The 2017 MLS Playoffs start this Wednesday, but it’s never too early to analyze which team seem better equipped to go all the way in the postseason.
Here are the three biggest candidates to win the MLS Cup title during the current 2017 season.
Atlanta United
If we are talking about title contenders, we might as well start with the newest team in the league. The Atlanta-based side emerged as a huge surprise this season and made it to the playoffs in their MLS debut. That’s not an easy feat to accomplish, yet ATL made it look quite easy thanks to a strong campaign at home. Atlanta registered a record of 11 wins, three losses, and three draws. And they finished fourth in the Eastern Conference with 55 points.
It is often said that great teams begin with leadership on and off the field, and Atlanta has that in abundance. Gerardo Martino has done an excellent job in his first year as Atlanta’s head coach, and several pundits have mentioned his name as a potential candidate for the USMNT job. The former FC Barcelona, Argentina and Paraguay coach knows how to lead his players. And that has allowed him to build an impressive team on both ends of the field.
And if we analyze the roster on a player-by-player basis, then we can see there is a lot of talent as well. Brad Guzan, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Carlos Carmona and Greg Garza have emerged as solid contributors on the defensive end, while the attacking foursome of Yamil Asad, Hector Villalba, Miguel Almiron and Josef Martinez is as deadly as any scoring group in the league.
Toronto FC
The Canadian franchise made history this season, as they became the best team in the history of the regular season after finishing the campaign with 69 points. The squad led by Sebastian Giovinco and Jozy Altidore became a force to be reckoned with not only in the East but in the entire league. And it shouldn’t be a surprise for anyone to see them as the top candidate to win the MLS Cup title. They already won the Supporters’ Shield and will look to crown a perfect year going all the way in the postseason, too.
Toronto’s biggest strength lies in the attack with Giovinco and Altidore. That’s not a secret, and opposing defenses know it. After all, they led the entire league in goals scored with 74 in 34 matches, good for an average of 2.17 per game. Giovinco led the way with 16 goals and six assists in 25 matches, while Altidore added 15 goals in 27 appearances. Vazquez also emerged as an interesting threat in the final third, mostly due to his passing range. The Spaniard finished among the league leaders in assists with 16, and also added eight goals in 31 matches.
Toronto is more than an attacking team, though. Their defense only allowed 37 goals, a number that ranked first in the East and second in the entire league. With that kind of balance, it’s not hard to imagine them as contenders to go all the way in the postseason. They’re just too good and too talented to not reach the latter stages of the playoffs.
Seattle Sounders
Betting against the Seattle Sounders it’s like doing it against the Golden State Warriors in the NBA. Or against the New England Patriots in the NFL. You just DON’T. DO IT. And when it comes to the MLS universe, there is no question the Sounders have one of the most experienced rosters in the entire league. Aside from quality, experience plays a big role in the league. Especially in crunch time and during the playoffs. For what is worth, Seattle ended in second place in the West with 53 points. They lost the top-place battle with the Portland Timbers due to having one less win overall.
It only takes a look at the Sounders’ roster to realize we are talking about a crowded squad loaded with talent. Nicolas Lodeiro and Clint Dempsey lead the way on the attack, while Will Bruin has emerged as a reliable scoring threat in the past few matches. Stefan Frei gives a great deal of experience between the posts. And names such as Chad Marshall, Osvaldo Alonso and Roman Torres anchor the backline. As if that wasn’t enough, Seattle has one of the most versatile defenders in the league in Joevin Jones. The left-back is a weapon on both ends of the field, and players like that can be extremely useful during the postseason where every play counts.