D.C. United became the first team to clinch passage to the 2006 MLS Cup Playoffs by virtue of the Kansas City Wizards' loss to Los Angeles on Saturday. United also ended its winless streak at five games by defeating host Chivas USA, 2-1, on Sunday.
With 11 teams battling for the other seven playoff spots, the final six weeks of the regular season will be intense and dramatic. This past weekend, the last-place team in each conference won, thereby tightening the races for a coveted playoff berth.
In the Eastern Conference, Columbus shocked New England with a 3-0 victory on Saturday and now sits just four points behind fourth-place Kansas City. The Crew hosts Chicago on Saturday, but on Wednesday, the Fire host D.C. United at Toyota Park in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal match. United has won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup once, while Chicago has won it three times. The New York Red Bulls, despite their loss in Chicago on Sunday, have two games in hand on Kansas City and trail the Wizards by just one point.
In the Western Conference, the Galaxy's victory means that a mere four points separate second-place Houston Dynamo from sixth-place Real Salt Lake. Colorado proved it can win on the road with a 1-0 victory over Real Salt Lake on Saturday, and the Rapids will need to prove it again to make the playoffs. Five of the Rapids last seven games are on the road. The Rapids also travel to play Los Angeles this Wednesday in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal match. Colorado has never won the U.S. Open Cup, while Los Angeles aims to become the first team to repeat as champion since the New York Pancyprian-Freedoms in 1982-83.
United and FC Dallas also have other agendas in mind. D.C. United wants to secure a berth in next year's CONCACAF Champions Cup - a privilege that goes to the team with the best regular season record along with the Supporters' Shield trophy. But FC Dallas is just five points behind United in that chase. If United were to win all seven of its remaining games, it would set all-time MLS records for most points (held by Los Angeles, with 68 in 1998) or fewest losses (held by San Jose, with four in 2005).
The regular season ends on Sunday, Oct. 15, and the MLS Cup Playoffs begin on Saturday, Oct. 21. The third and fourth place teams from each conference host Conference Semifinal games on Oct. 21 or 22. The return-leg games of those Conference Semifinal series will be played on Oct. 28 or 29. For the Conference Championships, the highest remaining seeds will host single match on Nov. 4.
MLS Cup 2006 will take place live on ABC at 3:30 p.m. ET on Nov. 12 from Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.
