3 things to watch for in the 1st leg of the MLS Conference Championships
This Sunday, the final four remaining teams in Major League Soccer's postseason will pair up and square off in the first legs of the Eastern and Western Conference Championships.
In the Eastern Conference, the New York Red Bulls travel to Mapfre Stadium to take on the Columbus Crew, while the West will see the Portland Timbers host FC Dallas at Providence Park, in the start of the home-and-away series that will decide which two teams compete for the 2015 MLS Cup.
With everything to play for, and the threat of away goals looming, here are three things to watch for in this latest round of playoff action:
The battle for midfield in Red Bulls vs. Columbus
When the Crew take on the Red Bulls, the battle will be won and lost in the midfield. Both teams set up similarly, utilizing a very dynamic five-man midfield that are both offensively dangerous, and defensively solid.
Both teams feature a deadly winger, with the Red Bulls' Mike Grella, and the Crew's Ethan Finlay, dominating in the wide-player category in MLS. Both teams also feature playmakers with vision and skill, so the battle of wills and influence will be primarily fought over between Columbus' Federico Higuain, and New York's Sacha Kljestan.
And both teams also feature deep-lying midfield talent, with Dax McCarty pulling the strings for the Red Bulls, and Wil Trapp turning heads in Ohio. Keep an eye on the middle of the park, because that's where the brunt of the action will likely take place.
The threat of away goals in Portland vs. Dallas
The Western Conference Championship between the Timbers and FC Dallas begins in the Northwest, where away goals will be of the utmost importance in the crucial first-leg match.
Dallas isn't too dangerous on the road, having won just five times away from home in the 2015 regular season. At home, though, Dallas is a real threat, winning 13 of its 18 overall league wins at Toyota Stadium. For the Timbers, this home game is a must-win, and likely represents their best chance of winning the series.
The Timbers likely need not only a multi-goal win, but must also try and keep a clean sheet; a 2-0 win at Providence Park would do wonders for the side, who can then head to Dallas next week and hunker down. Conceding the day would put the series in serious question for Portland.
Soak in the best MLS atmosphere one last time
The first leg out west will be the final match at Providence Park this season. No matter how the Timbers perform in the conference championship, their third-seed finish in the Western Conference won't be able to top the Crew's (2nd) or the Red Bulls' (1st) superior position in the East. If the Timbers advance, they'll have to win the MLS Cup in enemy territory.
It's a shame the MLS season won't end in Portland, as the Timbers boast what's arguably become the best atmosphere in the league. Red Bull Arena is big, but can lack the soul provided by the Timbers Army; Mapfre Stadium hosts passionate fans, but also boasts the fifth-lowest average attendance in MLS. Providence Park has both the size and spirit that would no doubt make for a thrilling MLS Cup final atmosphere.
Providence Park was named in FourFourTwo's "100 Best Football Stadiums In the World," coming in at No. 40 overall, the highest ranked MLS stadium in the list. That, combined with some new attention across the pond in England, means Portland's unique atmosphere is turning some heads.
So take in Portland for one last time this year, as the MLS Cup Final is headed east of the Rocky Mountains, to any of the other three remaining cities, in 2015.