New York City FC will meet Columbus Crew SC in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Fifth-seeded Columbus upended fourth-seeded Atlanta United FC on penalties in the knockout round after playing to a scoreless draw in 120 minutes of regulation and extratime in Atlanta Thursday night. Columbus won the shootout, 3-1, as goalkeeper Zack Steffen was outstanding during the game and the tie-breaker.
City will play the first leg of the series at 8 p.m. ET before returning home for the second leg at Yankee Stadium Nov. 5. No time has been set for that game.
NYCFC and Columbus faced off on Decision Day last Sunday in a 2-2 draw at Citi Field to ensure its first-round playoff bye.
After City fell behind early through an Ola Kamara goal, team captain David Villa scored a first-half brace. He scored off a header from a Maxi Moralez corner kick before slotting another past Steffen just before halftime to up his goal tally to 22.
The all-time series between NYCFC and Columbus is even at 2-2-3.
NYCFC is 1-0-1 vs. Columbus in 2017, which includes a 3-2 victory in April as Jack Harrison tallied twice.