With the knockout round over, the Conference semi-finals in the MLS are already set. Yesterday, Houston Dynamo and Columbus Crew booked their spots among the conference finalists by beating Sporting KC and Atlanta United, respectively.
The Crew's win over Gerardo Martino's side was quite unexpected, as the team from Columbus shocked the hosts in a penalty shootout at Mercedes-Benz Arena. Since the team's owner is bidding to take the team to Austin next season, some believed this could be the club's final game, but now their owner can think twice about not letting one of the league's founding clubs disappear.
Play-off picture
If you're not familiar with how the play-offs are set in the MLS, here's a brief explanation.
After the 34-game regular season, each conference grants six spots for the postseason stage. The two best teams in each conference go straight to the semi-finals, while the remaining four enter the Knockout Round, a one-match playoff to determine the two teams that make it to the semi-finals.
The semi-final stage in each conference is played with a two-leg system, with the higher-ranked team hosting the deciding game. The two teams that win the conference semis go on to play the conference final, which each team hosting one game as well.
The Conference champions go on to play in the MLS Cup. Only one game is played to determine who will be crowned as the MLS' champion.
Here's how the bracket looks like prior to the Conference semi-finals.
After yesterday's results, here's how the semi-finals will be played.
Western Conference
Vancouver Whitecaps vs Seattle Sounders
First leg: October 29, 2017, at 17:30 PT/ 20:30 ET (BC Place, Vancouver, Canada)
Second leg: November 2, 2017, at 19:30 PT/ 22:30 ET (CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA).
Houston Dynamo vs Portland Timbers
First leg: October 30, 2017, at 18:30 PT/ 21:30 ET (BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, TX)
Second leg: November 5, 2017, at 18:00 PT/ 21:00 ET (Providence Park, Portland,OR)
Eastern Conference
New York Red Bulls vs Toronto FC
First leg: October 30, 2017, at 16:00 PT/ 19:00 ET (Red Bull Arena, Harrison, NJ)
Second leg: November 5, 2017, at 12:00 PT/ 15:00 ET (BMO Field, Toronto, Canada)
Columbus Crew vs New York City FC
First leg: October 31, 2017, at 17:00 PT/ 20:00 ET (Mapfre Stadium, Coumbus, OH)
Second leg: November 5, 2017, at 18:00 PT/ 21:00 ET (Yankee Stadium, New York)
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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