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TECHNOLOGY Saturday 28 OctOber 2017

Clint

Dempsey

Continued from Page 17

We’ve felt that way
throughout the season be-
cause of MLS Cup and be-
ing champions. It’s a big
deal and teams are gun-
ning for you.”
The other semifinal match-
up in the West features
No. 1 seed Portland facing
Houston. In the East, Sup- Switzerland’s Roger Federer returns a ball to France’s Adrian
porters’ Shield winners To- Mannarino during their quarter final match at the Swiss Indoors
ronto FC will face the New tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland,
York Red Bulls, while No. 2 Friday, Oct. 27, 2017. Associated Press
seed New York City FC will Columbus Crew forward Adam Jahn (12) kicks the game-
take on Columbus. Both winning goal during the shootout of an MLS playoff soccer game Federer into Swiss
the conference semifinals against Atlanta United, in Atlanta, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017.
and finals are decided Associated Press
by two-game aggregate ing to Seattle in last year’s Columbus rode the goal- Indoors semis; Del
scoring. title match and posted keeping of Zack Steffen
The loss of Dempsey for the the highest point total in to oust the expansion At-
first-leg against the White- league history, finishing the lanta United on penalties Potro to play Cilic
caps is amplified for Seattle season with 69 points and in the knockout round. The
because of the uncertain- 20 victories in 34 matches. stunning victory continued BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — del Potro, both former U.S.
ty surrounding forward Jor- The Reds stumbled in late the Crew’s surge to close Roger Federer was tested Open winners, will face
dan Morris, who has been September with consecu- out the season. Colum- before beating 28th- each other in the other
out since early September tive losses to Montreal and bus is now unbeaten in 11 ranked Adrian Mannarino semifinal after also being
with a hamstring injury. New England — both of straight matches dating to 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 in the Swiss pushed to three-set wins.
Morris has been doing work which missed the playoffs Aug. 5. Indoors quarterfinals on Second-seeded Cilic was
on the side, but has yet to — but recovered with vic- Columbus and NYCFC Friday. The top-seeded on court for more than
resume full training. tories in two of their final played to a 2-2 draw in Swiss saved two break three hours to beat 100th-
Vancouver did have suc- three matches, including the regular-season finale in points when trailing 3-2 in ranked qualifier Marton
cess at home this season a 4-2 win over the Red Bulls New York. the decisive set, including Fucsovics of Hungary 7-6
against Seattle, winning in on Sept. 30. WESTERN CONFERENCE with a backhand half- (3), 5-7, 7-6 (4).
April and taking a 1-1 draw The Red Bulls have fans on Portland (1) vs. Houston (4) volley winner from the Cilic, the defending
in August. But the White- every Western Conference First leg: Monday, Oct. 30, baseline. Federer never champion at Basel,
caps were routed 3-0 in team. The only way a team BBVA Compass Stadium gave the French left- clinched the quarterfinal
Seattle in late September. from the West can host MLS Second leg: Sunday, Nov. hander another chance with a delicate sliced
Vancouver lost three of Cup is if the Red Bulls ad- 5, Providence Park and clinched his first match backhand volley for a
its final five regular-season vance to the final. Portland earned the top point on Mannarino’s serve winner.
matches prior to Wednes- New York City FC (2) vs. Co- seed in the West thanks with another in a series of Fourth-seeded Del Potro
day’s 5-0 rout of San Jose lumbus Crew (5) to a 2-1 win over Vancou- backhand winners. needed exactly two hours
in the knockout round. First leg: Tuesday, Oct. 31, ver in the regular-season A finalist in his last 10 to win 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 against
Here’s a look at the three Mapfre Stadium finale, capping a six-week appearances at his sixth-seeded Roberto
other conference semifinal Second leg: Sunday, Nov. run where the Timbers won hometown event in Basel, Bautista Agut of Spain.
matchups: 5, Yankee Stadium four of six matches to claim Federer will play either Del Potro, who won back-
EASTERN CONFERENCE Led by David Villa and the top spot. Portland has David Goffin of Belgium to-back Basel titles in 2012
Toronto FC (1) vs. New York emerging youngster Jack been led all season by or Jack Sock of the United and ‘13 beating Federer in
Red Bulls (6) Harrison, NYCFC posted its MVP-worthy Diego Valeri, States in the semifinals on the final, will qualify for the
First leg: Monday, Oct. 30, finest season with 57 points who has 21 goals and 11 Saturday. ATP Finals in London if he
Red Bull Arena and a second-place finish assists. Key for Portland
Second leg: Sunday, Nov. in the East. Villa finished the will be the health of striker Marin Cilic and Juan Martin wins the title on Sunday.q
5, BMO Field year with 22 goals and likely Fanendo Adi, who missed
Toronto was clearly the will be in the middle of the the final two months of the
class of MLS this season, MVP discussion. But the big regular season with a ham-
running away with the Sup- difference for NYCFC was string injury.
porters’ Shield in dominat- its improved defense that Houston outlasted Sporting
ing fashion. Toronto took allowed 14 fewer goals Kansas City 1-0 in extra time
the disappointment of los- than last season. in the knockout round.q