MLS Cup Playoffs scores, schedule, bracket: Lionel Messi's Inter Miami head to game three, Columbus Crew out

The first full round of the playoffs for the MLS Cup are underway, and the favorites are cruising

After a wild final day of the season that saw Los Angeles FC secure the top seed in the Western Conference and Inter Miami set the single season points record, and a wildcard round which saw Atlanta and Vancouver advance, the MLS Cup playoffs are truly underway. 

The playoffs began on Oct. 22 with the wildcard round and the main even started Friday, October 23 with the first round best of three series matchups as Inter Miami topped Atlanta United 2-1 in their series opener. Despite finishing as the eighth seed in the Western Conference, the Vancouver Whitecaps needed to travel to face the Portland Timbers due to BC Place hosting the World Supercross Canadian Grand Prix, but their road win meant they had the honor of facing LAFC in the first round, and losing their opener 2-1. After the initial best of three matchups, the playoffs will become single elimination as the tension ratchets up in pursuit of an MLS Cup.

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Wildcard results

Tuesday, Oct. 22
Montreal 2, Atlanta United 2

Wednesday, Oct. 23
Vancouver Whitecaps 5, Portland Timbers 0

MLS Playoff Bracket

MLS Cup Playoff Schedule

Eastern Conference Round 1 Best-of-3 Series
No. 1 Inter Miami CF vs. No. 8 No. 9 Atlanta United 
Oct. 25: Inter Miami 2, Atlanta 1
Nov. 2, 7 p.m.: Atlanta 2, Inter Miami 1
Nov. 9, 8 p.m.: Inter Miami vs. Atlanta 

No. 2 Columbus Crew vs. No. 7 New York Red Bulls
Oct. 29: RBNY 1, Crew 0
Nov. 3: RBNY 2, Crew 2 (RBNY win and advance 5-4 on Penalties)
 
No. 3 FC Cincinnati vs. No. 6 New York City FC
Oct. 28: FCC 1, NYCFC 0
Nov. 2, 5 p.m.: NYCFC 3, FCC 1
Nov. 9, 4 p.m.: FCC vs. NYCFC

No. 4 Orlando City SC vs. No. 5 Charlotte FC
Oct. 27: Orlando 2, Charlotte 0
Nov. 1: Charlotte 0, Orlando 0 (Charlotte win on pens 3-1)
Nov. 9, 6 p.m. (if necessary): Orlando vs. Charlotte

Western Conference Round 1 Best-of-3 Series
No. 1 LAFC vs. No. 8 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Oct. 27: LAFC 2, Whitecaps 1
Nov. 3: Whitecaps 3, LAFC 0
Nov. 8 11 p.m. (if necessary): LAFC vs. White Caps

No. 2 LA Galaxy vs. No. 7 Colorado Rapids
Oct. 26: Galaxy 5, Rapids 0
Nov. 1: Rapids 1, Galaxy 4 

No. 3 Real Salt Lake vs. No. 6 Minnesota United FC
Oct. 29: Minnesota 0, RSL 0 (Minn wins on PKs, 5-4)
Nov. 2, 9 p.m.: Minnesota 1, RSL 1 (Minn wins on PKs, 3-1)

No. 4 Seattle Sounders FC vs. No. 5 Houston Dynamo FC
Oct. 28: Sounders 0, Dynamo 0 (Sea win on PKs, 5-4)
Nov. 3: Dynamo 1, Sounders 1 (Sea win and advance 7-6 on penalties)

Conference Semifinals
Saturday, Nov. 23 - Sunday, Nov. 24

Conference Finals
Saturday, Nov. 30 - Sunday, Dece. 1

MLS Cup presented by Audi
Saturday, Dec. 7, 4 p.m. ET