MLS Heads Into the Playoffs: Preview

By: Laurie | October 29th, 2008

The regular MLS season is over, and the league is now heading into that US anomaly, The Playoffs.

You don’t have to be best in the season to win in MLS. You just have to be in the top eight (out of 14), and then finish strong. It’s not unheard of for the eighth-place team to be the MLS Champions. (LA Galaxy, I’m looking at you. But only in the past tense.)

First, the teams NOT going to the playoffs, in no particular order:

DC United
Colorado Rapids
San Jose Earthquakes
FC Dallas
Toronto FC
LA Galaxy

(Sorry, Beckham. Better luck next year. Or in Milan. Or whatever.)

So what’s our playoff situation this year? (No away goal bonus, all times Eastern.)

Eastern Conference

Chicago Fire (46 pts. in the regular season) v. New England Revolution (43 pts.)
1st leg @ NE: Thurs, Oct.30, 7:30 ET;
2nd leg @ Chicago: Thurs, Nov. 6, 8:30

The Revolution have been the runners up in the MLS Cup how many times now? A lot. But they may not make it that far this year. Chicago has a +11 goal differential for the season. The Revs? -3. They started strong but fizzled toward the end. And NE will be missing both Taylor Twellman and Steve Ralston for all playoff games, and they’ll be missing other players (Khano Smith and Gabriel Badilla) tomorrow due to suspension.

My prediction: Chicago 5-2 on aggregate.

Columbus Crew (57 points in the regular season) v. Kansas City Wizards (42 pts.)
1st leg @ KC: Sat, Nov. 1 8:00 ET
2nd leg @ Columbus: Sat, Nov. 8, 7:30 ET

Columbus Crew are the Supporters Shield Winners. Kansas City barely made it into the playoffs. Can Columbus maintain their regular season form? Will KC get lucky?

Our prediction: Columbus 3-1 on aggregate.

Western Conference

Houston Dynamo (51 points in regular season) v. New York Red Bulls (39 pts.)
1st leg @ New York, Sat. Nov. 1, 4:00 ET
2nd leg @ Houston, Sun. Nov. 9, 3:00 ET

(Even though RBNY are technically in the Eastern Conference, they are playing in the Western Conference playoffs because basically? The Western Conference sucks.)

Red Bulls squeaked into the playoffs because DC United couldn’t beat Columbus in the last game of the season. Houston have won the MLS Cup the last two seasons and are going for a three-peat. Houston are good. Red Bulls are scrappy and occasionally lucky. Smart money wouldn’t bet against Houston, but I will because they bore me. Go Red Bulls!

My prediction: In an amazing fit of wishful thinking, I go for Red Bulls 4-3 on aggregate.

Chivas USA (43 points in regular season) v. Real Salt Lake (40 pts.)
1st leg @ Salt Lake, Sat. Nov. 1, 6:00 ET
2nd leg @ Chivas, Sat. Nov. 8, 10:30 ET

There is not much separating these two teams. RSL goal differential: +1. Chivas: -1. RSL is venturing into their first post-season experience, and Chivas have been hampered by injuries all season. This one should be close.

My prediction: RSL takes it on penalties after going 2-2 on aggregate, at which point Chivas goalkeeper Zack Thornton eats them.