MLS Cup Playoffs: Its Timbers Vs. Five Stripes In Atlanta For The Marbles

Both conference finals in the MLS Cup Playoffs concluded on Thursday.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

At Harrison, New Jersey:

Despite a 1-0 game-two road defeat to the New York Red Bulls, Atlanta United advanced to their first MLS Cup (in only their second season) by winning the Eastern Conference final 3-1 on aggregate.


WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At Kansas City, Kansas:

Diego Valeri scored twice (61', 90'+9) and Sebastian Blanco once (53') as the Portland Timbers upended Sporting Kansas City 3-2 on the road in game two of the Western Conference final, which the Timbers won 3-2 on aggregate to advance to their second MLS Cup Final (Portland won 2-1 at Columbus against the Crew in 2015).



Atlanta United will host the Portland Timbers in the MLS Cup Final on Saturday, December 8, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time, to be telecast on the FOX Network.

MLS Cup Playoffs: Five Stripes Gore Visiting Red Bulls To Open East Final; Timbers, SKC Gather Goose Eggs To Open West Final In Portland

Both conference finals in the MLS Cup Playoffs commenced on Sunday.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

At Atlanta:

Josef Martinez (32'), Franco Escobar (71'), and Hector Villalba (90'+5) each scored once as Atlanta United dominated the visiting New York Bulls 3-0 in the opening contest of the Eastern Conference Final.

The series is set to conclude on Thursday at 4:30 PM Pacific Time (FS1) at Harrison, New Jersey.



WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At Portland, Oregon:

The opening contest of the Western Conference final between the Portland Timbers and visiting Sporting Kansas City was played to a 0-0 stalemate.

This series is set to conclude on Thursday at Kansas City, Kansas with kickoff time set for 6:30 PM Pacific Time (ESPN).

MLS Cup Playoffs: SKC (Who Get Timbers Next), Five Stripes, Red Bulls Advance To Conference Finals

The quarterfinal round of the MLS Playoffs concluded on Sunday with three games.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

At Atlanta:

Josef Martinez scored twice (PK-25', 83') as Atlanta United defeated visiting New York City 3-1 in game two and won their conference semifinal series 4-1 on aggregate.

At Harrison, New Jersey:

Daniel Royer scored twice in the second half (73', 76') as the New York Red Bulls dominated the visiting Columbus Crew 3-0 in game two and won their conference semifinal series 3-1 on aggregate.



WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At Kansas City, Kansas:

Daniel Salloi scored twice (19', 90'+7) as Sporting Kansas City doubled up visiting Real Salt Lake 4-2 in game two and won their conference semifinal series 5-3 on aggregate.



Both conference finals are set to open on Sunday, November 25 with the hosts listed first and all times Pacific:

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

Atlanta United vs. New York Red Bulls, game one, Sunday November 25 @ 2:00 PM (ESPN)

New York Red Bulls vs. Atlanta United, game two, Thursday November 29 @ 4:00 PM (Fox Sports One)



WESTERN CONFERENCE:

Portland Timbers vs. Sporting Kansas City, game one, Sunday November 25 @ 4:30 PM (Fox Sports One)

Sporting Kansas City vs. Portland Timbers, game two, Thursday November 29 @ 6:30 PM (ESPN)

MLS Cup Playoffs: Timbers Oust Sounders After PK Shootout

At Seattle:

Dairon Asprilla, who scored an overtime goal in the 93rd minute, converted the clinching spot kick in the penalty-kick shootout as the Portland Timbers, despite dropping a 2-1 game-two regulation contest on the road to the Seattle Sounders, thus squaring their series at 3-3 on aggregate (and with each club ultimately scoring once in overtime), still won the shootout 4-2 (and their MLS Cup Western Conference semifinal series) to advance to the Western Conference Final against the winner of the Sporting Kansas City-Real Salt Lake series (currently at 1-1 on aggregate, to be decided on Sunday at Kansas City, Kansas).

MLS Cup Playoffs: Crew, Five Stripes, Timbers Take Series Openers; SKC Gain Series-Opening Road Draw With RSL

The quarterfinal round of the MLS Cup Playoffs commenced on Sunday with four games.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

At Columbus, Ohio:

Gyasi Zardes scored the only goal of the match in the 61st minute as the Columbus Crew defeated the visiting New York Red Bulls 1-0 in the opening contest of their conference semifinal series, which will conclude next Sunday at Harrison, New Jersey (4:30 PM Pacific Time, Fox Sports One).

At New York:

Eric Remedi scored the game's lone goal in the 37th minute as Atlanta United upended New York City 1-0 on the road in the opening match of their conference semifinal series, which will conclude in Atlanta next Sunday (2:00 PM Pacific Time, ESPN).



WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At Portland, Oregon:

Diego Valeri assisted on goals scored by Jeremy Ebobisse (17') and Sebastian Blanco (29') as the Portland Timbers came from behind to upend the visiting Seattle Sounders 2-1 in game one of their conference semifinal series.

Raul Rudidiaz scored what might be a precious road goal for the Sounders in the 10th minute.

The series is set to come to a close in Seattle on Thursday night at 7:30 PM Pacific Time (Fox Sports One).

At Sandy, Utah:

Diego Rubio's equalizer in the 60th minute lifted Sporting Kansas City to a 1-1 conference semifinal series-opening 1-1 road draw with Real Salt Lake.

Albert Rusnak scored for the hosts in the 51st minute.

The series is set to conclude at Kansas City, Kansas on Sunday at 12:00 Noon (ESPN).

MLS Cup Playoffs: Crew and RSL Win On Road To Advance To Conference Semifinals

The MLS Cup Playoffs' knockout round concluded on Thursday with two games.

At Washington:

Federico Higuain scored twice during the match (30', 96'), then, after a 2-2 draw through 120 minutes, converted a spot kick, along with Will Trapp and Niko Hansen, as the Columbus Crew won the penalty-kick shootout, 3-2 on the road over DC United.

Crew goalkeeper Zack Steffen saved spot kicks from DC's Wayne Rooney and Luciano Acosta during the shootout.

At Los Angeles:

Walker Zimmerman's own goal in the 69th minute proved fatal as Real Salt Lake upended the Los Angeles Football Club 3-2 on the road.



MATCHUPS FOR THE SECOND ROUND:

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

Columbus Crew SC vs. New York Red Bulls:

Sunday @ Columbus, Ohio, 12:00 Noon Pacific Time (ESPN)

November 11 @ Harrison, New Jersey, time TBD

New York City FC vs. Atlanta United FC:

Sunday @ New York, 4:30 PM Pacific Time (FS1)

November 11 @ Atlanta, time TBD



WESTERN CONFERENCE:

Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders FC:

Sunday @ Portland, Oregon, 4:30 PM Pacific Time (ESPN)

Next Wednesday @ Seattle, time TBD

Real Salt Lake vs. Sporting Kansas City:

Sunday @ Sandy, Utah, 10:00 PM Pacific Time (FS1)

November 11 @ Kansas City, Kansas, time TBD

MLS Cup Playoffs: Cityzens, Timbers Advance To Conference Semifnals

Major League Soccer's MLS Cup Playoffs opened with two knockout-round contests on Wednesday.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

At New York:

Ismael Tajouri-Shradi (10'), David Villa (26'), and Maximiliano Morales (78') each scored once as New York City downed the visiting Philadelphia Union 3-1 to advance to face Atlanta United in an Eastern Conference semifinal series.

In three playoff appearances in nine MLS seasons, the Union have never won a playoff game (0-4).



WESTERN CONFERENCE:

At Frisco, Texas:

Diego Valeri scored twice (23', 71') as the Portland Timbers, despite playing most of the second half with only ten men, held off FC Dallas 2-1 on the road to become the first Western Conference club to win a knockout-round game away from home.