MLS

A quartet of unexpected semifinalists are still alive at the MLS is Back tournament.

The Philadelphia Union advanced to the semifinals thanks to a strong defensive performance throughout the competition and its largest offensive output in a single game in the quarterfinals. The Union are set to face the Portland Timbers, who are the most established of the four franchises left, in the first semifinal.

Portland won the 2015 MLS Cup and it was the runner-up in 2018. To get to the final four, the Timbers had to top a group with pre-tournament favorite Los Angeles FC and fend off the challenge of 2019 Eastern Conference regular-season champion New York City FC in the quarterfinals.

Orlando City and Minnesota United knocked out two of the best teams in the competition, LAFC and the San Jose Earthquakes, respectively, to set up Thursday's clash with a berth in the final on the line.

Quarterfinals Results

Philadelphia Union 3, Sporting KC 1

Orlando City 1, Los Angeles FC 1 (Orlando City wins 5-4 on penalties)

Minnesota United 4, San Jose Earthquakes 1

Portland Timbers 3, New York City FC 1

Semifinal Previews

Philadelphia Union vs. Portland Timbers (Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET, FS1)

Philadelphia's calling card in the tournament has been its defense.

USMNT prospect Mark McKenzie has anchored a back four that has not allowed multiple goals in any of the five games in Orlando. Goalkeeper Andre Blake is in contention to be the Most Valuable Player at MLS is Back, as he has totaled 27 saves. But the player directly in front of the back four and Blake could be most critical to Philadelphia's success Wednesday night.

Jose Martinez has been a revelation in the competition with his play in defensive midfield, but he has struggled at times to harness his aggressiveness, which could lead to dangerous set-piece opportunities for Diego Valeri and the Portland attack.

Valeri came off the bench Saturday to score the game-winning goal against New York City FC, and if he starts Wednesday, he could trouble Martinez. Valeri has been the catalyst of the Portland attack for most of his time with the club, and he is surrounded by a pair of clinical forwards in Jeremy Ebobisse and Jaroslaw Niezgoda.

Portland's main midfield destroyer, Diego Chara, could be its key to a berth in the final, as he will get the task of shutting down 19-year-old midfield phenom Brenden Aaronson, who has been one of the best young players at MLS is Back. He has three assists in five games and has impressed with his technical ability in the final third.

If Chara takes Aaronson out of the game, it could create a hole in the Union attack that limits chances in the final third for Kacper Przybylko and Sergio Santos.

Orlando City vs. Minnesota United (Thursday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

The second semifinal reunites Minnesota United manager Adrian Heath with former side Orlando City at a venue where he enjoyed success with the Lions.

The Heath-coached Lions spent the final year of their pre-MLS existence playing home games at ESPN's Wide World of Sports.

Heath has embraced the underdog role throughout the knockout phase, and he has gotten results out of his squad. The Loons knocked off Columbus Crew, who were the only team to have a perfect group stage, in the round of 16 before cruising past San Jose on Saturday night.

Heath noted after Saturday's win that he will have Minnesota United ready to play aggressive Thursday night, per Julia Poe of the Orlando Sentinel:

"We know we've got a really difficult task. I think Oscar [Pareja]'s had a great start with Orlando. They've got some good players. They've obviously got a real togetherness, you can see that. It's gonna be tough. But I also know that Oscar is wise enough and experienced enough to know that we ain't coming in here and playing on the back foot. We're going to be ready for the game."

Minnesota's key to advancing could be the play of its central midfielders. Osvaldo Alonso carries plenty of knockout-round experience from his time with the Seattle Sounders, and Jan Gregus has turned into one of the most reliable central midfielders in MLS.

Alonso and Gregus could bottle up Nani and keep the Portuguese playmaker off the ball in the final third. Nani was on target with three of his seven shots in Friday's win over Los Angeles FC.

Orlando's X-factor could be Ruan, who has been a vital piece of its attack from right-back. The Brazilian drew a penalty Friday and could open gaps in Minnesota's defensive line by overloading the right flank.

If Ruan is allowed to surge forward and provide support for Nani, Chris Mueller and others, the Lions could find a good amount of success in front of goal.

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Statistics obtained from MLSSoccer.com.

The Philadelphia Union are off to the semifinals. 

Led by Sergio Santos' two goals, the Union knocked off Sporting KC 3-1 on Thursday and advanced in the MLS is Back tournament. Jamiro Monteiro also got on the board for the Union, while Alan Pulido scored the lone goal for Sporting KC. 

The Union showed off some lovely team soccer Thursday. The game's first goal was set up by Alejandro Bedoya, who started the move from midfield, kept his run going well into the box, was fed through the back line and slipped a ball across the face of goal to a wide-open Monteiro, who tapped home for an easy opener. 

Santos took over from there, pouncing on a terrible turnover from Sporting KC off their own free kick in their own half, outrunning the defense to the ball and chipping a buttery effort over goalkeeper Tim Melia to finish the move. 

It was essentially a 70-yard sprint past everyone on the pitch from Santos. That he had the composure to also finish in such clinical fashion was highly impressive. 

The Brazilian was in the right place at the right time for the team's third goal, as well. Wunderkind Brenden Aaronson found him in the box with a scintillating pass to make it 3-0. 

Pulido pulled one back for Kansas City before halftime, but it couldn't penetrate the Union to get back into the game in the second period. 

The Union are an exciting team, no doubt, but to win in such convincing fashion came as something of a surprise. 

They now await the winner of NYCFC vs. the Portland Timbers, but Sporting KC's tournament is over. 

The quarterfinals for the MLS is Back Tournament are set, and if the drama is anything like the first round of knockout games, soccer fans will have plenty to cheer for.

Tuesday night offered up the final two spots in the round of eight with both the Portland Timbers and Minnesota United advancing via penalty kicks after the two matches ended in 1-1 draws.

Chase Gasper scored the clinching goal in the shootout for Minnesota United FC over a Columbus Crew team that went undefeated and unscored on in group play. Portland, meanwhile, connected on all four penalty chances against an FC Cincinnati club that scored on just two of its attempts. The results mean the top two finishers in Group E—Columbus and Cincinnati—are both heading home after just one playoff round.

Here's what's in store when the quarterfinals begin Thursday.

MLS Is Back Quarterfinals Schedule

Philadelphia Union vs. Sporting Kansas City: Thursday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

Orlando City SC vs. Los Angeles Football Club: Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET, FS1

San Jose Earthquakes vs. Minnesota United FC: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2

New York City FC vs. Portland Timbers: Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET, FS1

NYCFC Enters Cinderella Role

FC Cincinnati's run was fun while it lasted, but it didn't last too long.

After clinching second place in Group E with six points (2-1), the club promptly fell in the opening round of the knockout stage to Group D runner-up Minnesota. That leaves NYCFC as the lowest remaining seed in the bracket.

New York went 1-2 in Group A play with a negative-two goal differential before stunning a Toronto FC team that finished atop Group C in the round of 16.

Midfielder Jesus Medina scored just five minutes into the match as NYCFC avenged last year's playoff loss to TFC.

In facing the Portland Timbers, NYCFC once again draws a top contender. The Timbers took first place in Group F with a 2-0-1 record and six goals for. The matchup may end up favoring NYCFC, as Portland's offense has only attempted 49 shots all tournament with just 21 making it on net.

New York keeper Sean Johnson has saved 22 of the 28 shots he's faced during MLS is Back action with one clean sheet.

Red-Hot Rossi

If Orlando City is to shut down LAFC, it'll have to find a way to cool off Diego Rossi first.

The Los Angeles forward has been on an absolute tear since the MLS returned from hiatus, scoring seven goals as his club barrels toward the championship.

LAFC's offense was supposed to be a bit duller with Carlos Vela opting out and Javier Hernandez injured. Instead, Rossi has picked up the slack and then some. The four-goal outburst against the Los Angeles Galaxy during the El Trafico matchup on July 18 seems to have sparked Rossi's confidence, and the forward has put the rest of the league on notice.

Containing Rossi will remain Orlando's No. 1 priority Friday.

It'll be much easier said than done.

Major League Soccer registered zero positive results for COVID-19 in its latest round of testing over Sunday and Monday at its Orlando, Florida, hotel, according to Mark J. Burns of the Sports Business Journal. 

Per that report, 654 people were tested. The MLS has now registered zero positive tests in its past nine testing periods over the past three weeks. 

That's good news for the MLS after a rough start to the season. Both Dallas FC and Nashville SC had to pull out of the MLS is Back Tournament this month after both clubs registered a number of positive tests for the coronavirus. 

The Philadelphia Union, Sporting KC, NYCFC, Orlando City FC, LAFC and the San Jose Earthquakes have qualified for the quarterfinals of the tournament. Two more quarterfinal berths remain up for grabs. 

The NBA and NHL—both operating in a bubble environment—also registered no positive test cases of the coronavirus in their most recent testing period. Major League Baseball—not operating in a bubble and having its teams travel to stadiums across the country—has had to postpone the Miami Marlins' games until Monday after the team registered 17 positive cases from members of its traveling party. 

The Philadelphia Phillies, who opened the season against the Marlins, also had its games postponed through Friday. 

The San Jose Earthquakes and LAFC are three wins away from claiming the MLS is Back Tournament championship.

San Jose defeated Real Salt Lake in the first game of Monday's round-of-16 doubleheader in Orlando, Florida, while LAFC beat the Seattle Sounders FC in the second one.

Unlike the group-stage games, the knockout-round contests do not count toward the 2020 MLS regular-season standings. However, claiming a title in the makeshift tournament would be one way for Monday's two victors to make their mark on an unusual 2020 season that was already suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Monday's Results

San Jose Earthquakes def. Real Salt Lake, 5-2

LAFC def. Seattle Sounders FC, 4-1

San Jose Earthquakes Pull Away from Real Salt Lake

San Jose still has not lost in the MLS is Back Tournament after going 2-0-1 in group play, and it put an exclamation mark on its 5-2 knockout-stage win over Real Salt Lake by pulling away in the second half.

Four of the Earthquakes' goals came after halftime with Magnus Eriksson converting two second-half penalty kicks.

The late flurry came after Cristian Espinoza opened the scoring for San Jose and Real Salt Lake's Douglas Martinez answered approximately one minute later to tie the game in a thrilling sequence.

However, Eriksson's first penalty kick in the early stages of the second half gave the victors the lead for good before Valeri Qazaishvili provided some insurance with his team's third goal. Damir Kreilach cut the deficit to 3-2, but things unraveled for RSL following Marcelo Silva's red card in the 84th minute.

With only 10 men, Real Salt Lake couldn't prevent a Chris Wondolowski—who owns the MLS goal record—goal and another Eriksson penalty kick following a Kyle Beckerman handball in the box to complete the dominant performance for San Jose.

The Earthquakes will try to keep the momentum rolling in Saturday's quarterfinal match against the winner of Tuesday's game between the Columbus Crew and Minnesota United FC.

LAFC Survives Late Drama and Dominates Seattle Sounders FC

There never should have been any drama at the end of LAFC's 4-1 victory over Seattle.

After all, Seattle's first shot on target didn't even come until the 65th minute. That shot came after Diego Rossi started the scoring at the 14th minute with a penalty kick and Latif Blessing pushed the lead to 2-0 in the first half by firing a right-footed shot across the box that deflected off a Seattle defender and into the back of the net.

It was more of the same for Rossi, who now has seven goals in four games as someone who is making an argument to be the tournament's MVP.

It was a testament to Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei's ability that he even kept his side within striking distance, and Will Bruin rewarded his effort with a goal at the 75th minute to pull within 2-1. LAFC missed numerous opportunities to put the game away early and had to sweat out multiple chances for Seattle following that goal.

That Rossi put the contest away with a beautiful right-footed shot at the 82nd minute was fitting given his overall dominance, as LAFC was clearly the superior side throughout Monday's match. Brian Rodriguez removed any lingering doubt with a late goal to push the lead to three.

LAFC, which is still yet to lose in the tournament after going 1-0-2 in group play, faces Orlando City in Friday's quarterfinal showdown.

New York City FC and Sporting Kansas City are headed to the quarterfinals in the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando, Florida.

New York defeated Toronto FC in the first game of Sunday's round-of-16 doubleheader, while Sporting Kansas City survived the Vancouver Whitecaps in penalty kicks in the second game.

While the group-stage games counted toward the 2020 MLS regular-season standings, the knockout stage does not. Sunday marked the first knockout-stage game for all four teams, and the victors are three wins away from winning the makeshift tournament that welcomed the league back from its hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sunday's Results

New York City FC def. Toronto FC, 3-1

Sporting Kansas City def. Vancouver Whitecaps, 0-0 (3-1 in PKs)

New York City FC Handles Toronto FC

New York City FC was just 1-2 in group play, but it looked like a completely different team in the round of 16.

Jesus Medina wasted no time putting his team on the board with a goal five minutes into the game on a set piece. He found himself wide open on the left side and took advantage of the opportunity to seize momentum for good.

Goaltender Sean Johnson did his part as well, preserving the 1-0 advantage into halftime whenever Toronto threatened.

With Johnson playing well, the lead felt nearly insurmountable when Valentin Castellanos took on a defender on the left side of the box by himself, planted and fired a right-footed blast into the back of the net just 10 minutes into the second half.

Toronto pressed the rest of the way—which eventually led to a Patrick Mullins goal off a beautifully placed Jozy Altidore header—allowing New York to counter and stretch the lead to 3-0 when Maximiliano Moralez was wide open in front of the net.

It was quite the offensive showing after Toronto won its first matchup March 7 with a 1-0 shutout.

New York will take the field for the quarterfinals Saturday and face the winner of Tuesday's game between the Portland Timbers and FC Cincinnati.

Sporting Kansas City Outlasts Vancouver Whitecaps in Penalty Kicks

This game could have been decided by halftime.

After all, Sporting Kansas City enjoyed a 22-4 advantage in shots through the first 45 minutes. OptaJack noted only the San Jose Earthquakes have taken more shots in the first half of an MLS game in the last decade when they attempted 25 in August 2019.

Vancouver goalkeeper Thomas Hasal was having none of it.

Hasal is a third-stringer but looked nothing like the part in a dominant performance to keep his team tied at zero even amid the onslaught of shots. Perhaps Vancouver would not have lost 3-1 when it played Sporting Kansas City in February if Hasal was in the net.

Things didn't change in the second half, as Sporting Kansas City struggled to find the target. In fact, a mere eight of its 36 shot attempts were on target, which took some of the consistent pressure off Hasal's shoulders prior to shootouts with the game tied at zero.

It seemed like just a matter of time before Sporting Kansas City finally pulled away, and it did in shootouts when Vancouver was just 1-of-4 on its attempts.

Sporting Kansas City will look for more accuracy in the quarterfinals when it faces the Philadelphia Union on Thursday.

The first two matches of the MLS Is Back tournament knockout stage saw the top two clubs in Group A each advance with 1-0 victories Saturday night. 

Orlando City SC took down the Montreal Impact, while the Philadelphia Union defeated the New England Revolution at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida. Tesho Akindele and Sergio Santos scored the only goals on the night.

Both games featured a scoreless first half and an opening goal after the 59th minute, but that's where the similarities stop.  

Only 14 teams remain in the bracket.

Here's a look at how Saturday's action unfolded.  

Round of 16 Saturday Results

Orlando City SC def. Montreal Impact, 1-0 (Akindele 60')

Philadelphia Union def. New England Revolution, 1-0 (Santos 63')

Akindele leads Orlando City SC to Quarterfinals 

Orlando advanced through Group A play without any losses and proved once again it can win the MLS Is Back Tournament with an elimination victory over Montreal. 

The third-place finisher in Group C was shut out by the Lions on Saturday night, ending the Impact's run after four matches. 

A beautiful passing play in the 60th minute produced the game's lone goal on a misplayed defensive stand by Montreal. The highlight more than made up for the lack of scoring. 

With Orlando in transition, a touch pass off the heel of Nani sailed past the back line of Montreal and onto the foot of Jhegson Mendez in the box. Mendez barely had control of the ball before he flipped it over to Akindele, who had nothing but an open net in front of him for an easy tap in. 

It was a tough look for Montreal's Rod Fanni, as the defender was pulled out of position on the attack, opening up a gap for Nani's pass.

Orlando City retained possession for 56.6 percent of the match, outshooting Montreal 10-7 (2-1 on target) and notching 20 clearances to just nine by the Impact. For as close as the game was throughout, there was hardly a moment after Akindele's opener when it felt like the Lions were in danger of losing the lead.  

Even with six minutes of extra time, Orlando controlled the play and kept Montreal from finding any sort of rhythm on offense. 

The Lions will now wait to face the winner of Monday's match between the Seattle Sounders and LAFC.

Santos' late score seals Union win 

Santos may still be dancing. His team certainly is. 

After netting a rocket of a goal in the 63rd minute, Santos busted out his second-best move of the evening, celebrating with a little jig that's going to be remembered in Philadelphia. 

The best move of Santos' night came only seconds before, when he found himself alone inside the box and put a shot from the left post into the top right corner off his left foot. 

New England and Philly seemed to trade chances nonstop for the full 90 minutes. The two clubs combined for 30 total shots, with each side landing five on target. The possession time was essentially split down the middle, with the Union holding just a 1.7 percent edge.

Even after Santos' goal, nothing seemed secure.

The Revolution were relentless, pushing the pace over the final stretch and forcing a make-or-break free kick at the start of extra time. 

In the 93rd minute, the Revs' Gustavo Bou had a perfect opportunity at an equalizer, only to put the free kick directly in the hands of Philadelphia keeper Andre Blake. New England would get a final corner attempt in the 95th minute, but the shot had little chance of breaking through the Union defense. 

Instead, it'll be Philadelphia playing the winner of Sunday's knockout game between Sporting Kansas City and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

SKC enter as heavy favorites after winning Group D with six goals for in three matches. Vancouver, meanwhile, has a minus-two goal differential following Group B play. 

The action begins with Toronto FC and NYCFC at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1 followed by SKC vs. Vancouver at 10 p.m. ET on the same channel.    

The knockout round for the MLS Is Back Tournament is set after a 2-2 draw between Los Angeles FC and the Portland Timbers concluded group play Thursday at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex in Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida, which is the host of the current MLS campaign amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here's a look at the Round of 16 schedule as well as some notable performances thus far.

Round of 16

Saturday, July 25

8 p.m. ET: Orlando City FC vs. Montreal Impact (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes)

10:30 p.m. ET: Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution (ESPN2, ESPN Deportes)

Sunday, July 26

8:30 p.m. ET: Toronto FC vs. New York City FC (FS1)

11 p.m. ET: Sporting Kansas City vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (FS1, Fox Deportes)

Monday, July 27

8:30 p.m. ET: Sam Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake (FS1, Fox Deportes)

11 p.m. ET: Seattle Sounders FC vs. Los Angeles FC (FS1, Fox Deportes)

Tuesday, July 28

8 p.m. ET: Columbus Crew SC vs. Minnesota United FC (ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

10:30 p.m. ET: Portland Timbers v. FC Cincinnati (ESPN, ESPN Deportes)

Schedule via matchcenter.mlssoccer.com.

     

Remaining Schedule

Quarterfinal matches will occur between July 30 and August 1. The first semifinal will take place August 5, with the second semi happening one day later.

The MLS Is Back Tournament final will occur August 11 at 8 p.m.

Columbus Crew SC Goes Undefeated, Untied and Unscored Upon

Only one team won all three of its group matches, and that was Columbus Crew SC, who easily dispatched FC Cincinnati, Atlanta United and New York Red Bulls by a combined 7-0 score.

Gyasi Zardes has scored three of Columbus' seven goals, including two in a 4-0 win over FC Cincinnati. Lucas Zelarayan and Youness Mokhtar have netted two apiece.

The Group E winners finished 10th in the 12-team Eastern Conference last year, but they easily defeated two playoff teams in Atlanta United and New York Red Bulls.

They will face Minnesota United FC on Tuesday at 8 p.m. Minnesota United FC won one match and drew two others, which was good enough for a second-place result in Group D.

FC Cincinnati's Cinderella Story

The tournament's underdog is FC Cincinnati, which finished dead last in the entire MLS with 24 points (10 fewer than any other team in the league) in 2019 but managed to move onto the knockout stage in the MLS Is Back Tournament this year.

They overcame the aforementioned 4-0 loss to defeat Atlanta United FC, who finished second in the Eastern Conference table last year but finished the group stage with no goals, wins or draws. Frankie Amaya scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win.

FC Cincinnati then easily dispatched the Red Bulls 2-0 with a Yuya Kubo 43rd-minute goal and a second-half own goal.

The underdogs won't have it easy to start the knockout round with a matchup against defending MLS Cup champion Portland Timbers awaiting them. Portland beat Houston Dynamo and L.A. Galaxy and drew Los Angeles FC to top Group F.

Golden Boot Race Heating Up

Ayo Akinola entered the tournament with one goal in 12 career appearances for Toronto FC.

The 20-year-old now has six goals in 15 caps as the forward has knocked home five goals in three group matches, leading his team to a Group C win.

Akinola scored both of Toronto FC's goals in a 2-2 draw with DC United before earning a hat trick, including the eventual game-winner in the 83rd minute, versus the Montreal Impact in a 4-3 win.

No one scored in Toronto FC's 0-0 draw with the New England Revolution, but Akinola is making waves with his goal-scoring prowess by netting five of his team's six goals thus far.

Akinola is a rising star, but he can also thank Alejandro Pozuelo, who has assisted on five of Toronto FC's six goals.

Somehow, Akinola isn't in the solo lead for the Golden Boot.

That's because Los Angeles FC's Diego Rossi scored four goals in a 6-2 win over rival LA Galaxy.

Two of the goals occurred in stoppage time (one per half). He also scored on a 13th-minute penalty kick before later adding a 75th-minute tally.

Rossi, 22, is a dominant goalscorer at his best, as he put home 16 goals in 34 appearances last year. He's on pace to easily eclipse that mark with ease.