The New York Red Bulls earned a spot in the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Thursday night with a 2-1 win over defending MLS Champion Sporting KC. The next two legs of the playoffs, the Eastern Conference semifinal and final rounds, bring a different format – a two-game series where the winner is determined by total goals, or aggregate scoring.
Here’s everything you need to know about two-legged playoff series.
Aggregate scoring
The MLS Playoff Conference semifinal and final rounds each consist of a two-game playoff series. Each team hosts one game, with the lower seed hosting the first game in each round. The Red Bulls, the four seed, will host top-seeded D.C. United on Sunday at 4:00 p.m., and then play at RFK Stadium the following Saturday, November 8, at 2:30 p.m.
Unlike playoff series in other sports, wins and losses are not the determining factor in the MLS playoffs. The winner of the two-leg series is determined by a team’s total goals scored between the two games, also known as aggregate scoring.
For example, if the Red Bulls win game one, 3-0, but lose the second game 2-0, they will advance by the ‘final’ score of 3-2.
Tie breakers
The first tiebreaker for the two-leg series is away goals. If the teams are tied in total goals scored after two games, the team that has scored more goals away from home will advance. This is the first year MLS has used away goals as a tie-breaker.
For example, if New York wins the first game at home 1-0, but loses on the road, 1-2, then the two teams are tied in aggregate scoring, 2-2. The Red Bulls would advance, because they scored one away goal, and did not concede a goal in their home game.
Extra time
But what if the teams tie in away goals, as well? Let’s say both games ended in 1-1 ties. Each team has two total goals, and one away goal. If the teams are tied in both categories at the conclusion of the second game, the series moves to overtime – two 15 minute periods, followed by a shootout, if necessary. The overtime session does not count towards the aggregate, and the away goals rule is wiped out. Meaning, if the teams are tied after two full 90 minute games, the overtime exists separately to determine a winner for the series, not the second game.
The winner of the Eastern conference will meet the winner of the west in a one-game, winner take all Championship game on December 7th.
