Soccer <\/p>\n
Just two matchdays remain before the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs, meaning there’s plenty to play for during Matchday 38.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
The Philadelphia Union<\/a> can wrap up the Supporters’ Shield race when they host New York City FC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Cascadia Cup rivals Seattle Sounders FC<\/a> and Portland Timbers<\/a> square off in a match with major playoff seeding implications.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n LAFC<\/a> look to maintain their scorching form and climb the Western Conference table when Atlanta United<\/a> come to town for Sunday Night Soccer presented by Continental Tire.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n There’s palpable excitement around the Union, who are one win away from clinching the club’s second-ever Supporters’ Shield title. Just one year removed from missing the playoffs for the first time since 2017, the club has done a full 180.<\/p>\n In head coach Bradley Carnell’s first season, the Union have collected 63 points and boast the league’s top defense (MLS-low 33 goals). They’re also winners of four of their last five, including a 6-0 dismantling<\/a> of D.C. United<\/a> last Saturday.<\/p>\n Outside of their spectacular backline, Philly have gotten a team-high 16 goals from All-Star striker Tai Baribo<\/a>, with Bruno Damiani<\/a>, Mikael Uhre<\/a>, Indiana Vassilev<\/a> and summer addition Milan Iloski<\/a> contributing in a big way.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Will this be the weekend when the Union lift their second-ever trophy?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The team standing in the way of Philly claiming the Supporters’ Shield? NYCFC.<\/p>\n The Cityzens have enjoyed a successful campaign under head coach Pascal Jansen, which included completing a Hudson River Derby double with a 3-2 win<\/a> at rivals New York Red Bulls<\/a> last week, a result that helped push RBNY out of the playoffs for the first time in 15 years.<\/p>\n Currently third in the Eastern Conference (56 points), NYCFC hope to hold onto a top-four spot and the home-field advantage it provides in their Round One Best-of-3 Series. Fifth-place Charlotte FC<\/a> are lurking just three points back with two games to play, meaning NYCFC need this win nearly as much as the Union.<\/p>\n Since NYCFC joined the league in 2014, the two sides have met 25 times. They’ve drawn just two of those meetings. In a match of so much importance, anticipate both teams to battle for all three points.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n MLS rivalries don’t come much more heated than Seattle vs. Portland. And with both clubs jostling for playoff positioning in the West, expect no different at Lumen Field.<\/p>\n Seattle are currently hanging onto fifth in the West (46 points), but have struggled since winning Leagues Cup<\/a> in late August. They’ve yet to win since that monumental victory over Inter Miami CF<\/a> (0W-2L-2D), most recently playing to a 2-2 draw<\/a> with Vancouver Whitecaps FC<\/a> that sealed this year’s Cascadia Cup.<\/p>\n Although they’ve watched their grasp on a top-four spot slip away, a win over Portland would go a long way towards helping the Sounders distance themselves from Austin FC<\/a> and the Timbers. They’re boosted by the return of DP midfielder Albert Rusn\u00e1k<\/a>, who tallied 1g\/1a in their previous match.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \n \n
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