NEW YORK - Four teams are still in contention for the last two spots in the MLS Cup Playoffs. The possible scenarios in which each could clinch are as follow:
Chicago Fire (37)
Clinches with a win Sunday vs. LA Galaxy
Clinches with a tie and either one of the following:
- KC fails to win
- COL fails to win
Clinches with a loss Sunday and both of the following:
- KC loses
- COL fails to win
Kansas City Wizards (37)
Clinches with a win Saturday at FC Dallas
Clinches with a tie and either one of the following:
- LA fails to win
- COL fails to win OR wins by less than a three-goal margin
Clinches with a loss and both of the following:
- LA fails to win
- COL fails to win
^Note: Because Colorado and Kansas City tied both times they met this season, their placing will be determined by goal differential if they finish the season tied in points.
Colorado Rapids (35) - Must win vs. RSL on Saturday.
Clinches with a win and any one of the following:
- KC loses
- KC ties and COL wins by 3 goals or more
- Chicago fails to win
LA Galaxy (34) - Must win at Chicago on Sunday.
Clinches with a win and either one of the following:
- KC loses
- COL fails to win
If the season ended today, the eight teams below would qualify. They are listed according to their would-be opponents in two-game, aggregate goals playoff series:
Eastern Conference Semifinals
D.C. United vs. Chicago Fire
New England Revolution vs. New York Red Bulls
Western Conference Semifinals
Chivas USA vs. Kansas City Wizards*
Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas
*As the fifth team to qualify from the Eastern Conference, Chicago would shift over to become the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoff bracket. Full qualification and seeding procedure is below.
MLS CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Individual clubs have information on specific dates for their respective home matches.
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS:
Game 1: Thurs., Oct. 25 - Sun., Oct. 28
Game 2: Thurs., Nov. 1 - Sun., Nov. 4
WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS:
Game 1: Thurs., Oct. 25 - Sun., Oct. 28
Game 2: Thurs., Nov. 1 - Sun., Nov. 4
CONFERENCE FINALS:
Thurs., Nov. 8 teams and site TBD (ESPN2)
Sat., Nov. 10 teams and site TBD
MLS CUP
Sun., Nov. 18, Noon (ABC and TeleFutura) at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
MLS PLAYOFF RACE
| Team | Points | Games Left | Max Pts. | GF | GA | GD | ||||
| D.C. United | 55 | 1 | 58 | 54 | 31 | +23 | ||||
| Chivas USA | 52 | 1 | 55 | 46 | 28 | +18 | ||||
| Houston Dynamo | 51 | 1 | 54 | 43 | 23 | +20 | ||||
| NE Revolution | 49 | 1 | 52 | 49 | 41 | +8 | ||||
| FC Dallas | 44 | 1 | 47 | 37 | 42 | -5 | ||||
| NY Red Bulls | 43 | 0 | 43 | 47 | 45 | +2 | ||||
| Chicago Fire | 37 | 1 | 40 | 30 | 36 | -6 | ||||
| Kansas City Wizards | 37 | 1 | 40 | 43 | 45 | -2 | ||||
| Colorado Rapids | 35 | 1 | 38 | 29 | 33 | -4 | ||||
| LA Galaxy | 34 | 1 | 37 | 38 | 47 | -9 | ||||
| x-Columbus Crew | 34 | 1 | 37 | 36 | 42 | -6 | ||||
| x-Toronto FC | 24 | 1 | 27 | 23 | 47 | -24 | ||||
| x-Real Salt Lake | 24 | 1 | 27 | 30 | 45 | -15 | ||||
Key:
- Clinched a playoff spot
x-Eliminated from playoff contention
Head to Head Records of Teams in Contention
Chicago:
vs. Kansas City 2-1-0
vs. Colorado 0-0-2
vs. LA 0-1-0
Kansas City:
vs. Chicago: 1-2-0
vs. Colorado: 0-0-2
vs. LA: 0-1-1
Colorado:
vs. Chicago: 0-0-2
vs. Kansas City: 0-0-2
vs. LA: 2-1-0
LA:
vs. Chicago: 1-0-0
vs. Kansas City: 1-0-1
vs. Colorado: 1-2-0
The qualification and seeding are as follow:
• Eight teams qualify for the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs
• Playoff berths will be determined by points in the standings upon the completion of the regular season on Oct. 21; all 13 teams will have played 30 games.
• If two teams are tied on points, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head results, the second tiebreaker is goal differential, and the third is goals scored for the season. (Subsequent tiebreakers are available in the Fact and Record Book).
• The top two teams in each conference qualify and are seeded 1 & 2 in their respective four-team playoff conference brackets.
• The four MLS teams with the next most points, regardless of conference, receive "wildcard" berths.
• The four wildcard teams will be seeded according to conference first.
• If more than four teams qualify from one conference, those finishing lower than fourth in their conference will shift over to the other conference bracket.
• A team switching conference brackets will be seeded below all other teams in its new conference playoff bracket.
REMAINING MLS REGULAR SEASON GAMES
(All times Eastern)
Saturday, October 20
New England Revolution at Toronto FC, 12:30 p.m. (HDNet, CBC)
Columbus Crew at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Kansas City Wizards at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Real Salt Lake at Colorado Rapids, 9:00 p.m.
Houston Dynamo at Chivas USA, 10:30 p.m. (FSC, FSE)
Sunday, October 21
Los Angeles Galaxy at Chicago Fire, 3:00 p.m. (TeleFutura)
