*inhales deeply through the nose*
Can you smell that best-of-three series in the air? I know I can.
We’re officially through the first game of every first round series in the MLS postseason. Midway through this format’s second go-round, do the players like it? Uh, no. No, it doesn’t look that way, at least not according to Aaron Long.
"No, we don't like it,” Long said after his LAFC began their 2024 playoff campaign. “We just don't like the best-of-three. I think those other options are better. I think most of the guys prefer whether it's just home and away or just a single game."
Even if the format still has some kinks to be worked out, there was plenty of fun soccer on display over the last few days as teams began their hunt for MLS Cup. What did we learn about teams in their first games? I’ll fill you in on the latest for each playoff team in the West, while Ben Wright does the same for the East.
Let’s get it, starting with the top seed and working towards the bottom.
To read up on the Eastern Conference playoff teams, check out Ben’s rundown.
Ben Wright
LAFC
Result: 2-1 win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
On the night that Carlos Vela made his return, it was another one of LAFC’s talented wide attackers who caught my eye during their 2-1 win over Vancouver. Now that Steve Cherundolo has re-settled on a 3-4-3 as his go-to formation, Cristian Olivera has been transformed from a pure winger to a right wingback.
And the 22-year-old has made that transition with remarkable ease.
Olivera isn’t the finished product at wingback, of course. He’s not a natural defender and doesn’t have the elite workrate that you might expect of a winger-turned-outside back. We all just saw Paul Arriola peak his head up, right? But between the three center backs behind him and the fairly conservative structure and principles put in place by Cherundolo, Olivera tends to have enough defensive cover around him to afford devoting more energy to the attack.
Though LAFC didn’t dispatch the Caps with ease, they were the better team in no small part due to Olivera’s quality offensive contributions. Barely a minute into the match, the Uruguayan turned a loose ball into a perfectly weighted one-touch pass before hitting a strong cross to Olivier Giroud near the penalty spot:
— _ (@21LBRB) October 28, 2024
Later in the game, it was Olivera who finished off a clean spell of LAFC possession with a well-timed run and a strong finish to put his team up 2-0:
This build-up 🤌
— LAFC (@LAFC) October 28, 2024
Cristian Olivera smashes it home 🚀#LAFCvVAN 2-0 pic.twitter.com/ecQefeJEqN
That Cherundolo can use Olivera at right wingback and go more on the offensive or use Sergi Palencia in that spot and go more on the defensive is a huge asset. That flexibility could prove key as the playoffs unfold.
LA Galaxy
Result: 5-0 win vs. Colorado Rapids
I had someone from the soccer world tell me recently that some teams couldn’t fully stop Riqui Puig even if they had 14 players on the field. No, it wasn’t someone from the Colorado Rapids, though I’m sure they would’ve been quite eager to test that theory as a preferable alternative to what happened when their 11-man team tried to shut down the former Barcelona midfielder.
Even in a squad full of players who rack up touches like nobody’s business, Puig is the dominant individual possession force for Greg Vanney. The 25-year-old was the touch merchant to end all touch merchants in MLS this season:
