Atlanta United will face either NYCFC, D.C. United or Columbus in the semifinals of the MLS Eastern Conference playoffs.
Atlanta United, with a bye at the No. 2 seed, will play at the to-be-determined opponent on Nov. 4 and will host the second leg at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Nov. 11.
Atlanta United dropped to the second seed after Sunday's 4-1 loss at Toronto. NYCFC is the third seed and will host sixth-seeded Philadelphia in the knockout round on Oct. 31 or Nov. 1. D.C. United, the fourth seed, will host Columbus, the fifth seed on Oct. 31 or Nov. 1.
The top-seeded Red Bulls will face the lowest remaining seed in the conference semifinals. Atlanta United will face the highest remaining seed in the semifinals.
Atlanta United went 2-0 against Columbus, winning 2-0 in Ohio on June 13 behind goals from Josef Martinez and Hector Villalba, and 3-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Aug. 19 behind goals from Martinez, Villalba and Miguel Almiron. Gyasi Zardes scored for Columbus.
Atlanta United went 2-1 against D.C. United, winning 3-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on March 11 behind goals from Martinez, Almiron and Villalba. Darren Mattocks scored for D.C. United. The Five Stripes won 3-1 at home on July 21 behind a hat trick from Martinez. Zoltan Stieber scored for D.C. United. Atlanta United lost 3-1 at Audi Field on Sept. 2 on two goals from Luciano Acosta and another from Wayne Rooney. Jeff Larentowicz scored for Atlanta United.
Atlanta United went 0-0-2 against NYCFC, drawing 2-2 at Yankee Stadium on April 15. Greg Garza’s and Chris McCann’s goals were offset by David Villa’s Alexander Ring’s. The teams drew 1-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on June 9. Martinez and Alexander Callens scored.
MLS PLAYOFFS
Here is a look at the MLS playoff picture:
Eastern Conference
No. 1 New York Red Bulls
No. 2 Atlanta United
No. 3 NYCFC vs. No. 6 Philadelphia, Oct. 31 or Nov.1
No. 4 D.C. United vs. Columbus, Oct. 31 or Nov. 1
Western Conference
No. 1 Sporting KC
No.2 Seattle
No. 3 LAFC vs. No. 6 Real Salt Lake, Oct. 31 or Nov. 1
No. 4 FC Dallas vs. No. 5 Portland, Oct. 31 or Nov. 1
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