Federico Higuain (pictured) and Columbus Crew SC are one game away from reaching the 2015 MLS Cup final. (Photo: Daniel Herlensky/Columbus Crew SC Communications)

MIAMI – The identity of the United States’ fourth and final to representative to the 2016-17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL) is closer to being decided as the Conference Final, first-leg encounters each produced a winner on Sunday.

The New York Red Bulls and FC Dallas -- two sides that have already sealed their places in the next SCCL – fell by a pair of goals to Columbus Crew SC and the Portland Timbers, respectively.

With the two finalists on the verge of being determined, CONCACAF.com takes a look back at the best of the Conference Final, first leg encounters.

TOP GAMES

Columbus Crew SC 2, New York Red Bulls 0: In the Eastern Conference, Justin Meram scored the fastest goal in MLS Cup playoff history with a first-time shot from 12-yards out just nine seconds into the match to put Columbus ahead before a capacity crowd of 21,617 at MAPFRE Stadium.

Kei Kamara – the league’s joint-top scorer in the regular season with 22 goals – netted off an 85th minute tap-in after Cedrick Mabwati dribbled through three Red Bulls defenders inside the box to give Columbus the all-important two-goal edge heading into the second leg Sunday at Red Bull Arena.

Portland Timbers 3, FC Dallas 1: In the Western Conference, it won’t go down as the prettiest of goals, but Nat Borchers sliding in to knock home a Darlington Nagbe corner kick during a scramble in second-half stoppage time was vitally important for the Timbers, which have a two-goal edge going back to Dallas.

Liam Ridgewell also latched onto a Nagbe corner and tapped home to give the Timbers a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute.

Portland’s advantage was doubled in the 53rd minute, when Dairon Asprilla struck with a blast into the top-left corner of the net from 26 yards out following a failed clearance.

David Texeira halved the deficit nine minutes later, flicking in Je-Vaughn Watson’s cross from the right edge of the six-yard box.

TOP GOAL

Dairon Asprilla, Portland Timbers: For pure aesthetics, it doesn’t get much better than Dairon Asprilla’s thunderous strike for the Portland Timbers. The 23-year-old Colombian gained possession of a failed clearance, took a touch inside a defender and then unleashed a blast that kissed the crossbar, before landing inside the upper-left corner of the net from 26 yards out to give Portland a 2-0 lead.

TOP SAVE

Luis Robles, New York Red Bulls: After conceding almost immediately off the opening kickoff, Robles robbed the Columbus Crew of a late first half goal when he stretched out fully to parry away another Meram attempt toward the back post one minute from halftime.

SCHEDULE

Sunday – November 29, 2015

Conference Finals, Second Leg

Western Conference: FC Dallas v Portland Timbers (1:3 agg)

Eastern Conference: New York Red Bulls v Columbus Crew SC (0:2 agg)