The Kansas City Wizards will play in the 2009 SuperLiga.

That's the word from Commissioner Don Garber in his State of the League. The Wizards qualify for SuperLiga as one of the top 4 teams in the regular season NOT to make the CONCACAF Champion's League. This is a rule change from last year where it was the top 4 teams regardless of whether or not they qualified for the Champion's League. Click to continue reading...

In case you missed them this weekend, go check out my reactions to the Eastern Conference and Western Conference finals first. All done? Excellent. It's fitting, isn't it, that in a season that featured the Eastern Conference as the dominant force for much of the year, that we should end up with two teams from the East in the final. Click to continue reading...

It's a funny old game isn't it? The first time the Red Bulls had their playoff lives in their hands, they got absolutely slaughtered by Chicago and had to meekly back their way into the playoffs courtesy of DC United's inability to hit anything but woodwork in their season finale. But since giving up five to the Fire, the Bulls have conceded just one goal in their last three matches, depending Click to continue reading...

Well, I just spent a lovely rainy morning watching the Crew-Fire match, which turned out to be a pretty good advertisement for the league. Momentum shifted, veteran internationals and young Americans were on display, the pace and excitement of the game were high, and there were chances at both ends. Click to continue reading...

Juan Carlos Osorio, coach of the New York Red Bulls, is a lucky, lucky man. This past Saturday, his side pulled off one of the greatest upsets in MLS playoff history, defeating the two-time defending champions Houston Dynamo 3-0 at Robertson Stadium in Houston. Osorio fielded an unchanged side from the first leg, which ended [. Click to continue reading...

I seriously need to start betting. In my preview, I picked all four of the MLS Cup semifinalists (technically the Conference semifinal winners), even the big RBNY over Houston upset. Or maybe it wasn't dumb luck. Maybe I caused all of this. I actually think that, say, the Houston Dynamo read [.. Click to continue reading...

Wow! I'm pretty sure the East went about as everybody expected, and I was part of the sizable camp that favored RSL over Chivas, but who saw the Dynamo not only getting ousted in the first round, but getting clotheslined by a low Red Bulls hurdle--at home to boot? MLS Cup 2008 is going to feature either RSL or the Red Bulls. Click to continue reading...

I would love to, really, but seeing as how just about everyone handicapping Sunday's game in the blogosphere is talking about how the Orange will be dominant at home in front of 30,000+ fans, I think the best thing to do is repeat the winning mantra of earlier this week:

Fired Up!
Ready to Go! Click to continue reading...

As most of you probably know, in most leagues around the world that play two-leg series, away goals are the first tie-breaker. This really does completely change the complexion of first-leg games. Now to be perfectly honest, I have always opposed implementing this rule in MLS games. But after reading this excellent, excellent column from Pat Walsh at Goal. Click to continue reading...

The first set of playoff results are in the book, and a tight lot of games they were--three draws and a one-goal victory. No tie was blown wide open, which means that we should see another tight state of affairs next week. What we're really seeing here is the Power of Parity. It doesn't matter if you stomped the league (Columbus) or just came back from the dead in the last month (KC). Click to continue reading...

Photo by ISIphotos.com

By DYLAN BUTLER

Juan Pablo Angel doesn't remember much about his first MLS playoff experience. He suffered a concussion early in the second half of a tight Eastern Conference Semifinal Series last year at Gillette Stadium and didn't see the Revs score the winner before then-Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena could bring on a substitute for the forward.

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Alright, let's get ready for the post-season with a quick walk through the first round matchups and make a few predictions, shall we . . . ? Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution The playoffs kick off tonight with the Fire paying a visit to the Revs in the battle of 2 vs. 3 in the East. On the basis of table position, playoff experience (and success), and mental toughness, you would have been Click to continue reading...

The Wizards playoff series with the Columbus Crew kicks off Saturday night out at Community America Ballpark. Let's pack CAB and make sure the Wizards have the home field advantage for the game. The Wizards are 7-0-3 in their last 10 home games, so having a packed house for the game will be important. Click to continue reading...

Rock out like its 1987 folks! Do the Pee Wee! And thank DC UNITED! The Columbus Crew! Mr. Evans and his friend Hejduk! The Red Bulls are officially in the playoffs!

Ill give my thoughts on it all tommorrow. But for now . . . CELEBRATE FOLKS!

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The Wizards are now in the playoffs, for the second straight year. This year the Wizards will either play Columbus or Houston. So who would you rather see the Wizards play? Would you rather seem them play this year's Supporter's Shield winners, the Columbus Crew, or the two time defending MLS Cup Champion, Houston Dynamo? Click to continue reading...

Wizards forward, Josh Wolff missed last week's win over San Jose, because of a fibular stress reaction, which is apparently a little like a stress fracture. That injury could now force the Wizards to play the rest of the season and the playoffs without the striker. The injury, which he picked up a few weeks ago is just getting worse, and he's in a lot of pain. Click to continue reading...

The Wizards game on Saturday means a lot less now. The Wizards are into the playoffs thanks to an outstanding performance by Chris Rolfe. Rolfe went off for Chicago getting 3 goals and 2 assists, and the Fire down New York 5-2 to put the Wizards into the postseason. Chicago opened the scoring early on a clinical counter attacking goal that was finished by Rolfe. Click to continue reading...

The Wizards are not playing tonight, but there is a big game for the Wizards and their playoff chances tonight on ESPN2. Tonight, Chicago hosts the New York Red Bulls. New York is tied with the Wizards on points, but the Wizards hold the tie breaker. Chicago is currently in second place and can wrap up home field for the first round of the playoffs tonight. Click to continue reading...

Not much change in the table this week, eh? DC and Colorado climb a rung on the ladder and stay alive, while Dallas drop two to join the cast of snot-nosed street urchins staring through clouded glass at the warm and rosy picture of those still in the playoff hunt. So let's start with a quick dash through the numbers before wrapping up with an overview of the aforementioned playoff picture. Click to continue reading...

With only one week left, the Wizards are in a very good position to make the playoffs for the second season in a row. In fact, they could be in the playoffs before they even take the field on Saturday against the Revolution. A loss by New York on Thursday in Chicago puts KC into the playoffs. Hillcrest Road has a break down of every possible scenario for the team. Click to continue reading...

OK our playoff chances just got significantly simplified tonight. There are now 8 teams at 39 points or more. That means that nothing short of 2 wins in our 2 final games will get us into the playoffs.

The good news is that 2 wins is all we need. We control our own destiny again. If we beat Chivas and FSL we'll pass Dallas and FSL for the third automatic playoff spot in the West. Click to continue reading...

So here's the rundown of what we need to have happen to make the playoffs, based on all of our possible remaining results. This is not a comprehensive list, this just shows the most likely option at each point value. The list is up to date as of the result of tonight's game.

2 losses - We're out

1 draw, 1 loss - We're out

2 draws - FSL beats Dallas, SJ beats KC and draws TFC, LA beats Dallas and loses to Houston, NY, and KC lose all their games, TFC draws SJ and loses their other game

1 win - We beat Chivas, FSL beats us, Dallas wins both games, SJ beats KC and TFC, LA beats Houston, KC, DC, and NY lose all of their games. Click to continue reading...

The Crew have clinched. Everybody's still alive in the playoff hunt. KC took one giant step forwards, while the Rapids are struggling to pull their boots free of the mire. I don't remember a playoff race this exciting, wide-open, or topsy turvy, can you? So let's break the race down a bit. What do we know so far? Click to continue reading...

With some help this week, the Wizards can clinch a playoff spot for the second straight year. To get into the playoffs, the most important thing for the Wizards is to win Saturday against San Jose. That's not all that has to happen, though, as the Wizards will need some help from other results to get into the playoffs. Click to continue reading...

THE CURRENT STANDINGS:

x - Columbus - 53
x - Houston - 43
New England - 43
Chicago - 42
Chivas - 39
RSL - 35
NYRB - 35
Rapids - 34

KNOCKING ON THE DOOR

Everyone EXCEPT the Galaxy

Dallas is actually at 34, but the tie breaker belongs to Colorado.

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Usually I would default to my magic eight ball. Today we will use statistics.

I won't ask you to perform a long mathematical equation. Sports Club Stats did all the work for you.

Twelve points available. Seven points guarantees a spot. Zero points eliminates the team.

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Well then. I suppose nothing says "give us the damn Supporters' Shield already" like stuffing the side right behind you and opening an eight point lead with just four games to go. All the Crew need to do now is avoid getting complacent before the playoffs kick off. Behind them, Chivas USA are making a sudden push to join the three team trailing pack consisting of the Revs, Fire, and Dynamo. Click to continue reading...

Best press conference ever

With 5 games to play the Rapids are in the final playoff spot based on a goal differential tiebreaker with FSL. A precarious situation to say the least. What kind of chances do they have to make the playoffs?

First, a quick review of the MLS Playoff structure. Click to continue reading...

Crew 4, Revs 0 Schelotto(unassisted) 40, Iro(Schelotto) 45, Garey(Schelotto) 67, Garey(Noonan) 90 This was the Revolution's second 4-0 pasting in one week, having lost to Trinidad's Joe Public in CONCACAF Champions' League play on Tuesday. New England was missing several starters and fielded a makeshift side. Click to continue reading...

As promised, here's the update on the playoff situation and who you should be pulling for in the upcoming games.  I hope to make this a weekly thing, so look for it every Wednesday.  First things first, Saturday's game against the Dynamo in Houston has been postponed until October 15 due to Ike.  This should give [. Click to continue reading...

Put a fork in them. They are done.

With seven games remaining in the regular season, the Galaxy went to Kansas City to visit the other worst team in the league. This time they were a full strength, facing a squad that has the most anemic attack. Boasting a somewhat improved defense and a new focus on basics since the arrival of King Bruce, this game really should have been a competitive victory for the Galaxy.

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I just watched the game via the archived stream on MLSNet. This team looks completely different from the team that lost to Chicago just a week earlier. At home.

Probably because it basically is a completely different team when you put in Landon Donovan, David Beckham and Eddie Lewis all at the same time.

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Warning: Do not force yourself to listen to CSRN on the web. Ever. So between that radio broadcast, and highlights on MLSNet, there's not a lot to say about the match. Chances seemed about equal, with Chivas looking the more dangerous. Man of the Match goes to Jimmy Conrad for tying Dallas [...] Click to continue reading...

First-half goals from veterans Nick Barmby and Dean Windass gave Hull a first-leg win at Vicarage Road sunday and Phil Brown's side have a great chance to book a place in the Wembley play-off final. Hull dominated the first game and the Watford players will have a job to convince themselves that they can win the second [. Click to continue reading...

First-half goals from veterans Nick Barmby and Dean Windass gave Hull a first-leg win at Vicarage Road sunday and Phil Brown's side have a great chance to book a place in the Wembley play-off final. Hull dominated the first game and the Watford players will have a job to convince themselves that they can win the second [. Click to continue reading...