The last four teams surviving in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs will be decided over the next four days as the conference semifinals come to a close
Top-seeded Sporting Kansas City and No. 6 seed Real Salt Lake are all square at 1-1 going into Sunday's decisive second leg at Children's Mercy Park, the first postseason match to be played at the stadium since these rivals squared off in the 2013 MLS Cup. A limited number of tickets for the highly anticipated showdown, including standing-room only tickets, remain available at SeatGeek.com.
Sunday's contest at Children's Mercy Park, slated for 2 p.m. CT on ESPN, is one of four nationally televised MLS matches that will send aggregate winners to the two-legged conference championships later this month. Three of which will take place Sunday, with Kansas City's matinee followed by two games in the Eastern Conference.
Atlanta United FC owns a 1-0 aggregate lead over New York City FC heading into the second leg at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, kicking off at 4:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. In the 6:30 p.m. CT nightcap on FS1, Supporters' Shield champion New York Red Bulls will look to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Columbus Crew SC at Red Bull Arena.
The first team to punch its ticket to the Western Conference Championship will be either Seattle Sounders FC or the Portland Timbers. The fierce rivals meet in leg two at 9:30 p.m. CT Thursday in Seattle, with Portland holding a 2-1 aggregate advantage. That game will air live on FS1.
Both conference championship series are scheduled for Nov. 25 and 29, with the higher-seeded teams hosting the second leg. MLS Cup 2018 is set for Saturday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m. CT on FOX.
Sporting KC can advance to the Western Conference Championship with either a win or a scoreless draw on Sunday. A victory over RSL would see Manager Peter Vermes' side advance on aggregate, while a 0-0 tie would give Sporting KC the away goals tiebreaker. Conversely, a draw involving four or more total goals (2-2, 3-3, etc.) would give the away goals tiebreaker to No. 6 seed RSL.
