MLS Cup Playoffs preview, expert picks for every game: Who will stop Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami from winning?

The wildcard round of the MLS Cup playoffs is done and dusted making way for the full party to get underway. Supporters’ Shield winners Inter Miami will kick off the fun by hosting Atlanta United, and the first round could be a thrilling one. Teams will play in a best of three series that includes no draws. If a game is level after 90 minutes, it will go directly to penalties and the first team to win two matches will advance to the next round of playoffs.

But will the Columbus Crew be able to hold off Miami to feature in back to back MLS Cup Finals? Or is the return of Los Angeles going to restore power to the Western Conference? We’ve got you covered in picking every game of the MLS Cup playoffs to determine the eventual winner.

Round one

Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United
Game one: Miami 3, Atlanta 1
Game two: Atlanta 2, Miami 2 (Miami advance on penalties)

Orlando City SC vs. Charlotte FC
Game one: Orlando 1, Charlotte 0
Game two: Charlotte 2, Orlando 1
Game three: Orlando 2, Charlotte 0

FC Cincinatti vs. New York City FC
Game one: Cincinnati 3, NYCFC 1
Game two: NYCFC 2, Cincinnati 3

Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls
Game one: Columbus 2, NYRB 1
Game two: NYRB 2, Columbus 2 (Columbus advance on penalties)

Los Angeles FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
Game one: LAFC 3, Vancouver 1
Game two: Vancouver 1, LAFC 2

Seattle Sounders vs. Houston Dynamo
Game one: Seattle 1, Houston 0
Game two: Houston 2, Seattle 1
Game three: Seattle 2, Houston 1

Real Salt Lake vs. Minnesota United
Game one: Real Salt Lake 2, Minnesota 3
Game two: Minnesota 2, Real Salt Lake 1

LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids
Game one: LA Galaxy 3, Colorado 1
Game two: Colorado 3, LA Galaxy 2
Game three: LA Galaxy 4, Colorado 1

One benefit of the best of three playoff format is that everyone gets a home game but it also means that it’s harder to knock out higher seeds due to the underdogs needing to win at least one game on the road. That leads to things going chalk at times but there could be some interesting developments with teams like the LA Galaxy needing to play at altitude where they could drop a game unexpectedly. 

A few of these will go to three games and Minnesota winning isn’t something that’s much of an upset, but they’re the only lower-seeded team that I have making it out of the first round which will be business as usual.

Semifinals

Eastern Conference
Inter Miami 2, Orlando City 1
Columbus Crew 4, FC Cincinnati 3

It’s derby day all around with a battle for Florida and the Hell is Real derby and they’ll bring the fireworks. Inter Miami will need to grind out a physical match with an Olrando City side who has had their number but behind a not-so-secret weapon of Lionel Messi, that won’t be too hard to do. In Columbus, we’re in for a goal explosion between Cucho Hernandez and Luciano Acosta in the highest scoring game of the entire playoffs. 

Western Conference
LAFC 3, Seattle 1
LA Galaxy 3, Minnesota United 2

Moving to the West we’ve still got a thriller between the Galaxy and Minnesota United where the team who wants to defend slightly more is the one who ends up winning it. LAFC will flex their muscles and move through with ease as despite their end of season run, Seattle will need to retool to get back to the top of the West where they belong.

Conference final

Inter Miami 2, Columbus Crew 3
LAFC 3, LA Galaxy 3 (LA Galaxy on penalties)

Miami and Columbus have been competing for everything these days and it’s no surprise that they’ll meet for the Eastern Conference crown. In a tense match, the Crew will get their due, making yet another appearance in a final. Up against them is an always thrilling El Trafico. The Galaxy may have lost the rights to host this match on the final day of the season but they’ll make up for it by winning a penalty shootout to make it to the MLS Cup.

MLS Cup

Columbus Crew 3, LA Galaxy 2

The number two seeds from each conference are the final sides standing as this will be yet another open match. The Crew will avenge their loss in the Concacaf Champions Cup final by winning the MLS Cup but this is also the Galaxy’s signal to the league that they’re back and here to stay.

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