3
In a hard-fought encounter, Columbus Crew triumphed 2-0 in extra time against 10-man Orlando City, with Christian Ramirez and Cucho Hernandez scoring crucial goals. The crew dominated for large parts of the match and capitalised on Orlando’s defensive resilience, especially after Rodrigo Schlegel’s 78th-minute red card.
FC Cincinnati secured their spot in the conference final with a contentious late stoppage-time winner from Yerson Mosquera, clinching a 1-0 victory over the Philadelphia Union. The match was tightly contested, and Cincinnati’s top-seed status in the MLS playoffs was maintained as Mosquera’s goal, despite VAR scrutiny, stood.
Columbus Crew’s Wilfried Nancy made a strategic substitution, bringing on Ramirez for extra time, and it paid off within two minutes. Ramirez, seizing an opportunity created by midfielder Aidan Morris, slotted the ball into the net, securing the lead. Hernandez’s remarkable goal from over 50 yards out in the second period of extra time sealed the 2-0 win for Columbus.