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The hangup on MLS playoff rule flaw

Why this postseason has MLS fans scratching their heads more than normal

ByScott Conrad|
Rapids v Galaxy Mathis
Rapids v Galaxy Mathis | Stephen Dunn/GettyImages

Major League Soccer began in 1996 with ten teams to start. A number of soccer clubs have folded, and some had relocated. Others have been added in expansion such as the 2017 MLS Cup champions, Toronto FC

In the first four seasons, the first round of playoffs worked as a best-of-three. There were no cummulative goal factors in play. For instance, the Chicago Fire played against the Dallas Burn team in the first round of the 1999 Western Conference playoffs. Dallas won the first game, 2-1.

The Fire came back to win in Game 2 by 4-0. In the decisive Game 3, Dallas advanced after winning 3-2. Despite Chicago scoring two more goals in the series than their opponent, the Dallas Burn went on to the next round of the playoffs against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

That next round, the Los Angeles Galaxy won Game 1 against the Burn, 2-1. After a 2-2 stalemate in Game 2, Dallas won via penalty kicks, 4-3. All tied up 1-1, the LA Galaxy won the series finale, 3-1.

Why the commotion this year regarding the first round this season?

MLS has changed the postseason format in the opening round seven times in its league history. Nine, technically, if you count the switch back in 2021 for two seasons to the 2019 format.

It was a season ago that MLS officials decided to adjust the first round of the playoffs to eliminate aggregates and no ties. A winner is determined in every postseason contest.

An overtime period will not be played. Instead, in the event of a tie after regulation, the outcome is to be decided by penalty kicks. This happened in two of the four Western Conference playoff series.

The first games of two different series were awarded to the winner on penalty kicks. Seattle took Game 1 from Houston Dynamo FC as well as Minnesota FC United over Real Salt Lake, both 5-4 on penalty kicks.

How does this affect the LA Galaxy, potentially?

In Game 1 last week, the Los Angeles Galaxy clobbered the Colorado Rapids, 5-0. A 1-0 or a 4-0 win would have had the same weight in the current playoff format. Only the LA Galaxy and Colorado Rapids series had a Game 1 score differential of more than one goal.

Whereas before, depending on when, this series would be over now unless the Galaxy were to lose 6-0 to the Rapids on Saturday in Game 2. The five-time MLS champions have never lost a game 6-0 in franchise history.

In other words, even if the Galaxy were to barely stumble on the road at Dick's Sporting Goods Park and lose Game 2 maybe 3-2, then the series continues to Game 3 back in Carson, California.

The LA Galaxy have already beat Colorado twice during the regular season. Back on October 2nd, the Galaxy won on the road, 3-1, against the Rapids.

Another win (in regulation or via penalty kicks) would give Head Coach Greg Vanney the series and his team would advance to the Western Conference Semifinals. While the Galaxy have struggled at home, it is hard to imagine a squad that boasts four players who scored 10 goals or more during the regular season would get outscored, much less blanked.

Game 2 is on Friday night at 8:30 p.m. (CT) in Commerce City, Colorado. If necessary, Game 3 on Saturday, November 9 back at Dignity Health Sports Park. The LA Galaxy have yet to lose a game there this season.