MLS announces next three matchdays, new playoff seeding

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MLS announced Friday the next three matches for each club, and FC Cincinnati better get used to Red Bull Arena, because three of their next four matches take place there, beginning Saturday against New York City FC. One game will be at Nippert Stadium. The three newly announced matches are as follows:

• at New York Red Bulls, 7 p.m. Sept. 19
  • The Red Bulls are currently in a state of massive transition due to firing head coach Chris Armas. They are, however, still ahead of FCC in the Eastern Conference table with 11 points. The team has also lost three of its last four matches and seems to be on a bad run of form, which could be a good time for FCC to play it. Much like FCC, the Red Bulls have had trouble scoring, with only one goal in the last four matches.
• vs. Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23
  • Philadelphia is one of the best teams in MLS right now. It is on a roll, having won three of its last four matches, two of those by a three-goal margin. The two stars for the team are forward Kacper Przybyłko and midfielder Brendan Aaronson, who have five and three goals respectively. FCC will have a tough time going up against a team that can move the ball as well as the Union can.
• at New York City FC (Red Bull Arena), 7 p.m. Sept. 26
  • The final match of the newly announced schedule pits FCC against NYCFC, who is currently seventh on the Eastern Conference table. NYCFC has also won three of its last four, including a 3-1 win against the Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire. NYCFC’s defense has also done well lately, only allowing two goals in its last five matches.

MLS also officially revealed the new seeding parameters, and it will have the top eight teams from the Western Conference advance to the postseason, while the top six Eastern Conference teams will automatically advance to the playoffs. The seventh through 10th seed in the Eastern Conference will have two play-in matches (No. 7 vs. No. 10, and No. 8 vs. No. 9) to do decide who takes the other two playoff spots for the Eastern Conference. The team with the lowest seed will play the first seed in the Eastern Conference, while the higher-seeded team of the two play-in match winners will face off against the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.