LAFC-Philadelphia series the latest all-MLS pairing in SCCL | OneFootball

MIAMI, Florida – For just the seventh time in the history of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League era, two teams from Major League Soccer (MLS) will square off in a knockout round series when Los Angeles FC and the Philadelphia Union tangle in the 2023 SCCL semifinals beginning next week.

It marks just the second time that an all-MLS meeting will be played in the semifinals, following last year’s Seattle Sounders-New York City FC duel in the final four, and it is just the fourth time in an SCCL knockout round series that both teams hail from the United States.

Here is a look back at those previous all-MLS match-ups in the SCCL knockout rounds.

2010-11 Quarterfinals: Real Salt Lake 4-1 Columbus Crew

On their way to becoming the first MLS team to reach a SCCL Final in the Champions League era, Real Salt Lake eliminated the Columbus Crew 4-1 on aggregate in the quarterfinals.

The first leg in Columbus saw the teams take the field in frigid temperatures and things got even more difficult for the visitors in the 53’ when Anthony Beltran was sent off. Each team then had a player sent off in the 72’ for an altercation, Emilio Renteria for Columbus and Nat Borchers for Real Salt Lake. However, in the end, Real Salt Lake withstood the Columbus pressure to secure a 0-0 first leg draw.

The second leg in Utah saw Real Salt Lake grab a 2-0 lead through goals from stalwarts Alvaro Saborio (23’) and Javier Morales (36’). Andres Mendoza pulled a goal back for Columbus (49’), but it was all Real Salt Lake after that, with Morales adding a second (77’) and Andrew Williams tacking on a late score (90+5)’ to complete the 4-1 aggregate win.

2011-12 Quarterfinals: Toronto FC 4-3 Los Angeles Galaxy

Played at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, the first leg between Toronto FC and the David Beckham-led Los Angeles Galaxy was a wild affair and saw the hosts take an early 2-0 lead through scores from Ryan Johnson (12’) and Luis Silva (17’). The Galaxy would rally, though, and earned a 2-2 draw after goals from Mike Magee (29’) and a late equalizer from Landon Donovan (88’).

The return leg in Los Angeles began with Johnson scoring his second of the series (34’) to give the advantage back to the Canadians, only for an own goal (55’) to swing it back to the Galaxy. But the tie would go for good to Toronto FC, as Nick Soolsma (67’) tallied the decisive goal to win the game 2-1 and the series 4-3 on aggregate,

2016-17 Quarterfinals: Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 New York Red Bulls

The first leg in this 2016-17 quarterfinal at Red Bull Arena between the Vancouver Whitecaps and New York Red Bulls was a tight affair, with the only goals coming from Vancouver’s Kekuta Manneh in the 39’, and the Red Bulls equalizer in the 62’ through Bradley Wright-Phillips. After scoring his first professional goal at age 15 in the 2016-17 group stage, Alphonso Davies scored in the 2-0 second leg win for Vancouver at home with a goal in the 5’, followed by a Fredy Montero score (76’) that sealed the 3-1 aggregate victory.

2018 Round of 16: Toronto FC 2-0 Colorado Rapids

Prior to eliminating Liga MX giants Tigres and Club America on their way to the 2018 Final, Toronto FC first had to overcome the Colorado Rapids and freezing temperatures in the first leg in Colorado. Toronto FC warmed up as play entered the second half and struck first through Jonathan Osorio (55’). 2018 SCCL Golden Ball winner Sebastian Giovinco then delivered a key second goal (73’) to complete the 2-0 first leg win.

The stars of the second leg in Toronto were the two goalkeepers, as each made a number of top saves to keep a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw that secured Toronto FC’s place in the next round.

2021 Quarterfinals: Philadelphia Union 4-1 Atlanta United

After withstanding a wave of early pressure from Atlanta United thanks to the saves of GK Andre Blake, the Philadelphia Union found their footing in the second half of the first leg in Atlanta with goals from Kacper Przybylko (57’, 73’) and Anthony Fontana (86’) to take a commanding lead in the series.

Atlanta United did not go out without a fight though, and cut the aggregate deficit to 3-1 in the 45+2’ in the second leg through Santiago Sosa, but a late Przybylko goal (88’) sewed up the Union’s 4-1 aggregate win.

2022 Semifinals: Seattle Sounders 4-2 New York City FC

Before they made history as the first MLS team to win the SCCL, the Seattle Sounders first had to win the first ever all-MLS SCCL semifinal and did so against New York City FC, starting with a 3-1 home win in the first leg. A back-and-forth first half saw Seattle hold a 2-1 halftime lead through Albert Rusnak (16’) and Jordan Morris (34’), while NYCFC got their goal from Thiago Andrade (27’). The Sounders then gave themselves some extra cushion thanks to Nicolas Lodeiro’s penalty conversion (68’).

The Sounders came out aggressive to start the second leg in Harrison, New Jersey, and got a big goal steered home by Raul Ruidiaz (28’). NYCFC tried to mount a comeback and got one goal back from Santiago Rodriguez (51’) but were unable to find a way through the Seattle GK Stefan Frei for the rest of the night, giving the Sounders a 4-2 aggregate triumph.