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2016 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs – USL Alumni to Watch

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 11/20/16, 4:21PM EST

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Azira, Irwin, Bernier and Roldan set for Conference Final matchups

The 2016 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs reach the Conference Finals stage on Tuesday night as the four teams who remain in contention for MLS Cup square off in the Eastern and Western Conference.

Toronto FC visits the Montreal Impact in the Eastern Conference’s first leg at Stade Olympique, while Seattle Sounders FC hosts the Colorado Rapids in the Western Conference at CenturyLink Field.

Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC
8 p.m. ET | ESPN | Stade Olympique

Clint Irwin, Toronto FC

A former standout for the Charlotte Eagles in 2013, where he helped the side reach the quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Irwin made the jump to MLS with the Colorado Rapids two years ago. After being thrust into the starting spot in the Rockies, Irwin arrived in Toronto this preseason to take over as the club’s No.1. While injury limited him to 19 regular-season appearances this year, Irwin has recorded two shutouts in three playoff appearances so far as TFC gets ready to take on its Canadian rival.

Patrice Bernier, Montreal Impact

The veteran midfielder has started in all three of the Impact’s postseason contests after making 20 appearances in the regular season, applying a steady hand to the Impact’s push for a first trip to MLS Cup. A member of the Impact in the USL at the start of his career, where he helped the club claim its first Voyageurs Cup in 2002, Bernier returned to Montreal in 2012 and last season had two goals and an assist as the Impact were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Colorado Rapids
10 p.m. ET | FS1 | CenturyLink Field

Micheal Azira, Colorado Rapids

A 2012 USL champion with the Charleston Battery, Azira’s MLS career took on a new lease of life after his acquisition last offseason by the Rapids in the Waiver Draft from the side he’ll go up against on Tuesday, Seattle. With the Rapids, Azira made 31 regular season appearances to help the side to a second-place finish in the Western Conference. A former PDL All-Southern Conference selection with the Mississippi Brilla, Azira made five postseason appearances for the Sounders in his two seasons with the club, but will now be hoping to help push the Rapids’ hopes of a second MLS Cup forward.

Cristian Roldan, Seattle Sounders FC

Roldan’s time in the USL was brief, but spectacular, as the young midfield standout scored on his professional debut in the first game in Seattle Sounders FC 2’s history last year. Since then the former PDL standout has gone from strength-to-strength in the Sounders’ lineup, with the 21-year-old already having racked up more than 50 regular-season appearances in MLS, this year recording four goals and three assists. Roldan’s second trip to the MLS Cup Playoffs has seen him play every minute so far, providing a tremendous balance of ball-winning ability and creativity to the Sounders.

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