The MLS playoffs mayhem is underway as the Wildcard games are being decided, and teams wait patiently to kick off the best-of-three series format that has taken the first round by storm.
Anything can happen in the first round thanks to its format that is like no other in the beautiful world of soccer. Looking at both sides of the bracket, many matchups can swing to either side of the pendulum due to how close in talent most teams are to each other.
The format does give the top seed the advantage, thanks to the third game that rewards them a second home game if they cannot close out the series in two games.
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Which Matchup is More Likely to Provide the Upset
Columbus VS Cincinnati
This is a matchup that we have covered closely all year, thanks to the heated nature that these games possess. Not just on the pitch but in the stands as well, this rivalry is the closest thing to a European Derby that we have here in America.
The first matchup between these two ended in a draw; they matched each other in goals thanks to Cincinnati packing it in and playing on the counterattack.
The second matchup was a thriller that saw Columbus come back from multiple goals on the road as they earned a must-win at that point in the season.
Things have changed since they last met. Cincinnati has been a force thanks to Evander, and Columbus has struggled to find any consistency thanks to their injury problems. Now that both teams face each other in the playoffs, anything can happen.
It will be tough for the Crew to travel past the Hell is Real sign to face Cincinnati twice, though it will be the shortest commute of any of the matchups.
The Crew have dominated the series for the most part since Cincinnati became an MLS club. I predict that Columbus will elevate their play and win in a deciding game three on the road.
At the very least, this series will go to a game three; they may have been divided on the table, but the talent on both sides is even enough to make fans doubt who can win the Hell is Real playoff Derby.
The Seattle Vs Minnesota
Though both teams aren’t separated by much on the table, Minnesota looked to be the better team all year in terms of MLS play this season.
Seattle is a good team with some impressive hardware in their trophy case, as they are the most successful club in the short history of the league. They are known to show up in big games throughout their history.
They have a strong midfield and a defense good enough to keep them alive in games late with a chance to equalize or take a lead when it matters most.
This team has difference makers like Roldan, who has made a major impact in the midfield for Seattle. His form against Minnesota will be the biggest deciding factor on whether they will pull off the upset against a talented but injured squad.
Minnesota is most likely to be the Western Conference top dog that will get upset in the first round due to their injuries.
This matchup could go down as the most interesting first-round contest in the Western Conference.
Main Photo
Credit IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire
Recording Date 17.10.2025