Toronto FC tops Atlanta, advances to MLS final

Nick DeLeon scored the tiebreaking goal in the 78th minute, Quentin Westberg stuffed a penalty kick and visiting Toronto FC advanced to the MLS Cup title game with a 21 victory over defending champion Atlanta United in in the Eastern Conference final Wednesday night.

Nicolas Benezet also scored for Toronto, which knocked off the top teams in the East — New York City FC and Atlanta — to earn a shot at the championship Nov. 10 at Seattle. The Sounders upset Supporters’ Shield winner Los Angeles FC 31 in the Western final Tuesday night.

Atlanta jumped ahead four minutes into the game on Julian Gressel’s goal and had a chance to increase the margin on a penalty, but Westberg got a hand on Josef Martinez’s kick from the spot, which kept Toronto in the game.

After 19 goals on a wild night at Anfield — nine in a penalty shootout — Liverpool ousted Arsenal in the League Cup to reach the quarterfinals. Arsenal was moments away from advancing in regulation time until Divock Origi’s equalizer in the fourth minute of stoppage time made it 55.

Then, only Arsenal midfielder Dani Ceballos missed his penalty, allowing teenager Curtis Jones to seal Liverpool’s progress with 54 shootout victory.

There was less drama at Stamford Bridge but still a stunning goal to win. Marcus Rashford struck a free kick from 30 yards that dipped high in the net to clinch a 21 win for Manchester United against Chelsea. Aston Villa also advanced after Anwar El Ghazi and Ahmed Elmohamady scored in a 21 victory over Wolverhampton.