PBP: MLS 2019 Season Playoffs Conference Championship Round Game Thread [R]

Now I understand the watermelon smile in the post game interview.

 

Both teams came second in their Conference and they were 3rd and 4th in the Supporters Shield standings.

And Seattle may seem provincial to those of us on there East Coast but technically their media market is bigger than Detroit or Miami and both teams are in the top 5 in attendance.

Still, not a match for the neutrals. ABC execs won't be happy.

 

I am both disgruntled and disappointed.

Nothing went right in MLS this year.

Except for SRFC's expansion announcement.

 

Still we get to watch TFC and Sounders FC stop each other from playing.

 

Yes.. the 14th largest market in the US with the 3rd highest per capita income that also happens to have the second largest fanbase in the league is an “unattractive small-market”. Hahaha. The salt is strong with you.

 

Oh... and as far as Toronto not mattering.. 1.5 million Canadians watched the 2016 MLS Cup compared to 2 million Americans. Sooooooo...... yeeeaaaah....

 

I can't believe TFC have won 3 playoff games with Laurent Ciman as a starting CB and Omar Gonzalez and Jozy Altidore not setting foot on the field.

I never would have believed it was possible to make it to MLS cup in that scenario.

 

You must be clueless about MLS if you think Seattle is an unattractive small-market team. They play some of the most attractive soccer in the league.

 

When I'm not watching presumably

 

The reference to contact was spot on as Marrufo was pathetically bad. He wasn't biased as he didn't call anything. Arreaga, who got tossed out of his last two games, smashed into Vella like a rugby player and came close to separating Vela's shoulder on on the second one. He was so bad that let em hack Kelly actually felt the need to call a surprisingly tight game tonight(I thought he was very good outside of a phantom penalty call and a gutless VAR who was to afraid to call him on it) .

Refs like to think by calling nothing they let players decide the game. But this was exhibit A. But without Kaye and Diomonde LAFC team was a poor match for Seattle in a game without fouls which turning what should have been a one sided game into one where the margins between the teams were little. If Arreaga's reckless play is properly sanctioned like his previous games it is probably LA in a rout and LA's leaky defense giving up a goal or even two is inconsequential.

If LA wants to be a great team they needed a guy that would have hammered Lodeiro or Ruidiaz the next time they touched the ball after Vela got taken out in the ninth minute to force the ref into calling something and getting the game under control. By the time Kaye started recklessly hitting Seattle's players in the second half the game was over. They may want to play Bradley's stylish football, but if the ref calls a game more suitable to Lenhart and Gordon they've got to learn how to adjust. That said credit to Seattle and Toronto for making plays. They may not have been the better teams, but they are quality teams that were able to do what was needed to win.

 

Vella needs to learn how to take a shoulder to shoulder bump

 

Toronto was 4th in the East and 9th overall.

 

Right, I got TFC and AUFC mixed up.

 

Toronto and Seattle????

Not this shit again!

 

C'mon, they need a rubber match to sort out who gets bragging rights for the next decade.
Seriously though, how would you rate these two teams among the current dynasties? I don't think there has ever been a case where the 2 same MLS clubs have met in the MLS Cup 3 out of four years (pre-2002 doesn't count with only 10 teams the odds were higher).

 

I guess another shitty round of MLS playoffs* that I don't fully recognize came to an end with the Washington Nationals as World Series Champions.

I haven't slept.

*allegedly conference championships

 

Last time MLS Cup was held in Seattle, Real Salt Lake were your Eastern Conference Champions.

 

TFC was 4th in the East.

 

Another TFC/Sea final. Another Final on turf.

 

I understand the angst of the “we’ve already seen this” crowd. All the neutrals wanted to see LAFC vs either Atlanta or NYCFC. But I’m not going to waste much time feeling bad.

Andy: I’m sorry this is costing you an extra $900. But So far I am on the hook for flying two kids back into town for this (thank you veterans for your service and your holiday) and after tickets and beer, I am going to guess this costs me twice that. Been dreaming of this for 10 years, and it will be gladly spent.

 

Oh, shit happens. It's part of the job. I was spoiled the last couple of years with all the driving to Orlando and Atlanta.

Plus I miss Seattle. I think it has been ten years since I was in town.

At least I got a direct flight.

 

Lodeiro is consistently the most fouled player in MLS, and in this match, both he and Ruidiaz got hit in the head multiple times with nobody being given a yellow card. .