NYCFC earned the bye past the MLS Knockout Round thanks to Sunday’s 4-1 win over Columbus on Sunday.
That allows the team the luxury of a week on the training field and a couple of evenings in front of the TV when we’ll discover our first-ever opponents in the Playoffs.
It’s an exciting prospect for fans, players and staff alike as we await the results with our bags packed and ready to go.
Here’s what to look out for from an NYCFC perspective on Wednesday and Thursday night…
No Philly Trip…
Due to the fact that we finished second in the Eastern Conference, there’s no chance that we will be making the short trip to Philadelphia on Sunday.
Red Bulls will face the lowest ranked team from the final standings and that rules out any possibility of us taking on Jim Curtin’s side.
The sixth-seeded Union face the team we ousted for second spot, Toronto, at BMO Field on Wednesday night.
Philadelphia have struggled for form going into their first postseason match since 2011 and, if Toronto get the win as many expect them to, we know we’ll be heading there even before Thursday’s Knockout Round match takes place.
Read: Playoffs: All You Need to Know
The Form Guide…
Philadelphia are without a win in their last seven matches of the regular season.
Their last victory came all the way back in August but Toronto aren’t in much better shape, having won only one of their last six.
As for Thursday’s showdown, in-form DC United host Montreal Impact at RFK.
Ben Olsen’s men may have stumbled last time out away to Orlando City but they were unbeaten in six before that, winning their previous four.
By contrast, Montreal suffered a 3-0 defeat to New England on the final day of the regular season and drew at home to Toronto before then.
That’s how the form guide looks but, in a one-off elimination game, anything can happen…
Oh, Canada…
In our short history, games in Canada have been kind to us…
We’ve travelled to the land of our northern neighbors on five occasions and won four times, drawing the other encounter at Toronto in May.
NYCFC have won on both previous visits to Montreal, while we’ve won one and drawn one at BMO Field.
Of course these facts will count for precious little if we’re paired with either Canadian outfit in the Playoffs but it’s a statistic which is sure to get plenty of airing in the build-up to the weekend.
This Season…
We’ve just about edged our three-game series of games against DC United this season, winning the first two (2-0 and 3-2) before coming unstuck in our penultimate game of the regular season.
NYCFC’s last trip to Montreal was a happy one, ending with a 3-1 scoreline in our favor, thanks to goals from David Villa, Jack Harrison and Frank Lampard, while the home game ended in late heartbreak for Patrick Vieira’s side as Dominic Oduro leveled in injury time.
Our games against Toronto have been harder to call, with matches at BMO and Yankee Stadium ending in score draws.
Where to Watch
Toronto vs Philadelphia will be shown live on ESPN2, Unimas and MLS Live, while DC vs Montreal will be broadcasted on Univision Deportes USA, Unimas and MLS Live. Both games are scheduled to start at 7.30pm (ET).
Who would you like to draw in the MLS Playoffs? Let us know on Twitter @NYCFC and use the #SupportYourCity hashtag!
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