I’m speechless, fam.
After DC United and the Seattle Sounders pulled off crazy close victories over the New England Revolution and LA Galaxy on Wednesday night, Thursday’s matchups decided to take things to the next level – a level that I would’ve never imagined possible.
Montreal Impact got us underway by handing Toronto FC a 3-0 first-half goleada, destroying the hopes and dreams of the latter’s first-ever playoff run in the process. Argentine midfielder Ignacio Piatti put on a show in the Montreal midfield, assisting Patrice Bernier for the first goal of the night before finding the back of the net himself in the 33rd:
The former San Lorenzo man was cheered on by Impact fans with massive cutouts of his head. Fuck yes.
The second game of the night was a showdown between the Portland Timbers and Sporting Kansas City. Little did we know we were about to witness the most insane, greatest ever penalty kick shootout in league history.
After 118 minutes of raw intensity and emotion, the Timbers found themselves 2-1 down. But don’t fret – another Argentine attacker was there to save the day! Former Newell’s Old Boys’ striker Maximiliano Urruti scored at the stroke of midnight (pretty literally for East Coast viewers), with a perfect volley to bring the game to penalties.
His confidence was at its peak in the shootout as well, and his celebration was on point.
Damn. We could not be more pleased with the way this MLS Cup race is shaping up. Here’s the shootout in all of its glory if you’re tryna watch again (and again and again):