The 2021 MLS Cup playoffs are set. The New England Revolution and the Colorado Rapids finished at the top of their respective conferences and earned themselves first knockout round byes, while 12 other clubs will battle to join them in the quarterfinals.
The playoffs kick off on Nov. 20 with the final taking place on Dec. 11.
On Decision Day, tears and laughs were exchanged between stadiums separated by thousands of miles.
Real Salt Lake qualified thanks to a 95th-minute goal from Damir Kreilach, who gave them the points they needed to clinch a last-second postseason spot. Real beat Sporting Kansas City 1-0 in their most important game of the campaign so far.
Minnesota United drew 3-3 against the LA Galaxy, keeping them out of the playoffs, while the Vancouver Whitecaps squeezed in following their 1-1 draw vs. the Seattle Sounders. In the East, Orlando City beat Montreal 2-0, Atlanta United got past FC Cincinnati 2-1, and the NY Red Bulls drew Nashville 1-1 to secure seats at the table.
With 19 goals to his name, NY City FC attacker Valentin Castellanos won the MLS Golden Boot award, beating Ola Kamara from DC United. The pair finished on the same number of goals, but Castellanos won the individual accolade thanks to his assists count — eight compared to Kamara’s five.
Defending MLS Cup winners the Columbus Crew will miss out on the chance to defend their trophy despite beating the Chicago Fire on Decision Day. Columbus will sit out the playoffs in 2021.
The New England Revolution set an MLS record for points scored during the regular season with 73, beating LAFC’s 72 points from 2019. The Revs had already secured the first playoff-round bye before Sunday’s dramatic events, so their 1-0 loss to Inter Miami CF on Decision Day will only matter to the stats.
A tearful Wondolowski said his goodbyes
Another important moment of the day was the official announcement of Chris Wondolowski’s retirement. The San Jose Earthquakes star served the MLS for 17 seasons, with the last 12 in SJE’s shirt. Wondo also played 36 times at the international level for the USMNT between 2011 and 2016, netting 11 times.