The New York Red Bulls crashed out of the Major League Soccer playoffs in the first round as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to FC Cincinnati on Saturday.

Los Angeles Galaxy advanced however with a 1-0 win over Nashville earning them a clash with cross-city rivals Los Angeles FC in the Western Conference semis.

The Red Bulls, founder members of MLS have yet to win an MLS Cup title in their 26 years of trying and Cincinnati, in their first playoff campaign, will now face the Philadelphia Union, who finished top of the Eastern Conference, in the second round on Thursday.

Lewis Morgan fired the Red Bulls into the lead, three minutes after the break, with a superbly struck effort after picking up a clearance on the edge of the box and then drilling a diagonal drive past Cincinnati keeper Roman Celentano.

But there was a bizarre twist as Scotsman Morgan appeared to injure himself in the goal celebrations and had to be substituted.

Cincinnati responded positively though and Red Bulls keeper Carlos Coronel had to be alert to keep out a close range header from Brazilian striker Brenner.

The visitors thought they had equalised on the hour when Junior Moreno blasted a shot goalward and it flew into the net off the thigh of Geoff Cameron but the effort was ruled out after a VAR review found that the veteran defender had been in an offside position.

But the Ohio side were soon on level terms when Andres Reyes brought down Alvaro Barreal inside the box and Luciano Acosta coolly converted the penalty to make it 1-1 in the 74th minute.

Dylan Nealis then did well to clear off the line after Cornel made a hash of a cross but the Cincinnati pressure paid off in the 86th minute when Sergio Santos broke down the left and his low cross was expertly slotted home by Brandon Vazquez.

Cincy keeper Celentano pulled off two fine saves to keeper headers from Aaron Long and Nealis as the Red Bulls pushed for a late equalizer.

The Red Bulls piled on plenty of pressure during the 12 minutes of stoppage time and the visitors struggled to keep their composure but their determination was enough to see them through for victory.

Vazquez, who had 18 goals in the regular season raising calls for him to be given a late spot in the United States World Cup squad, said his side could go all the way.

"We're a team to be scared of," Vazquez said.

"I know teams don't want to face us and for good reason. We've got an incredible team and I could see us winning it all."

Galaxy found it hard going early on against a well-organsied Nashville side although Javier Hernandez might have done better with a 16th minute chance that he put wide at full stretch.

Nashville's danger man, German forward Hany Mukhtar was well dealt with by the Galaxy defence although he managed to get a look at goal just before the interval only for his low drive to be well saved by Jonathan Bond.

Hernandez looked to have put L.A. ahead in the 51st minute but his strike, after a swift counter-attack, was ruled out by VAR after the review spotted a foul on Mukhtar before the home side broke on goal.

But nine minutes later, Galaxy got the decisive goal when Brazilian Douglas Costa fed Samuel Grandsir and the French full-back's cross was headed in at the back post by Julian Araujo.

The impressive Riqui Puig went close to a second but the home side were happy with a victory which sets up a mouthwatering clash with an LAFC team which finished with the best regular season record in the league.