The last round of MLS Cup action saw both Eastern and Western Conference table-toppers and favourites to lift the trophy, New York Red Bulls and FC Dallas, dumped out of the competition.
Likewise, New York City FC were unable to progress, despite the goalscoring feats of David Villa, after suffering an embarrassing 7-0 aggregate defeat to Toronto FC. Five time champions LA Galaxy were also on the receiving end of a penalty shootout defeat to Colorado Rapids.
The semi-final stage went the opposite way to how most people though it would prior to the games, proving just how unpredictable Major League Soccer can be. The surprising results mean that Montreal Impact, Toronto FC, Seattle Sounders and Colorado Rapids will be competing for a place in the MLS Cup final later this month, but which sides look likely to triumph in these crucial matches?
Montreal Impact vs Toronto FC: November 23 / December 1
Montreal Impact pulled off an impressive victory over a New York Red Bulls side that were favourites to reach the final going into their Eastern Conference semi-final clash, claiming wins both at home and away.
Star winger Ignacio Piatti made the difference in the away game, netting twice to ensure that Mauro Biello’s side triumphed and taking his tally for the season to 20 goals in 35 matches. However, he will have to step it up if he is to outscore a Toronto FC side that ran riot against New York City FC last time out.
Greg Vanney’s side produced a convincing 2-0 victory at home, but it was during their trip to the Big Apple that they really stuck the nail in the coffin, with a hat-trick from Sebastian Giovinco guiding the club to a 5-0 win. The MLS Player of the Year award snub seems to have riled the Italian up, and if he can carry his dominant form into the next game, Toronto should come away with a place in the final.
Seattle Sounders vs Colorado Rapids: November 23 / November 27
An impressive home victory was the difference between Seattle Sounders and FC Dallas in the last round, with Colorado’s 2-1 fightback in the second leg failing to overturn the deficit. Few expected Brian Schmetzer’s side, who finished fourth in the Western Conference, 12 points behind FC Dallas, to make it this far.
Yet, largely thanks to the goalscoring feats of Nicolas Lodeiro in recent weeks, they have. The Uruguayan playmaker managed four goals in 13 matches throughout the second half of the MLS campaign, after joining from Boca Juniors in July. Yet, he has hit a rich vein of form just when the club needed him most, scoring three times in two games against FC Dallas.
Colorado Rapids are favourites to reach the final, having claimed two victories over Seattle already this season. Yet, their opposition’s convincing victory in the last round proved that results from the regular season are no indication of who will emerge victorious in the knockout stages.
It took the luck of a penalty shootout for Pablo Mastroeni’s side to overcome LA Galaxy, but they will have to put in a much better showing if they are to make it past a Seattle Sounders side that have scored in each of their last five matches.