From a Seattle Sounders (playoff) zero to Vancouver Whitecaps hero: Fredy Montero scored the first postseason goal of his bifurcated MLS career, and it put the ‘Caps back on track at a crucial moment. Crucially, he opened the scoring in an eventual 5-0 Knockout Round victory over the San Jose Earthquakes.
Vancouver entered the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs as the No. 3 seed after dropping points in four of five weeks to close (1-3-1). But they still stifled the Quakes, advancing to the Western Conference Semifinal against the Seattle Sounders.
Cristian Techera‘s 33rd-minute corner kick found Kendall Waston for a header at the top of the 6-yard box; the shot angled right, where it met Montero’s dive head-on for the eventual game-winner. Techera added an upper-90 free kick in the 57th, Waston slammed home a rebound shortly after to ice the victory, and Nicolas Mezquida capped everything with a two-minute brace after subbing on in the 68th.
Vancouver advance to challenge Cascadia rival Seattle, who earned the bye with a 3-0 victory against Colorado on Decision Day.
Se acabó el cuento de Cenicienta de San Jose Earthquakes, equipo que clasificó a los playoffs por la puerta de atrás y también quedó eliminado de los playoffs por la puerta de atrás al toparse con un Vancouver Whitecaps arrollador que se impuso por un 5-0 inapelable.
Fue una goleada con sabor latino de los ‘Caps, que demostró que va en serio esta temporada con doblete del uruguayo Nicolás Mezquida y tantos del colombiano Fredy Montero, el también charrúa Cristian Techera y el costarricense Kendall Waston.
The New York Red Bulls entered the last two postseasons as the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference. They failed to reach MLS Cup in both seasons. They entered the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs as the No. 6 seed and came out flying on Wednesday night against the Chicago Fire, advancing to the Conference Semifinals thanks to a 4-0 win at Toyota Park.
In the process they became the first No. 6 seed to ever win in the MLS Cup Playoffs. (No. 6 seeds were added in 2015).
Bradley Wright-Phillips started proceedings early in the seventh minute after receiving a chipped through-ball from Damien Perrinelle. The Englishman failed to get a touch initially but, after a misplay by Fire goalkeeper Matt Lampson, he was able to finish into an empty net. The goal was his eighth all-time in the MLS Cup Playoffs, moving him into a tie for tenth all-time.
Sacha Kljestan added a goal of his own just four minutes later after Tyler Adams was able to sneak a cross on the ground into the box.
Daniel Royer added a third in the second half to put the match away after a Dax McCartyturnover in the midfield. Gonzalo Veron provided the capper after Kljestan put him in 1v1 against Lampson. The Argentine chipped his shot over the onrushing ‘keeper to put the Red Bulls up four.
Red Bulls hizo la tarea en el Toyota Park, goleando 4-0 al local Chicago Fire para clasificar con contundencia a las semifinales de la Conferencia Este, donde los espera nada menos Toronto FC.
Eso sí, el ganador del Supporters’ Shield no la tendrá nada fácil ante los neoyorquinos, que exhibieron su pegada con tantos de Bradley Wright-Phillips, Sacha Kljestan, Daniel Royer y el argentino Gonzalo Verón.
La primera jornada de los Audi MLS Cup Playoffs dejó grandes emociones y grandes goleadas, con el NY Red Bulls y Vancouver Whitecaps clasificando a las semifinales de conferencia con sendas victorias abultadas frente al Chicago Fire y San Jose Earthquakes, respectivamente.
El conjunto taurino despachó al Fire con un 4-0 en el Toyota Park para ganarse el derecho a enfrentarse al superlíder Toronto FC, ganador del Supporters’ Shield y amplio favorito a la Copa MLS, en las semifinales del Este.
Mientras, con su 5-0 inapelable ante los Quakes, Vancouver medirá fuerzas con Seattle Sounders, segundo clasificado del Oeste.