NEW YORK - Every MLS team can still hope to compete for the 2006 championship - but not for long. Within the next five weeks, four teams will feel the frustration of a season played for naught. The rest will have new life in the form of a chance to win the MLS Cup.
The team closest to earning a sigh of relief is Western Conference leader FC Dallas, who can grab a spot if they defeat visiting Chivas USA on Wednesday. A win would give FC Dallas 49 points, with Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles able to reach a maximum of 48 and 47 points, respectively. The problem for FC Dallas is that Chivas USA is hungry for points.
The Chicago Fire also seems to have control of its destiny. A Fire victory in Colorado on Wednesday, followed by a Columbus win at New York on Saturday would put the Fire in position to clinch a playoff spot with a victory over D.C. United in Sunday's nationally-televised clash (4 p.m. ET, ESPN2). That combination of results would give the Fire 44 points with Columbus able to obtain a maximum of 41 and New York a maximum of 44. Since Chicago is undefeated (2-0-1) against New York so far this season, it will win the initial tiebreaker if the two teams finish with equal points. Chicago is 8-0-1 in its past nine games, including two U.S. Open Cup matches, and hosts Los Angeles in the U.S. Open Cup final on Sept. 27 (8 p.m. ET, Fox Soccer Channel). The Galaxy are the defending Open Cup champions but Chicago has won the country's longest-running tournament three times - more than any other MLS team.
Chicago's latest victim, the Columbus Crew, now faces the steepest road to the playoffs of any team in MLS. With five games left, the Crew must make up seven points on fourth-place Kansas City. That road begins in New York on Saturday against an equally desperate Red Bulls team. A loss in New York will not mathematically eliminate the Crew, but would leave them needing a miracle finish to qualify.
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 a 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. The remaining MLS schedule is available by clicking here. Playoff schedule is tentative and subject to change.
