MLS
How often do the Supporters’ Shield winners lift the MLS Cup?
They were the best team in MLS during the regular season, but the omens are not good as Cincy embark on their MLS Cup Playoffs journey.
FC Cincinnati kick-start their post-season campaign on Sunday evening against New York Red Bulls.
Cincy were the runaway winners of the 2023 Supporters’ Shield, the trophy awarded to the team who pick up the most points during the regular season. They became just the second team in MLS history to win their first ten home fixtures and captain Luciano Acosta is expected to be named Landon Donovan MLS MVP.
You might think that Cincinnati will be the favourites to lift MLS Cup on December 9, but history suggests otherwise.
Across the past 27 seasons the Supporters’ Shield winners have only gone on to win MLS Cup on eight occasions: 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2011, 2017 and 2022.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, this was more common in the early days of MLS when there were fewer teams in the league. In four of the first seven seasons the Supporters’ Shield winner also lifted MLS Cup.
LAFC picked up both in 2022
Last season LAFC became just the sixth different club to win both the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup in the same season. They lost just four regular season matches, the fewest of any team since 2014, and boasted the attacking firepower and top level experience required to progress in playoff competition.
That was the club’s first MLS Cup triumph and it came after a thrilling final against Philadelphia Union, which LAFC eventually won on penalties.
“It wasn’t our best day,” head coach Steve Cherundolo said after the final whistle. “But this team, as it did all year, found a way.”
‘Finding a way’ is a key ingredient of trophy-winning sides and there is evidence to suggest that LAFC are well-prepared to compete for MLS Cup once again. They had an inconsistent regular season campaign, finishing third in the Western Conference, but are extremely effective in playoff soccer.
On Saturday evening they began their MLS Cup defence with a 5-2 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps. Cherundolo’s team were lacking a little fluidity in the first half but a second half blitz and a brace for Golden Boot winner Denis Bouanga reiterated their playoff credentials.