2023 MLS Cup Playoffs

Last updated

2023 MLS Cup Playoffs
2023 MLS Cup Playoffs logo black.png
Tournament details
CountryUnited States
Canada
DatesOctober 25 – December 9
Teams18
Defending champions Los Angeles FC
Final positions
Champions Columbus Crew (3rd title)
Runner-up Los Angeles FC
Semifinalists
Tournament statistics
Matches played28
Goals scored78 (2.79 per match)
Attendance646,677 (23,096 per match)
Top goal scorer(s) Flag of Gabon.svg Denis Bouanga
Flag of Colombia.svg Cucho Hernández
(5 goals each)
  2022
2024  

The 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs (branded as the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for sponsorship reasons) was the post-season championship of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top soccer league in the United States and Canada. It was the 28th edition of the MLS Cup Playoffs, the tournament culminating at the end of the 2023 season. The playoffs began on October 25 and concluded with MLS Cup 2023 on December 9. [1]

Contents

Los Angeles FC entered the playoffs as the defending MLS Cup champions. FC Cincinnati entered as Supporters' Shield winners, but were eliminated by Columbus Crew in the Conference Finals. Charlotte FC and St. Louis City SC reached the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in 2023, the latter qualifying in their debut MLS season.

Columbus Crew won a third MLS Cup title after defeating Los Angeles FC 2–1.

Format

The playoffs featured a new format from previous years with an expanded field of 18 teams—the top nine teams from each conference. The eighth and ninth-placed teams in each conference contested a single wild card match with only a penalty shoot-out occurring if the game was tied. Round One comprised a best-of-three format with higher seeds playing against lower seeds, for the first time since 1999. The round did not have the aggregate score kept, and tied matches proceeded directly to a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. The remaining three rounds — the Conference Semifinals, Conference Final, and MLS Cup — were single-elimination matches played with extra time and a penalty shoot-out if still tied. [1] [2] The higher seed hosted the match in all rounds except for the best-of-three series in Round One, where the lower seed hosted the second of three possible matches. All matches were broadcast globally on MLS Season Pass, a streaming service operated by Apple. [1]

The introduction of a best-of-three round and the expanded field, which allowed 62% of the league's 29 teams to qualify for the playoffs, were criticized for being more confusing and diluting the competition. [3] It was the first major revamp of the playoff format since 2019, when all rounds were switched to single-elimination matches. [4] The format added more matches, including home games for lower seeds, and was developed with fan input according to MLS officials; other outlets noted that new broadcaster Apple TV would benefit from the additional matches. [5] [6] The new playoff format was announced on February 21, 2023, shortly before the start of the regular season; [7] earlier media reports indicated that another format with a round-robin group stage was also considered. [8]

Unlike regular season matches, playoff matches did not have a sixth substitute added for periods of extra time. Players were suspended for a match after accumulating three yellow cards; the suspension applied to the next match, whether it was in the playoffs or the 2024 regular season. In the event that a playoff match could not be played and neither team had forfeited or is at fault, the team with the higher points per game during the 2023 regular season would advance. [9] [10]

Qualified teams

The playoffs were contested by eighteen teams. The date listed indicates when each team qualified for the playoffs.

Conference standings

Bracket

The higher seeded teams hosted single-elimination matches, with the MLS Cup host determined by overall points in the Supporters' Shield table. During the best-of-three round, the team with higher seed hosted the first match, and the third match if necessary.

Wild Card
single match
Round one
best-of-three series
Conference semifinals
single match
Conference finals
single match
MLS Cup
single match
E1 FC Cincinnati 31 (8)
E8 New York Red Bulls 5E8 New York Red Bulls 0 1 (7)
E9 Charlotte FC 2 E1 FC Cincinnati 1
E4 Philadelphia Union 0
E4 Philadelphia Union 31 Eastern Conference
E5 New England Revolution 1 0
E1 FC Cincinnati 2
E3 Columbus Crew (a.e.t.) 3
E3 Columbus Crew 22 4
E6 Atlanta United FC 0 42
E3 Columbus Crew (a.e.t.) 2
E2 Orlando City SC 0
E2 Orlando City SC 11
E7 Nashville SC 0 0
E3 Columbus Crew 2
W3 Los Angeles FC 1
W1 St. Louis City SC 1 1
W8 Sporting Kansas City (p)0 (4)W8 Sporting Kansas City 42
W9 San Jose Earthquakes 0 (2) W8 Sporting Kansas City 0
W4 Houston Dynamo FC 1
W4 Houston Dynamo FC 21 (4) 1 (4) Western Conference
W5 Real Salt Lake 1 1 (5)1 (3)
W4 Houston Dynamo FC 0
W3 Los Angeles FC 2
W3 Los Angeles FC 51
W6 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 0
W3 Los Angeles FC 1
W2 Seattle Sounders FC 0
W2 Seattle Sounders FC 21 1
W7 FC Dallas 0 30

Wild Card round

Eastern Conference

New York Red Bulls 5–2 Charlotte FC
Report
Red Bull Arena , Harrison, New Jersey
Attendance: 16,074
Referee: Ismail Elfath

Western Conference

Round One

Team 1 Series Team 2Match 1Match 2Match 3
Eastern Conference
FC Cincinnati 2–0 New York Red Bulls 3–0 1–1 (8–7 p)
Orlando City SC 2–0 Nashville SC 1–0 1–0
Columbus Crew 2–1 Atlanta United FC 2–0 2–4 4–2
Philadelphia Union 2–0 New England Revolution 3–1 1–0
Western Conference
St. Louis City SC 0–2 Sporting Kansas City 1–4 1–2
Seattle Sounders FC 2–1 FC Dallas 2–0 1–3 1–0
Los Angeles FC 2–0 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 5–2 1–0
Houston Dynamo FC 2–1 Real Salt Lake 2–1 1–1 (4–5 p) 1–1 (4–3 p)

Eastern Conference

FC Cincinnati 3–0 New York Red Bulls
Report
TQL Stadium , Cincinnati, Ohio
Attendance: 24,022
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
New York Red Bulls1–1FC Cincinnati
Barlow Soccerball shade.svg45' Report Boupendza Soccerball shade.svg75'
Penalties
7–8
Red Bull Arena , Harrison, New Jersey
Attendance: 20,044
Referee: Victor Rivas

FC Cincinnati won the series 2–0.


Orlando City SC 1–0 Nashville SC
Report
Nashville SC0–1Orlando City SC
Report
Geodis Park , Nashville, Tennessee
Attendance: 25,315
Referee: Allen Chapman

Orlando City SC won the series 2–0.


Columbus Crew 2–0 Atlanta United FC
Report
Lower.com Field , Columbus, Ohio
Attendance: 20,176
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
Atlanta United FC4–2Columbus Crew
Report
Mercedes-Benz Stadium , Atlanta, Georgia
Attendance: 41,850
Referee: Chris Penso
Columbus Crew4–2Atlanta United FC
Report
Lower.com Field , Columbus, Ohio
Attendance: 20,182
Referee: Armando Villarreal

Columbus Crew won the series 2–1.


Philadelphia Union 3–1 New England Revolution
Report
Subaru Park , Chester, Pennsylvania
Attendance: 19,778
Referee: Pierre-Luc Lauziere
New England Revolution0–1Philadelphia Union
Report

Philadelphia Union won the series 2–0.

Western Conference

St. Louis City SC 1–4 Sporting Kansas City
Report
CityPark , St. Louis, Missouri
Attendance: 22,423
Referee: Ted Unkel
Sporting Kansas City2–1St. Louis City SC
Report

Sporting Kansas City won the series 2–0.


Seattle Sounders FC 2–0 FC Dallas
Report
Lumen Field , Seattle, Washington
Attendance: 30,741
Referee: Joseph Dickerson
FC Dallas3–1Seattle Sounders FC
Report
Toyota Stadium , Frisco, Texas
Attendance: 19,096
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
Seattle Sounders FC1–0FC Dallas
Report
Lumen Field , Seattle, Washington
Attendance: 33,048
Referee: Fotis Bazakos

Seattle Sounders FC won the series 2–1.


Los Angeles FC 5–2 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Report
BMO Stadium , Los Angeles, California
Attendance: 22,002
Referee: Jon Freemon
Vancouver Whitecaps FC0–1Los Angeles FC
Report
BC Place , Vancouver, British Columbia
Attendance: 30,204
Referee: Timothy Ford

Los Angeles FC won the series 2–0.


Houston Dynamo FC 2–1 Real Salt Lake
Report
Shell Energy Stadium , Houston, Texas
Attendance: 17,508
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.
Real Salt Lake1–1Houston Dynamo FC
Report
Penalties
5–4
America First Field , Sandy, Utah
Attendance: 20,251
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Houston Dynamo FC1–1Real Salt Lake
Baird Soccerball shade.svg28' Report Luna Soccerball shade.svg65'
Penalties
4–3
Shell Energy Stadium , Houston, Texas
Attendance: 16,374
Referee: Chris Penso

Houston Dynamo FC won the series 2–1.

Conference semifinals

The higher-seeded team as determined by regular season ranking hosted the match. [1]

Team 1 Score Team 2
Eastern Conference
Orlando City SC 0–2 (a.e.t.) Columbus Crew
FC Cincinnati 1–0 Philadelphia Union
Western Conference
Houston Dynamo FC 1–0 Sporting Kansas City
Seattle Sounders FC 0–1 Los Angeles FC

Eastern Conference

Orlando City SC 0–2 (a.e.t.) Columbus Crew
Report
Exploria Stadium , Orlando, Florida
Attendance: 25,527
Referee: Jon Freemon

FC Cincinnati 1–0 Philadelphia Union
Report
TQL Stadium , Cincinnati, Ohio
Attendance: 25,513
Referee: Ismail Elfath

Western Conference

Houston Dynamo FC 1–0 Sporting Kansas City
Report
Shell Energy Stadium , Houston, Texas
Attendance: 20,319
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.

Seattle Sounders FC 0–1 Los Angeles FC
Report
Lumen Field , Seattle, Washington
Attendance: 33,649
Referee: Ted Unkel

Conference finals

The higher-seeded team as determined by regular season ranking hosted the match. [1]

Eastern Conference

FC Cincinnati 2–3 (a.e.t.) Columbus Crew
Report
TQL Stadium , Cincinnati, Ohio
Attendance: 25,513
Referee: Allen Chapman

Western Conference

Los Angeles FC 2–0 Houston Dynamo FC
Report
BMO Stadium , Los Angeles, California
Attendance: 22,221
Referee: Victor Rivas

MLS Cup 2023

The highest-ranked finalist in the overall Supporters' Shield table (Columbus Crew) hosted the match. [1] [23]

Columbus Crew 2–1 Los Angeles FC
Report
Lower.com Field , Columbus, Ohio
Attendance: 20,802
Referee: Armando Villarreal

Top goalscorers

RankPlayerClubGoals [24]
1 Flag of Gabon.svg Denis Bouanga Los Angeles FC 5
Flag of Colombia.svg Cucho Hernández Columbus Crew
3 Flag of the United States.svg Ryan Hollingshead Los Angeles FC 3
Flag of Brazil.svg Elias Manoel New York Red Bulls
5 Flag of Argentina.svg Luciano Acosta FC Cincinnati 2
Flag of the United States.svg Tom Barlow New York Red Bulls
Flag of Argentina.svg Álvaro Barreal FC Cincinnati
Flag of Morocco.svg Amine Bassi Houston Dynamo FC
Flag of Greece.svg Giorgos Giakoumakis Atlanta United FC
Flag of the United States.svg Diego Luna Real Salt Lake
Flag of the United States.svg Jordan Morris Seattle Sounders FC
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Logan Ndenbe Sporting Kansas City
Flag of the United States.svg Christian Ramirez Columbus Crew
Flag of Uruguay.svg Diego Rossi Columbus Crew
Flag of Slovakia.svg Albert Rusnák Seattle Sounders FC
Flag of Hungary.svg Dániel Sallói Sporting Kansas City
Flag of Portugal.svg Xande Silva Atlanta United FC

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MLS Cup</span> Annual soccer tournament

The MLS Cup is the annual championship game of Major League Soccer (MLS) and the culmination of the MLS Cup Playoffs. The game is held in November or December and pits the winner of the Eastern Conference Final against the winner of the Western Conference Final. The MLS Cup winner is awarded the title of league champion.

The 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs were the postseason to Major League Soccer's 2008 season, and culminated with MLS Cup 2008 on November 23, 2008 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

The 2010 MLS Cup Playoffs was the postseason tournament subsequent to Major League Soccer's 2010 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 MLS Cup Playoffs</span> 2011 edition of the MLS playoffs

The 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs was the sixteenth post-season tournament culminating the Major League Soccer regular season. The tournament began on October 26 with the play-in round and concluded on November 20 with the championship match. It was the first playoff series to include ten clubs, two more than the traditional eight. Six of the ten teams earned a direct bye into the conference semifinals, while the four wildcard teams played a single-elimination match to earn a berth into the conference semis. These eight clubs played in a single-elimination tournament en route to playoffs championship MLS Cup 2011, which doubles as the league championship for the 2011 MLS season altogether.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 MLS Cup Playoffs</span> 2012 edition of the MLS playoffs

The 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs was the seventeenth post-season tournament culminating the Major League Soccer regular season. The tournament began on October 31, and culminated on December 1, 2012 with MLS Cup 2012, the seventeenth league championship for MLS, won by the Los Angeles Galaxy 3–1 over Houston Dynamo. It was the second year that the playoffs included ten teams, and the first playoff series since 2006 in which teams cannot cross-conference brackets. The top five teams in both the Eastern and Western conferences of the league earned berths, with the top three clubs in each conference earning direct byes to the conference semifinals. The fourth and fifth-place finishers of both conferences played in a single-elimination play-in match.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 MLS Cup Playoffs</span> 2013 edition of the MLS playoffs

The 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs was the eighteenth post-season tournament culminating the Major League Soccer regular season. The tournament began in late October and culminated on December 7, 2013, with MLS Cup 2013, the eighteenth league championship for MLS. This was the third year that the playoffs included ten teams, and the second playoff series since 2006 in which teams could not cross conference brackets. The top five teams in both the Eastern and Western conferences of the league earned berths, with the top three clubs in each conference earning direct byes to the conference semifinals. The fourth and fifth-place finishers of both conferences competed in a single-elimination play-in match.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 MLS Cup Playoffs</span> 2014 edition of the MLS playoffs

The 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs was the nineteenth post-season tournament culminating the Major League Soccer regular season. The tournament began in late October and culminated on December 7, 2014 with MLS Cup 2014, the nineteenth league championship for MLS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 MLS Cup Playoffs</span> 2015 edition of the MLS playoffs

The 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs was the 20th post-season tournament culminating the Major League Soccer regular season. The tournament began on October 28 with D.C. United defeating New England Revolution and culminated on December 6, 2015, with MLS Cup 2015, the twentieth league championship match for MLS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 MLS Cup Playoffs</span> 2016 edition of the MLS playoffs

The 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs began on October 26, and ended on December 10 with MLS Cup 2016, the 21st league championship match for MLS. This was the 21st version of the MLS Cup Playoffs, the tournament culminating the Major League Soccer regular season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 MLS Cup Playoffs</span> 2017 edition of the MLS playoffs

The 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs began on October 25 and ended on December 9 with MLS Cup 2017, the 22nd league championship match for MLS. This is the 22nd version of the MLS Cup Playoffs, the tournament culminating the Major League Soccer regular season. Twelve teams, the top six of each conference, compete in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 MLS Cup Playoffs</span> 2018 edition of the MLS playoffs

The 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs began on October 31 and ended on December 8 with MLS Cup 2018, the 23rd league championship match for MLS. This was the 23rd version of the MLS Cup Playoffs, the tournament culminating the Major League Soccer regular season. Twelve teams, the top six of each conference, competed in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 MLS Cup Playoffs</span> 2019 edition of the MLS playoffs

The 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs was the post-season championship of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top soccer league in the United States and Canada. It was the 24th edition of the MLS Cup Playoffs, the tournament culminating at the end of the 2019 regular season. The playoffs began on October 19, 2019, and concluded with MLS Cup 2019 on November 10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 MLS Cup Playoffs</span> 2020 edition of the MLS Cup playoffs tournament

The 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs was the 25th 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 2020 MLS regular season. The playoffs began on November 20 and concluded with MLS Cup 2020 on December 12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MLS is Back Tournament</span> One-off tournament during the 2020 Major League Soccer season

The MLS is Back Tournament took place during the 2020 Major League Soccer season to mark the league's return to action after being suspended as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 26 Major League Soccer teams, 24 participated in the tournament; FC Dallas and Nashville SC withdrew after several of their players tested positive for COVID-19 just before their first matches. The tournament was held behind closed doors from July 8 to August 11, 2020, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando. The tournament featured a group stage, which was counted toward the 2020 MLS regular season standings, followed by knockout rounds. The tournament champion, Portland Timbers, qualified for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, and the 2020 season resumed upon completion of the tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 MLS Cup Playoffs</span> 2021 edition of the MLS Cup playoffs tournament

The 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs 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.

The 2022 season was the 110th season of competitive soccer in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Major League Soccer season</span> 27th season of Major League Soccer

The 2022 Major League Soccer season was the 27th season of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. The league had 28 clubs following the addition of Charlotte FC as an expansion team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 MLS Cup Playoffs</span> 2022 edition of the MLS Cup playoffs tournament

The 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs was the 27th 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 2022 MLS regular season. The tournament began on October 15 and concluded with MLS Cup 2022 on November 5, 16 days before the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Major League Soccer season</span> 28th season of Major League Soccer

The 2023 Major League Soccer season was the 28th season of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada, and the 45th season overall of a national first-division league in the United States. The league expanded to 29 clubs following the addition of St. Louis City SC to the Western Conference, with Nashville SC moving back to the Eastern Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MLS Cup 2023</span> 2023 edition of the MLS Cup

MLS Cup 2023 was the 28th edition of the MLS Cup, the championship match of Major League Soccer (MLS), played on December 9, 2023, at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio, United States. The soccer match between hosts Columbus Crew of the Eastern Conference and defending champions Los Angeles FC of the Western Conference determined the champions of the 2023 season. It also marked the conclusion of the MLS Cup Playoffs, which was contested by the top eighteen teams based on their regular season records.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "MLS announces new playoff format for 2023 season". Major League Soccer. February 21, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  2. "MLS adds best-of-3 series to expanded playoffs for 2023 season". ESPN. February 21, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  3. Anderson, Jason (February 21, 2023). "MLS has a new playoff format, and it's complicated". Pro Soccer Wire. USA Today . Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  4. Maurer, Pablo; Rueter, Jeff (February 21, 2023). "MLS expanding playoffs to 9 teams per conference, first round will be best-of-3 series: Sources" . The Athletic . Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  5. Tannenwald, Jonathan (February 21, 2023). "MLS changes its playoff format again, now guaranteeing home games for more teams". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  6. Peterson, Anne M. (February 21, 2023). "MLS expands playoffs to 9 teams from each conference". Associated Press . Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  7. Davidson, Neil (February 21, 2023). "MLS revamps and expands post-season format for upcoming 2023 season". CBC Sports. The Canadian Press . Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  8. "What's driving MLS' reported playoff revamp? Is a World Cup-style postseason the right move?". ESPN. October 27, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  9. "2023 MLS Cup Playoffs Media Guide". Major League Soccer. October 27, 2023. pp. 8–10. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  10. "2023 MLS Competition Guidelines". Major League Soccer. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  11. Roberson, Doug (September 23, 2023). "Atlanta United clinches MLS playoff berth with win over Montreal". Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  12. "Charlotte FC clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". MLSsoccer.com. October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 "How things stand: Major League Soccer" . Soccer America . September 21, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  14. Brennan, Pat (August 31, 2023). "FC Cincinnati has its playoff berth. Now, it's closing in on MLS history" . The Cincinnati Enquirer . Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  15. "Nashville SC clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". MLSsoccer.com. September 30, 2023. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  16. "New England Revolution clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". MLSsoccer.com. September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  17. "New York Red Bulls clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". MLSsoccer.com. October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  18. "FC Dallas clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". MLSsoccer.com. October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 Sigal, Jonathan (October 5, 2023). "Team of the Matchday: Five Western Conference teams clinch playoffs in Matchday 36". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  20. Timmermann, Tom (September 21, 2023). "St. Louis City SC clinches playoff spot after tie with LAFC and results elsewhere". St. Louis Post-Dispatch . Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  21. "San Jose Earthquakes clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". MLSsoccer.com. October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  22. "Sporting Kansas City clinch Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs spot". MLSsoccer.com. October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  23. "MLS Cup 2023 hosting scenarios: Where will the final be held?". Major League Soccer. November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  24. "MLS Player Stats". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved December 9, 2023.