🏆 MLS Cup play-offs: Galaxy beat Nashville; Cincinnati stun NY Red Bulls | OneFootball

Here’s what went down in Saturday’s two MLS Cup play-off first round ties.

LA Galaxy beat Nashville to set up El Trafico semi

Scorers: Araujo 60′

Los Angeles Galaxy emerged victorious from their first post-season game since 2019 when they narrowly overcame Nashville at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Galaxy thought they’d taken the lead early in the second half when Chicharito finished off a counter-attack, but the goal was ruled out by VAR for a dubious foul from Julián Araujo on Hany Mukhtar much earlier in the move.

But that incident only spurred the hosts on and they did soon take the lead when Araujo made amends for his role in the disallowed goal by superbly heading home from Samuel Grandsir’s cross for what proved to be the decisive goal.

Galaxy now advance to the Western Conference semi-finals, where they will face local rivals LAFC in what is sure to be a tasty encounter.

From earlier

Cincy stun NY to continue fairytale story

Scorers: Morgan 48′; Acosta pen 72′, Vazquez 86′

New York Red Bulls were stunned at home as play-off debutants Cincinnati came from behind to advance to the Conference semi-finals.

The home side came out of the traps quicker and Frankie Amaya and Lewis Morgan both went close early but were frustrated as the sides exited at the interval level.

But three minutes after half-time, the Scot did break the deadlock with a stunning strike as he collected on the edge of the area before thundering an effort into the corner for his 15th of the season.

Morgan did then exit with injury shortly afterwards and without him, NY were pegged back following a slack tackle in the area, which allowed Cincy captain Luciano Acosta, the league’s assist leader this season with 19, to send the goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.

And they incredibly completed the comeback in their first ever year in the MLS Cup play-offs with four minutes remaining when Brandon Vazquez coolly turned home a low cross from the left to win it and shock the fourth seeds.

They will now face Eastern Conference table-toppers and top seeds Philadelphia Union in the next round on Thursday as they continue their stunning turnaround after three successive bottom-place finishes.

Sunday’s fixture