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Playoffs · 2018

The 2018playoffs.

Atlanta United FC beat Portland Timbers in MLS Cup 2018. Twelve clubs qualified, the top six in each conference.

Final

Western Conference

Knockout roundSingle match
Conference semifinalsTwo legs, aggregate
Conference finalsTwo legs, aggregate
Two legsNov 25 · Nov 29
1Sporting KC022
5Portland033
POR won 3–2 on aggregate
Two legsNov 4 · Nov 11
1Sporting KC145
6Salt Lake123
SKC won 5–3 on aggregate
One matchNov 1
3LAFC2
6Salt Lake3
RSL won 3–2
Two legsNov 4 · Nov 8
2Seattle13(2)4
5Portland22(4)4
POR 4–4 on aggregate; won 4–2 on penalties
One matchOct 31
4Dallas1
5Portland2
POR won 2–1

Eastern Conference

Knockout roundSingle match
Conference semifinalsTwo legs, aggregate
Conference finalsTwo legs, aggregate
Two legsNov 25 · Nov 29
1Red Bulls011
2Atlanta303
ATL won 3–1 on aggregate
Two legsNov 4 · Nov 11
1Red Bulls033
5Columbus101
RBNY won 3–1 on aggregate
One matchNov 1
4D.C.2(2)
5Columbus2(3)
CLB won 3–2 on penalties after 2–2 a.e.t.
Two legsNov 4 · Nov 11
2Atlanta134
3NYCFC011
ATL won 4–1 on aggregate
One matchOct 31
3NYCFC3
6Philadelphia1
NYC won 3–1

MLS Cup

Dec 8

One matchDec 8
2Atlanta2
5Portland0
ATL won 2–0
2018 championAtlanta United FC

MLS Cup 2018

Atlanta United FC over Portland Timbers.

2–0

Venue
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Attendance
73,019
MVP
Josef Martínez
Field
12 of 23 clubs

The format

How 2018 worked.

Twelve clubs qualified, the top six in each conference. Seeds 3–6 played a single-match knockout round (3 v 6, 4 v 5) at the higher seed; the winners were re-seeded against seeds 1 and 2 in two-legged conference semifinals and finals decided on aggregate goals, then away goals, then extra time and penalties. MLS Cup was a single match hosted by the finalist with the better regular-season record.

  • No format change; LAFC joined (23 clubs).
  • Final season of two-legged series and of the away-goals rule before the 2019 single-elimination overhaul.
  1. 01Knockout roundSingle matchOct 31 – Nov 1
  2. 02Conference semifinalsTwo legs, aggregateNov 4–11
  3. 03Conference finalsTwo legs, aggregateNov 25–29
  4. 04MLS CupSingle matchDec 8
Seeding
Top six per conference by points. After the knockout round the 1 seed met the lowest remaining seed and the 2 seed the other survivor.
Hosting
Higher seed hosted the knockout-round match and the second leg of each two-legged series; MLS Cup hosted by the finalist with the better regular-season record.
Ties
Two-legged series: aggregate goals, then away goals (regulation only — away goals did not count in extra time), then 30 minutes of extra time and a penalty shoot-out. Single matches: extra time then penalties.

Open the 2018 season · Wikipedia — 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs · Wikipedia — MLS Cup 2018 · American Soccer Analysis match data (fixtures/asa)