The Crew defeated the New York Red Bulls 3-1 to win their first ever MLS Cup, in their first trip to the MLS Cup.

Congratulation Crew!

Now we look forward to the expansion draft and a long off season. Can't wait until next year, it should be another good season!

Ben Olsen and Louis Crayton stop for some parking lot soccer en route to deliver the MLS Cup with Deb - the soccer mom.

It seems that Houston Dynamo fans will likely be cheering for the Columbus Crew to defeat New York Red Bulls on Sunday in the MLS Cup. The Red Bulls did knock Houston out of the playoffs, but that is not the reason for the Crew support in Houston.

The CONCACAF Champions League announced the teams qualifying for the tournament next year.

Landon Donovan has been training with Bayern Munich the past week and a half and has impressed coach Jurgen Klinsmann enough to get him a loan. Klinsamann is going to bring Landon to Bayern on a loan contract that will run from the 1st of January through the middle of March. His goal will be to keep him longer - at least until the end of the German Bundesliga season, which runs through most of May.

Deb is the soccer mom charged with taking the MLS Cup from NY to LA before the game on Sunday. In this episode she stops to pick up Chris Klein, Ben Olsen, and Sacha Kljestan. She reveals that 100% high fructose corn syrup is good for the kickin muscles. The really need a rest stop but Deb wants to make good time and keep going.

The voting for MLS goal of the year is down to 5 finalists. That list of the 5 finalists does not contain the clear winner in my mind which was Gallardo's full volley from an impossible (well at least tough) angle. That is a different story though.

The KC Wizards official blog has asked readers to vote for anyone other than NYRB goalkeeper Danny Cepero's goal.

So the New York Red Bulls made it to MLS Cup. I was wrong. Alexi Lalas was wrong. He has consequences to pay. People should expect me to be wrong. I was so sure RSL was gonna beat the Red Bulls, I'm glad I didn't agree to do anything in case of a Red Bulls victory. Lalas now has to shotgun a can of Red Bull before MLS Cup.

The Columbus Crew had to overcome a 1-0 halftime defecit to beat the Chicago Fire 2-1 in the Eastern Conference final.  The Fire looked pretty good throughout most of the first half.  At halftime Alexi Lalas didn't understand what was going on with the Crew.  He had predicted them to win the game.

We've heard rumors throughout the second half of the season that Landon Donovan would be targeting Germany as his home after the current MLS season.  Tuesday Donovan has started a 10 day training trial with the German club Bayern Munich.

Donovan played in Germany previously but failed to make an impact with Bayer Leverkusen between 2001 and 2005.

I thought a list of the most recent foreign stars that are coming to MLS might be fun.  The season is almost over and we've got a long winter to wonder what next year will bring.  Lets start early and see what mls-rumors.net has for us!

Allessandro Del Piero

He just turned 34, this guy is a legend and supposedly going to play for New York Red Bulls.

The goal of the year voting is open at mlsnet.com.  You have your choice between 10 of the goals of the week to vote for.

My vote goes for the sweet volley in week 5 by Marcello Gallardo.  I might have gotten in a vote for Davy Arnaud as well, who knows.  It is too bad Josh Wolff's week 27 bicycle kick didn't make the top 10.

It was 2005 the last time the West was represented by someone other than two time defending champion Houston Dynamo.  The New England revolution have represented the East even longer, 2004 was the last time someone other than the Revs made it to the MLS Cup.  This year both of those teams dropped out in the first round thanks to the Chicago Fire and New York Red Bulls.

The 2008 MLS playoffs will continue tonight and the first round games will wrap up this weekend.  Eight teams remain - by next week there will be only 4.  Starting with tonights game.

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New England Revolution @ Chicago Fire (0 - 0)

7:30 PM - ESPN 2

I predicted a 2-0 victory for Chicago last week when they were at New England.

The regular season is over. The Columbus Crew are the best team in the league but they only get a trophy that most people don't even know exists for that feat. Eight teams will continue their quest for the MLS Cup this weekend while 6 teams are done for the winter. This is how the playoffs look:

Columbus Crew (1 East) vs.

The regular season is over and the playoffs are set to begin in two days.  The first semifinal 1st leg will be played on Thursday night in New England.  We will see the 2nd and 3rd seeded teams from the East in this first semifinal matchup between the Chicago Fire and New England Revolution.

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Chicago Fire (#2 East) @ New England Revolution (#3 East)

Season Series: Chicago 2-1-0

Thursday October 30th, 6:30 PM

ESPN 2

My prediction: Chicago Fire 2-0.