NEW YORK – Home-field advantage proved crucial in an intense first day of the new single-elimination postseason format, as four clubs have secured a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs conference semifinals next week.

The other two teams to advance in the conference semifinals will be determined on Sunday in the remaining Round 1 matches.

Defending champions Atlanta United began the defense of its title with a 1-0 win over the New England Revolution to kick off the day. Atlanta United will host a conference semifinals matchup Thursday against the winner of Sunday’s Philadelphia Union and Red Bulls match.

Toronto FC will travel to face No. 1 New York City FC on Wednesday, Oct. 23, after defeating D.C. United 5-1 in extratime at BMO Field.

Seattle Sounders FC outlasted FC Dallas, 4-3, in extra time in the second-highest scoring playoff match in MLS history. Seattle will host Real Salt Lake Wednesday after RSL defeated the Portland Timbers, 2-1.

Western Conference No. 1 seed the Los Angeles Football Club will host the winner of Minnesota United FC and the LA Galaxy Thursday, pending the results of Sunday’s match.

 

MLS Cup Playoffs Schedule
*Subject to change.
** All playoff games will be broadcast nationally in Canada on TSN (English) and TVA Sports (French)
 
ROUND 1 (6 games)

Saturday, Oct. 19

  • No. 4 Toronto FC 5, No. 5 D.C. United 1
  • No. 2 Atlanta United 1, No. 7 New England Revolution 0
  • No. 2 Seattle Sounders FC 4, No. 7 FC Dallas 3
  • No. 3 Real Salt Lake 2, No. 6 Portland Timbers 1

Sunday, Oct. 20

  • No. 3 Philadelphia Union vs. No. 6 New York Red Bulls (3 p.m. ET, FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN4 / TVA Sports 2) Location: Talen Energy Stadium, Chester, PA
  • No. 4 Minnesota United FC vs. No. 5 LA Galaxy (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes / TSN4 / TVA Sports) Location: Allianz Field, St. Paul, MN

CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS (4 games)

Wednesday, Oct. 23

  • No. 1 New York City FC vs. No. 4 Toronto FC (7 p.m. ET, FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports) Location: Citi Field, New York, NY
  • No. 2 Seattle Sounders FC vs. No. 3 Real Salt Lake (10 p.m. ET, FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports) Location: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA

Thursday, Oct. 24

  • No. 2 Atlanta United vs. No. 3 Philadelphia Union / No. 6  Red Bulls (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports) Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
  • No. 1 Los Angeles Football Club vs. No. 4 Minnesota United FC / No. 5 LA Galaxy (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports) Location: Banc of California Stadium, Los Angeles, CA

CONFERENCE FINALS (2 games)

Tuesday, Oct. 29

  • Western Conference Final (TBD, ESPN / ESPN Deportes / TSN /TVA Sports)

Wednesday, Oct. 30

  • Eastern Conference Final (TBD, FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports)

2019 MLS CUP

Sunday, Nov. 10

  • MLS Cup (3 p.m. ET, ABC / Univision / TSN / TVA Sports)

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.