Villa, NYCFC gear up for Steffen, Red-Hot Crew SC in East Semifinals

This Week in MLS – October 30, 2017

• Villa, NYCFC gear up for Steffen, Red-Hot Crew SC in East Semifinals
• Valeri leads Portland to first postseason match since MLS Cup win, preps to face surging Dynamo squad
• Eastern Conference role reversal pits former No. 1 against current top seed
• Dempsey returns for Seattle, Montero looks to lift Vancouver over former club
• Sweet Tweets
• Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs – Conference Semifinal Game Previews

Villa, NYCFC gear up for Steffen, Red-Hot Crew SC in East Semifinals
For a second straight year, NYCFC enters the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. NYCFC’s attack, led by 2016 MLS Landon Donovan MVP
David Villa
, will be put to the test against Columbus Crew SC on Tuesday in Leg 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal series at MAPFRE Stadium (8 p.m. ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVA Sports).
The opening leg is a rematch of their meeting on Decision Day presented by AT&T, when Villa recorded a brace to help the host side to a 2-2 draw against Columbus.
Federico Higuaín
assisted both Crew SC goals – a 58th-minute equalizer by
Josh Williams
and the game’s opening goal from
Ola Kamara
, whose 18 regular-season goals tied him with
Stern John
for the third-most tallies in a Crew SC season.
Spanish striker Villa has put together another MVP-caliber season for NYCFC, posting 22 goals and a career-high nine assists in 2017. Also serving as a primary focal point of NYCFC’s offense is second-year midfielder
Jack Harrison
who has notched six assists and a career-high 10 goals. Now the question is can NYCFC break through against a Columbus side that shut down the league’s second-ranked offense in Atlanta United just last week?
Crew SC stalwart goalkeeper
Zack Steffen
put together one of the strongest performances of the MLS Cup Playoffs thus far following a massive shootout road victory against Atlanta in the Knockout Round. Steffen drew widespread praise for his eight saves and clean sheet through regulation and extra time, then made two more stops during the 3-1 penalty shootout victory on Thursday in front of a playoff-record crowd of 67,221 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
A member of the USA’s FIFA U-20 World Cup teams in 2013 and 2015, Steffen is manning a Columbus side that posted a 10-game unbeaten streak (6-0-4) to close the regular season, heating up at the opportune moment for the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Valeri leads Portland to first postseason match since MLS Cup win, preps to face surging Dynamo squad
The Portland Timbers will play on Monday night in their first postseason match since their triumphant victory in the 2015 MLS Cup. After failing to qualify last year, Portland looks for a return to their fortuitous postseason ways when facing off against the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium in Leg 1 of the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals (9:30 p.m. ET, FS1 / FOX Deportes / FOX Sports Go / TSN GO / TVASports).
Portland finished the regular season with the top spot in the Western Conference after a standout season from MVP contender
Diego Valeri
. The Argentine became the first midfielder in MLS history to score 20 goals in a single regular season, while also putting up only the second 20-goal, 10-assist season in league annals. In his fifth season with Portland, Valeri has helped his club to lengthy postseason appearances in odd numbered years, leading Portland to the Western Conference Championship in his first year in MLS in 2013 followed by MLS Cup in 2015.
Hoping to break the odd-numbered-year success streak is a Dynamo squad that is in its first postseason since 2014 after finishing with the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference this year. Houston outlasted Sporting Kansas City with a 1-0 victory on Thursday in the Knockout Round thanks to a
goal
from forward
Alberth Elis
in the 94
^th
minute. Elis is one of three Houston players, along with
Romell Quioto
and
Boniek Garcia
, named to Honduras’ squad for a two-leg playoff against Australia for a spot in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Goalkeeper
Tyler Deric
, a Homegrown product and the reigning Alcatel MLS Player of the Month, made six saves in the match to keep Sporting KC off the board and push Houston through to the next round.
Eastern Conference role reversal pits former No. 1 against current top seed
As Toronto FC looks to capitalize on a record-breaking regular season and arguably one of the best campaigns in MLS history, the No. 1 seeded Eastern Conference power will face the finishing finesse and grit of the No. 6 New York Red Bulls on Monday at Red Bull Arena (7 p.m. ET, FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN4 / TVASports 2). How the tables have turned since 2016, as the now No. 6 seeded Red Bulls had last season clinched the top spot, and the former No. 3 seeded Toronto FC are now the talk of the MLS crown.
Poised to potentially host MLS Cup in consecutive seasons, Toronto FC will be looking to take one step closer to claiming the title it came so close winning last year, while the Red Bulls’ cast of
Bradley Wright-Phillips
, the leading postseason goalscorer among active players, along with regular season assist leader
Sacha Kljestan
, and up-and-comer
Tyler Adams
have spoiler written all over that plan. Wright-Phillips ties for 10th all-time in playoff goals scored (8), and is within reach of knocking off
Robbie Keane
(9),
Taylor Twellman
(10),
Preki
(10), and
Brian McBride
(10). Will TFC’s nearly flawless 2017 continue, or will the Red Bulls conquer the Eastern Conference Semifinals that last season ended a promising postseason run?
Dempsey returns for Seattle, Montero looks to lift Vancouver over former club
When Seattle hosts Cascadia Cup rivals Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Thursday, forward
Clint Dempsey
will be making his first appearance in an MLS Cup Playoff match since the 2015 Western Conference Semifinals. After missing the end of 2016 with at the time was considered a potentially career-ending heart condition, Dempsey has bounced back strong in 2017 to score a team-leading 12 goals, his most since 2014, while helping Sounders FC to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Following a scoreless draw in the first leg of the series, a match Dempsey missed due to suspension, Seattle will look for a repeat of last year’s magical run that led to its first MLS Cup title when hosting Vancouver at CenturyLink Field (10:30 p.m. ET, FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN5 / TVASports).
Vancouver held strong in the first leg thanks to a stout defensive effort but will need some offensive fireworks if it is to advance to the next round. No one will be more motivated to score than
Fredy Montero
, the former Sounders FC player who tops the all-time Seattle franchise ranks with 47 regular season goals scored, one more than Dempsey. Montero matched an MLS career high with 13 goals scored this season and remains one of only three players in league history to score double digit goals in each of his seasons in MLS, accomplishing the feat in all five seasons.
Seattle goalkeeper
Stefan Frei
will look to keep Whitecaps FC off the board and extend a of dominant postseason play, including the legendary fingertip save in the 2016 MLS Cup. Frei has not allowed a goal in the past 377 minutes in the postseason, the third-longest shutout streak in MLS Cup Playoffs history.
Sweet Tweets

Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs – Conference Semifinal Game Previews
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS – FIRST LEG
Monday, October 30
No. 6 New York Red Bulls vs. No. 1 Toronto FC (7 p.m. ET, FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN4 / TVASports2)

• The teams met twice in the regular season. Justin Morrow scored a hat trick – the first by a TFC player other than Sebastian Giovinco – as Toronto FC rolled to a 4-2 win on Sept. 30 at BMO Field. On May 19 at Red Bull Arena, Bradley Wright-Phillips opened the scoring for the Red Bulls in the first half, but Benoît Cheyrou leveled terms with 20 minutes left, leaving the teams in a 1-1 draw.
  
• The Red Bulls are now 10-2-2 all-time in league home matches vs. Toronto FC. When TFC took a 2-0 win on March 6, 2016, it was their first win ever at Red Bull Arena. The Red Bulls were 5-0-1 all-time in Harrison before the TFC win; the triumph also snapped an eight-game home undefeated streak for the Red Bulls vs. TFC (7-0-1), which began Oct. 25, 2009.
  
• The Red Bulls started off the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs with a 4-0 win against the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park on Oct. 25 in a Knockout Round match. The Red Bulls matched their postseason club record with the four goals, equaling the 4-1 win vs. the LA Galaxy in the conference semifinals in 2001. It was also the largest margin of victory in a postseason game in the club’s 22-year history (18 appearances in the MLS Cup Playoffs).
  
• Bradley Wright-Phillips scored the opening goal after seven minutes – the second-earliest goal in Red Bulls postseason history. It was the eighth career goal scored in the MLS Cup Playoffs for Wright-Phillips, tied for 10th-most all-time and the current career leader among this year’s postseason field.
  
• Toronto FC come into the postseason riding a three-game undefeated streak, ending the year with a 2-2 draw at Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Decision Day. The result gave TFC 69 points for the season, the most by a club in Major League Soccer’s 22 seasons.
  
• Giovinco scored directly from a free kick for his 16th goal of the season, his first since Aug. 27. It was the 13th goal directly from a free kick in Giovinco’s three seasons in MLS, and his sixth this season, both all-time records in MLS (since records have been available beginning in 2003).
  

WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS – FIRST LEG
Monday, Oct. 30
No. 4 Houston Dynamo vs. No. 1 Portland Timbers (9:30 p.m. ET, FS1 / FOX Deportes/ FOX Sports Go / TSN Go, TVASports)

• The teams met twice during the regular season. Diego Valeri scored a pair of goals, and Fanendo Adi and David Guzmán each added a goal and an assist as the Timbers cruised to a 4-2 win on March 18 at Providence Park. On July 29, the Timbers twice took leads but Juan David Cabezas scored a second equalizer nine minutes from the end as the teams reached a 2-2 draw at BBVA Compass Stadium.
  
• The Dynamo have never lost to the Timbers at home. The Dynamo have won three of the six meetings all-time in Houston, with three draws, winning each of the previous two seasons before this year’s draw.
  
• The Dynamo won their opening match in the MLS Cup Playoffs, defeating Sporting Kansas City 1-0 in extra time in the Knockout Round at BBVA Compass Stadium on Oct. 26.
  
• The Dynamo have now won their past four matches at BBVA Compass Stadium, over all competitions, their home undefeated streak in postseason matches now at eight games, since a 3-0 loss at home to the Red Bulls in 2008. The Dynamo have never lost a match in the MLS Cup Playoffs at BBVA Compass Stadium (4-0-2), recording shutouts in their past two playoff games there – both against Sporting Kansas City.
  
• The Timbers come into the MLS Cup Playoffs on a two-game winning streak, with eight victories over their 13 games dating back to July 23, following a 2-1 win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Providence Park on Decision Day.
  
• The win in the regular-season finale was the sixth in a row at Providence Park, the longest winning streak within a single season in the club’s MLS history, and the second-longest overall in the Timbers’ time in the league (record: 7 games, 8/7/16 – 3/18/17).
  

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS – FIRST LEG
Tuesday, October 31
No. 5 Columbus Crew SC vs. No. 2 New York City FC (8 p.m. ET, ESPN / ESPN Deportes / TSN / TVASports2)

• The teams met twice during the regular season, last on Decision Day. David Villa scored a pair of goals, between strikes from Ola Kamara and Josh Williams, as the teams reached a 2-2 draw at Citi Field in Queens, N.Y. On April 29 at MAPFRE Stadium, Jack Harrison scored a pair of goals, the second in the 76th minute, as NYCFC overcame a second-half deficit for a 3-2 win.
  
• NYCFC are undefeated in the past three meetings between the clubs, winning two in a row before the draw on Decision Day. Crew SC had a four-game undefeated streak alive in the series prior, winning two of the first four meetings, with two draws.
  
• Columbus Crew SC began their MLS Cup Playoffs bid with a penalty shootout victory against Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Oct. 26, winning 3-1 in the post-match decider following a scoreless draw over 120 minutes. It was the first time since 2002 Columbus has won its first playoff match of the year, the first time in two tries it won in the Knockout Round.
  
• It was the second penalty shootout in Columbus club history, falling in the 2010 Eastern Conference Championship to the Colorado Rapids 5-4 in the post-match decider after finishing tied 2-2 on aggregate. It was the 14th match in the MLS Cup Playoffs to be decided in a penalty shootout, the second in the Knockout Round.
  
• NYCFC come into the postseason riding a three-game winless streak, with two draws and a loss over that stretch, their last victory a 1-0 win at the Montréal Impact on Sept. 27. NYCFC are also winless in their last three home games, over three different venues.
  
• David Villa scored a pair of goals in the Decision Day finale, giving him 22 goals for the season, finishing second in the MLS Golden Boot standings to Chicago’s Nemanja Nikolic, the second year in a row he’s finished as runner-up in the goal-scoring race. It was Villa’s fifth multiple-goal game of the season, tied for second-most in MLS this season; he now has 15 for his MLS career, over his three seasons.
  

WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS – SECOND LEG
Thursday, Nov. 2
No. 2 Seattle Sounders FC vs. No. 3 Vancouver Whitecaps FC (10:30 p.m. ET, FS1 / FOX Deportes / TSN5 / TVASports)

• The first leg of the conference semifinal series between the teams ended in a goalless draw at BC Place on Sunday evening.
  
• The teams combined for one shot on goal (from Sounders FC center back Chad Marshall), the fewest ever by both teams in a single game in MLS Cup Playoffs history.
  
• Sounders FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei was not forced to make a save in recording the shutout, his third in a row in the MLS Cup Playoffs and his sixth in 14 career postseason appearances. Frei has not allowed a goal in the past 377 minutes in the postseason, the third-longest shutout streak in MLS Cup Playoffs history.
  
• Whitecaps FC ‘keeper Stefan Marinovic was credited with one save in recording the shutout, his second in a row in his second career MLS Cup Playoffs start.
  
• The teams met three times this season in league play – and the away team did not win in the league series this season, the first time since 2012 there was not a road victory. In the last meeting, Sept. 27 at CenturyLink Field, Nicolas Lodeiro scored a goal and added two assists, and Victor Rodríguez had a goal and an assist, as Sounders FC rolled to a 3-0 win. The teams met twice at BC Place: On April 14, Fredy Montero scored a pair of goals against his former club, giving Whitecaps FC a 2-1 win. Montero then hit for the second-half equalizer to leave the teams in a 1-1 draw on Aug. 23.
  
• Sounders FC have won the past two league meetings at CenturyLink Field. Their 1-0 win last Sept. 17 was the first by the home team in the series since a Vancouver win at BC Place on July 5, 2014.