A quartet of semi-finalists is still alive at the MLS is Back tournament.
The Philadelphia Union completed the semi-finals with strong defensive functionality of the festival and its biggest offensive outing in a singles match in the quarter-finals. The Union is expected to face the Portland Timbers, which are the top set of the remaining four franchises, in the first semi-final.
Portland won the 2015 MLS Cup and an ultimateist in 2018. To qualify for the final four, the Timbers had to dominate an organization with the seed Los Angeles FC before the tournament and take on the challenge of the normal 2019 Eastern Conference season. New York City FC champions in the quarter-finals.
Orlando City and Minnesota United eliminated two of the competing groups, LAFC and San Jose Earthquakes, respectively, to host Thursday’s clash with a position in the final at stake.
Quarter-final results
Philadelphia Union 3, Sporting KC 1
Orlando City 1, Los Angeles FC 1 (Orlando City wins 5-4 on penalties)
Minnesota United 4, San Jose Earthquakes 1
Portland Timbers 3, New York 1
Semi-finals
Philadelphia Union v Portland Timbers (Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET, FS1)
Philadelphia’s business card at the tournament is his defense.
USMNT’s hopeful Mark McKenzie scored a four-way goal-off in any of the five games in Orlando. Goalkeeper Andre Blake is in the fray for being the MLS Most Valuable Player is back, having made 27 saves. But the player directly in front of the back 4 and Blake can be the top critic for Philadelphia’s good fortune on Wednesday night.
Jose Martinez has been a revelation at the festival with his defensive midfield game, however, he has struggled to exploit his aggression, which can lead to damaging free-throw opportunities for Diego Valeri and the Portland attack.
Valeri came from the bench on Saturday to score the purpose of the win over New York City FC, and if it starts on Wednesday, it may just bother Martinez. Valeri has been the catalyst for Portland’s attack for the most time with the club, and is surrounded by two clinical forwards in Jeremy Ebobisse and Jaroslaw Niezgoda.
The biggest destroyer of Portland midfielder Diego Chara may be the key to a position in the latter, as he will be tasked with preventing the phenomenon of 19-year-old midfielder Brenden Aaronson, who has been one of the mlS’s young players. Back. He had three assists in five games and was inspired by his technical skill in the last third.
If Chara Aaronson leaves the game, she can create a gap in the Union attack that limits the chances in the last third for Kacper Przybylko and Sergio Santos.
Orlando City vs. Minnesota United (Thursday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
The moment of the semi-final takes Minnesota United coach Adrian Heath with the former Orlando City team to a position where he has enjoyed good fortune with the Lions.
Heath-trained Lions spent the final year of their pre-MLS lifestyle at home at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports.
Heath assumed the role of outsider in the knockout phase and received effects from his team. The Loons overthrew Columbus Crew, the only team to achieve a better stage of organization, in the circular of 16 before going to San Jose on Saturday night.
Heath noted after Saturday’s victory that he would have Minnesota United in a position to play aggressively on Thursday night, through Julia Poe of the Orlando Sentinel:
“We know we have a complicated task. I think Oscar [Couple] got off to a wonderful start with Orlando. They have smart players. Clearly they have a genuine union, you can see. That’s going to be hard. But I also know that Oscar is sensible enough and experienced enough to know that we probably wouldn’t come here and play back. We’ll be in a position for the game.”
The key to Minnesota’s progress may simply be the game of his central midfielders. Osvaldo Alonso enjoys the 16th of his time with the Seattle Sounders, and Jan Gregus has one of the top-notch central midfielders in the MLS.
Alonso and Gregus can bottle Nani and save you the Portuguese game maker in the last third. Nani on goal with three of his seven shots in Friday’s win over Los Angeles FC.
Orlando’s X factor can simply be Rouen, who is an essential component of his right-back attack. The Brazilian kicked a penalty on Friday and can open a hole in The Minnesota defensive line by overloading the right flank.
If Rouen is allowed to advance and Nani, Chris Mueller and others, the Lions can place a good dose of good luck in front of the goal.
Follow Joe on Twitter, JTansey90. MLSSoccer.com statistics.
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