While the New York Red Bulls will be desperately trying to scrape any semblance of hope from a three-goal deficit, both the Portland Timbers and Sporting Kansas City, who face one another in the Western Conference Championship second leg, have plenty of reason to be glad.
The first leg ended 0-0. The Timbers know that an away goal in KC changes the game after they looked dangerous on Sunday. KC have the comfort of returning to Children’s Mercy Park. This is a tie that both teams believe they can win, and that is often the best kind of tie.