2017 MLS Eastern Conference Championship is set: Toronto vs Columbus

The Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Championships are set. After four two-leg aggregate-goal series reached their conclusion, Columbus, Houston, Seattle and Toronto have advanced out of their semifinal matchups.

The first postseason meeting between Toronto FC and Columbus Crew SC will present the team left standing with a chance to host MLS Cup on their home field as both East clubs finished the 2017 regular season with better records than their West counterparts.

For Toronto FC, this Eastern Conference Championship series will be the second opportunity to win silverware against Crew SC after hoisting the annual Trillium Cup on May 26 by winning two of three regular-season meetings. The Trillium Cup dates back to 2008 and was named by the supporters themselves after the official flower of the province of Ontario and the state of Ohio.

Drew Moor with the Trillium Cup

In their third straight playoff appearance (the only three in club history), Toronto FC are in the Conference Championship for the second year running. Meanwhile, Crew SC are in the Conference Championship for the second time in the last three years, advancing to MLS Cup on two previous occasions (2008 and 2015).

In direct matchups between managers Gregg Berhalter (Crew SC) and Greg Vanney (Toronto FC), the teams have evenly split their nine matches with three wins each and three draws.

All-Time:

• Toronto 8 wins(42 goals) ... Crew SC 13 wins (45 goals) ... Draws 10
• In TOR: Toronto 4 wins (19 goals) ... Crew SC 4 wins (15 goals) ... Draws 6
• In CLB: Crew SC 9 wins (31 goals) ... Toronto 4 wins (23 goals)...Draws 4

2017 Regular Season Matchups:

• April 15: Crew SC 2, Toronto FC 1
• May 10: Crew SC 1, Toronto FC 2
• May 26: Toronto FC 5, Crew SC 0