2020 MLS Cup playoffs
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Tournament details | |
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Country | United States |
Dates | November 20 – December 12 |
Teams | 18 |
Defending champions | Seattle Sounders FC |
Final positions | |
Champions | Columbus Crew SC (2nd title) |
Runner-up | Seattle Sounders FC |
Semifinalists | |
Tournament statistics | |
Matches played | 17 |
Goals scored | 50 (2.94 per match) |
Top goal scorer(s) | ![]() (4 goals) |
The 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs (branded as the 2020 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for sponsorship reasons) was the 25th edition of the MLS Cup Playoffs, the post-season championship of Major League Soccer (MLS), the top soccer league in the United States and Canada. The tournament culminated the 2020 MLS regular season. The playoffs began on November 20 and concluded with MLS Cup 2020 on December 12.[1]
On October 29, the league announced that the final regular season standings and playoff qualification would be determined by points per game rather than by overall points. This was due to eight MLS clubs, all in the Western Conference, being unable to play all of their scheduled 23 regular season matches in time due to COVID-19 cases. Seven postponed matches were canceled altogether in order for the playoffs to be able to start on the scheduled date.[2]
The 2020 regular season Supporters' Shield champions were the Philadelphia Union, who were eliminated in the first round by the New England Revolution.
Seattle Sounders FC were the defending MLS Cup champions, having won their second title in MLS Cup 2019. They were beaten by Columbus Crew SC 3–0 in the MLS Cup final. As a result, Columbus Crew SC earned their second MLS Cup title, and first since 2008.
Qualified teams
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Conference standings
The top ten teams in the Eastern Conference and the top eight teams in the Western Conference advanced to the MLS Cup Playoffs, with the teams ranked seventh to tenth in the East going through an initial play-in round. Background colors denote playoff teams, with green also qualifying for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, and blue also qualifying for the 2021 Leagues Cup. The Portland Timbers and non-playoff Atlanta United FC qualified for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League as winners of the MLS is Back Tournament and 2019 U.S. Open Cup, respectively.
Eastern Conference
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Western Conference
Source: MLS[4]
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Play-in round
This round was only applied to the Eastern Conference. The seventh-placed team, Nashville SC, played the tenth-placed team, Inter Miami CF, while the eighth-placed team, the New England Revolution, faced the ninth-placed team, the Montreal Impact. The lowest-ranked team to advance from this round, the New England Revolution, advanced to play the conference's first-placed team, the Philadelphia Union. The highest-ranked remaining team, Nashville SC, advanced to face the conference's second-placed team, Toronto FC.
Playoffs proper bracket
Template:2020 MLS Cup Playoffs Bracket
First round
The top four teams in each conference hosted the first round matches.
Eastern Conference
Orlando City SC | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | New York City FC |
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Penalties | ||
6–5 |
Columbus Crew SC | 3–2 | New York Red Bulls |
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Toronto FC | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | Nashville SC |
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Philadelphia Union | 0–2 | New England Revolution |
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Western Conference
Sporting Kansas City | 3–3 (a.e.t.) | San Jose Earthquakes |
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Penalties | ||
3–0 |
Conference Semifinals
The higher-seeded teams in each match-up hosted the tie.
Eastern Conference
Orlando City SC | 1–3 | New England Revolution |
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Columbus Crew SC | 2–0 (a.e.t.) | Nashville SC |
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Western Conference
Sporting Kansas City | 0–3 | Minnesota United FC |
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Conference Finals
The higher-seeded teams in each conference hosted the matches.
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
MLS Cup 2020
As the highest-ranked team remaining in the overall table, Columbus Crew SC hosted the match.
Top goalscorers
There were 50 goals scored in 17 matches, for an average of 2.94 goals per match.
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i The match was held behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
- ^ The match was held in restricted capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
- ^ Toronto FC hosted their playoff match at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Connecticut. BMO Field was not available due to travel restrictions between Canada and the United States.[5]
References
- ^ "How the 2020 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs will work: Qualifying and competition format". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. September 11, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
- ^ "MLS to use points per game to determine final 2020 regular season standings" (Press release). Major League Soccer. October 29, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
- ^ "Nashville SC moves to Eastern Conference for remainder of 2020 season". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
- ^ a b "Conference Standings – 2020". Major League Soccer. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ "Toronto FC to play its home matches in Connecticut". Toronto FC. September 11, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- ^ Benatar, Orri (December 2, 2020). "Crew to permit fans for Eastern Conference Final". Massive Report. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
- ^ "Playoffs Top Scorers". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved December 12, 2020.