Sporting Kansas City beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 and the Philadelphia Union 1-0 in overtime over the New York Red Bulls in the start of the North American Soccer League (MLS) playoffs this Saturday.
At Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Sporting achieved a comfortable victory over the Whitecaps that allowed them to reserve Mexican striker Alan Pulido on the bench, still in cotton because of his recent knee injury.
Colombian Cristian Dájome scored the Canadian team’s only goal from a penalty in the 39th minute, making it a provisional 1-1 after the American Khiry Shelton’s opening target in the 17th minute for the hosts.
Dájome, a former Atlético Nacional and América de Cali forward, achieved his eleventh goal in his second season in Vancouver.
Sporting, third-placed in the Western Conference in the regular season, managed to take the lead before the break with a goal from Frenchman Nicolas Isimat-Mirin at 45 + 3.
The goal of tranquility for Sporting came in 58 with a whip from 35 meters from veteran Graham Zusi who entered the Canadian squad.
The two goals behind were insurmountable for the Whitecaps, who created little danger with a goal disallowed by Colombian Déiber Caicedo offside in the 86th minute.
The Union will face in the semifinals of the West the winner of Tuesday’s meeting between the Seattle Sounders and Real Salt Lake.
– Glesnes salva al Union –
In the first match of the playoffs, Norwegian center-back Jakob Glesnes scored a spectacular goal on the edge of a penalty shootout that gave the Philadelphia Union an agonizing 1-0 win over the New York Red Bulls.
After a very close first half, the Union enjoyed great opportunities to resolve the game in regulation time.
The best of them came in the 82nd minute when Brazilian Sergio Santos led an individual action down the left wing and sent the death pass to Polish striker Kacper Przybyłko, who shot too high.
In extra time, Santos and Corey Burke missed very clear chances for the Union that seemed to herald a resolution in the penalty shootout, which Glesnes avoided with his providential goal in the 120 + 3 minute.
The center-back took advantage of a rejection by the New York defense to hook a bomb from outside the area that entered through the squad of goalkeeper Carlos Coronel, unleashing the jubilation in Subaru Park.
The Union will face in the Eastern semifinals the winner of Tuesday’s meeting between the Orlando City of Portuguese Nani and Nasvhille SC.
– MLS playoff first round schedule:
Saturday:
Philadelphia Union – New York Red Bulls 1-0 (prórroga)
Sporting Kansas City – Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1
Sunday:
New York City FC – Atlanta United
Portland Timbers – Minnesota United
Tuesday:
Nashville SC – Orlando City
Seattle Sounders – Real Salt Lake
gbv/gfe
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