After winning their last eight games, the defending MLS champion Columbus Crew will take on the Philadelphia Union in the Leagues Cup semifinals on Saturday.
After a scoreless draw, Columbus advanced to the round of four with a 4-3 victory against New York City on penalties, while the ten-man Union required a shoot-out to defeat Mazatlan, a Mexican team.
The visiting New York seized the lead 14 seconds into the game in Columbus when Alonso Martinez ran into the box, beat Crew defender Rudy Camacho, and slotted home.
Cucho Hernandez, the Colombian striker, missed a fantastic opportunity to tie the score from within the box and pushed Matt Freese into a stunning save.
But four minutes before the interval, Columbus, who had eliminated Cup holders Inter Miami in the previous round, drew level.
Max Arfsten whipped in a cross from the right and Hernandez met it with a perfectly angled header into the bottom corner.
In the second half, Columbus applied a lot of late pressure, but there were few opportunities, and the game ended in a shootout.
Maxi Moralez was denied by Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, but Diego Rossi’s attempt was parried by City’s Freese.
Following Santiago Rodriguez of New York’s attempt that went high and wide, DeJuan Jones took it upon himself to seal the win with a calm penalty.
Just before halftime, Tai Baribo, a forward, was harshly sent out for a second yellow card offense, leaving Philadelphia down a man.
But two minutes later, Danish forward Mikael Uhre put the Union ahead when he broke down the left and cut inside before finishing with a deft chip over Mazatlan keeper Ricardo Gutierrez.
The Liga MX team drew level in the 59th minute when Alonso Escoboza rose to head in a cross from Ramiro Arciga.
But despite their numerical and possession advantage, Mazatlan were unable to find a winner with Philly keeper Andre Blake ensuring the game went to a shoot-out after a brilliant reflex save kept out a goalbound header from Facundo Almada.
Jamaican Blake was the hero in the shoot-out with two superb saves as Jim Curtin’s side won 4-3 to make it to the last four for successive seasons.
Los Angeles FC also progressed after an impressive 3-0 win at the Seattle Sounders.
Ryan Hollingshead slotted LAFC ahead in the 14th minute before veteran Kei Kamara doubled the lead 11 minutes later.
Denis Bouanga wrapped up the win in the 53rd minute with a clinical finish after racing on to a ball over the top from French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
LAFC will face the winner of Saturday’s last quarter-final between the Colorado Rapids and Mexico’s Club America.
