brenner returned successful August, each 3 person continued to beryllium threats individually. Denkey whitethorn person been nan quality shaper successful crippled one, but there’s nary logic to deliberation that nan others couldn’t make their people connected nan scoresheet astatine Lower.com Field. 

For Columbus, nan attraction will beryllium connected whether Diego Rossi tin find his hit successful nan attack. While his return surely boosted Wilfried Nancy’s side’s imaginable arsenic a little seed successful nan postseason, getting him backmost successful shape is captious to immoderate hopes of winning nan bid aliases going connected a run. 

At nan aforesaid time, legendary MLS midfielder Darlington Nagbe will look to hold his looming status pinch a win. 

With nan cacophonous ambiance that is apt to travel astatine Lower.com Field, we’re predicting nan lower-seeded Columbus to level nan bid and unit a winner-take-all matter backmost successful Cincinnati. 

Score Prediction: Columbus Crew 3–1 FC Cincinnati

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