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Timbers and Crew advance to MLS Cup

Timbers forward Maximiliano Urruti, center, celebrates with teammates after eliminating FC Dallas and earning a spot in the MLS Cup.

Timbers forward Maximiliano Urruti, center, celebrates with teammates after eliminating FC Dallas and earning a spot in the MLS Cup.

(Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
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Fanendo Adi and Lucas Melano scored and the Portland Timbers advanced to the MLS Cup for the first time, tying FC Dallas, 2-2, Sunday at Frisco, Texas, in the second leg of the Western Conference finals.

Portland won the first leg, 3-0, at home en route to a 5-3 victory in the two-game series. The Timbers will play host Columbus on Dec. 6 in the title game.

Dallas rallied for a 2-1 lead on goals by Ryan Hollingshead and Blas Perez in a five-minute span, but couldn’t overcome the three-goal aggregate deficit created by Adi’s goal in the 54th minute. Mauro Diaz assisted on the FC Dallas goals.

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Melano scored Portland’s tying goal just after entering the game in stoppage time.

Portland’s Adam Larsen Kwaresey and Dallas’ Jesse Gonzalez each had one save.

FC Dallas made its only MLS Cup appearance in 2010, losing to the Colorado Rapids.

at New York 1, Columbus 0: The Crew earned their second trip to the MLS Cup in their 20-year history and their first since 2008, despite losing at Harrison, N.J.

The Crew won the Eastern Conference two-leg finals with a 2-1 aggregate.

Anatole Abang scored three minutes into second-half injury time.

The Red Bulls fell one step short of the MLS championship game for the second consecutive year.

The Crew will look to win its second MLS championship. It beat New York in the final seven years ago.

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