MLS Cup Conference Finals are Set
By Cody Maggard
The second legs of the conference semifinals were insane, and that is an understatement. This is what MLS was hoping for by instituting the away goals rule, and it did not disappoint.
In the Eastern Conference, the New York Red Bulls were able to finally break through DC United’s stingy defense to get a 1-0 win and move on with a 2-0 aggregate advantage. However, the craziness began with the other game in the East, Columbus and Montreal.
The Crew played host to a very hot Montreal team who took the first leg 2-1, but the away goal did make a difference in this game. Columbus opened the scoring with Kei Kamara’s header in the 4th minute after they came out and took the game to the visitors from the opening kick. Montreal would find an equalizer on what can be called a lucky call in their favor in the 40th minute. Dilly Duka appeared to be in an offside position when he tapped home a loose ball in the Crew penalty area, but the goal stood. After Evan Bush saved a Kamara penalty, Columbus found a goal to level the aggregate scoreline in the 78th minute. Ethan Finlay was on the finishing end of a rebound to send the game into extra time. Columbus would go on to tally another goal in the 111th from Kamra to win 3-1 and 4-3 on aggregate.
In the Western Conference, Dallas played host to Seattle in what was one of the craziest finishes all season. Je-Vaughn Watson gave Dallas a 1-0 lead in the 84th minute, but that would be undone. In the 90th minute, Chad Marshall’s header evened the scoreline and gave Seattle the edge on aggregate, but there were five additional minutes added on. Only a minute later, Dallas took a 2-1 lead and evened the the aggregate score, sending the match to penalties. Dallas, behind two saves from Jesse Gonzalez, defeated the Sounders to move on to the conference finals.
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On the other side of the Western Conference bracket, the Timbers squared off with Vancouver north of the border. A scoreless draw in the first leg meant that everything was up for grabs in the second leg. Vancouver came out on the front foot, but could not see a goal from their early efforts. Portland played back and relied on the counter attack in the first quarter of the match, which would pay off. Diego Valeri capitalized on a counter attack in the 14th minute when he put the visitors ahead, forcing Vancouver to now score two goals to advance. The Whitecaps could not seem to create anything worthwhile the whole game, only forcing a couple of saves from Adam Kwarasey. Portland would go on to cement their place in the Conference Finals with an additional goal late into second half stoppage time to earn a 2-0 win.
So, the Conference Finals are set, and will take place after the international break.
Eastern Conference Finals: New York Red Bulls vs Columbus Crew. Leg one will take place November 22 at 5 pm ET on ESPN. Columbus will host the Red Bulls.
Western Conference Finals: FC Dallas vs Portland Timbers. Leg one will also take place November 22, the match will kickoff at 7:30 pm ET on Fox Sports 1.
