Sounders FC face Sporting Kansas City tonight in knockout round match

SEATTLE -- The Seattle Sounders host Sporting Kansas City on Thursday night in the knockout round of the MLS Western Conference playoffs.

Kansas City lost in this round a year ago in an epic penalty shootout to eventual MLS Cup champion Portland.



MLS Playoff Picture

Eastern Conference
Wednesday, Oct. 26: Toronto FC 3, Philadelphia 1, Toronto advances
Thursday, Oct. 27: Montreal at D.C. United, 4:30 p.m.

Western Conference
Wednesday, Oct. 26: LA Galaxy 3, Real Salt Lake 1, LA Galaxy advances
Thursday, Oct. 27: Sporting Kansas City at Seattle, 7 p.m.



Boateng scores twice in 8 minutes, Galaxy advance past RSL

Emmanuel Boateng scored two goals in eight minutes, Landon Donovan had an assist in his first start since 2014 and the Los Angeles Galaxy beat Real Salt Lake 3-1 on Wednesday night in the knockout round of the MLS playoffs.

Los Angeles (13-6-16) will play the Colorado Rapids in the first game of the two-leg Western Conference semifinals Sunday. Salt Lake (12-13-10) lost its final six road games.

Alan Gordon, who made his first start in the playoffs after 15 appearances as a substitute, opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Donovan crossed it and Giovani dos Santos' glancing header found Gordon wide open at the far post. It was Donovan's 15th playoff assist, which set a MLS record.

Boateng made it 2-1 in the 26th minute when he dribbled through several defenders at the top of the box and scored with the outside of his foot. He scored his fourth goal of the season — all against RSL — in the 34th minute by curling in a shot from a difficult angle.

RSL scored in the 21st minute on Joao Plata's penalty kick after Javier Morales went down easily in the penalty area. In the 85th, Kyle Beckerman had an open header hit the crossbar.

Giovinco leads Toronto to first playoff win, 3-1 over Union

Sebastian Giovinco had a goal and two assists to lead Toronto FC to the first MLS playoff victory in franchise history, 3-1 over the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night in a knockout game.

Toronto will host New York City FC on Sunday in the opening game of the two-legged Eastern Conference semifinal.

Jonathan Osorio and Jozy Altidore also scored for Toronto.

Alejandro Bedoya scored for the Union in the 73rd minute to cut the lead to 2-1. But Giovinco, after drawing three defenders, found Altidore in the 85th minute and the U.S. international, after a fortuitous bounce off a defender, sent a low shot home.

Altidore and several teammates jumped the advertising hoardings at the south end and disappeared briefly into the stands to celebrate.

Sixth-place Philadelphia started well, taking the game to Toronto. But the home side struck first in the 15th minute with Altidore muscling his way into Philadelphia territory. Defender Ken Tribbett hooked the ball away awkwardly towards his own penalty box and goalkeeper Andre Blake tried to meet it. Altidore beat him to it, flicking the ball over to Giovinco, who got a leg to it to send the ball high into the net.

Osorio made it 2-0 three minutes into the second half off Giovinco's corner. Altidore and Toronto defender Nick Hagglund collided and the ball bounced off Hagglund's chest to Osorio, who belted it home.