MLS playoffs in flux, Inter Miami getting ready to historical past on Resolution Day

Whereas groups are combating to enhance their playoff place on Resolution Day, Inter Miami will likely be trying to make Major League Soccer historical past.

The Lionel Messi-led squad has the chance to safe the league’s all-time factors report on Saturday in opposition to the New England Revolution. The Revolution set the report in 2021 with 73 factors, and Miami at present has 71.

Miami has already clinched the highest spot within the Jap Convention and secured the Supporters Defend.

Messi, a front-runner for the MLS MVP this season, has 17 objectives and 15 assists regardless of enjoying simply 18 video games due to an ankle damage and commitments with the Argentine national team.

Messi might not begin in opposition to New England for the reason that match does not have any playoff implications, and he simply returned this week from nationwide staff obligation.

“On the twentieth of January, it will have appeared illogical to speak about aiming for the factors report; however now it’s inside attain, we want to get it,” Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino mentioned. “Nevertheless, we aren’t [going] to do something loopy as a result of six days later, we begin an important video games. That’s the place I should be cautious (managing gamers’ minutes).”

[Related: Lionel Messi leaves door open for 2026 World Cup: ‘We will see’]

D.C. United‘s Christian Benteke is on the verge of successful the 2024 MLS Golden Boot with a league-high 23 objectives. Benteke is forward of 2023 winner LAFC‘s Denis Bouanga and the Crew‘s Cucho Hernández, who’ve 19 objectives every.

There are nonetheless two playoff berths open within the Jap Convention heading into Resolution Day. D.C. United and Montreal are within the eighth and ninth spots however have not clinched but, whereas Philadelphia and Atlanta are nonetheless in rivalry.

Benteke mentioned D.C. United will not be scoreboard watching throughout its remaining recreation in opposition to Charlotte. All of the East’s matches on Saturday happen concurrently.

“We had some ups and downs by way of the season, and now that is it,” Benteke mentioned. “We’re there. We will see the ultimate line. Man, it is thrilling as a result of that is our likelihood. We have labored so exhausting and we have been by way of many, many issues.”

The No. 8 and No. 9 seeds in every convention play in a match for the final playoff spot and an opportunity to play the top-seeded staff — Miami within the East and both the LA Galaxy or LAFC within the West.

Though all 9 playoff berths have been already clinched within the West, the Galaxy and LAFC are nonetheless jockeying for the highest seed. The Galaxy wants a win or draw at Houston on Saturday to lock it down.

With a win, the Galaxy will end with 67 factors, matching the staff’s 2011 complete when it went on to win the MLS title.

“I believe it is nice that the sport is significant,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney mentioned. “Presently of yr, I might moderately have a significant recreation that we’re enjoying for one thing, moderately than a recreation the place you’re feeling such as you’re not enjoying for one thing proper earlier than you actually begin enjoying for one thing. So I believe that retains the fitting depth and the fitting consideration within the group.”

The highest 4 seeds in every convention after Resolution Day win home-field benefit for the primary spherical.

Additional down the desk within the West, Cascadia Cup rivals Portland and Vancouver maintain the wild card positions. That might change, as the underside 5 playoff-bound groups are all inside six factors of one another.

The Whitecaps hope to maneuver up the desk this weekend at Real Salt Lake, however Vancouver has been winless in its final six matches.

“Clearly, we’ve had a nasty run of outcomes just lately,” striker Brian White mentioned. “So it’d be nice to enter playoffs with somewhat little bit of extra optimistic power, a win, and see what we are able to do from there.”

Reporting by The Related Press.

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