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Week 1 Match of The Week, MLS Cup Format Changes

 Before each week I’m going to do a Matchup of the Week and make 10 picks against the spread which I’ll add up throughout the season to see how I do. 

 

For Week 1 I honestly wish I had to dig a little harder. I wanted to find some hidden gem to write about, but this one is too obvious. LAFC and the Galaxy matchup at the Rose Bowl in front of 90,000 fans and it’s going to be must see TV. This is already a tense rivalry with both clubs looking to be The Club in Los Angeles. 

 

Vela, Chiellini, Long, Acosta, Ilie, and company will take on Chicharito, Puig, Alvarez, and the LA’s original MLS franchise. I truly wish I could be there. The atmosphere is going to be out of this world for the Battle for LA. Both teams have a lot to gain and a lot to lose. LAFC’s roster has been overhauled and they want to start the season where they finished last season and expect to end this one, on top. The Galaxy will look to re-establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with out West. 

 

Apple TV+ is putting Taylor Twellman and Jake Zivin on the call for the match. From what we’ve seen so far in the preseason I think Apple TV is going to deliver a great product, and all eyes will be on this matchup Saturday night.  

 

Game Time: 9:30 Eastern 6:30 Pacific

How to Watch: Apple TV+

Players to Watch: Carlos Vela, Chicharito, Riqui Puig, Aaron Long, Chiellini

 

Playoff Format Change

 

The League announced yesterday that the 2023 playoff format will feature 18 clubs, 9 from each Conference. The 8 and 9 seeds will play a 1 game series to advance to the Conference Quarter Finals. Which will be a best of three series with no Extra Time, it will just go to penalty kicks. The winners advance to the Conference Semi-Finals that is also a one game series, as is the Conference Finals and MLS Cup. 

 

MLS is a perfectly imperfect league. It doesn’t make sense, but it’s fun and it gives us all something to talk about. Every time there’s a competition change in MLS it feels like the idea came out of a board room filled with 1980’s NFL Marketing Directors, old Arena Soccer League Executives, and Pro Wrestling folks. It’s incredible. Not in the fact that it makes sense or waters down the regular season even more but it’s some crazy shenanigans we’re all going to be talking about 10 years from now. 

 

My questions to the readers this week: How many teams are the appropriate number of teams in the MLS Cup Playoffs? Would you prefer a two leg UEFA style series, or FA Cup style winner takes the game but a replay is required if there’s a tie? Should the League reward the Supports Shield winners more than MLS Cup winners? I’ll put some polls up on Twitter, but I also want to hear your feedback. 

 

MLS Week 1 Picks

 

10 games I feel comfortable with in week 1:

Nashville over NYCFC

Austin over St. Louis

FC Cincinnati over Houston

Inter Miami over Montreal

Portland-SKC Draw

Philly over Columbus

Orlando City over NYRB

Seattle over Colorado

Toronto over DC

Dallas over Minnesota

 

Hopefully everyone has a fun week 1. If you’re going to a game or at a watch party Tweet your pictures and we’ll share them!


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