Which teams have qualified for the MLS Cup playoffs?
Despite losing 2-1 to the San Jose Earthquakes, the Los Angeles Football Club secured a spot in the 2022 MLS Cup playoffs.
Los Angeles Football Club is in pole position to win the Supporters’ Shield this season and among the favourites to claim the 2022 MLS Cup. Despite losing 2-1 to the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night, LAFC became the first team in Major League Soccer to secure a spot in the playoffs.
LAFC peaking at right time
The Black & Gold has tied the club’s own 2019 MLS record for the fewest games played prior to clinching a spot in the MLS Cup playoffs. The bad news for LAFC is that a club-record seven-game winning streak came to an end at PayPal Park as Steve Cherundolo’s side suffered their fifth defeat of the season, albeit a first since 2 July.
LAFC occupy first place in the Western Conference with a record of 18 wins, five defeats and three draws, the best in MLS this season, for a total of 57 points. Cherundolo’s side are six points clear of Philadelphia Union and nine points ahead of Austin FC in the race for the Supporters’ Shield.
“That is also the message to the players after the game. It was not a complete performance tonight [against San Jose], but this will not derail us,” said Cherundolo. “There are eight regular season games left and we need to be laser focused on what our goals are.”