For 9 of the teams the MLS season is over while the other 10 teams move in to the playoffs. If you are not familiar with the MLS playoff format here is a brief over view.
Five teams from each conference make the playoffs with the #4 and #5 seeds playing in a one game winner take all game at the higher seeds stadium midweek in what is called the Knockout Round. If tied at the end of the game they will play two 15 minute overtime periods and if still tied will go to penalty kicks to decide the winner. Then the Conference Semifinals start a couple days later, the semifinals are a home-and-home series in which each team hosts one game. The score is cumulative between the two games and the team winning at the end of both games moves on. If they are tied on cumulative goals then whichever team scored the most in their road game wins, after looking at road goals they are still tied they will go right in to two 15 minute overtime periods. If they are still tied then they will go to penalty kicks. The two winning teams move on to the Conference Championships which will follow the exact same format as the semifinals. The two conference champions will move on to play in the MLS Cup with the team having the most points in the regular season hosting the MLS Cup. The MLS Cup is a one game winner take all game. If tied at the end of the game they will play two 15 minute overtime periods and if still tied will go to penalty kicks to decide the winner. View the final MLS standings
Knockout Round
Western Conference
Wednesday October 29th - 8:00 PM Central - MLS Live
#5 Vancouver at #4 FC Dallas
In the regular season each team won a game and they drew one time. (2-2 Draw, 2-1 FC Dallas and 2-0 Vancouver) Vancouver had to win on the last day of the season to get their spot in to the playoffs. I don't want to say that they are just happy to be here, but I kind of looks that way. Also not to sound too bad, but the western conference top 3 teams are just that good that it will not matter who wins this game. I am going with Dallas 2-1 for the win.
Eastern Conference
Thursday October 30th - 7:00 PM Central - ESPN2
#5 Sporting KC at #4 New York Red Bulls
In the regular season Kansas City was able to draw the first game, but New York won the last two. (1-1 Draw, 2-1 New York and 2-0 New York) Sporting has been in a free fall the last few weeks and have not looked good along the way. New York has the best goal scorer in the league and it sounds like Terry Henry is healthy now. New York just went to Kansas City this weekend and beat them easily 2-0 without Terry Henry. The big question for Sporting is will Benny Feilhaber be able to play or not, if he can play they will have a chance, if not I don't see much hope for Sporting. Reports are Benny is 50/50 for the game so even if he plays he will not be healthy and that will not be enough. New York repeats the 2-0 scoreline at home and moves on.
Conference Semifinals
Eastern Conference
Saturday November 1st - 3:00 Central - MLS Live
#2 New England at #3 Columbus
Sunday November 9th - 4:00 Central - ESPN2
#3 Columbus at #2 New England
In the regular season Columbus won two of the games with New England winning one. (2-1 Columbus, 1-0 Columbus and 2-1 New England) New England has been playing better and better all year and with the addition of Jermaine Jones after the World Cup New England has moved up the table. Columbus is a pesky team that fights for ever ball and will make this an interesting semifinal. I think Columbus will win 2-1 at home and then go to New England and lose 2-0 meaning that New England will move on winning 3-2.
Sunday November 2nd - 3:00 Central - MLS Live
#1 DC United at #4 New York Red Bulls
Saturday November 8th - 1:30 Central - NBC Sports
#4 New York Red Bulls at #1 DC United
In the regular season DC United won two of the games with New York winning one. (1-0 DC, 2-0 DC and 1-0 New York) DC United this year went from worst to first the the Eastern Conference. However there was talent on the team last year for DC as they were able to win the US Open Cup. DC also cruised through the CONCACAF Champions League group stage as the #1 seed. I have wondered all year when DC United would fall and I don't think it will happen yet. New York always seems to be like a strong team going in to the playoffs only to crash out. I think they will put a scare in to DC United and win 2-0 at home but then DC will pull it out in DC with a 2-0 regulation win and a goal in overtime to win 3-2 overall.
Western Conference
Saturday November 1st - 7:00 Central - NBCSN
#2 LA Galaxy at #3 Real Salt Lake
Sunday November 9th - 6:30 Central - ESPN2
#3 Real Salt Lake at #2 LA Galaxy
During the regular season these teams split with each team winning one game and a draw. (1-0 Salt Lake, 1-1 Draw and 1-0 LA) During the regular season LA scored more goals than any other team with 69 (Salt Lake had 54). LA defiantly has the talent to score goals and score quickly, however more impressive is that they also tied for the fewest goals allowed in the MLS with 37 (Salt Lake allowed 39). Salt Lake is a team that knows how to win in the playoffs, the only problem is they are going up against one of the best playoff teams. LA will draw 1-1 in Salt Lake and then go back to LA and win 3-0 for a 4-1 overall win.
Sunday November 2nd - 8:00 PM Central - ESPN2
#1 Seattle at #4 Dallas
Monday November 10th - 9:30 PM Central - NBCSN
#4 Dallas at #1 Seattle
In the regular season Seattle won two games with Dallas winning one. (3-2 Seattle, 2-1 Seattle and 3-1 Dallas) Seattle is on a roll this year, they won the US Open Cup and the have won the Supporters Shield (best record in the regular season). They are looking to sweep the silverware this year by winning the MLS Cup as well. Seattle may have one of the biggest home field advantages in the MLS playing on a turf field and in a NFL stadium, which they can fill. With the return game being on Monday night I have no doubt Seattle will be rocking. Dallas will have a quick turn around after playing in the midweek knock out game. I have tried to think of a way that Seattle loses and I just can't. I am seeing a 1-1 draw in Dallas and a 3-1 Seattle win at home for a 4-2 win.
Conference Championships
We don't have the exact dates and times of these games yet. All we know is the first leg will be played on November 22 and 23 and the second league will be played on November 29 and 30.
Eastern Conference
#1 DC United vs #2 New England
These teams only met twice in the regular season with both teams winning a game. (2-0 DC and 2-1 New England) If both teams can come in to this series healthy I think it will be very close. However I think this is where the DC United season will end. New England will win 2-1 at home and then do to DC and play to a 1-1 draw for a 3-2 overall win.
Western Conference
#1 Seattle vs #2 LA Galaxy
In the regular season the teams drew once and then both won a game including playing two games in October. (3-0 LA, 2-2 Draw and 2-0 Seattle) This will be the series that gets the national attention and rightfully so. These two teams are among the top in name recognition and both have some of the top players in the league. I fully expect the series to live up to the hype as well and we will see some goals scored. LA will win at home 3-1 and while Seattle will win 2-1 at home will fall short 4-3 overall.
MLS Cup
Sunday December 7th - 2:00 PM Central - ESPN
New England at LA Galaxy
These teams played once in the regular season in LA with the Galaxy winning 5-1. The story line of this game will be that this is Landon Donovan's final professional game. I think there is little debate to say that Donovan has been the best player in MLS history and holds most offensive records. While as a fan I have hated to go against Donovan I have always respected what he has brought to the game. Landon has played in 6 MLS Cups and won 5 times. On the other side New England has played in 4 MLS Cup games and lost all four (the Buffalo Bills of the MLS). Unfortunately for New England fans I expect that they will stay perfect in the MLS Cup and lose to Donovan and the LA Galaxy 4-2.
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