It’s official.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC will face a Cascadia rival in the Western Conference Semifinals (second leg on Sunday, November 8 at BC Place - get your tickets today ).

Visit whitecapsfc.com/playoffs for ticket info, important dates, and more!

That was confirmed on Wednesday night, when Seattle Sounders FC defeated defending MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy 3-2 in a Western Conference Knockout Round match at CenturyLink Field. And if that match was a sign of things to come – a whopping four goals were scored within the opening 22 minutes – then this is going to be one heck of a ride.

Now, the situation is clear.

Should Portland Timbers defeat Sporting Kansas City on Thursday night (7 p.m. PT on TSN), then Whitecaps FC will face Portland. Otherwise, it will be Seattle.

Either way, a new chapter is about to be written in the Cascadia rivalry – a rivalry that dates back to the 1970s, when Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland started doing battle in the old NASL.

Wednesday’s result also means that there will be a new MLS Cup champion in 2015.

And in the words of Carl Robinson : “Why not Vancouver?”

Whitecaps FC will begin the Western Conference Semifinals this Sunday, November 1, before hosting the decisive second leg on Sunday, November 8 at BC Place (kickoff TBD). Get your tickets for Vancouver’s first-ever home playoff match today.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Earlier on Wednesday, D.C. United squeaked by last year’s runner-up New England Revolution 2-1 in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round. New England’s Juan Agudelo opened the scoring with a 15th-minute bicycle kick but Chris Pontius equalized just before halftime and Chris Rolfe scored a late winner.

D.C. United will face either New York Red Bulls or Columbus Crew in the Eastern Conference Semifinals – depending on the result of Thursday’s Knockout Round match between Montreal Impact and Toronto FC (4 p.m. PT on TSN).