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Four matches and two eliminated teams have made for a very busy five days for the Eastern Conference. Here's a look at the results from each match, the upcoming TV schedule and information for this week's games, and updated predictions.
Knock-Out Results
Toronto 3 - Philadelphia 1: Hosting their first-ever playoff match, Toronto struck early through Sebastian Giovinco and never let go. This is a great confidence-booster after being eliminated by rivals Montreal in Toronto's first playoff appearance last season.
Montreal 4 - DC 2: No Drogba, no problem as the Impact traveled to DC and upset a very strong Ben Olsen-coached team. Drogba replacement Matteo Mancosu came up big with a brace to see them through to the quarterfinals for the second year in a row.
Quarter-finals: Leg 1 Results
Montreal 1 - NY Red Bulls 0: Mancosu was the man again as Drogba watched from the stands. This was the biggest surprise of the day as the Red Bulls lost their first match in their last 17. The pressure is on for a club still searching for title number one.
Toronto 2 - NYC FC 0: It took nine years for Toronto to host and win a playoff match, now they’ve done in twice in under a week. They left it late, but goals from Jozy Altidore and Tosaint Ricketts ensured the Reds will take a big advantage into Yankee Stadium next weekend.
TV Info
For MLS fans this past Sunday was amazing: four straight playoff matches in a row on national TV. It all happens again next Sunday for the second legs. Here is the TV information for the the leg two quarterfinal games:
Sunday (11/6) - Montreal Impact at New York Red Bulls - 4 p.m. (EST) - ESPN
Sunday (11/6) - Toronto FC vs. NYCFC - 6:30 p.m. (EST) - FOX Sports 1
Note: The following weekend of November 12/13, the MLS will be on a break for World Cup Qualifiers.
Predictions
Last week I predicted an all-New York Eastern Conference final with the Red Bulls advancing. After watching the knockout rounds and leg 1 of the quarterfinals, those predictions have to be adjusted.
NY Red Bulls defeat Montreal 3-1 at home, winning the series 3-2 and advancing. Montreal have the advantage and the chance to secure away goals, but that was New York’s worst match in almost four months. With a packed Red Bull Arena, that will not happen again. Bradley Wright-Phillips and Sacha Kljestan will be too much for the Impact defense to slow down twice.
NYCFC draws with Toronto, and fail to do enough to overcome their leg one defeat. I felt like NYC’s attack was missing Tommy McNamara, an adjustment Patrick Vieira should look to make as they will need a three goal victory to advance.
That would give us an all red final in the Eastern conference. Let’s see if David Villa can prove me wrong, or if Drogba has put his ego on hold for a week to help Montreal secure the next round.
