Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – The Philadelphia Union punched their ticket to the MLS Cup playoffs on Saturday, beating FC Cincinnati 1-0 on a goal from Bruno Damiani and hanging on with 10 men to dent Cincinnati’s Supporters’ Shield hopes. Both clubs had a chance to secure a playoff berth, with Philadelphia coming into the contest atop the Eastern Conference standings two points ahead of Cincinnati. The victory, coupled with the New York Red Bulls’ scoreless draw with Columbus, was enough to ensure Philadelphia will be back in the playoffs after seeing a six-year run of post-season appearances end last year.
“It’s big,” said Milan Iloski, who lofted a ball from the left that Damiani rose and twisted to head home from the center of the box in the 49th minute. “We want to be in the playoffs, we want to win championships,” Iloski said. “So for us it’s a big moment and just the next stepping stone in our bigger quest.”
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Philadelphia’s advantage looked narrow when Olwethu Makhanya was sent off in the 60th minute, receiving a second yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Evander. Makhanya had received a yellow card along with Cincinnati’s Dominik Marczuk in the 21st minute after a chippy exchange in the box in which Marczuk ended up on the ground. Philadelphia became the first Eastern Conference team to secure a playoff berth. They top the conference with 57 points, ahead of Cincinnati in second on 52. They also lead the race for the Supporters’ Shield for the club with the best record in the league with Western Conference leaders San Diego one point behind.
Minnesota United clinched a Western Conference playoff berth, a 1-1 home draw with Portland enough after Colorado’s 4-2 loss at Kansas City. Robin Lod scored the equalizer for Minnesota in the 85th, gaining control of a long pass from Wil Trapp and firing a right-footed shot from the center of the area. The hosts had been stunned in the 79th minute when an angled shot from Portland winger Antony was batted away by goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair only to fall into the path of Nicolas Romero, whose foot brushed it across the line for an own goal.
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