The conference semifinals are underway in the MLS Cup Playoffs as we transition to the single-elimination portion of the competition.
Here’s what happened Saturday night in the conference semifinals.
LAFC 1-2 Seattle Sirens
Scorers: Hollingshead 50′; Chanot 59′ (OG), Morris 109′
Seattle stunned LAFC in Los Angeles thanks to an overtime winner from Jordan Morris.
Despite dominating the Sounders in recent matches, LAFC struggled to gain a foothold in the match and ended the first half without a shot on target.
But they found another gear after the break and the opener was scored by the unlikely source of Ryan Hollingshead.
While LAFC typically took the lead at home in the play-offs, they were undone by a bizarre own goal just nine minutes later when Maxime Chanot fired the ball into his own net after a cross was fired at him.
With the scores level after 90 minutes, the two Western Conference foes went to extra time, with the momentum squarely in LAFC’s favor.
The two teams traded chances in extra time, but it was Jordan Morris who found the brutal touch with a stunning spin and finish to beat Hugo Lloris at his near post, stunning the hosts in extra time to pull off the upset.
NYCFC 0-2 New York Red Bulls
Scorers: Carballo 16′, Vanzeir 24′
The New York Red Bulls earned bragging rights in the first-ever Hudson River Derby in the playoffs and booked their ticket to the Eastern Conference Final.
It was all Red Bulls from the start, as their high-pressure system benefited greatly from the close confines of Citi Field, and it didn’t take long for them to find the opener.
After a goal kick from Carlos Coronel, the ball fell to Felipe Carballo and the Uruguayan fired the ball into the roof of the net from distance to open the scoring in style.
But the visitors weren’t done there yet, as a deflected corner found its way to Dante Vanzeir just eight minutes later and the striker tapped in from close range.
As NYCFC tried to pull themselves within striking distance, their usually clinical forwards appeared to abandon their shooting boots in the opening round of the play-offs.
The Red Bulls now await the winner of Sunday’s showdown between Orlando City and Atlanta United.
© John Jones-Imagn images
