MLS Cup Playoff Takeaways: Conference Finals
Photo by Carolyn Kaster from The Associated Press
What a year for the 3 seed, eh?
Both 3 seeds in each conference will play in MLS Cup Final this Saturday.
Columbus is heading for their 2nd MLS Cup in 4 years, while LAFC is going for the chance to repeat for the first time since their crosstown rivals in 2011 and 2012.
Let’s discuss how we got here.
Columbus defeats Cincinnati 3-2
FC Cincy looked to be headed towards MLS Cup Final with a 2-0 lead at halftime, but Wilfried Nancy’s boys stayed strong in the game and came back to force extra time before winning it late.
Why, you ask?
Good management.
In the 65th minute, Nancy brought Julian Gressel and Christian Ramirez off the bench to help the Crew comeback, and both of them were crucial to the goals that tied the game.
Hell, Christian Ramirez even scored the winner.
On the other bench, Pat Noonan listened to his MVP player Luciano Acosta and kept the injured Acosta on the field for the second half of extra time.
I do not blame Noonan for doing so. After all, Acosta is the best player in the league. Why sub him off in a tied game?
But Acosta was more injured than being let on, and his presence made it feel like Cincy was playing down a man in extra time.
His injury even led to him turning the ball over before the Ramirez match winner.
Noonan is obviously still an amazing manager, but Nancy made the right moves while Noonan made the wrong ones.
It’s why Columbus is hosting MLS Cup this Saturday.
(Which I predicted before the playoffs, but that’s neither here nor there…)
LAFC defeats Houston 2-0
Sometimes, this sport is as simple as one team being better than the other.
LAFC have skill all over the field, whereas Houston, despite their great season, was at a clear disadvantage talent wise.
It showed, as LAFC won 2-0 easily and even out xG’d Houston 2.3 to 0.4.
I wish I had more to say about this game like the Eastern Conference Final, but I don’t.
Houston has a bright future, but LAFC is the far better team right now.
It showed.
MLS Cup Final Prediction
It’d be dumb to pick against LAFC with the form they’re in.
But I picked Columbus to win it all before the playoffs started.
I ain’t backing down now.
Columbus Crew win MLS Cup.
