SAN DIEGO (AP) — Anders Dreyer and Amar Pellegrino each scored two goals to help San Diego FC beat the Portland Timbers 4-0 on Sunday night to win the best-of-three first-round series of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
No. 1 seed San Diego will face No. 4 seed Minnesota in the Western Conference single-game semifinals.
Pablo Cisniega made his second career start in the playoffs as goaltender in place of injured CJ dos Santos and made two saves in San Diego. Dos Santos suffered a fractured cheekbone early in last week’s second game against Portland, which his team lost on penalties, forcing a decisive third game.
On the counter-attack, Dreyer converted Onni Valakari’s arcing ball into the goal with a volley from the center of the area, giving top-seeded San Diego the lead for good in the fifth minute.
In the 17th inning, Pellegrino scored on a rebound of his own shot to make it 2-0. It was another counter-attack, and Pellegrino’s first touch was deflected by diving goalkeeper James Pantemis, but Pellegrino tried to put it back from close range.
Corey Baird delivered a cross from the right side of the area to the back post, and Pellegrino rose to the plate in the 53rd minute and volleyed a shot into the top net, before Dreyer rounded out the scoring with his second goal in the 79th minute.
Juan Mosquera was shown a straight red card in the 80th minute, and the Timbers played alone for the rest of the game.
Pantemis finished with five saves against No. 8 seed Portland.
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