2024 MLS Conference Finals: What To Expect
by Tyler Doty | by Tyler Doty
MLS Conference Finals: What To Expect
The 2024 MLS Conference Finals take place this weekend with Orlando City hosting the New York Red Bulls and Seattle Sounders facing LA Galaxy.
Orlando City are looking to reach the MLS Cup for the first time in their history. The Red Bulls haven’t made the final game of the season since 2008. Out west, the two remaining teams have a much stronger pedigree at this stage of the campaign, with a combined 13 MLS Cup appearances.
The Galaxy, though, haven’t reached the final in a decade, while this is the Sounders’ deepest run since losing the final in 2020.
Orlando City vs New York Red Bulls
Orlando City had five more points than the New York Red Bulls in the regular season. New York has thrived as an underdog throughout these playoffs, seeing off Columbus Crew and NYCFC. Orlando narrowly made it past Atlanta United after getting the better of Charlotte.
While there was a clear gap between the teams in the regular season, it’s notable that the Red Bulls had the second-best expected goal difference in the Eastern Conference. Five teams had a better xG than Orlando.
Former RB Leipzig midfielder Emil Forsberg is crucial to the Red Bulls’ chances as they look to play in the MLS Cup for the first time in 16 years. Forsberg’s metrics are spectacular across the board, and his creative numbers are among the best in MLS.
With the sixth-most shots and the third-lowest possession in the regular season, the Red Bulls are accustomed to absorbing pressure.
They will have to do so in Orlando on Saturday night. The hosts have made a habit of controlling matches throughout this season, while consistently creating chances for star man Facundo Torres and others.
The pressure is usually on the higher-seeded teams in matches like this. Expectations are high for the seventh-seeded Red Bulls, however, as the franchise looks to make the most of this improbable run.
Eastern Conference Finals have been a hurdle the franchise has been unable to clear for over a decade and a half. Is Sandro Schwarz the man to change that?
Match Info:
- TV Broadcast: Apple TV
- Time: 7:30 p.m. EST (Saturday, November 30, 2024)
- Stadium: Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
LA Galaxy vs Seattle Sounders
Two goals apiece for Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil, and Dejan Joveljic saw LA Galaxy hammer Minnesota United 6-2 to reach the Western Conference Final. The Seattle Sounders needed an extra-time goal from Jordan Morris to get past LAFC in the other semi-final.
Scoring 15 goals across three postseason games is an emphatic way to put down a marker in the Western Conference. Galaxy’s fearsome attack (led MLS in xG in the regular season) faces a Sounders defense with the lowest xG allowed and which has conceded two goals in three postseason outings.
These teams are different stylistically, but their underlying numbers indicate this is a pretty even match.
Their expected goal differences in the regular season are almost identical.
History is up for grabs for both teams. These are the two most successful teams in the West over the last 15 or so years.
Greg Vanney, Galaxy’s head coach, can join five other managers by appearing in a fourth MLS Cup. Seattle can become the first team to appear in five MLS Cup matches since their debut campaign in 2009.
Home advantage is clearly a factor, but it’s worth noting away teams have excelled throughout these playoffs. Seattle has also recorded plenty of wins in Los Angeles over the years.
Will the Sounders' defense resist a white-hot Galaxy frontline? Seattle has only conceded three goals in its last four games against LA.
Match Info:
- TV Broadcast: Apple TV
- Time: 10:00 p.m. EST (Saturday, November 30, 2024)
- Stadium: Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, California)
