And now we get down to business. The playoffs. We've seen some classic Game 1 action in the past, for sure. Will this weekend's games stack up? This is when the history bug gets the best of First XI, for sure, so here's a rundown of my favorite all-time opening games from the MLS Cup Playoffs, Years 1-11.
11. 1996, MetroStars 2, D.C. United 2 (Metro win shootout 6-5). I think I keep a VCR in my home for the sole reason that I can go back and watch this game. Played in the pouring rain at Giants Stadium, D.C. United take a 2-1 lead on the Metros only to see Giovanni Savarese enter the game as a late substitute and score on his first touch to send the game into a shootout. Now, say what you want about the shootout ... you'd be hard-pressed to find more drama in the history of MLS than what took place here. It went 10 rounds before Peter Vermes, who was limping badly and icing his shin on the side, had to step up and shoot for the Metros. Now, Metro fans like to think Vermes called his shot, when he looked at referee Esse Baharmast and said, "If I shoot, we win." Ah, whatever, it made for great drama ... and I've still got the tape to prove it.
10. 1997, Colorado 3, Kansas City 0. Talk about foreshadowing. No one expected the "Mooch" Myernick-coached Rapids to go into Arrowhead and beat the Rapids, much less spank them. But that's just what happened. Chris Henderson, Paul Bravo and Ross Paule scored and Preki and Co. did not know what hit them. Before you knew it, the Rapids were steamrolling their way to the Western Conference title and a spot in MLS Cup. You have to believe this was the game that made the Rapids big-time believers.
9. 1998, Galaxy 6, Dallas 1. It was this type of game, an absolute thrashing at the Rose Bowl, that had most everyone believing the Galaxy were an unstoppable force in '98. This game was 5-0 by the 41st minute with the Galaxy getting rapid-fire goals from Danny Pena, Carlos Hermosillo, Mauricio Cienfuegos, another from Hermosillo and one from Welton. In the second half, Pena, never known as a goal scorer, added a second. Victories like this, which were common for the run-and-gun Galaxy in '98, made it all the more shocking when the Galaxy lost in the conference final to the expansion Chicago Fire.
8. 1999. Dallas 2, Chicago 1. This was the start of one of the most exciting playoff series in MLS history. After a scoreless first half, the Burn got goals from Ariel Graziani and Mark Santel, then held off the Fire, a team that had never lost a playoff game. Chicago would rebound to win Game 2 at Soldier Field, but that was the game when Dema Kovalenko broke Brandon Pollard's leg with a careless tackle at the end of the game, giving the Burn huge motivation to win the finale ... which they did in thrilling fashion, coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2 and advance to the conference final.
7. 2000. MetroStars 2, Dallas 1. Of course, I had to include a game from the MetroStars one and only playoff series triumph in 11 years. And this was a thriller. With Paul "Pants" Grafer in the goal in place of the injured (by Mamadou Diallo) Mike Ammann, the MetroStars got a last-second goal from Adolfo Valencia to beat Dallas 2-1. Valencia's goal is what most remmber from the match, but loyal Metro fans also remember Pants coming up with a penalty kick stop on Oscar Pareja. The other Metro goal in this game was scored by Clint Mathis, his seventh goal in three games against the Burn that season.
6. 2001. Chicago 2, Dallas 0. Even though a year had passed, the Fire looked at this game as a chance for redemption for their loss to Dallas in '99. Remember, Chicago and Dallas was a big rivalry from '98 up until the league re-configured the conferences. Carlos Bocanegra scored first for the Fire and Evan Whitfield scored one late as the Fire won 2-0, and, after a 1-1 tie at the Cotton Bowl, were on their way to a conference final showdown with L.A. This was an emotional series that took a lot out of the Fire.
5. 2002. Los Angeles 3, Kansas City 2. It was the Year of Carlos Ruiz, of course, so what else could have possibly happened in this encounter? You guessed it, an overtime game-winner from El Pescadito to wrap up a classic match. Preki gave the Wizards a first-half lead, but the Galaxy responded with one from (who else?) Ruiz in the 62nd minute. Chris Brown put K.C. ahead 2-1 in the 70th, but Cobi Jones responded in the 85th, setting the stage for Ruiz's golden goal. Needless to say, it would not be Ruiz's final golden goal of 2002.
4. 2003. Los Angeles 2, San Jose 0. I list this game only beause, as we head into this weekend's games, please refrain from drawing any conclusions following Game 1. I mean, who in their right mind doesn't think L.A.'s in control of this series after winning Game 1 by a 2-0 score? Of course, the Galaxy would add onto that lead (twice!) in Game 2, but we all know what happened after that. Remember this weekend, please: If someone wins by a pair (especially if it's the home team), the series is not over!
3. 2004. D.C. United 2, MetroStars 0. Let's just say, a lot of people are still waiting for a good angle on Earnie Stewart's 67th-minute goal because, honestly, watching it live, I've never seen a goal look more offside in my life. Yeah, I'm biased, but I've wanted for many years to see a proper angle on this play, because all the replays showed nothing. Anyway, D.C.'s run to the '04 title started here, with that odd goal. The MetroStars thought they had a penalty later on, when John Wolnyniec went down in the box, but there was no call, and soon thereafter Alecko Eskandarian was making it 2-0. Now, looking back at item No. 4 and re-thinking a bit ... if the road team wins 2-0, it's pretty much over.
2. 2005. MetroStars 1, New England 0. This game wins by default, because there were no other great games in Game 1 of the 2005 playoffs. This game, won by the Metros on a 30-yard bomb by Amado Guevara, did set the stage for an amazing New England comeback. Remember, Youri Djorkaeff gave the Metros a 2-0 aggregate lead in the Foxborough snow before the Revs came storming back for the 3-2 series victory. MetroBull fans hope their club can pull off a similar result in the Swamp this weekend.
1. 2006. Chivas USA 2, Houston 1. And, just have to ask, why do announcers say that the 2-0 lead is the "most dangerous lead in the sport?" I mean, here's a game where 2-1 certainly made Chivas USA nervous and Houston confident heading into Game 2, right? This was a game where Chivas USA did everything right, getting goals from Ante Razov and Paco Palencia to take the 2-0 advantage, but then surrendered a goal to Brian Ching and actually needed Brad Guzan to stop a Dwayne DeRosario PK to come away with the victory ... Chivas USA certainly hopes to learn, in their series with K.C., from that one.
Jeff Bradley is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. Send your comments and complaints (200 words or less, please) to Jeff at jbradleyespn2003@yahoo.com and he promises to read (but not respond to) all of them. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.
