Impact, Timbers advance in MLS Cup playoffs
Impact forward Didier Drogba, right, tries to control the ball against Toronto FC’s Josh Williams in the first half Thursday night.
Patrice Bernier, Ignacio Piatti and Didier Drogba scored in the first half and the Montreal Impact beat Toronto FC, 3-0, on Thursday night in Montreal to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Montreal will face the Columbus Crew in a two-game, aggregate-goals series. Game 1 is Sunday in Montreal, and Game 2 is Nov. 8 in Columbus.
Bernier opened the scoring in the 18th minute on a counterattack. Piatti made it 2-0 in the 34th, and Drogba scored 5 minutes later off a pass from Bernier.
Montreal earned home-field advantage for the knockout-round game with a 2-1 victory over Toronto on Sunday at Saputo Stadium. The Impact finished third in the conference, and Toronto dropped to sixth.
Timbers 2, Sporting KC 2
(Timbers advance on penalty kicks, 7-6)
The Portland Timbers advanced in the MLS Cup playoffs in dramatic style by besting Sporting Kansas City on a penalty shootout after a tense 2-2 draw in Portland.
Rodney Wallace scored in the 57th minute to put the Timbers in front, but Kevin Ellis scored the equalizer for Kansas City in the 87th minute and the match went to extra time.
After Krisztian Nemeth’s top-corner goal in the 97th minute, Maximiliano Urruti answered in the 118th, and the match went to penalty kicks.
The shootout came down to the goalkeepers for both sides. Portland’s Adam Kwarasey buried his before stopping Kansas City backup keeper Jon Kempin’s shot for the victory.
