(Los Angeles) The Philadelphia Union and Real Salt Lake advanced to the North American Football Championship (MLS) conference finals, at the expense of Nashville and Kansas City, Sunday 2e playoff round.
Salt Lake City won 2-1 in Missouri thanks to a goal by American striker Bobby Wood at the very end of the game (91e). Scottish winger Johnny Russell opened the scoring for the locals on a penalty shot to the left of the keeper in the first half, before Ecuadorian midfielder Anderson Julio equalized with a header (72e).
It was the second surprise win of the week for Real Salt Lake, who had disposed of another playoff favorite, the Seattle Sounders, on penalties (6-5, 0-0 after extra time) on Tuesday. . The Utah-based team will face Portland in the Western Conference final on December 4, defeating Colorado in the previous round (1-0).
In the East, Philadelphia had to fight to get rid of Nasvhille on penalties (2-0, 1-1 after extra time). German attacking midfielder Hany Mukhtar scored the first in this meeting (38e) before Philadelphia equalized at the end of the first half by the Hungarian Daniel Gazdag (47e).
The Philadelphia Union will face the winner of the game between New England and New York City, scheduled for November 30, in the Eastern Conference final.