Atlanta United routs Red Bulls

Josef Martinez, Franco

Escobar and Hector Villalba scored as Atlanta United blew out the visiting New York Red Bulls 3-0 in the opening leg of the MLS Eastern Conference final.

Atlanta gave itself a huge edge heading into the second leg Thursday night at Harrison, N.J. The winner of the two-game cumulative-goals series will host the MLS Cup final Dec. 8 against Portland or Sporting Kansas City.

In the opening leg of the Eastern Conference final at Portland, Ore., Tim Melia made six saves as Sporting Kansas City survived an aggressive attack by the Timbers for the scoreless draw.

The teams now head to Kansas City for the second leg Thursday night.

In other news:

• The Copa Libertadores final between fierce Argentine rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate was postponed again in a major embarrassment for South American football, a day after Boca players were injured in an attack by River fans.

The game — the continent's equivalent of Europe's Champions League final — already had been put back from Saturday to Sunday after River fans threw stones, sticks and bottles at Boca's team bus. The attack took place just blocks from the Monumental de Nunez Stadium in Buenos Aires, adding another chapter to Argentina's long history of soccer-related violence and increasing security concerns just days before the country hosts a G-20 summit of world leaders.