Los Angeles (AFP)

Defending champion Atlanta, Seattle, Toronto and Salt Lake City qualified Saturday for the North American Football Championship (MLS) conference semifinals, who also said goodbye to England star Wayne Rooney, eliminated with DC United.

It was with a defeat, but scathing (5-1) on the Toronto FC pitch, that the Rooney American adventure ended. He was however at the origin of the short reprieve of his team by giving the decisive pass in the stops of play of the regulation time for the equalization of Rodriguez.

Forceps qualifier, Toronto will have much to do in the semifinal of East Conference on the lawn of New York City FC, exempted from first round.

Earlier in the day, Atlanta United, which includes Florentin Pogba, had New England (1-0) thanks to a 100% Argentine goal defender Franco Escobar perfectly served by his compatriot Ezequiel Barco.

The Georgian club will face the winner of the match between Philadelphia Union and the New York Red Bulls, which is played Sunday.

Seattle has long fought to defeat Dallas (4-3 AP). The Sounders, who have come to defeat FC Dallas after overtime, thanks to a Jordan Morris hat-trick.

Their opponent will be Real Salt Lake, who beat the Portland Timbers (2-1) in the last game played in the evening.

On Sunday, Zlatan Ibrahimovic's LA Galaxy will play his qualification at Minnesota United. To have the right, who knows, to challenge the other Los Angeles club, the LAFC, also exempted.

Saturday's results:

In Atlanta,

Atlanta United defeat New England Revolution 1 to 0

Goal

Atlanta: Escobar (70)

In Seattle,

Seattle Sounders beats FC Dallas 4 to 3 ap

goals

Seattle: Ruidiaz (18), Morris (22, 74, 113)

Dallas: Cannon (39), Hedges (64), Acosta (82)

In Toronto,

Toronto FC def. DC United 5-1 ap

goals

Toronto: Delgado (32), Laryea (93), Osorio (95, 103), DeLeon (105)

DC United: Rodriguez (90 + 3)

In Salt Lake City,

Real Salt Lake beats Portland Timbers 2 to 1

goals

Salt Lake: Kreilach (28), Savarino (87)

Portland: Asprilla (47)

Sunday

Philadelphia Union - New York Red Bulls

Minnesota United - LA Galaxy

The program of the semi-finals of the play-offs (October 23 and 24):

. Eastern Conference

New York City FC - Toronto FC

Atlanta United - Philadelphia Union or New York Red Bulls

. West Conference

Seattle Sounders - Real Salt Lake

Los Angeles FC - Minnesota United or Los Angeles Galaxy

Conference Finals October 29th and 30th

Final on November 10th

NB: the best team of each conference after the regular season from the first round

© 2019 AFP