Galaxy the last giant standing; Atlanta's Cinderella run is over

The MLS Cup playoffs are down to their final four.

After No. 1 seed Inter Miami‘s ouster in Round One, Western Conference champions LAFC bowed out in the conference semifinals at the hands of the Seattle Sounders. On the other side of Los Angeles, though, the stars look to be aligning for the LA Galaxy.

Atlanta United‘s Cinderella run following their upset of Lionel Messi & Co. was short lived, falling to Orlando City, while the New York Red Bulls knocked out New York City FC in the first-ever postseason edition of the Hudson River Derby.

What to make of the weekend’s playoff action? And of the last four teams standing in MLS postseason play? ESPN’s experts weigh in.

The talk of the conference semis

Galaxy do what every other favorite couldn’t

The Galaxy stunned Minnesota United 6-2 in the Western Conference semifinals, becoming the only team to finish top three across both the East and West to reach the conference finals. LAFC, Real Salt Lake, FC Cincinnati, the Columbus Crew and Inter Miami all proved to be disappointments in the 2024 postseason.

Many predicted Miami would be the likely host and clear favorite to win MLS Cup, as Messi and Luis Suárez scored the team’s way to the Supporters’ Shield. Instead, the underrated Galaxy came through with 15 goals throughout three playoff games to do what Inter simply couldn’t.

The historic California club capitalized on the momentum gained throughout the regular season, translating consistency into success during the postseason tournament. — Megan Swanick

Looking ahead to an MLS Cup of firsts

With LAFC and NYCFC out of the picture, all four clubs remaining will aim to clinch their first league championship of the 2020s. Of those four clubs, two from the Eastern Conference — Orlando City and the Red Bulls — could make history by lifting an MLS Cup title for the first time.

For Orlando, doing so would be thanks to their rejuvenated form that was showcased in their 1-0 win over Atlanta. “From July, we’ve been one of the best teams in MLS,” said Dagur Thórhallsson after their conference semifinal victory.

As for the Red Bulls, who will face Orlando for a coveted spot in the final, they’ll hope to brush aside their upcoming opponents in the same manner that they brushed aside rivals NYCFC 2-0 last weekend.

Both the Galaxy and the Sounders have more history when it comes to MLS Cup titles, the Galaxy lead the league with five and Seattle has two, but there’s a clear sense of redemption after watching other fellow heavy hitters win the championship in recent years. The red-hot Galaxy will be the favorites as hosts of the Western Conference final, but let’s not overlook the grit of the Seattle’s roster that went toe-to-toe with LAFC through extra time in a dramatic 2-1 conference semifinal win. — Cesar Hernandez

Atlanta’s Cinderella run is already over

Once you do a thing like beat the record-breaking Supporters’ Shield winners in the first round of the playoffs, it difficult not to become the neutrals’ favorite in the next round. Alas, it wasn’t to be. Atlanta — the ninth-best team in the Eastern Conference in the regular season, the valiant underdog story of Round One — is out of the playoffs.

The Five Stripes upset the star-studded Inter Miami dream team with a string of tenacious performances, polished off by goalkeeping heroics of 40-year-old Brad Guzan. On Saturday, though, a flat-footed Atlanta was outplayed by Orlando and fell short in the conference semifinals.

Vulnerabilities from the past year proved decisive in the end. Atlanta conceded 13 goals from set pieces in the regular season, and Orlando’s lone goal in Saturday’s match came in the same manner: Argentine striker Ramiro Enrique was unmarked in the box to score off a dead-ball situation.

And just like that, Atlanta’s inspiring playoff run comes to an end. Silver lining? Orlando just made their first-ever Eastern Conference final, and could make more history next Saturday night. — Lizzy Becherano

Conference semifinals MVP

Stefan Frei | Seattle Sounders

The Sounders slid past LAFC on Saturday, toppling the West Coast’s top-ranked team from the regular season with an incredible nine saves from their goalkeeper. Frei is a big-game keeper, and he came up big for Seattle yet again.

“We’ve been a pretty good defensive team for the last couple of years … but I’m gonna stump for Stefan Frei,” longtime Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said after the match. “I mean how that guy hasn’t won Goalkeeper of the Year is a travesty. I’m gonna say it. It’s a travesty, and it’s a mistake. And if people don’t want to get on the bandwagon, that’s your choice. But my belief, my opinion, is that guy’s the best shot stopper in the league, bar none.” — Becherano

Gabriel Pec | LA Galaxy

It should come as no surprise that Pec knows how to perform for the Galaxy after his shocking debut season in MLS. The 2024 Newcomer of the Tear scored two goals against Minnesota, the first less than 60 seconds after the opening whistle, to give the edge to the California club. The 23-year-old Brazilian immediately set the tone for the Galaxy, connecting perfectly with the midfield to untap potential across the field. He’s scored three goals throughout the playoffs, and doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon. — Swanick

Carlos Coronel | New York Red Bulls

The argument could be made that Frei was the best goalkeeper of the round, and perhaps that the Red Bulls’ Andrés Reyes was in fact the best player on Coronel’s team in Saturday’s derby win, but the 27-year-old Brazilian was still nothing short of brilliant. Coronel amassed seven saves against NYCFC, who finished without a goal despite their xG tally of 2.8. In comparison, the Red Bulls had an xG of 0.97. The shutout was Coronel’s seventh in the Hudson River Derby. — Hernandez

Goal of the conference semis

Jordan Morris | Seattle Sounders

Morris’ 13 regular-season goals make him the Sounders’ top scorer, but his 109th-minute strike against LAFC might be his most important. Amid the melee following a corner, Morris found himself well positioned as the ball bounced his way. With a crisp turn, he struck it into the top right corner, sealing Seattle’s spot in the Western Conference final. — Becherano

Gabriel Pec | LA Galaxy

Pec’s second of the night against Minnesota brought back flashbacks of the goal Diego Maradona scored against England in the 1986 World Cup. It was a perfectly timed run on the right as he took on the entire Loons backline before completing the strike. — Swanick

ONE OF THE BEST SOLO GOALS YOU’LL EVER SEE 😱😱

STOP THAT GABRIEL PEC!!@LAGalaxy // Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/LhI6px8ldL

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 25, 2024

Felipe Carballo | New York Red Bulls

It has to be the wonder strike from Carballo. More than 30 yards out from goal, the Red Bulls midfielder rocketed in a shot that put his team up 1-0 in an eventual 2-0 derby victory. To quote Apple TV commentator Danny Higginbotham on the goal: “It’s one touch and then it’s world class.” — Hernandez