Breaking down MLS's Sunday extravaganza

After two incredible days of knockout games in the MLS playoffs, the four survivors jump right back into action Sunday.

All of the third and fourth seeds advanced, though only one game -- Montreal’s 3-0 defeat of TFC -- was a mismatch. Portland endured an epic penalty-kick shootout (7-6) to eliminate Sporting Kansas City after a riveting 2-2 tie, and by the odd goal did D.C. United oust New England (2-1) and Seattle knock off the Galaxy (3-2).

Their reward? A quick turnaround and another home game in the conference semifinals, both legs of which are being staged as quadruple-headers to be shown nationally on ESPN and Fox Sports 1.

Toronto dominated the Canadian clasico, but the semifinals offer up another Cascadia Cup showdown between Portland and Vancouver, as well as a revival of the Atlantic Cup rivalry between D.C. United and New York – the two teams that have faced each other the most times in league history.

The second legs will be played a week from Sunday (Nov. 8), with extra time and penalty kicks, if necessary, used to decide series tied on total goals and the first tiebreaker, away goals.

For the playoffs, cautions accumulated during the regular season are eradicated from a player’s record. A second caution received during the playoffs (not in the same game) results in a suspension for the next game, unless that second caution comes in the second game of the conference finals. In that case, a player is not suspended for the MLS Cup final.

All other disciplinary procedures used during the regular season are enforced during the playoffs. The MLS Disciplinary Committee announced Friday that defender Bobby Boswell has been suspended for kneeing Juan Agudelo in United’s 2-1 defeat of the Revs Wednesday. Boswell was cautioned for the foul by refereeMark Geiger.

D.C. United vs. New York

RFK Stadium, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN Deportes.

LONGTIME RIVALS. In three games this season, United hasn’t been able to beat the Red Bulls, nor contain Bradley Wright-Phillips nor Lloyd Sam. Each has scored three goals and Sam has tallied in every game.

United is handicapped by the loss of Boswell, and despite several solid games this season fromKofi Opare, his likely replacement, the Red Bulls are likely to attack that area of the field as often as possible even as the away team. Thus, it’s imperative that Perry Kitchen control the central area of his defensive third. Otherwise, Sacha Kljestan and Dax McCarty and Felipe can create and penetrate at will.

Fabian Espindola ran rampant against the Revs and in addition to assisting on both goals nearly scored on a few other occasions. He and former RSL teammate Alvaro Saborio haven’t clicked that often since the latter arrived in an August trade, yet Espindola and Chris Rolfe are dangerous enough. The wild card is Chris Pontius. He departed the knockout game with a tight hamstring after heading the equalizer. He didn’t train Thursday or Friday.

The Red Bulls were the only team to have a positive goal difference (27 scored, 25 conceded) on the road this season and given the importance of away goals in the playoffs, they certainly will go at the D.C. defense. The difference could be, again, Bill Hamid. He stoned the Revs before and after they scored at RFK and might need an encore performance on Sunday to keep his team in the series.

Regular-Season Results

March 22 – New York 2 (B. Wright-Phillips, Sam), D.C. United 0.

April 11 – D.C. United 2 (Kitchen 2), New York (Perrinelle, Sam) 2.

Aug. 30 – New York 3 (B. Wright-Phillips 2, Sam), D.C. United 0.

Stat Leaders (including playoffs)

D.C. United – Chris Rolfe 11 goals, Fabian Espindola 9 assists, Bill Hamid 104 saves.

New York – Bradley Wright-Phillips 17 goals, Sacha Kljestan 14 assists, Luis Robles 86 saves.

Yellow Cards

DC -- Markus Halsti.

Suspended

DC -- Bobby Boswell.

Bottom Line

United rebounded from the season-ending loss at Columbus (5-0) to deservedly prevail against New England, but New York is posed to exploit its fatigue and sporadic defending of the channels.

Prediction

D.C. United 1 New York 2.

Portland vs. Vancouver

Providence Park, 5 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN Deportes

THE GREAT NORTHWEST. Drained physically and emotionally by one of the league’s all-time greatest postseason games, the Timbers -- and their amazing fans, let’s not forget -- come back in less than 72 hours, a harsh assignment considering they finished tied for second with Vancouver (53 points) and dropped into the knockout round by the first tiebreaker, most wins (16-15).

The Whitecaps labored through five games without a win prior to beating already-eliminated Houston, 3-0, in their season finale. Pedro Morales, the Newcomer of the Year in 2014, has started only two of his last eight appearances yet during that span has scored three goals off the bench. Octavio Rivero leads the team with 10 goals but hasn’t bagged one in the last six games; the ‘Caps will play through balls to Kekuta Manneh to test centerbacks Nat Borchers and Liam Ridgewell as often as they can.

Only five goals were scored in the three regular-season games between the teams, but the Timbers have the prowess (Fanendo Adi), guile (Darlington Nagbe, Lucas Melano), and speed (Rodney Wallace) to press the ‘Caps early. They may not have the legs to chase the game if they fall behind.

Regular-Season Results

March 28 – Vancouver 2 (Mezquida, Earnshaw), Portland 1 (Adi).

May 2 – Portland 0, Vancouver 0.

July 18 – Portland 1 (Valeri), Vancouver 1 (Laba).

Stat Leaders (including playoffs)

Portland -- Fanendo Adi 16 goals, Diego Valeri 9 assists, Adam Kwarasey 81 saves.

Vancouver -- Octavio Rivero 10 goals, Kekuta Manneh 6 assists, David Ousted 99 saves.

Yellow Cards

POR – Liam Ridgewell, Rodney Wallace, George Fochive, Diego Valeri.

Bottom Line

Another raucous home crowd will boost the Timbers in a series that looks almost dead even. Both teams have excellent keepers who each posted 13 shutouts. A stalemate would not be a surprise.

Prediction

Portland 1 Vancouver 1.

Montreal vs. Columbus

Stade Saputo, 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

FOCUS ON NEW FACES. These teams haven’t played in more than four months, and the August arrival of Didier Drogba isn’t the only midseason change to affect this matchup.

Centerback Gaston Sauro has helped shore up the Columbus back line. He’s started the last three games, during which Crew SC has allowed just one goal. How well Sauro and Michael Parkhurstcontain Drogba and Ignacio Piatti, whose runs through the middle terrorized TFC, may determine the outcome. Crew SC conceded 28 road goals, the most among playoff teams, and need staunch work from midfielders Tony Tchani and Wil Trapp to blunt the Impact in the middle third.

A rare off day plagued Kei Kamara when the teams played at Stade Saputo in July. He personally outshot the Impact, 10-9, but he failed to score and so did his teammates until Federico Higuainnicked a consolation goal in stoppage time. The Impact can’t be so generous on Sunday.

Crew SC has options beyond Kamara. In addition to his team-high 13 assists, Ethan Finlay notched a dozen goals and he will be a major test for Impact left back Danny Toia. Higuain scored eight goals and is one of the league’s best dead-ball specialists.

Drogba scored the final goal in the 3-0 defeat of TFC to maintain his goal-per-game average through a dozen MLS appearances. As long as his energy holds out, Montreal is a threat every time it crosses the midfield line.

Regular-Season Results

June 6 –Columbus 1 (Higuain), Montreal 2 (Tissot, Romero).

July 11 – Montreal 3 (Oduro 2, Donadel), Columbus 0

Stat Leaders (including playoffs)

Montreal – Didier Drogba 12 goals, Ignacio Piatti 9 assists, Evan Bush 101 saves.

Columbus –Kei Kamara 22 goals, Ethan Finlay 13 assists, Steve Clark 114 saves.

Yellow Cards

None.

Bottom Line

The Impact endured a relatively low-stress effort quelling TFC, but face a much different task in Kamara and Finlay and Higuain.

Prediction

Montreal 2 Columbus 2.

Seattle vs. FC Dallas

CenturyLink Field, 9:30 pm., Fox Sports 1

TURNABOUT. Though FC Dallas failed to win or even score in its home game against the Sounders March 28, it did pitch a shutout after going down to 10 men when Kellyn Acosta was sent off in the 17th minute. Keeper Chris Seitz started that day in place of an injured Dan Kennedy; since then, 20-year-old Jesse Gonzalez has taken over in the nets.

FCD has shut out its opponents in five of Gonzalez’s 11 starts, which include wins over Columbus and Vancouver. It gave up three goals each in back-to-back losses to the Galaxy and SKC in September, but since then has conceded just twice in five games.

The Sounders had no problems storming through the Galaxy in the knockout game, but they are susceptible to the type of counterattacks by which FCD gets many of its goals. Thus the fitness of Osvaldo Alonso, who didn’t play Wednesday, is even more important for Sunday. Mauro Diazmust be shut down to minimize the danger of Fabian Castillo and other FCD attackers.

Seattle is one of the league’s best counter teams once Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey set the wheels in motion. The Sounders expended a lot of energy while downing the Galaxy Wednesday and may be feeling the physical and psychological hangover of that accomplishment on Sunday. Yet with another huge crowd on hand, they can set the tempo.
Regular-Season Results
March 28 – FC Dallas 0, Seattle 0.
June 13 – Seattle 3 (Neagle, Martins, Gonzalez), FC Dallas 0.
Stat Leaders (including playoffs)
Seattle – Obafemi Martins 15 goals, Clint Dempsey 10 assists, Stefan Frei 114 saves.
FC Dallas – Fabian Castillo 9 goals, Mauro Diaz 10 assists, Jesse Gonzalez 37 saves.
Yellow Cards
SEA – Stefan Frei.
Bottom Line
In last year’s playoffs, the teams tied on aggregate, 1-1, and as the higher seed Seattle prevailed by the only away goal. This year, FCD has the better record but is starting off in a very tough venue against an experienced team.
Prediction
Seattle 2 FC Dallas 1.


D.C. United-New England Takeaways: Fabi and Bill show

D.C. United fell behind to a fast start by New England but came back from an early deficit to down the Revs, 2-1, in their Eastern Conference Knockout Round match at RFK Stadium Wednesday.

United fell behind in the 15th minute to a spectacular overhead goal by Juan Agudelo and fought off several more attacks before equalizing in the final minute of the first half on a Chris Pontiusheader. Chris Rolfe clanged a penalty kick off the base of the post but a superb buildup presented him with a chance to atone, and he tapped in the winner from a Fabian Espindola feed.

Here are three takeaways from a memorable night in the pouring rain at RFK:

1. Fabulous night for Fabi.

Espindola, 30, has endured good and lean times since joining United from the Red Bulls. He scored 35 goals and logged 17 assists for Real Salt Lake in six seasons (2007-12) and was a mainstay of its success, but was shipped off to New York in a salary-dumping move.

He scored nine goals in 28 goals for the Red Bulls before joining United for the 2014 season, which ended in disgrace when he shoved a match official and was handed a six-game suspension for the start of the 2015 campaign.

On Wednesday, the Revs couldn’t contain him, and though a superb save by Revs keeper Bobby Shuttleworth denied him a goal he continually pressured and probed on the left flank. A great corner kick to Pontius produced the equalizer and his intelligent overlap got him into position to square the ball Rolfe tucked away for the winner.

Espindola, as the long suspension showed, has a volatile temperament that has landed him in hot water before. But he resolutely stuck to his task in tough conditions and helped propel United into the next round.

2. Hamid the hero, again.

Several times a season for the past few years, head coach Ben Olsen has lamented his team’s over-dependence on Bill Hamid, who won Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2014 and has been every bit as good this year.

While D.C. has certainly struggled defensively at times in 2015, there’s also the fact that Hamid’s quickness of foot and powers of anticipation get him to balls other keeper can’t even reach. In the first half, he twice stoned Kelyn Rowe; the first time with a diving hand save going to his right, and then on a point-blank chance Hamid scrambled across his line to block with his chest. His chest! So quickly did he close down Rowe, going from one post to another, the Revs attacker had no angle for his shot.

United controlled most of the second half, so Hamid was rarely called into action. Yet still needed him to stab up his right hand to repel a point-blank header by Jermaine Jones in regulation.

3. The handball brouhaha.

Referee Mark Geiger whistled for a penalty kick when a deflected cross struck the arm of Revs midfielder Scott Caldwell, and ignored a ball that bounced off the hand of Sean Franklin as he dueled at close range with Jones in stoppage time.

There are among the toughest calls for a referee, and opinions about the validity of each call ranged through the gamut: one right, one wrong; both right; and both wrong.

The situations were compared as if they were similar and they weren’t. Geiger apparently ruled that Caldwell was far enough away -- several yards --- when a low cross from Alvaro Saborio caromed off the foot of Jose Goncalves to get his arm out of the way. It was a close call, but Geiger was in excellent position and made his decision immediately.

Franklin was marking Jones tightly when the Revs midfielder kicked the ball and from his reaction -- Jones quickly drew a red card and was sent off -- it seemed an act of desperation had prompted Jones to play the ball as he did with Franklin right in his grill. 

My take? I don't call either one. But the case for a PK is certainly stronger on the first one.

TRIVIA. The long history of these teams includes a 2004 playoff game in which head coaches Ben Olsen and Jay Heaps squared off as players. Both failed to convert penalty kicks after the teams played an incredible 3-3 tie at RFK in the Eastern Conference final (a one-game playoff at the time).Brian Carroll hit the decisive PK and United went on to beat Kansas City, 3-2, in the final for its fourth -- and last -- title.

Oct. 28 in Washington, D.C.

D.C. United 2 New England 1. Goals: Pontius (Espindola) 45, Rolfe (Espindola, DeLeon) 83; Agudelo (Alston) 15.
D.C. United -- Hamid; Kemp, Birnbaum, Boswell, Franklin, DeLeon, Halsti, Kitchen, Pontius (Saborio, 54), Espindola, Rolfe.

New England -- Shuttleworth; Alston, Goncalves, Farrell, Tierney, Jones, Caldwell (Kobayashi, 87), Fagundez (Bunbury, 51), Nguyen, Rowe, Agudelo (Davies, 70).

Red Card: New England -- Jones 90+2.

Referee: Mark Geiger.

Att.: 11,554.