2024 MLS Wild Card Roundup

The 2024 MLS Wild Card games are history, so we now know all the teams that will be present in the MLS playoffs starting this weekend.

In the Eastern Conference, the match had to be defined by penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw in the 90 minutes, where Atlanta United managed to win 5-4.

On the other hand, in the Western Conference, the Whitecaps gave a spectacular demonstration of their great level by winning 5-0 against the Portland Timbers to get their ticket to the postseason.

Atlanta United will now face Inter Miami in the first round of the postseason (best of 3 or BO3), while the Whitecaps will face LAFC, who finished first in the West.

Let’s see what happened in these MLS Wild Card games.

MLS Wild Card betting odds

2024 MLS Wild Card Roundup: Montreal vs. Atlanta United

Montreal and Atlanta United gave us a spectacular match in the Eastern Conference Wild Card, where they tied 2-2 in the 90 minutes of regulation. However, the visiting team, Atlanta, managed to win 5-4 on penalties.

Montreal had control of the ball throughout the match, but Atlanta was able to take advantage of their chances, especially in the first half, to score on a couple of occasions.

After a spectacular back-and-forth in the early stages of the match, Atlanta took the lead in the 29th minute thanks to a goal by Brooks Lennon. Then, seconds before the end of the first half, specifically in the 44th minute, Stian Rode Gregersen scored the 2-0, which gave them peace of mind for the rest of the match.

However, things would change completely in the second half, as the Montreal Impact relied on the skills and great level of Venezuelan Josef Martinez to equalize the actions with goals in the 63rd and 89th minutes. As a result, the match went to penalty kicks to determine who would qualify for the playoffs.

Finally, in an intense penalty shootout, Atlanta United could win the match 5-4 and secure its ticket to the postseason.

Result: Montreal (2) – (2) Atlanta United – (4 – 5 Penalties)

2024 MLS Wild Card Roundup: Whitecaps vs. Timbers

In the Western Conference Wild Card Game, the Whitecaps gave a soccer lesson against the Portland Timbers who, although they were favored to win this match, were decimated at all times by the home team.

The Timbers managed to have more control of the match and the ball during the 90 minutes, but that did not help them to stop the onslaught of their rivals. Things started extremely well for the Whitecaps, as they took the lead in the 20th minute with a great goal by Ryan Gauld.

Then, 4 minutes later, Brian White scored to make it 2-0, which gave them a lot of peace of mind in less than half an hour of play. However, things didn’t end there, as in the 31st minute, Gauld scored his second goal of the night to put the game away with a stupendous 3-0 scoreline.

That decimated Portland’s chances, leaving them in a state of shock after trailing 0-3 with just 31 minutes played.

In the second half, the Timbers tried to make things uncomfortable in the opponent’s area, but nothing worked, as in the 51st minute, Stuart Amstrong scored the 4-0, which left the visitors on the ropes. Finally, in the 59th minute, Gauld scored his hat-trick to put the final score (5-0) and give the Whitecaps the qualification to the MLS Cup 2024 playoffs.

Result: Whitecaps (5) – (0) Timbers