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MLS Matchday 22 Preview: Playoff race heats up in East and West

The Union look to build on their comeback draw with Inter Miami as Nashville SC defend the Supporters' Shield lead and the MLS playoff race tightens across both conferences.

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Matchday 22 in MLS is here! After a midweek Matchday 21 of mayhem that saw all 30 teams play, we get a packed weekend slate. The games come thick and fast in MLS. 

Major League Soccer game balls at Subaru Park home of the Philadelphia Union
Major League Soccer game balls at Subaru Park home of the Philadelphia Union
Image Provided / Philadelphia Union

MLS Matchday 21 Recap

The midweek matchday saw the Supporters' Shield leaders, Nashville SC, get another win; they are on a historic pace for both most points per game and goals against per match.

Inter Miami drew at the Philadelphia Union despite being outplayed by the hosts; the match ended in a full-on scrum with red cards and punches thrown.

The top two in the West also clashed, with Houston traveling to Vancouver and winning to take first place outright in the conference. 

Here's the full list of the full matchday 21 results:

Columbus 1 - 2 Montreal
DC 0 - 3 New England
Cincinnati 2 - 1 NYCFC
Orlando City 1 - 2 Chicago
Philadelphia 2 - 2 Miami
New York 0 -  1 Nashville
Toronto 3 - 3 Charlotte
Kansas City 1 - 1 St. Louis
Minnesota 1 - 2 Atlanta
Colorado 1 - 0 LAFC
Salt Lake 3 - 4 Dallas
Seattle 1 - 2 Austin
LA 1 - 0 San Jose
Portland 3 - 1 San Diego
Vancouver 0 - 1 Houston

An altercation breaks out between Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan (6) and Inter Miami CF midfielder Yannick Bright (42) in the second half at Subaru Park.
An altercation breaks out between Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan (6) and Inter Miami CF midfielder Yannick Bright (42) in the second half at Subaru Park.
Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

MLS Matchday 22 Schedule

Six matchups start off the weekend action on Saturday night at 7:30 pm ET.  Miami vs Toronto is the showcase game in this window. Miami is playing its first home match since mid-July; they are seven points off the Shield lead. Toronto has won just once since the World Cup break; could they go to Miami and get a much-needed win for their playoff hopes?

Four Saturday night matchups kick off between 8:30 and 9:30 pm. One of those is Philadelphia Union heading across the country to play against Austin FC. However, the marquee matchup is Shield leaders Nashville hosting struggling Columbus Crew. Can Nashville SC  keep their historic pace going in a match they should win?

The late match window on Saturday night starts at 10:30 pm; LAFC takes on Portland in the match of consequence. Can LAFC move back into the race for the top spot in the West, or will Portland get the points and move further up into the playoff picture?

Two matches on Sunday take center stage, the bigger of the two being New England hosting NYCFC. This is fourth vs. seventh in MLS's East; a win could move the Revolution into the top three, while NYCFC need points to break out of the jumble of the race for the final playoff spot in the East.

Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) collides with Philadelphia Union defender Kai Wagner (27) in the second half at Subaru Park.
Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) collides with Philadelphia Union defender Kai Wagner (27) in the second half at Subaru Park.
Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

MLS Matchday 22 Betting Preview

*All betting odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook

CF Montreal (H) vs. LA Galaxy (A) | Saturday, 7:30 pm
Odds:
Home +110, Tie +280, Away  +210

Charlotte FC (H) vs. DC United (A) | Saturday, 7:30 pm
Odds:
Home -140, Tie +290, Away  +310

FC Cincinnati (H) vs. Seattle Sounders (A) | Saturday, 7:30 pm
Odds:
Home -170, Tie +360, Away  +370

Inter Miami CF (H) vs. Toronto FC (A) | Saturday, 7:30 pm
Odds:
Home -320, Tie +490, Away  +650

Orlando City (H) vs. Real Salt Lake (A) | Saturday, 7:30 pm
Odds:
Home +100, Tie +300, Away  +210

New York Red Bulls (H) vs. Chicago Fire (A) | Saturday, 7:30 pm
Odds:
Home +165, Tie +290, Away  +135

Nashville SC (H) vs. Columbus Crew (A) | Saturday, 8:30 pm
Odds:
Home -145, Tie +290, Away  +360

St. Louis City (H) vs. Houston Dynamo (A) | Saturday, 8:30 pm
Odds:
Home +110, Tie +260, Away  +230

  Austin FC (H) vs. Philadelphia Union (A) | Saturday, 9 pm
Odds:
Home +210, Tie +280, Away  +110

Vancouver Whitecaps (H) vs. FC Dallas (A) | Saturday, 9:30 pm
Odds:
Home -240, Tie +380, Away  +500

LAFC (H) vs. Portland Timbers (A) | Saturday, 10:30 pm
Odds:
Home -170, Tie +360, Away  +360

San Diego FC (H) vs. Colorado Rapids (A) | Saturday, 10:30 pm
Odds:
Home +100, Tie +290, Away  +230

San Jose Earthquakes (H) vs. Minnesota United (A) | Saturday, 10:30 pm
Odds:
Home +110, Tie +290, Away  +190

New England Revolution (H) vs. NYCFC (A) | Sunday, 4:30 pm
Odds:
Home +125, Tie +260, Away  +185

Atlanta United (H) vs. Sporting Kansas City (A) | Sunday, 7 pm

Odds: Home -165, Tie +330, Away  +360

Portland Timbers forward Alexander Aravena (28) controls the ball as Houston Dynamo midfielder Jack McGlynn (8) and midfielder Duane Holmes (14) defend at Shell Energy Stadium.
Portland Timbers forward Alexander Aravena (28) controls the ball as Houston Dynamo midfielder Jack McGlynn (8) and midfielder Duane Holmes (14) defend at Shell Energy Stadium.
Maria Lysaker

MLS's Eastern Conference  Standings

Nashville SC - 46 pts
Inter Miami - 39 pts
Chicago Fire - 35 pts
New England Revolution - 33 pts
FC Cincinnati - 30 pts
Charlotte FC - 29 pts
NYCFC - 26 pts
Red Bull New York - 25 pts
DC United - 24 pts
Orlando City - 21 pts
Toronto FC - 21 pts
Columbus Crew - 20 pts
Philadelphia Union - 20 pts
CF Montreal - 20 pts
Atlanta United - 18 pts

MLS's Western Conference  Standings

Houston Dynamo - 38 pts
Vancouver Whitecaps - 37 pts
LAFC - 34 pts
San Jose Earthquakes - 33 pts
FC Dallas - 33 pts
St. Louis City - 30 pts
Colorado Rapids - 28 pts
Real Salt Lake - 28 pts
Portland Timbers - 27 pts
LA Galaxy - 25 pts
Minnesota United - 25 pts
Seattle Sounders - 24 pts
San Diego FC - 24 pts
Austin FC - 20 pts
Sporting Kansas City - 15 pts

MLS, Union, Philadelphia Union, Austin FC, Nashville SC, Inter Miami