MLS Playoffs First Round: Top 3 performances

The first round of the 2019 MLS Cup playoffs was wild with 27 goals across the six games. Here are the top three performances from an incredible postseason slate.

There was talk that the new Major League Soccer playoffs system would have its faults, but after the excitement of the single-leg first round, that talk has faded away.

There were two matches that saw 4-3 scorelines, with the Philadelphia Union just topping the bill as they fought from 3-1 down to defeat the New York Red Bulls at Talen Energy Stadium, earning their first playoff win of their history. The clash between the Sounders and FC Dallas was also an instant classic, with Jordan Morris scoring a 113th-minute winner after the game went to extra-time, following a 3-3 scoreline at the 90-minute mark.

Elsewhere, Toronto beat D.C. United 5-1. It sounds like it was easy, but the game was tied after 90 minutes, before the Canadian then scored four goals in the first period of extra-time to kill the game. The first game of the weekend saw just a single goal, not a sign of things to come. Atlanta United needed just the one to defeat the New England Revolution, in a rematch of their Decision Day clash at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Real Salt Lake defeated Portland Timbers 2-1, with a late Jefferson Savarino strike giving the hosts the victory against the 2015 MLS Cup Champions. The final game of the weekend saw LA Galaxy overcome Minnesota United with two second-half goals at Allianz Field.

Here is our look at the top three performers from the weekend’s action.

3. Jim Curtin

Although he might not have made the right choices in his starting XI on Sunday evening, Jim Curtin certainly brought on the right substitutes. Two of them changed the game against the New York Red Bulls.

With half an hour to go and the Union needing a goal, Philadelphia super-sub Ilsinho was introduced on. He was then followed by Fafa Picault ten minutes later. Picault scored the equaliser with a thumping header.

Philadelphia boss Curtin then brought on Marco Fabian in the first half of extra-time. Just three minutes after coming on, he scored what would be the winning goal, assisted by the other substitute, Picault. The comeback ties the biggest in MLS playoff history. And it was also the Union’s first-ever postseason victory in MLS. All thanks to Curtin and his astute substitutions.