Soccer season has come to an end in the Empire State.
Both New York teams – the two highest-scoring teams in MLS during the regular season – were bounced from the Eastern Conference semifinals after combining for a single goal in four games.
The Red Bulls fell to the resurgent Montreal Impact 3-1 on aggregate after a 2-1 letdown in New Jersey, but that’s far better than their crosstown rivals fared. New York City FC couldn’t find the back of the net a single time against Toronto FC and quickly ended playoff their run 7-0 on aggregate.
Meanwhile out West, Shkelzen Gashi’s screamer from distance leveled the series between LA and Colorado and the mighty Galaxy couldn’t beat the bald, bearded brick wall Tim Howard – not even from the penalty spot. Steven Gerrard scored, but Gio dos Santos shot the moon and Ashley Cole and Jeff Larentowicz had their shots saved by the United States Secretary of Defense.
LA had one goal to make up. Dallas, though, had three.
The Supporters’ Shield-winning U.S. Open Cup champions fell into a hole last week in the Emerald City. The Toros needed a trifecta to keep dreams of the Treble alive but newly anointed Brian Schmetzer and his Seattle Sounders had other ideas. Dallas came out all guns blazing and easily could’ve found their trio had they hit the target but Nicolás Lodeiro’s early second-half tally put the nail in the coffin.
And so they’re set. A Canadian Clash in the East; a ferocious affair in the West.
It’s an interesting series between Toronto and Montreal. They each stole victories on the road from each other in April and August and split the rubber match 2-2 in Toronto on Oct. 16. Sebastian Giovinco is coming off a hat-trick and has four goals and two assists in three playoff games. His Reds will have to hold off Ignacio Piatti, who has three goals in these playoffs.
Leg 1 is Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
The Sounders just had to sit back in Leg 2 against Dallas and it nearly cost them. Colorado isn’t nearly the offensive juggernaut Dallas is, but their 32 goals conceded were the fewest in MLS since 2013.
Colorado took both games from Seattle this season by a combined 4-1 early in the season. Since then, Seattle has subtracted Sigi Schmid and added Lodeiro, who’s responsible for 15 goals in 16 games since dawning the Rave Green.
They kick off in Seattle at after the Toronto-Montreal game at 10 p.m. ET.
