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MLS playoffs: Portland oust Sporting KC after wild penalty shoot-out MLS playoffs: Portland oust Sporting KC after wild penalty shootout
(about 5 hours later)
Portland Timbers finally got the better of Sporting Kansas City after a penalty shoot-out that was decided by spot kicks from the two goalkeepers. Portland Timbers finally got the better of Sporting Kansas City after a penalty shootout that was decided by spot-kicks from the two goalkeepers.
Rodney Wallace put the Timbers ahead in the 57th minute but Kevin Ellis sent the game to extra time with a headed equaliser three minutes from time. Rodney Wallace put the Timbers ahead in the 57th minute but Kevin Ellis sent the game to extra-time with a headed equaliser three minutes from time.
The visitors went ahead in the 96th minute through a fantastic curling effort from Krisztian Nemeth but got Portland back on level terms through Maximiliano Urruti two minutes before the end of extra-time.The visitors went ahead in the 96th minute through a fantastic curling effort from Krisztian Nemeth but got Portland back on level terms through Maximiliano Urruti two minutes before the end of extra-time.
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A marathon penalty shoot-out ensued with both teams initially missing two penalties – and Sporting’s Saad Abdul Salaam was especially unlucky with his effort managing to hit both posts before bouncing out with a spot-kick that would have sent his team through. A marathon penalty shootout ensued with both teams initially missing two penalties – and Sporting’s Saad Abdul Salaam was especially unlucky with his effort managing to hit both posts before bouncing out, an effort that would have sent his team through had it gone in.
It came down to the goalkeepers and after Portland’s Adam Kwarasey converted his kick, Kansas City’s Jon Kempin could not match him, leaving the Timbers to face Vancouver in the Western Conference semi-finals.It came down to the goalkeepers and after Portland’s Adam Kwarasey converted his kick, Kansas City’s Jon Kempin could not match him, leaving the Timbers to face Vancouver in the Western Conference semi-finals.
Toronto FC waited nine years for a taste of the playoffs but Montreal Impact’s Didier Drogba scored to help his team to a 3-0 win over their Canadian rivals. Toronto FC waited nine years for a taste of the play-offs but Montreal Impact’s Didier Drogba scored to help his team to a 3-0 win over their Canadian rivals.
First-half goals from Patrice Bernier, Ignacio Piatti and Drogba saw Impact advance to the Eastern Conference semi-finals, where they will face Columbus Crew in the first-leg on Sunday.First-half goals from Patrice Bernier, Ignacio Piatti and Drogba saw Impact advance to the Eastern Conference semi-finals, where they will face Columbus Crew in the first-leg on Sunday.
Montreal’s campaign has been bolstered by the arrival of former Chelsea striker Drogba, who has scored 12 goals in 12 games since joining the club in July. He scored both goals in a 2-1 win over Toronto on Sunday that saw Impact finish the regular season in third. Montreal’s campaign has been bolstered by the arrival of the former Chelsea striker Drogba, who has scored 12 goals in 12 games since joining the club in July. He scored both goals in a 2-1 win over Toronto on Sunday that saw Impact finish the regular season in third.