Home teams win wildcard games to start MLS Cup Playoffs
The Red Bulls won in a rout, while Sporting KC needed penalty kicks
There’s nothing like playing at home during the playoffs.
The MLS Cup Playoffs began on Wednesday with a pair of thrilling wildcard games that could be a prelude to what’s to come this postseason.
The New York Red Bulls and Sporting Kansas City, both No. 8 seeds and playing at home, eliminated Charlotte FC and the San Jose Earthquakes, respectively.
In the opening game, Elias Manoel scored a hat trick as the Red Bulls routed Charlotte FC 5-2 at Red Bull Arena. In doing so, Manoel recorded the first playoff hat trick in Red Bulls history.
“For me, Elias is absolutely hitting form,” said New York Red Bulls coach Troy Lesesne. “He was hitting form in June and July, then he got injured and that was unfortunate because I thought he was really building momentum and then there was a setback there for him.”
The Red Bulls play FC Cincinnati — winners of the Supporters’ Shield after finishing the regular season with the best overall record — on the road Sunday in the opening game of the first round, which is a best-of-three series. The Red Bulls host the second game on Nov. 4.
“I hope to score more goals, and not only against Charlotte,” Manoel said, “so our team goes farther and farther in this competition.”
In the second game of the night, Sporting KC needed a penalty-kick shootout to eliminate the San Jose Earthquakes at Children's Mercy Park after the sides played to a scoreless draw. Daniel Salloi converted the decisive kick as Sporting KC won the shootout 4-2.
“Our crowd was really good,” Sporting Kansas City coach Pater Vermes told reporters when asked about the fans. “They were loud as could be, especially when [San Jose] were shooting [penalties] and making them know it.”
Next up for SKC is the best-of-three series against St. Louis SC — an expansion side that finished as the top-seed in the Western Conference — beginning on Sunday. Sporting Kansas City will host the second game on Nov. 5.
The new MLS playoff format features nine teams apiece from the Eastern and Western Conferences — the largest in league history — with Saturday marking the start of the first round.