LAFC beat Seattle to set up Western final with Houston

Seattle had won their last 19 home games in the playoffs, a run going back 10 years, but despite late pressure they were unable to find a way past LAFC keeper Maxime Crepeau. The Canadian, who broke his leg during last season's MLS Cup final win over Philadelphia and missed most of this season, produced a series of saves to deny the two-times champions.

The keeper was brought into action in just the third minute, getting down low to keep out a drive from Josh Atencio. Sounders striker Jordan Morris then used his pace to power away from LA's veteran Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini but his lofted shot was clawed away by the advancing Crepeau.

The Sounders were on top but the 35,000 home supporters were silenced on the half hour. Mexican international Carlos Vela spread the ball out wide to Bouanga on the left and the French-born Gabon international, the top scorer in the league with 20 goals in the regular season, cut inside before unleashing a fierce drive into the far corner.

Seattle came out after the break determined to find a way into the game but LAFC's solid back line kept them at bay. Yeimar Gomez had a scuffed shot cleared off the line by Timothy Tillman and then Brazilian Joao Paulo's well-struck curling effort was superbly tipped over by Crepeau.

In stoppage time, Albert Rusnak went closest to beating the Canada international with a deflected strike from distance which rattled the bar.

 

November 27, 2023

Escobar header

A header from Argentine defender Franco Escobar gave the Houston Dynamo a 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City. Escobar rose to firmly head in a corner from Hector Herrera in the 39th minute as Houston kept alive their hope of winning a US Open Cup and MLS Cup double.

Houston have not featured in the playoffs since 2017 and endured some miserable seasons since that run to the conference final six years ago. But under former US international Ben Olsen the Dynamo have been transformed into a team that plays attractive, attacking football.

Winger Nelson Quinones went close twice in the early stages, cutting in from the left with his first effort flashing just wide of the far post and his second forcing Kansas City keeper Tim Melia into a full-stretch save. Then Escobar, who has won the MLS Cup with Atlanta and LAFC, found the breakthrough and forced Sporting to chase the game.

Within minutes they went close to levelling when Alan Pulido's shot was saved and the ball fell to Hungarian forward Daniel Salloi, whose goalbound shot was blocked on the line. Houston managed their lead well, but Kansas City had a great chance to level when Johnny Russell found Salloi but his close-range shot was well saved by Houston keeper Steve Clark.

On Saturday, Columbus Crew beat Orlando City 2-0 and FC Cincinnati defeated the Philadelphia Union 1-0 to set up an all-Ohio Eastern Conference final. Both conference finals will be played on Saturday with the final on December 9 at the home of the Eastern winner.

 

November 27, 2023