NEW YORK, NY (November 22, 2015) – Major League Soccer today announced the national television schedule for the second legs of the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Championships, which will be played on Sunday, November 29.
Second Leg: Sunday, November 29 (Home team listed first)
Western Conference Championship:
#1 FC Dallas vs. #3 Portland Timbers - 5 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes; TSN2)
Eastern Conference Championship:
#1 New York Red Bullsvs. #2 Columbus Crew SC – 7:30 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX Deportes; TSN Go)
The winners of the Conference Championships’ aggregate-goal series’ will advance to the 2015 MLS Cup, which will be played at the home stadium of the team that had the best regular season record on Sunday, December 6 at 4 p.m. ET (ESPN, UniMás, TSN, and RDS2).
On Sunday, Columbus Crew SC forward Justin Meram wasted little time putting the home side in front of the New York Red Bulls when he scored the fastest goal in MLS Cup Playoffs history, tallying the opening goal just nine seconds into the first leg of the Eastern Conference Championship. Crew SC’s Kei Kamara then scored a crucial second goal in the 85th minute, allowing Columbus to take a 2-0 lead into Red Bull Arena next week.
Out west, the Portland Timbers claimed a 3-1 win over FC Dallas in the first leg of the Western Conference Championship. Portland defender Liam Ridgewell put the home side ahead with a goal off a corner kick in the 23rd minute, and then Dairon Asprilla hit a golazo into the upper corner from 25 yards out to extend the Timbers’ lead to 2-0. FC Dallas got a goal back in the 62nd minute when David Texiera redirected a cross from Je-Vaugh Watson, giving Dallas an important road goal, but Portland’s Nat Borchers scored a stoppage time goal to send Portland to Dallas with a 3-1 lead.
The Conference Championships are two-leg, aggregate goal series. If the series is tied after two legs, the team with the most away goals will advance. If the total goals and away goals are equal, then an additional 30 minutes (two 15 minute periods) of added extra time will be played in its entirety. Away goals do not count in extra time. If the score is still tied after extra time, the match will be decided by kicks from the penalty spot in accordance to FIFA’s Laws of the Game.
Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs Schedule:
Conference Championships
(Home team listed first;Two-game series, aggregate-goal format)
First Leg – Sunday, Nov. 22
Columbus Crew SC 2-0 New York Red Bulls
Portland Timbers 3-1 FC Dallas
Second Leg – Sunday, Nov. 29
FC Dallas vs. Portland Timbers - 5 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN Deportes; TSN1)
New York Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew SC - 7:30 p.m. ET (FS1, FOX Deportes; TSN Go)
2015 MLS Cup
Sunday, December 6 (hosted by finalist with best regular season record)
4 p.m. ET (ESPN, UniMás, TSN, and RDS2)
