MLS Is Serve Tournament: Orlando City SC, Philadelphia Advance to Quarterfinals
John Raoux/Associated Press
The first two suits of the MLS Is Serve match knockout stage saw the tip two golf equipment in Community A every advance with 1-0 victories Saturday evening.
Orlando City SC took down the Montreal Impression, while the Philadelphia Union defeated the Fresh England Revolution at the ESPN Huge World of Sports actions Complex end to Orlando, Florida. Tesho Akindele and Sergio Santos scored the finest dreams on the evening.
Both video games featured a scoreless first half and a gap purpose after the 59th minute, but that’s where the similarities cease.
Only 14 teams remain within the bracket.
That is a scrutinize at how Saturday’s action unfolded.
Round of 16 Saturday Outcomes
Orlando City SC def. Montreal Impression, 1-0 (Akindele 60′)
Philadelphia Union def. Fresh England Revolution, 1-0 (Santos 63′)
Akindele leads Orlando City SC to Quarterfinals
Orlando progressed via Community A play with none losses and proved once one more time it’ll pick the MLS Is Serve Tournament with an elimination victory over Montreal.
The third-purpose finisher in Community C was once shut out by the Lions on Saturday evening, ending the Impression’s whisk after four suits.
An excellent passing play within the 60th minute produced the game’s lone purpose on a misplayed defensive stand by Montreal. The highlight bigger than made up for the dearth of scoring.
With Orlando in transition, a trudge pass off the heel of Nani sailed past the attend line of Montreal and onto the foot of Jhegson Mendez within the sphere. Mendez barely had regulate of the ball earlier than he flipped it over to Akindele, who had nothing but an delivery get in front of him for an effortless faucet in.
It was once a tricky judge about Montreal’s Rod Fanni, as the defender was once pulled out of space on the attack, opening up a gap for Nani’s pass.
Orlando City retained possession for 56.6 p.c of the match, outshooting Montreal 10-7 (2-1 on purpose) and notching 20 clearances to factual nine by the Impression. For as end as the game was once eventually of, there was once infrequently a moment after Akindele’s opener when it felt just like the Lions comprise been prone to shedding the lead.
Even with six minutes of beyond regular time, Orlando controlled the play and kept Montreal from finding any form of rhythm on offense.
The Lions will now wait to face the winner of Monday’s match between the Seattle Sounders and LAFC.
Santos’ slack gain seals Union pick
Santos might perchance restful be dancing. His team indisputably is.
After netting a rocket of a purpose within the 63rd minute, Santos busted out his 2d-finest transfer of the evening, celebrating with rather jig that’s going to be remembered in Philadelphia.
The finest transfer of Santos’ evening got here most effective seconds earlier than, when he chanced on himself by myself eventually of the sphere and place aside a shot from the left submit into the tip factual nook off his left foot.
Fresh England and Philly looked to commerce probabilities nonstop for the paunchy 90 minutes. The two golf equipment mixed for 30 entire shots, with every aspect landing five on purpose. The possession time was once the truth is destroy up down the heart, with the Union keeping factual a 1.7 p.c edge.
Even after Santos’ purpose, nothing looked stable.
The Revolution comprise been relentless, pushing the spin over the final stretch and forcing a invent-or-destroy away kick at the launch of beyond regular time.
Within the 93rd minute, the Revs’ Gustavo Bou had a finest opportunity at an equalizer, most effective to put the free kick without extend within the fingers of Philadelphia keeper Andre Blake. Fresh England would procure a final nook try within the 95th minute, but the shot had diminutive likelihood of breaking via the Union protection.
As a alternative, it’ll be Philadelphia enjoying the winner of Sunday’s knockout game between Carrying Kansas City and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
SKC enter as heavy favorites after successful Community D with six dreams for in three suits. Vancouver, meanwhile, has a minus-two purpose differential following Community 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.