With just one match day to go, two spots still remain up for grabs in the MLS is Back Tournament Knockout Round presented by Audi – however – four clubs are already locked in to kick off the Knockout Round on July 25. Major League Soccer will today host a press conference for all four teams to preview the Knockout Round first night matches.
With 7 points coming out of the Group Stage presented by Heineken, Orlando City SC clinched the top spot in Group A and will face the Group C 3rd place finisher Montreal Impact, led by head coach Thierry Henry this Saturday, July 25.
Under the direction of head coach Jim Curtin and led on the field by standout midfielder Alejandro Bedoya and 19-year-old homegrown attacker Brenden Aaronson, the Philadelphia Union finished just behind Orlando City SC to secure the second seed in Group A, good enough for a berth into this week’s Knockout Round.
One of the biggest surprise of the tournament was the elimination of so many thought-to-be automatic advancements. Debutants Inter Miami CF were the biggest surprise in Group A. In Group C, Thierry Henry’s Montreal Impact just made the cut by the scruff of the neck with a third place advancement. But that advancement meant D.C. United was heading home, along with two heavy favorites to win the tournament, Atlanta United and LA Galaxy. Here are the final group standings.
The odds to win the MLS Is Tournament vary online. All oddsmakers agree that LAFC is the favorite, but their price ranges from +350 to +500, which amounts to a $150 difference in profit on a $100 wager. The second-favorite is very much book-dependent (some say Toronto at a distant +900 for example). Those who are new to betting will want to know how they can, with this sports betting 101 guide. Things pick back up this Saturday, July 25, for the start of the Round of 16.
Group A winners Orlando City SC will face Henry’s Montreal Impact in the first Round of 16 matchup this Saturday, July 25. at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/TSN/TVA Sports).
The unbeaten Philadelphia Union will be facing Bruce Arena’s unbeaten New England Revolution this Saturday, July 25 at 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/TSN).
Knockout Stage presented by Audi – Round-of-16
July 25-28: Four consecutive days of doubleheader action
Saturday, July 25
8 p.m. ET Orlando City SC vs. Montreal Impact (ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/TSN/TVA Sports)
10:30 p.m. ET Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution (ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/TSN/TVA Sports)
Sunday, July 26
8:30 p.m. ET Toronto FC vs. New York City FC (FS1/TSN/TVA Sports)
11 p.m. ET Sporting Kansas City vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (FS1/TUDN/TSN/TVA Sports)
Monday, July 27
8:30 p.m. ET San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake (FS1/FOX Deportes/TSN)
11 p.m. ET Seattle Sounders FC vs. Los Angeles Football Club (FS1/UniMás/TUDN/TSN/TSN Sports)
Tuesday, July 28
8 p.m. ET Columbus Crew SC vs. Minnesota United (ESPN/ESPN Deportes/TSN)
10:30 p.m. ET Portland Timbers vs FC Cincinnati (ESPN/ESPN Deportes/TSN)
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