MLS playoffs: Expansion club Nashville upsets Toronto FC
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — Daniel Rios scored in the 108th minute and Nashville beat the defending Eastern Conference champion Toronto FC 1-0 on Tuesday night, becoming the first expansion team to win two MLS Cup playoff games.
Rios followed Hany Mukhtar’s shot that Toronto goalkeeper Quentin Westberg got a hand on, and tapped it into the back of the net. Nashville goalkeeper Joe Willis sealed it with two close-range saves in the 121st minute, earning his MLS-leading 10th shutout of the season.
Nashville, which had three goals called back for being in an offside position, will play on Sunday at Columbus in the semifinals.
LAFC loses to Seattle in the playoffs for the second consecutive year after Carlos Vela misses a penalty kick and a goal is disallowed upon review.
Nashville had three good scoring opportunities midway through the second half. Mukhtar sailed an open header from inside the 6-yard box in the 72nd minute, Randall Leal sent a volley over the crossbar in the 75th and Alex Muyl pushed another header wide in the 76th. The Reds were outshot 21-10.
Toronto was the first MLS team to clinch a playoff spot this season, but closed by losing four of its last five games.
New England 2, Philadelphia 0
CHESTER, Pa. — Adam Buksa and Tajon Buchanan scored four minutes apart — both on assists from Carles Gil — in the first half and the Revolution beat the Supporters’ Shield winner Philadelphia Union.
New England will play No. 4 seed Orlando on Sunday in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Buksa headed in a free kick in the 26th minute for his seventh goal of the season. Buchanan cut back his defender at the corner of the 18-yard box to send a shot under MLS goalkeeper of the year Andre Blake for his third goal this season against the Union.
Gil nearly scored in the 52nd when his chip shot hit the crossbar.
It was the sixth meeting between the clubs this season — with the Union going unbeaten in the previous five, including four victories. The Revs hadn’t beaten the Union since the 2017 season.
