Alexander Callens capped a perfect 5-for-5 shootout for fourth-seeded New York City FC en route to a 5-3 win on penalty kicks over the top-seeded New England Revolution in an MLS Eastern Conference semifinal matchup on Tuesday night in Foxborough, Mass.
The teams played to a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes plus 30 minutes of extra time.
New York City FC will face the second-seeded Philadelphia Union in the conference finals on Sunday.
Callens scored on a left-footed shot to the center of the goal as Revolution goalie Matt Turner dove to his right, sending the visitors on to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in franchise history.
Alfredo Morales, Thiago, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi and Maxi Morales all beat Turner with their offerings in the first four rounds.
Carles Gil beat New York City goalkeeper Sean Johnson in the first round before Johnson smothered Adam Buksa’s attempt to the bottom right corner in the second round. Teal Bunbury and DeJuan Jones scored in the third and fourth rounds, respectively, for New England.
Santiago Rodriguez scored in regulation and Valentin Castellanos had a goal early in the second half of extra time for New York City.
Buksa scored a first-half goal before Tajon Buchanan forced the penalty session with his goal late in the second half of extra time.
New England was coming off its first-ever Supporters’ Shield title after setting a league record for points in a season with 73.
Neither team had scored since the opening minutes of the game before MLS Golden Boot winner Castellanos headed in Gudmundur Thorarinsson’s short cross into the top right corner past a leaping Turner in the 109th minute.
Castellanos was shown a red card four minutes later after receiving his second yellow for a foul on Brandon Bye. As a result, he will miss the conference finals matchup while serving a one-game ban.
Buchanan’s goal leveled the score for the Revolution in the 118th minute. He bounced in a right-footed shot from the 6-yard box off a cross from Emmanuel Boateng.
Both sides got off to a good start as a pair of goals had already been scored heading into the 10th minute.
Rodriguez put New York City FC ahead 1-0 in the third minute after scoring from the center of the box off a cross from Tayvon Gray. His right-footed shot soared past Turner into the upper left corner of the net to quiet the home supporters.
Buksa equalized for New England in the ninth minute, heading in a free kick from Gil, who led the league with 18 assists in the regular season. Buska guided Gil’s ball into the lower left corner.
–Field Level Media
