MLS Matchday 35 recap: Six clubs clinch spots in Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs

Orlando City, NYCFC, New York Red Bulls, Seattle Sounders, Houston Dynamo, and Vancouver Whitecaps all clinched spots in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs on MLS Matchday 35. As of right now, 12 clubs are in the playoffs and more could clinch on Matchday 36 this coming Wednesday.

Here are some of the best matches and highlights from a rivalry-packed MLS Matchday 35:

Vancouver draws 1-1 to Portland but clinch

Vancouver Whitecaps hosted Portland Timbers at BC Place on Saturday. Vancouver forward Brian White put the Whitecaps up 1-0 in the third minute. Sebastian Berhalter sent a ball into the box and White was unmarked for an easy goal.

Timbers forward Jonathan Rodríguez equalized the match in the 43rd minute. Firing off a shot inside the box, the ball deflected off a Vancouver defender and found its way into the back of the net.

The second half was rather stale compared to the first, but both clubs managed to hang on and take away one point each. With the one point added, Vancouver clinched a playoff berth.

NYCFC pummel Red Bulls, 5-1

NYCFC entered Red Bull Arena on Saturday evening and exited with a 5-1 victory. Just over a week ago, NYCFC lost 5-1 at the hands of the Philadelphia Union but flipped the script against their New York rivals. Both New York clubs clinched playoff spots during the night though.

Maxi Moralez put NYCFC on the scoreboard in the fifth minute, and then Alonso Martínez doubled the lead just two minutes later. Dante Vanzeir put Red Bulls within one in the 28th minute, but Andrés Perea answered right back to put NYCFC up by two again in the 30th minute.

Martínez added a brace in the 45’+5′, and then Tayvon Gray scored NYCFC’s fifth goal in the 68th minute. NYCFC and Red Bulls sit even with 44 points in the standings, but NYCFC see themselves in fifth place and Red Bulls in sixth.

Orlando City clinches with 3-1 win over Dallas

Orlando City punched their ticket to the playoffs for the fifth year in a row with a 3-1 win over FC Dallas.

Ramiro Enrique scored a header from the center of the box to put Orlando up 1-0 in the 18th minute. In the second half, defender Rodrigo Schlegal scored a header to double Orlando’s lead in the 51st minute. Just four minutes later, Facundo Torres tripled the lead with a left-footed shot from the center of the box that was assisted by Enrique.

Paul Arriola cut the deficit to two for Dallas in the 78th minute after converting on a penalty kick. Despite the late goal from Arriola, Dallas couldn’t find any momentum to try and mount a late-game comeback.

Union and Atlanta draw 1-1 in Chester

An important match for two Eastern Conference teams looking to solidify a playoff position, Philadelphia Union hosted Atlanta United at Subaru Park. Finishing in a 1-1 draw, the Union remains in ninth in the East, just three points ahead of Atlanta who are in 11th.

The Union controlled play for the majority of the first 45 minutes. Mikael Uhre scored in the first half, but the goal was overturned because Daniel Gazdag went down in the box with an injury but was able to remain in the match.

Nathan Harriel struck first for the union in the 61st minute. It was Harriel’s first league goal of the year, and Kai Wagner picked up the assist. The assist from Wagner, his 51st of his career with the Union, made him the club’s all-time assist leader in MLS history.

In the 72nd minute, Saba Lobjanidze equalized the match for Atlanta. Lobjanidze converted on a header inside of the box, and Andre Blake wasn’t able to make a save in time. Both teams picked up one point, but the Union knew three points was the main priority to start to distance themselves away from Atlanta in the standings.

CF Montreal blanks San Jose, 3-0

CF Montreal shut out San Jose Earthquakes to bring them even with the Union on points (37). Taking on the last-place team in the Western Conference, Montreal knew that had to walk away with three points, and that’s what they did.

Josef Martínez broke the deadlock in the 51st minute and then added a brace four minutes later. Caden Clark added the dagger in the 72nd minute to give Montreal a big push in the standings. Montreal has only made the playoffs once out of the last seven seasons, and they’re within striking distance to make it this year.

MLS Eastern Conference Standings
x – Inter Miami – 65 pts
x – Columbus Crew – 57 pts
x – FC Cincinnati – 56 pts
x – Orlando City – 46 pts
x – NYCFC – 44 pts
x – New York Red Bulls – 44 pts
Charlotte FC – 42 pts
Toronto FC – 37 pts
Philadelphia Union – 37 pts
CF Montreal – 37 pts
Atlanta United – 34 pts
D.C. United – 34 pts
Nashville SC – 33 pts
New England Revolution – 31 pts
e – Chicago Fire – 30 pts

MLS Western Conference Standings
x – LA Galaxy – 58 pts
x – LAFC – 52 pts
x – Real Salt Lake – 52 pts
x – Colorado Rapids – 50 pts
x – Seattle Sounders – 50 pts
x – Houston Dynamo – 48 pts
x – Vancouver Whitecaps – 47 pts
Minnesota United – 45 pts
Portland Timbers – 45 pts
FC Dallas – 37 pts
Austin FC – 36 pts
e – St. Louis City SC – 34 pts
e – Sporting Kansas City – 31 pts
e – San Jose Earthquakes – 18 pts

Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images