🎥 MLS: Austin and NYCFC secure places in conference finals | OneFootball

The final spots in the MLS Cup semi-finals were up for grabs with teams in the Eastern and Western Conferences in action.

Here is what went down…

Austin deliver in derby with Dallas

Scorers: Djitté 26′, Driussi 29′; Velasco 65′

Austin’s dream first post-season MLS run continues after they outgunned Dallas in a Texan Derby.

Los Verdes raced out of the traps in front of a raucous home crowd at Q2 Stadium, which was apt given that the city had played host to Formula 1’s US Grand Prix earlier in the day.

Dallas seemed to have weathered the worst of the early storm until Moussa Djitté, who was given the nod ahead of Maxi Urruti up front for Austin, broke the deadlock.

The visitors failed to deal with Diego Fagúndez’s corner, and the Senegal native was in the perfect spot to sweep the ball home from close range.

Austin’s lead was doubled just three minutes later when Sebastián Driussi won possession in midfield and drove into the Dallas area before firing a fierce shot into the bottom corner.

The Burn were rocking at that stage but managed to hang in the game and eventually halved the deficit with 25 minutes remaining through Alan Velasco, the Panenka hero from Monday’s shootout win over Minnesota.

Goalkeeper Brad Stuver pulled off a superb foot save in the closing minutes to repel Dallas winger Jáder Obrian’s downward header and ensure Josh Wolff’s side will compete in their first-ever conference decider.

Clinical NYCFC down Montréal

Scorers: Mihailović 85′; Moralez 6′, Héber 45+3′, Magno 60′

New York City FC travelled to Canada on Sunday in sight of a spot in the Eastern Conference final and convincingly beat Montréal 3-1 to claim it.

The reigning MLS Cup champions demonstrated they know exactly how to win play-off matches right from the start after capitalising on some shaky defending from the hosts within five minutes.

James Pantemis came out of his area but couldn’t make a save only to see the ball find a wide-open Maxi Moralez lingering in the box and he tapped home into an empty net for 1-0.

Down early and inspired by a theatrical crowd, Montreal then ramped up the pressure and dominated the ball and chances but couldn’t put anything worthwhile on target.

Kei Kamara saw an effort hit off the post and Alistair Johnston teed up Ismael Koné but his header fell short as goalkeeper Sean Johnson was kept on his toes.

Then just before the break against the run of play, the visitors doubled their lead after a swift counter-attack which saw Héber make things 2-0.

Coming out afterward, NYCFC’s clinical finishing proved to be the key difference and that eventually saw Montréal’s playoff hopes dwindle as they struggled to adjust.

A foul in the box then allowed Talles Magno to step up to the spot and slot home a third for the visitors all but putting the game to bed.

The hosts did, however, manage to erase any clean sheet hopes late on when Djordje Mihailović scored his third goal in as many games but they didn’t have enough firepower to pull off a comeback.

The result means Montreal’s impressive season comes to an end at home while NYCFC move on to the Eastern Conference final.

NYCFC will now face Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference final, while Austin will travel to face Los Angeles FC out West.