We paid way more attention to the 2020 MLS season from the start and stop in March, the mess in Orlando, the all-Canadian games with actual fans in Montréal, and more games in the United States on not-so-home turf. That was the 2020 MLS regular season.
The Montréal Impact got a thrilling comeback victory on Decision Day to earn a playoff spot. Toronto FC lost on Decision Day, ending the Reds chance at the Supporters Shield. Vancouver was eliminated from contention on Wednesday.
Going into the final game against DC United, Montréal had lost 3 in a row and 5 of 6. The team had only won 2 of its last 12 matches before Sunday.
Montréal finished with a 8-13-2 record with 26 points / 1.13 points per game. Montréal finished 3-6-1 at home and 3-5-1 road games (not counting the Orlando tournament).
MLS has expanded the Eastern playoffs for a play-in round. The #9 Impact will take on the #8 seed New England Revolution on November 20 in Foxborough, MA at 6:30 pm on TSN and TVA Sports in Canada as well as Fox Sports 1 and FOX Deportes in the United States. The U.S. audience can watch a Montréal playoff game without having to worry how to work the SAP magic on their TV.
While we are intrigued that the Impact are in the 2020 MLS playoffs, a 8-13-2 team shouldn't get rewarded with playoff soccer.
Toronto FC lost 2-1 to the New York Red Bulls on Sunday so the Reds are in second place. Toronto will play Nashville SC if that team beats Inter Miami CF tomorrow. Otherwise, the Reds will play the Montréal vs. New England winner. The Philadelphia Union will take on the other Eastern play-in team.
The Reds finished 13-5-5 with 44 points / 1.91 points per game. Toronto had a 7-2-1 home record and went 5-3-2 on the road (not counting the Orlando tournament).
Toronto hosts its opponent November 24 at 6 pm on TSN and TVA Sports in Canada as well as Fox Sports 1 and FOX Deportes in the United States.
The Vancouver Whitecaps have now gone 3 seasons without a playoff appearance. The Whitecaps played a full 23 games unlike some teams in the Western Conference, so while the Colorado Rapids had fewer points, that team didn't play a full season. The MLS is determining playoff spots based on points per game.
The Whitecaps finished 9-14-0 with 27 points / 1.17 points per game. Vancouver went 6-4-0 at home and 2-8-0 on the road. Vancouver managed to be the only MLS team this season without a tie; a few losses that would have been ties would have helped the Whitecaps. Vancouver had a better record than Montréal but was in the wrong conference.
The Whitecaps struggled mightily against their Cascadia rivals, scoring a single goal in an 0-5 run against Portland and Seattle. Didn't help that one of Vancouver's "home" games was against Portland in the Timbers home stadium.
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Sadly to no one's surprise, the Canadian MLS teams avoiding television in the United States after the Orlando tournament. We knew U.S. cameras wouldn't show any of the all-Canadian games. Toronto FC is one of the top teams in MLS and on U.S. soil since September and yet, no U.S. television. Would have settled for a TUDN or UniMás telecast but didn't even get that.
All the MLS playoff games involving Canadian teams will be on ESPN or Fox Sports 1.
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The Toronto home games will take place at the Reds temporary home: Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT. Unless the Montréal Impact plays #10 Inter Miami CF, the team is done with home games at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ. The Vancouver Whitecaps finished their "home" season at Providence Park in Portland, OR.
CanadianCrossing.com soccer coverage
We will have a 2020 MLS playoffs preview next week. The 2020 MLS Cup will be on Saturday, December 12 at 8 pm on FOX, UniMás, TSN, and TVA Sports.
MLS Canadian teams playoffs results
Year | Date | Teams | Winner | Score |
2020 | November 24 | TBD @ Toronto | TBD | TBD |
2020 | November 20 | Montréal @ New England | TBD | TBD |
2019 | November 10 | Toronto @ Seattle | Seattle | 3-1 |
2019 | October 30 | Toronto @ Atlanta | Toronto | 2-1 |
2019 | October 23 | Toronto @ New York City FC | Toronto | 2-1 |
2019 | October 19 | D.C. United @ Toronto | Toronto | 5-1 (ET) |
2017 | December 9 | Seattle @ Toronto | Toronto | 2-0 |
2017 | November 29 | Columbus @ Toronto | Toronto | 1-0 |
2017 | November 21 | Toronto @ Columbus | Tie | 0-0 |
2017 | November 5 | New York Red Bulls @ Toronto | NY Red Bulls | 1-0 |
2017 | November 2 | Vancouver @ Seattle | Seattle | 2-0 |
2017 | October 30 | Toronto @ New York Red Bulls | Toronto | 2-1 |
2017 | October 29 | Seattle @ Vancouver | Tie | 0-0 |
2017 | October 25 | San Jose @ Vancouver | Vancouver | 5-0 |
2016 | December 10 | Seattle @ Toronto FC | Seattle | 0-0 (5-4 PK) |
2016 | November 30 | Montréal @ Toronto FC | Toronto FC | 5-2 (ET) |
2016 | November 22 | Toronto FC @ Montréal | Montréal | 3-2 |
2016 | November 6 | Montréal @ New York Red Bulls | Montréal | 2-1 |
2016 | November 6 | Toronto FC @ NYCFC | Toronto FC | 5-0 |
2016 | October 30 | NYCFC @ Toronto FC | Toronto FC | 2-0 |
2016 | October 30 | New York Red Bulls @ Montréal | Montréal | 1-0 |
2016 | October 27 | Montréal @ D.C. United | Montréal | 4-2 |
2016 | October 26 | Philadelphia @ Toronto FC | Toronto FC | 3-1 |
2015 | November 8 | Portland @ Vancouver | Portland | 2-0 |
2015 | November 8 | Montréal @ Columbus | Columbus | 3-1 (ET) |
2015 | November 1 | Vancouver @ Portland | Tie | 0-0 |
2015 | November 1 | Columbus @ Montréal | Montréal | 2-1 |
2015 | October 29 | Toronto FC @ Montréal | Montréal | 3-0 |
2014 | October 29 | Vancouver @ Dallas | Dallas | 2-1 |
2013 | October 31 | Montréal @ Houston | Houston | 3-0 |
2012 | November 1 | Vancouver @ LA Galaxy | LA Galaxy | 2-1 |
photo credit: Major League Soccer