The MLS Cup playoffs are right here, with the postseason getting underway on Wednesday evening with the Wild Card spherical.
Main League Soccer’s play-in video games pit the eighth- and ninth-seeded groups in every convention towards each other, with the winner shifting on to face the No. 1 seed within the best-of-three Spherical 1.
So how will issues unfold out East, between the Chicago Hearth and Orlando Metropolis (8:30 p.m. ET)? And who will transfer on within the West, with the Portland Timbers internet hosting Actual Salt Lake (10:30 p.m. ET)? Cesar Hernandez and Joseph Lowery dive into the primary of this postseason’s matchups and break down the Wild Card spherical.
Jap Convention
8. Chicago Hearth vs. 9. Orlando Metropolis
Star attraction: Precisely 4 gamers in MLS have registered extra objective contributions this season than Philip Zinckernagel, whose 27 mixed targets and assists paint him because the star to look at in Wednesday’s Wild Card showdown.
Enjoying in the best half-space of Gregg Berhalter’s attacking setup, the first-year MLS man is the straw that stirs the Hearth’s drink. Zinckernagel thrives on the dribble, rating within the 89th percentile in FBref‘s information for profitable take-ons amongst his positional friends, and might be the right piece to glide via Orlando Metropolis’s defensive block and break into the field. Whereas the 30-year-old wasn’t Berhalter’s splashiest signing of the summer time — he is not even a Designated Participant — no participant has been extra essential in getting Chicago again to the postseason for the primary time since 2017.
X-factor: It is uncommon {that a} fullback will get named in any class with the phrase “X-factor” in it, however Alex Freeman is not your run-of-the-mill fullback. No, the burgeoning U.S. males’s nationwide staff common has the capability to take over video games — and he is proven it on repeat this season. With six targets and three assists on the 12 months, Freeman ranks third amongst pure fullbacks in whole objective contributions solely behind Inter Miami‘s Jordi Alba and the Philadelphia Union‘s Kai Wagner.
The 21-year-old is uniquely succesful as a field crasher in transition, a part through which shorthanded Orlando will make each effort to capitalize whereas taking part in on the highway on Wednesday. In accordance with American Soccer Evaluation, solely 24 gamers at any place have registered extra fast-break xG this 12 months than Freeman. If the best again is sharp on the break and attentive defensively, Orlando’s probabilities of victory skyrocket.
Tactical wrinkle: Berhalter knew one thing needed to change. After a 3-1 loss to New York Metropolis FC final month, the previous USMNT supervisor shifted the Hearth’s form from a 4-3-3 to a 3-4-3 towards Minnesota United the next weekend. Since that tactical change? Chicago has gone undefeated via 5 video games and develop into a vastly higher defensive staff within the course of.
In accordance with American Soccer Evaluation, the Hearth went from permitting 1.78 xG per sport (twenty seventh in MLS) earlier than the formation swap, to 1.58 (tenth in MLS) afterward. It is the matchup between that improved protection and Orlando Metropolis’s high-octane assault that is racked up the third-most non-penalty xG within the league this 12 months, as per FBref, that would show to be probably the most attention-grabbing on Wednesday. Has Chicago’s weak point lastly develop into a energy? Or will Orlando’s various assault discover a approach via? — Lowery
Predictions
Between the truth that Orlando Metropolis’s backbone is much from wholesome — central midfielder César Araujo hasn’t began a sport since August and middle again Robin Jansson missed Choice Day with a knee damage — and that the Lions need to go on the highway, I see the Hearth advancing. Berhalter’s change to a again three has offered a stable defensive basis with out sacrificing attacking manufacturing. A banged-up Orlando will not be capable to grasp. — Lowery
A giant a part of a profitable MLS Cup playoff run is momentum, and Orlando merely would not have that with one win in its previous 9 video games in all competitions. A 4-2 Choice Day defeat to Toronto FC might be an indication of issues to come back. — Hernandez
Orlando Metropolis’s protection has been sieve-like of late (16 allowed in its previous seven matches), whereas the Hearth have been electrical in assault (18 scored of their previous seven). On condition that the Hearth are taking part in of their first playoff sport since 2017, search for Berhalter’s facet to profit from it. — Jeff Carlisle
With momentum and the need to rewrite latest historical past, Chicago ought to boast sufficient to beat Orlando Metropolis. Berhalter’s staff has the ability in a number of attacking figures, with a number of discovering a technique to get on the scoresheet. Whereas Orlando has an honest roster and expertise on the helm, the Florida staff continues to underwhelm in decisive moments. — Lizzy Becherano
Whereas it was a topsy-turvy end on Choice Day, the Hearth find yourself going into this match undefeated in its previous 5 whereas Orlando’s latest kind has fallen off a cliff. The Lions’ assault was so good previous to this swoon that you would see Martín Ojeda, Luis Muriel or Marco Pasalic getting a objective or two. But it surely’s tough to think about Orlando not conceding as nicely. Their final clear sheet got here again in Leagues Cup; in league play, you must assume again to June. Zinckernagel is licking his lips. — Jon Arnold
The Hearth are internet hosting their first playoff match since 2017 and the momentum is of their favor, regardless of a report that’s higher away from residence — they’ve as many wins in Chicago as Orlando has on the highway (six). Finish-of-season kind might be key: Chicago is undefeated in its previous 5 video games, whereas Orlando is crashing into the playoffs having misplaced its previous two, whereas claiming only one league victory since mid-August. — Megan Swanick
Western Convention
8. Portland Timbers vs. 9. Actual Salt Lake
Star attraction: All eyes can be on Diego Luna. At his finest, the two-time MLS All-Star who’s establishing himself as a possible World Cup call-up for the USMNT is a tenacious game-changer along with his decision-making and technical build-up within the attacking third. The 22-year-old can create one thing out of nothing, and as seen along with his 9 targets this season, he is additionally able to find the again of the web when wanted.
Positive, his staff and ensemble forged have not been sensible in 2025, and narrowly sneaking into the postseason in ninth place with 17 losses from 34 video games is not the signal of a promising playoff run. Nonetheless, with the pugnacious Luna because the conductor of their attacking efforts, RSL have a combating probability. Nothing, not even a damaged nostril in the course of a sport, might cease him.
X-factor: A top-25 participant in MLS relating to tackles, cross completions, and recoveries, there’s a lot to love about David Ayala, who’s in a position to marshal the center of the beginning XI. With loads of stamina that enables him to roam as a defensive midfielder, the 23-year-old Argentine might be the difference-maker when needing to close down an attacker like Luna.
If the Timbers, who do not maintain onto the ball as a lot as RSL, counter on these alternatives, it is going to most likely be due to an intervention or some distribution from Ayala going ahead. That stated, there are severe questions on Portland within the last third. Out of 30 groups in MLS, the Timbers are ranked at twenty eighth relating to xG (42.17) and are coming off a latest 4-0 Choice Day thrashing by the hands of San Diego FC.
Tactical wrinkle: Here is some MLS-related trivia: Which staff has the very best proportion of photographs from outdoors of the 18-yard field? If you happen to guessed RSL, you are appropriate!
Of their 487 photographs (which ranks fifth in MLS), a whopping 46% of these alternatives have been launched from outdoors of the field. Regardless of rating fifth for whole photographs, these possibilities from distance have additionally meant that RSL have solely earned 38 targets in 34 video games — which is the second-lowest tally of all playoff groups.
So what does this imply for Portland? Properly, in case you keep defensively compact, you could not invite an excessive amount of hazard from the opposition. This might inevitably result in a decent sport at residence, however it could be value it for Portland if it means a spot within the subsequent spherical.
Predictions
It’s going to be a detailed sport right here, however Luna has sufficient attacking expertise to both rating or help for RSL. Regardless of the end result, the environment needs to be an unimaginable one at Windfall Park. — Hernandez
Whereas neither staff is spectacular relative to the remainder of the playoff discipline, Actual Salt Lake can have the sting on Wednesday. The Timbers have received only one sport of their previous 10 within the common season, have no definable on-field specialties, and have not discovered optimize DPs David Da Costa and Kristoffer Velde after they’re in the identical lineup. RSL, for his or her half, have simply sufficient firepower in budding star Victor Olatunji and their younger People to get the job accomplished. — Lowery
Actual Salt Lake simply barely made it into the playoffs, however the momentum ought to carry the staff via the Wild Card sport and into Spherical One. Then again, the Timbers haven’t received an MLS sport because the 2-1 victory over the New York Pink Bulls on Sept. 13. In a one-match Wild Card state of affairs, RSL take the win. — Becherano
Neither staff’s latest kind screams “playoff staff.” RSL received simply three of their previous ten video games, however that’s stellar in comparison with Portland’s one win in that very same span. Given how the Timbers have been shut out by 5 groups since Aug. 1, I am going with RSL, if solely to see Luna go deeper into the playoffs. — Carlisle
There’s one thing about Portland profitable simply one among its previous ten video games that has me leaning towards Salt Lake for this one. RSL snuck their approach into the playoffs, however their solely defeats of their previous seven video games got here in back-to-back bouts with LAFC. — Swanick
The Timbers have received simply one among their previous 10 matches, and the mystique of Windfall Park would not appear to be the identical this 12 months because it has been up to now, with the Timbers falling 4-0 there on Choice Day and holding only a 7W-4L-6D residence report this season. RSL have not precisely been highway warriors, they usually’ve fallen towards MLS title contenders, however they’ve gotten numerous outcomes towards different groups in the course of the pack up to now two months. Zavier Gozo had an help in his first match again from the U20 World Cup and his continued reintegration with Luna in assault could make the distinction. — Arnold
