Portland, NYCFC advance in MLS playoffs with 1st-round wins

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This article was published 21/11/2021 (1779 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Sebastian Blanco scored the go-ahead goal and adding an insurance score and the Portland Timbers eliminated Minnesota United from the MLS playoffs with a 3-1 opening-round victory Sunday.

The fourth-seeded Timbers advanced to play the top-seeded Rapids in Colorado on Thanksgiving Day.

Minnesota goalkeeper Tyler Miller was held out of the match after testing positive for COVID-19. He announced his test results on Twitter just before kickoff. Dayne St. Clair started in Miller’s place.

Larrys Mabiala also scored for Portland. Franco Fragapane opened the scoring for fifth-seeded Minnesota.

NEW YORK CITY FC 2, ATLANTA UNITED 0

NEW YORK (AP) — Golden Boot winner Valentín Castellanos and Alexander Callens scored less than four minutes apart early in the second half and New York City FC beat Atlanta United in the first round.

Fourth-seeded NYCFC will play at Supporters Shield winner New England on Nov. 30. NYCFC has made the Eastern Conference semifinals five times in six seasons, but never advance farther. Atlanta was seeded fifth.

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Castellanos, who had 19 goals during the regular season, scored in the 49th minute. Callens connected in the 53rd.

Sean Johnson, who had nine shutouts in the regular season, made four saves for his second career playoff shutout.