Colorado Rapids 2 to Host No. 6 Earthquakes II
Crown Legacy FC to Host Defending Champions, No. 3 Columbus Crew 2
MLS NEXT Pro announced today the schedule for the Conference Semifinals of the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs, which begin this Friday, October 6. Following a bye in the Conference Quarterfinals, the No. 1 seed in the West, Colorado Rapids 2, will host No. 6 Earthquakes II and the No.1 seed in the East, Crown Legacy FC, will welcome the defending League Champions, No. 3 Columbus Crew 2.
The Conference Semifinals schedule is as follows (all matches broadcast on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app):
Eastern Conference
Friday, October 6
New England Revolution II (No. 2) vs. New York Red Bulls II (No. 4) – Gillette Stadium (7 p.m. ET)
Sunday, October 8
Crown Legacy FC (No. 1) vs. Columbus Crew 2 (No. 3) – Sportsplex at Matthews (3 p.m. ET)
Western Conference
Sunday, October 8
Colorado Rapids 2 (No. 1) vs. Earthquakes II (No. 6) – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (9:30 p.m. ET)
Tacoma Defiance (No. 2) vs. Austin FC II (No. 4) – Starfire Sports Complex (10 p.m. ET)
As part of this year’s pick-your-opponent playoff format, the two No. 1 seeds selected from the two lowest seeds remaining in their conference - No. 4 Austin FC II and No. 6 Earthquakes II in the West and No. 3 Columbus Crew 2 and No. 4 New York Red Bulls II in the East.
No. 1 overall seed Colorado Rapids 2 picked the lowest seed available, No. 6 Earthquakes II. San Jose, fresh off an upset on the road over No. 5 St Louis CITY2 in the Quarterfinals, will travel to Colorado to take on the League leaders Sunday night (9:30 p.m. ET).
The next highest seed in the West, No. 2 Tacoma Defiance, will host No. 4 Austin FC II (Sunday, 10 p.m. ET). Los Verdes also pulled off an upset in their Quarterfinal match on the road, defeating No. 3 Sporting KC II. Tacoma, able to select their opponent in the first round, defeated No. 7 Houston Dynamo 2 in the Quarterfinals.
Crown Legacy FC went against the grain for their pick, choosing to host the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Cup Champions, No. 3 Columbus Crew 2, in their Eastern Conference Semifinal on Sunday (3 p.m. ET). Columbus advanced to the Semifinals after defeating their pick in the first round, No. 5 Orlando City B.
On the other side of the East, No. 2 New England Revolution II will host Northeast Division rivals, No. 4 New York Red Bulls II (Friday, 7 p.m. ET). Revs II moved on to the second round after narrowly escaping their chosen opponent in the Quarterfinals, No. 7 Philadelphia Union II, while New York advanced past the Quarterfinals after topping Chicago Fire II.
Following this weekend’s Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals, the MLS NEXT Pro Playoffs will continue with the Conference Finals the weekend of October 13, with the postseason culminating on October 22 with MLS NEXT Pro Cup. After the first two rounds included the pick-your-opponent element, the Conference Finals and MLS NEXT Pro Cup will follow a traditional bracket style. All matches will air live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Complete details on the playoffs are available at mlsnextpro.com.
