MLS Review Week 28: Comebacks and Collapses

By: Daryl | October 14th, 2007

Supporter’s Shield DC United won the Supporters Shield in MLS this week, making them the first team to retain the title of unspecified importance. A 0-0 draw at home to Chicago was enough to put them out of Chivas USA’s reach, with Preki’s team drawing 0-0 on Thursday and losing 2-1 on Sunday. With that over, it’s time to focus on the playoffs. Kansas City are performing their mandatory late season collapse, slowly slipping down the table just as it gets important. Meanwhile Galaxy continued their incredible late season run, their 2-1 win over Toronto making it five straight and putting the team in control of its own destiny

Most costly mistakes: Jose Burciaga Jr.
Kansas City need some points fast. That means not losing and not giving away stupid goals. But poor Burciaga Jr. handballed to give New York a penalty and then later tripped over the ball in his own half. The beneficiary both times was Juan Pablo Angel, who scored twice to give NYRB a 2-1 win.

Best coaching: Frank Yallop
For all the talk about Yallop being out of work post-season, he made two big decisions from the bench this weekend and both paid dividends. First he sent on ~~George~~ Gavin Glinton, whose pace immediately won Galaxy a penalty. Then when Toronto equalised Yallop sent on Edson Buddle, who almost immediately scored at the far post to give Galaxy a 2-1 win and keep their playoff hopes very much alive.

Too little too late: Guillermo Barros Schelotto
Columbus Crew pulled off an impressive result away to New England, with Guillermo Barros Schelotto scoring a sweet low long range effort to win 3-2. Great game, great result, but it’s too late for Crew as they definitely won’t make the playoffs because Chicago picked up a valuable point by drawing 0-0 at DC United.

Just enough and just in time: Omar Cummings
Cummings arrived at the far post in the 90th minute to tap home the winner in Colorado’s 2-1 win over Chivas, which was just enough to keep the Rapids playoff hopes alive for another season, and also to deny Chivas the Supporters Shield.

Six teams are in the playoffs. DC and Chivas have home field advantage. Two teams from four can take the final two spots. The playoff picture now looks like this:

In:
DC United
Chivas USA
New England
Houston Dynamo
FC Dallas
New York

The contenders (two from four):
Chicago 37 points, one game to go vs LA Galaxy (home)
Chicago need to win their last game to be sure, but could make it with a draw or a loss provided other results go their way (eg New York beat LA Galaxy, Rapids lose to RSL)

Kansas City 37 points, one game to go vs Dallas (away)
Kansas still need just one point from their last game. Which is exactly what they needed last year and still failed to make the cut. Like Chicago, could still lose and scrape through if other results go their way.

Colorado 35 points, one game to go vs Real Salt Lake (home)
Rapids need to beat RSL next week and hope that Kansas lose.

LA Galaxy 33 points, two games to go vs New York (home) and Chicago (away)
If Galaxy win both these games, then they’ll be having a post season. Simple as that. Could even get by with a win against NY and a tie against Chicago provided Kansas lose. They’d be tied with Kansas on 37 points but possess a better head to head record (tied 2-2 and won 1-0.)

Thinking about 2008:
Columbus Crew
Toronto FC
Real Salt Lake