After a breathless weekend to start the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs, Round One concludes Tuesday night with three tantalizing matchups.
Here's what to watch for:
Toronto FC vs. Nashville SC
Tue., 6 pm ET | FS1, FOX Deportes in US; TSN 1/4/5 in Canada
Nashville SC will be walking on air leading up to this matchup after thrashing Inter Miami CF in the Play-In Round, but a much tougher task awaits them in a Toronto group that has plenty of big-game experience, having gone to three out of the last four MLS Cups.
The question here is to what degree can Nashville keep their recent surge in attacking play going? The expansion side has proven to be a rock-solid defensive team, but it's the recent explosiveness on the other side of the ball that has to have Gary Smith feeling like his team has a fighting chance at a big upset. This is the time of year that Toronto always seem to turn it up a notch, though, so the Reds are a rightful favorite.
Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution
Tue., 8 pm ET | ESPN, ESPN Deportes in US; TSN3 in Canada
The Supporters' Shield-winning Union have their first trophy, but an MLS Cup would make their glorious 2020 an even more historic season. But their first task will be a hard one in taking on a Revs side that is finally fit and firing and showed what they can look like in their 2-1 Play-In Round win over the Montreal Impact.
Carles Gil, Gustavo Bou and Adam Buksa are healthy and fit at the same time, making this Revs group as potent as they've been all season. Still, the Union won the Shield for a reason, and they've been lights-out on their home turf of Subaru Park (9-0-0), so you have to think of Bruce Arena's men as the underdogs here.
Seattle Sounders vs. LAFC
Tue., 10:30 pm ET | ESPN, ESPN Deportes in US; TSN 1/4 in Canada
LAFC will have revenge on the mind as they head to the newly named Lumen Field to take on the Sounders, who knocked the Black & Gold out of the playoffs in shocking fashion in the 2019 Western Conference Championship.
Bob Bradley's group will be shorthanded without Golden Boot Winner Diego Rossi, winger Brian Rodriguez, midfielder Jose Cifuentes and defender Diego Palacios, but if there's a group with the confidence and depth to withstand that many absences, it might just be LAFC. The Sounders are always a dominant home team though, and will be much closer to first strength, led by the ever-potent attacking unit of Best XI selections Nicolas Lodeiro, Jordan Morris and Raul Ruidiaz. This rematch is another must-watch bout in the Round One slate.
