Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the Portland Timbers failed to find the scoreboard in the first leg of their Western Conference Semifinals series Sunday at Providence Park, leaving them deadlocked heading the decisive second leg next week in Vancouver.
Kick off for the second leg of the series is set for 10 p.m. PT on Sunday, Nov. 8. The game will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1 and on TSN and RDS in Canada.
The 0-0 draw on Sunday means that whichever team wins the second leg of the series at BC Place will move on to the Western Conference Championship, while a draw with any amount of goals scored will push the Timbers through to the next round via the away-goal rule.
The Timbers had the best scoring chances of the day in the 89th minute, when forward Maximiliano Urruti hit a right-footed shot off the far post and out of danger. Midfielder Diego Valeri also had his curling free kick in the 72nd minute steered aside by Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted (above).
Eastern Conference Semifinals
D.C. United 0, New York Red Bulls 1
Dax McCarty scored in the 72nd minute and New York’s defense did the rest on Sunday, earning a critical win over I-95 rival D.C. United in the first leg of their series at RFK Stadium in Washington.
The Red Bulls will host the second leg at Red Bull Arena at 12 p.m. PT on Sunday, Nov. 8. The game will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.
McCarty nodded home a free kick from Sacha Kljestan to provide the game-winner, and the Red Bulls forced D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid into eight saves to keep the game from getting away from the hosts.
Montreal Impact 2, Columbus Crew SC 1
Johan Venegas broke a deadlock with a goal in the 77th minute and the Impact won their first MLS playoff game in franchise history in the first leg of their series at Stade Saputo in Montreal.
Venegas stole the ball from Crew defender Michael Parkhurst near midfield and slotted a right-footed shot into the back of the net for the game-winner after Patrice Bernier scored on a header in the 37th minute.
Federico Higuain scored the game’s opening goal in the 33rd minute for the Crew, who will host the second leg at Crew Stadium in Columbus on Sunday, Nov. 8. Kick off is set for 2 p.m. PT on ESPN and TSN1 and RDS1 in Canada.
