The MLS Cup Playoffs have reached the Conference semi-finals stage after a few unique Round One fits.
There changed into one huge surprise within the West with Real Salt Lake knocking out the Seattle Sounders on consequences having failed to attempt a unmarried shot thru 90 minutes and additional-time. But in the East, it's been undeniable crusing for the home groups, with NYCFC, Nashville SC, and the Philadelphia Union all making it thru to join the New England Revolution.
Those Round One matches gave us another take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the last teams under the microscope of a knockout situation. So, earlier than the Eastern Conference semi-finals start, let's get into the best, the awful, and the unsightly of each group.
If there's one thing the Union do absolutely, truely properly, it's protect. Only Nashville (33) allowed fewer than their 35 dreams conceded in the East during the ordinary season and that they scored with an xGA, too, with forty.89. The five-goal disparity is manifestly because of the goalkeeping brilliance of Andre Blake.
They're no longer the all-out urgent monster they had been 365 days ago, however Philadelphia are solid as a rock and sincerely have the defensive power to pressure the very first-class out of Hany Mukhtar and co.
Kacper Przybyko and Sergio Santos overlooked a couple of big possibilities towards the Red Bulls in Round One, making things some distance extra uncomfortable than they must have been. Whether or no longer both of them are the best No.9s for the job is still up for debate.
But it's not all their fault. Through the ordinary season, best Orlando City (forty three.Fifty five) generated decrease xG than the Union (44.Seventy one) amongst Eastern Conference groups to make the Playoffs, and that they were third bottom the various entire 14-team discipline.
That's no longer exactly perfect whilst you're facing Nashville, the closing defensive juggernaut in MLS right now.
When you put the 2 groups' distinction-makers together, Nashville simply stack up better. You'd accept as true with Mukhtar, Randall Leal, and CJ Sapong over the likes of Przybyko and Santos any day, and Paxten Aaronson is just too young to be continually relied upon.
Of path, Jakob Glesnes could pull out some other of these trademark screamers. But if that's your plan to win a recreation, you're in trouble, specially towards Nashville.
