The 2018 MLS playoffs begin on Wednesday, October 31 with two knockout matches. The Knockout Round continues on Thursday, November 1, and the road to the MLS Cup continues until the final on December 8.

Three days after meeting on MLS Decision Day, New York City FC (3rd seed) and the Philadelphia Union (6th seed) return to Yankee Stadium for Wednesday night’s first Knockout Round showdown at 4 PM PT on FS1. In last week’s meeting, NYCFC won 3-1.

FC Dallas and the Portland Timbers are looking to bounce back from Decision Day losses in a 6:30 PM PT match that will air on UniMas and stream on ESPN+. FC Dallas fell to fourth place in the Western Conference following a surprising 2-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids (thanks, Colorado!). The Timbers held on to the fifth seed despite a 2-1 defeat to the Vancouver Whitecaps on the road.

The top two seeds in each conference get a pass for the opening stage, so our beloved Seattle Sounders parents get to go trick-or-treating with their kids tonight. The two-legged conference semifinals start this weekend. Seattle will face the higher remaining seed from the knockout round games.

Playoff Seeds

Eastern Conference

1. New York Red Bulls
2. Atlanta United FC
3. New York City FC
4. D.C. United
5. Columbus Crew SC
6. Philadelphia Union

Western Conference

1. Sporting Kansas City
2. Seattle Sounders FC
3. Los Angeles FC
4. FC Dallas
5. Portland Timbers
6. Real Salt Lake

How to Watch

New York City FC vs. Philadelphia Union

Date/Time: Wednesday, October 31, 4 PM PT
Location: Yankee Stadium
TV: FS1 and UniMas
Streaming: Fox Sports Go

NYCFC Injury Report: None

Philadelphia Injury Report: OUT: M - David Accam (sports hernia surgery)

Updates

10’ - NYCFC goes up 1-0 on this great one-time strike

26’ - David Villa makes it 2-0 NYCFC on a clinical counter.

78’ - Super pass. Great chip. NYCFC go up 3-0

83’ - Philadelphia get one back

FULL-TIME: NYCFC wins 3-1

Dallas vs. Portland Timbers

Date/Time: Wednesday, October 31, 6:30 PM PT
Location: Toyota Stadium — Frisco, Texas
TV: UniMas, Root Sports NW
Streaming: ESPN+

Dallas Injury Report: OUT: D - Kris Reaves (left foot stress fracture), F - Cristian Colman (torn ACL)

Portland Injury Report: OUT: D - Roy Miller (right thigh injury), GK - Jake Gleeson (bilateral tibial stress fracture surgery); QUESTIONABLE: GK - Kendall McIntosh (head injury), M - David Guzman (thigh injury)

Updates

22’ - A fantastic Diego Valeri free kick puts the Timbers up 1-0

57’ - Red card issued to Portland’s Larrys Mabiala!

71’ - Down a man, but Portland is still able to go up 2-0 on this Valeri goal

90 +4’ - Dallas brings it a bit closer!

FULL TIME: 5-seed Portland wins 2-1 on the road to take down FC Dallas, but will be without Larrys Mabiala, who picked up a red card in the knockout round match.

Join the Discussion

This is your MLS Cup playoffs gamethread for Halloween. Follow the spooky action and discuss with fellow Sounders supporters.