Half of the field for the conference semifinals is set.

The other half is still up for grabs, with eight teams competing in Game 3s this weekend for a spot in the next round of the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.

What must each team vying for playoff glory do to prevail? And what can go wrong for each club?

We’ll dive into both questions and examine each team ahead of the deciding match in each Round One Best-of-3 Series.

What should go right for LAFC

They have to put their best players in positions to be their best players.

That means LAFC must find moments to isolate Denis Bouanga in transition, feed Olivier Giroud with his back to goal and activate their young, dynamic attackers on the right wing. If they are not aggressive and vertical, it means they are far from taking full advantage of the talent advantage they have on offense over Vancouver’s defensive staff.

What could go wrong for LAFC

They could be shooting themselves in the foot again defensively.

The 5-1 regular season loss to Columbus. The League Cup final was lost against Columbus. The 4-2 defeat to the Galaxy in September. The 3-0 defeat against the Whitecaps last weekend. LAFC’s defensive work in big games has been spotty at best this season. If they choose not to mark Ryan Gauld on a faceoff or fall asleep in transition, they will be in big trouble.

What needs to go right for Vancouver

They must continue to punish LAFC’s biggest defensive weakness.

After a narrow loss in Game 1, Vanni Sartini went all-in by starting Fafà Picault opposite LAFC’s Kike Olivera, a winger-turned-fullback, and moving Ali Ahmed to the same flank. It worked like a charm, with the ‘Caps finding chance after chance on their left, with speed and know-how on their side. If Olivera retains his spot at right fullback, Vancouver should exploit him with more direct moves. If Olivera is on the bench, it will be much easier to hold up defensively.

What could go wrong for Vancouver?

They may not be able to stop Bouanga.

Even in what was a brutally disappointing Game 2 loss to LAFC, the Gabon international still found opportunities. It is almost impossible to stop Bouanga. Particularly if Vancouver tries to push numbers into holes in LAFC’s defensive structure, they could be in for a tough time if their hosts go the other way.

What needs to go right for Cincinnati

They have to play through their Argentinians.

When Lucho Acosta and Luca Orellano are shooting, FC Cincinnati is difficult to stop. While both players have directly contributed to goals so far, neither player has been utilized enough. With a slew of long balls in Game 2, Acosta was unable to make his mark on the match, while Orellano enjoyed his sixth-fewest touches in any start this season. Find the Argentinians and success usually follows.

What could go wrong for Cincinnati?

They could lose the midfield battle again.

The biggest factor behind Cincy’s loss in Game 2 was their inability to match NYCFC in midfield. Nick Cushing’s team had a man advantage, with Santi Rodríguez cutting in from the left half to act as a fourth player against the double turn of Pat Noonan and No. 10. If they fail to control the midfield, NYCFC will make them pay like they do. on Saturday.

What needs to go right for New York City

Alonso Martínez must be sharp.

Because if he is, he does things like this to cap off a nice possession sequence and see his team take the lead. Note the killer pass and the killer finish:

If Martínez can be the outlet, creator and finisher for NYCFC, they will be a completely different animal. The foundation at the base of the midfield is stable, but if the forwards create notable advantages, life will become that much easier for the 2021 MLS Cup champions.

What could go wrong for New York City

They might misread the recipe along the way.

That’s what happened in Game 1, when NYCFC lost 1-0 in Cincinnati. With Andrés Perea starting over Maxi Moralez, Cushing prioritized ground coverage over asset value. It didn’t work. Cincy wildly outplayed and outplayed the visitors. But the idea had merit: Perea’s mobility should have been an asset. If Cushing chooses Moralez, it will be more difficult for NYCFC to contain Cincy. If he chooses Perea, their attack will take a hit. Finding the right staff recipe is crucial.

What must go right for Orlando

Martín Ojeda and Facundo Torres have to be sharp.

In Game 1, Orlando City’s dynamic attacking duo was just that: dynamic. Ojeda helped open the match with his vision and work off the ball, while Torres’ movement and incision from the right half sapped the energy from Charlotte’s defensive block. On the road in Game 2, those two weren’t nearly as effective. Despite having more possession as a team, Orlando City created just 0.3 xG, compared to 1.6 xG in the first outing, according to FBref. If their stars don’t perform, the Lions will struggle.

What could go wrong for Orlando

Kristijan Kahlina could become a supernova.

One of the biggest concerns for Oscar Pareja’s team is that they play well enough to win Game 3, generate some high-quality shots, and it still doesn’t matter. Kristijan Kahlina has been the gum in goal in 2024, saving more goals than expected than any other ‘keeper, according to FBref. He saved two penalties in the Game 2 shootout. Kahlina has the power to send this series to Charlotte in the blink of an eye.

What must go right for Charlotte

They must be placed firmly in the box.

Because they definitely weren’t in Game 1:

Despite having three centre-backs on the pitch – Andrew Privett, Adilson Malanda and Tim Ream, who defends at left-back – Dean Smith’s side have struggled to contain their own 18 in the final third of the season. Back in front of their home crowd in Game 2, Charlotte put together one of their tightest defensive displays of the season, shutting down Orlando for nearly 90 minutes. The talent is there that this team is terrible to play against. Let’s see if the execution is there too.

What could go wrong for Charlotte

The attack may not have enough power.

They forced a Game 3, but Charlotte has scored exactly zero goals in two playoff games so far. They have been too slow in transition and have not maximized their final third entries, although Smith’s more vertical front three for Game 2 had a bigger impact than his front three for the Orlando loss. Smith faces some big personnel questions on Saturday.

What needs to go right for Miami

Inter Miami is that good. When Lionel Messi has a rare night off, there are more than a few other qualified individuals who can help pick up the slack. The same applies in reverse, with Messi able to turn a bad evening for his teammates into a celebration in the dressing room. They’re not invincible, but it’s going to take a lot for Miami to lose – which is why we haven’t seen it happen often in 2024.

What could go wrong for Miami

They were able to concede a few soft goals.

That’s what happened in Atlanta in Game 2. The first concession came in the second phase of a set piece and the second came after Miami failed to win the ball in its own half and then allowed Xande Silva to shoot unopposed. Even in their record-breaking regular season, Inter Miami conceded chances. If they score a few soft goals early in the game, things can change quickly.

What has to go right for Atlanta

They have to perform almost perfectly at every stage (and hope for a little luck).

When you’re up against some of the biggest game changers this sport has ever seen, you have to nail your game plan. Atlanta will have to be airtight defensively, lightning fast on the break and hope the end gods are in their favor. Problems can arise – we have already seen that in this post-season! – but it is difficult to achieve them without seamless coordination on the field.

What could go wrong for Atlanta?

Saba Lobjanidze could get a chance as a right wing-back.

Lobjanidze plays as the outside defender on the right side of Rob Valentino’s back five and is still adjusting to having more defensive responsibility in this year’s play-offs. Messi and Jordi Alba showed off the Georgian’s naive positioning in Game 2 and will no doubt try to isolate the attack-minded defender in the series decider. Lobjanidze, like the rest of his teammates, cannot afford to make many mistakes in Game 3.