The 2006 Major League Soccer Conference Championship games are now set. Two single-elimination games on Sunday, Nov. 5 will determine the finalists who will compete in MLS Cup 2006 to be played on Sunday, Nov. 12 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas (3:30 p.m. ET live on ABC Sports).
Eastern Conference Championship
New England Revolution (No. 2 seed) at D.C. United (No. 1 seed)
RFK Stadium - Washington D.C.
Sunday, November 5, 2006
4:00 p.m. ET - ESPN2
Western Conference Championship
Colorado Rapids (No. 4 seed) at Houston Dynamo (No. 2 seed)
Robertson Stadium - Houston, Texas
Sunday, November 5, 2006
7:00 p.m. ET - Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Sports en Español, HDNet
The New England Revolution earned their place in the Eastern Conference Championship game by defeating the Chicago Fire in a penalty kick shootout at home on Saturday, Oct. 28. New England went into the second leg of their conference semifinal down 1-0 after losing to Chicago on Sunday, Oct. 22. The Revolution made up the goal differential taking a 2-1 lead into overtime on Saturday. With the series was tied 2-2 on aggregate goals, the game went scoreless through two 15-minute overtime sessions, and the Revolution triumphed in the shootout notching four of their kicks to the Fire's two. D.C. United advanced to the championship game with 1-0 win over the Red Bulls in the first leg of the series and a 1-1 tie in the second leg on Sunday, Oct. 29 to take the series 2-1 on aggregate goals.
In the West, the fourth-seeded Colorado Rapids upset the first seed, FC Dallas, in a penalty kick shootout on Saturday. FC Dallas went into the second leg with a 2-1 advantage after taking the first game on the road. Colorado took the second leg, 2-1 in regulation, sending the game into two overtime periods which saw each team score a goal and finish 3-2 (tied 3-3 on aggregate). Colorado then advanced 5-4 on penalty kicks over FC Dallas. Houston booked their place in the championship game with a 2-0 win over Chivas USA on Sunday, Oct. 29. With the win, the Dynamo took the series 3-2 on aggregate goals.
In the case that teams are tied following 90 minutes of the Conference Championships, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played followed by penalty kicks if necessary. The winners of each of the Conference Championship games will advance to MLS Cup 2006.
How they qualified
Eastern Conference Semifinals (Two-game series)
New England Revolution (No. 2) defeated the Chicago Fire (No. 3) 4-2 on penalty kicks after the series was tied 2-2 on aggregate.
October 22 - New England 0 at Chicago Fire 1
October 29 - Chicago Fire 1 at New England 2, (Revolution wins 4-2 on penalty kicks)
D.C. United (No. 1) defeated New York Red Bulls (No. 4) 2-1 on aggregate.
October 21 - D.C. United 1 at New York Red Bulls 0
October 29 - New York Red Bulls 1 at D.C. United 1
Western Conference Semifinals (Two-game series)
Colorado Rapids (No. 4) defeated FC Dallas (No. 1) 5-4 on penalty kicks after the series was tied 3-3 on aggregate.
October 21 - FC Dallas 2 at Colorado Rapids 1
October 28 - Colorado Rapids 3 at FC Dallas 2 (Colorado wins 5-4 on penalty kicks)
Houston Dynamo (No. 2) defeated Chivas USA (No. 3) 3-2 on aggregate.
October 22 - Houston Dynamo 1 at Chivas USA 2
October 29 - Chivas USA 0 at Houston Dynamo 2
