MLS contemplating playoff format tweak: Give higher seed choice of home leg Major League Soccer could be close to finalizing a tweak to its playoff format that will offer additional reward, albeit slight, to clubs finishing higher in the regular season standings. SI.com understands that MLS is working on giving the higher-seeded team in the two-game conference semifinals and finals the option of hosting either the first or second leg. Ultimately, it’ll get passed,” a source said of the new rule. “I would think it’ll be finalized before the start of the season.” Another source expressed a bit more caution, saying that a “majority” favors the change but that “by no means was there overwhelming consensus.” The league’s competition committee and board of governors would have to sign off on the rule change before it takes affect. http://www.reddit.com/tb/1vpk1l
Re: 2014 MLS Playoffs Major League Soccer to introduce away-goals rule for first time in 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs There are few changes to this years Competition Rules and Regulations as released by Major League Soccer on Friday. Except for one big one: Away goals count. That's the biggest addition to the competition format, and the tiebreaker method that's used around the world for two-leg series – most notably in European and South American tournaments, as well as the CONCACAF Champions League – will become the norm once the MLS Cup playoffs resume in the fall. Here's the exact ruling, as will apply in MLS to both the Conference Semifinals and Conference Championships: http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...way-goals-rule-first-time-2014-mls-cup-playof
EASTERN CONFERENCE Conference semifinals (Total goals, away goal rule applies) New York (50) vs. #1 D.C. United (59) First leg: Sunday N.Y., 4 p.m. (Univision Deportes; CSN in D.C. area) Second leg: Sat., Nov. 8 at RFK Stadium, 2:30 p.m. (NBC) First leg: New England Revolution 4:2 Columbus Crew Second leg: Sun., Nov. 9 at New England, 5 p.m. (ESPN2) Conference finals (Total goals, away goal rule applies) First leg: Sun., Nov. 23 at 1:30 p.m. (NBC) or 5 p.m. (ESPN) Second leg: Sat., Nov. 29 at 3 p.m. (NBCSN) or Sun., Nov. 30 at 5 or 9 (ESPN) WESTERN CONFERENCE Conference semifinals (Total goals, away goal rule applies) Dallas (54) vs. #1 Seattle Sounders (64) First leg: Sunday at Dallas, 9 p.m. (ESPN2) Second leg: Mon., Nov. 10 at Seattle, 10 p.m. (NBCSN) First leg: Los Angeles Galaxy 0:0 Real Salt Lake Second leg: Sun., Nov. 9 at Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2) Conference finals (Total goals, away goal rule applies) First leg: Sun., Nov. 23 at 1:30 p.m. (NBC) or 5 p.m. (ESPN) Second leg: Sat., Nov. 29 at 3 p.m. (NBCSN) or Sun., Nov. 30 at 5 or 9 (ESPN) MLS CUP Sun., Dec. 7, hosted by finalist with most regular season points, 3 p.m. (ESPN)
EASTERN CONFERENCE Conference semifinals (Total goals, away goal rule applies) New York (50) vs. #1 D.C. United (59) First leg: Sunday N.Y., 4 p.m. (Univision Deportes; CSN in D.C. area) Second leg: Sat., Nov. 8 at RFK Stadium, 2:30 p.m. (NBC) First leg: New England Revolution 4:2 Columbus Crew Second leg: Sun., Nov. 9 at New England, 5 p.m. (ESPN2) Conference finals (Total goals, away goal rule applies) First leg: Sun., Nov. 23 at 1:30 p.m. (NBC) or 5 p.m. (ESPN) Second leg: Sat., Nov. 29 at 3 p.m. (NBCSN) or Sun., Nov. 30 at 5 or 9 (ESPN) WESTERN CONFERENCE Conference semifinals (Total goals, away goal rule applies) Dallas (54) vs. Seattle Sounders (64) First leg: Sunday at Dallas, 9 p.m. (ESPN2) Second leg: Mon., Nov. 10 at Seattle, 10 p.m. (NBCSN) First leg: Los Angeles Galaxy 0:0 Real Salt Lake Second leg: Sun., Nov. 9 at Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2) Conference finals (Total goals, away goal rule applies) First leg: Sun., Nov. 23 at 1:30 p.m. (NBC) or 5 p.m. (ESPN) Second leg: Sat., Nov. 29 at 3 p.m. (NBCSN) or Sun., Nov. 30 at 5 or 9 (ESPN) MLS CUP Sun., Dec. 7, hosted by finalist with most regular season points, 3 p.m. (ESPN)
