2021 MLS Cup Playoffs

Last updated

2021 MLS Cup Playoffs
2021 MLS Cup Playoffs logo.png
Tournament details
CountryUnited States
Canada
DatesNovember 20 – December 11
Teams14
Defending champions Columbus Crew
(did not qualify)
Final positions
Champions New York City FC (1st title)
Runner-up Portland Timbers
Semifinalists
Tournament statistics
Matches played13
Goals scored32 (2.46 per match)
Attendance299,891 (23,069 per match)
Top goal scorer(s) Flag of Argentina.svg Valentín Castellanos
Flag of Germany.svg Hany Mukhtar
(3 goals each)
←  2020
2022  →

The 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs (branded as the 2021 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for sponsorship reasons) was the 26th edition of the MLS Cup Playoffs, the post-season championship of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top soccer league in the United States and Canada. The tournament culminated the 2021 MLS regular season. The tournament began on November 20 and concluded with MLS Cup 2021 on December 11. [1]

Contents

The Columbus Crew were the defending MLS Cup champions, but failed to qualify for the playoffs after finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference.

The 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs marked the first time since 2004 that no club from Texas qualified, and the first time ever that no club from California qualified. [2]

Qualified teams

Conference standings

The top seven teams in the Eastern and Western Conference qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs, with the conference champions receiving second round byes. Background colors denote playoff teams, with green also qualifying for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League.

Bracket

First round
November 20–21, 23 		Conference semifinals
November 25, 28, 30 		Conference finals
December 4–5 		MLS Cup
December 11
            
E1 New England Revolution 2 (3)
E4 New York City FC (p)2 (5)
E4 New York City FC 2
E5 Atlanta United FC 0
E4 New York City FC 2
Eastern Conference
E2 Philadelphia Union 1
E3 Nashville SC 3
E6 Orlando City SC 1
E3 Nashville SC 1 (0)
E2 Philadelphia Union (p)1 (2)
E2 Philadelphia Union (a.e.t.)1
E7 New York Red Bulls 0
E4 New York City FC (p)1 (4)
W4 Portland Timbers 1 (2)
W1 Colorado Rapids 0
W4 Portland Timbers 1
W4 Portland Timbers 3
W5 Minnesota United FC 1
W4 Portland Timbers 2
Western Conference
W7 Real Salt Lake 0
W3 Sporting Kansas City 3
W6 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1
W3 Sporting Kansas City 1
W7 Real Salt Lake 2
W2 Seattle Sounders FC 0 (5)
W7 Real Salt Lake (p)0 (6)

Note: The higher seeded teams hosted matches, with the MLS Cup host determined by overall points.

First round

The second through fourth seeded teams in each conference hosted the first round matches. The top seeds in each conference got a bye to the Conference Semifinals.

Eastern Conference

Philadelphia Union 1–0 (a.e.t.) New York Red Bulls
Glesnes Soccerball shade.svg120+3' Report
Subaru Park , Chester
Attendance: 18,623
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
New York City FC 2–0 Atlanta United FC
Report
Yankee Stadium , New York City
Attendance: 25,267
Referee: Chris Penso
Nashville SC 3–1 Orlando City SC
Report Dike Soccerball shade.svg14'
Nissan Stadium , Nashville
Attendance: 26,043
Referee: Ismail Elfath

Western Conference

Sporting Kansas City 3–1 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Report Dájome Soccerball shade.svg39' (pen.)
Children's Mercy Park , Kansas City
Attendance: 19,817
Referee: Alan Kelly
Portland Timbers 3–1 Minnesota United FC
Report
Providence Park , Portland
Attendance: 22,533
Referee: Armando Villarreal

Conference semifinals

The higher-seeded teams in each match-up hosted the matches.

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Colorado Rapids 0–1 Portland Timbers
Report Mabiala Soccerball shade.svg90'
Dick's Sporting Goods Park , Commerce City
Attendance: 17,438
Referee: Ted Unkel
Sporting Kansas City 1–2 Real Salt Lake
Russell Soccerball shade.svg24' (pen.) Report
Children's Mercy Park , Kansas City
Attendance: 21,650
Referee: Kevin Stott

Conference finals

The higher-seeded teams in each conference hosted the matches.

Eastern Conference

Philadelphia Union 1–2 New York City FC
Callens Soccerball shade.svg63' (o.g.) Report
Subaru Park , Chester
Attendance: 19,487
Referee: Ted Unkel

Western Conference

Portland Timbers 2–0 Real Salt Lake
Report
Providence Park , Portland
Attendance: 25,218
Referee: Alan Kelly

MLS Cup 2021

The highest-ranked team remaining in the overall table (Portland Timbers) hosted the match.

Portland Timbers 1–1 (a.e.t.) New York City FC
Mora Soccerball shade.svg90+4' Report Castellanos Soccerball shade.svg41'
Penalties
2–4
Providence Park , Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Attendance: 25,218
Referee: Armando Villarreal

Top goalscorers

RankPlayerClubGoals [4]
1 Flag of Argentina.svg Valentín Castellanos New York City FC 3
Flag of Germany.svg Hany Mukhtar Nashville SC
3 Flag of Argentina.svg Sebastián Blanco Portland Timbers 2
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Larrys Mabiala Portland Timbers
Flag of Chile.svg Felipe Mora Portland Timbers
6 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tajon Buchanan New England Revolution 1
Flag of Poland.svg Adam Buksa New England Revolution
Flag of Venezuela.svg Jhonder Cádiz Nashville SC
Flag of Peru (state).svg Alexander Callens New York City FC
Flag of Colombia.svg Cristian Dájome Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Flag of the United States.svg Daryl Dike Orlando City SC
Flag of Argentina.svg Franco Fragapane Minnesota United FC
Flag of Hungary.svg Dániel Gazdag Philadelphia Union
Flag of Norway.svg Jakob Glesnes Philadelphia Union
Flag of France.svg Nicolas Isimat-Mirin Sporting Kansas City
Flag of Ecuador.svg Anderson Julio Real Salt Lake
Flag of Brazil.svg Talles Magno New York City FC
Flag of Argentina.svg Maximiliano Moralez New York City FC
Flag of Colombia.svg Santiago Moreno Portland Timbers
Flag of Uruguay.svg Santiago Rodríguez New York City FC
Flag of Scotland.svg Johnny Russell Sporting Kansas City
Flag of the United States.svg Khiry Shelton Sporting Kansas City
Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Wood Real Salt Lake
Flag of the United States.svg Graham Zusi Sporting Kansas City

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References

  1. ↑ "MLS announces Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs schedule". MLSSoccer.com. Major League Soccer. September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  2. ↑ Creditor, Avi (November 7, 2021). "MLS Decision Day: No Playoffs for Defending Champ Columbus, California or Texas Teams". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  3. ↑ Serrano, Rodrigo (September 22, 2021). "New England Revolution first team in MLS to clinch playoff spot". Diario AS . PRISA . Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Stats". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
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