The 2014 playoffs.

The format

How 2014 worked.

Nineteen clubs; the top five in each conference qualified in fully separate brackets. The 4th and 5th seeds met in a single knockout match at the 4th seed, the winner facing the No. 1 seed; conference semifinals and finals were two-legged aggregate series with the higher seed hosting the second leg, and MLS Cup a single match hosted by the finalist with the better regular-season record. The away-goals rule applied for the first time and decided two Western series; it did not apply to goals scored in extra time.

• Away-goals rule introduced for the two-legged rounds (not applied to extra-time goals); it settled Seattle–Dallas (1–1 agg.) and the LA–Seattle Western final (2–2 agg.).

1. 01Knockout roundSingle matchOct 29 – Oct 30
2. 02Conference semifinalsTwo legs, aggregateNov 1 – Nov 10
3. 03Conference finalsTwo legs, aggregateNov 23 – Nov 30
4. 04MLS CupSingle matchDec 7

Seeding

Top five per conference by points, seeded 1–5 within the conference; the 4 v 5 knockout winner met the No. 1 seed and the 2 and 3 seeds met each other. No cross-conference series.

Hosting

Knockout match hosted by the 4th seed; higher seed hosted the second leg of each two-legged series; MLS Cup hosted by the finalist with the better regular-season record (LA Galaxy, 61 pts v New England 55).

Ties

Aggregate goals over two legs; if level, the away-goals rule; if still level, 30 minutes of extra time (away goals do not count in extra time) then penalty kicks. Single matches went to extra time then penalties.