LOS ANGELES, Oct 7, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Reigning Major League Soccer Cup
champions Toronto FC were eliminated from playoff contention Saturday with a
2-1 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps, who kept their own post-season hopes
alive.
Russell Teibert and Kei Kamara scored for Vancouver, Teibert putting the
Whitecaps up in the fourth minute and Kamara grabbing the game-winner in the
78th.
Toronto had been reduced to 10 men when Gregory van der Wiel was sent off
for his second yellow card before Jozy Altidore gave them a ray of hope,
converting a penalty in the 73rd after a sliding Doneil Henry handled a cross
from Jay Chapman.
But Kamara answered, seizing a cross from Jordon Mutch and slotting in his
14th goal of the season.
Toronto’s failure to make the playoffs follows a spectacular 2017
campaign, when their 69 points were a league record as they claimed the
Supporters Shield as the team topping the MLS regular-season standings and
the MLS Cup playoff crown.
In other matches, the Philadelphia Union clinched a playoff berth with a
5-1 home victory over Minnesota. Fafa Picault scored twice in the first half
to five the Union a 4-0 half-time edge and while Darwin Quintero spoiled the
shutout bid in the 54th minnesota for the Loons, Ilsinho added a final tally
for the Union in the 79th minute.
The Montreal Impact blanked visiting Columbus 3-0, moving five points
ahead of D.C. United for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth but with
the US capital club holding three matches in hand.