Sure, every team in MLS wants to be the No. 1 seed, but with Halloween right around the corner, could the top seed be cursed?
It's a question worth asking, after LAFC became the latest No. 1 seed to crash out of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. It comes a few days after the East's No. 1, New York City FC, were eliminated from the Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs, too.
LAFC have lost an elimination playoff match at Banc of California Stadium for the second season in a row, while NYCFC's postseason struggles are well-documented over the years, but a No. 1 seed struggling in the postseason isn't confined simply to both teams.
In fact, since the MLS Cup Playoffs were expanded in 2011, only two No. 1 seeds have reached MLS Cup – the LA Galaxy in 2011 and Toronto FC in 2017. Both of those teams went on to win MLS Cup. The seed most likely to reach MLS Cup since 2011? It's No. 2, which has happened nine times.
Seed |
# of MLS Cup appearances since 2011 |
|---|---|
1 |
2 |
2 |
9 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
6 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
Will another No. 2 seed reach MLS Cup on Wednesday night in Atlanta United or will No. 4 Toronto FC pull off another upset? (8 pm ET | FS1, FOX Deportes in US; TSN1/4, TVAS in Canada)
