MLS Cup Playoff Race Update

Available places in the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs are on the verge of disappearing quickly. D.C. United seized the first spot by defeating Real Salt Lake on Wednesday night. The other 12 MLS teams are still in contention for seven places, up to three of which could be claimed this weekend under the following scenarios:

Chivas USA:

• Will clinch a playoff spot IF:
• Chivas USA defeats host Colorado on Sunday AND
• Columbus fails to win at Kansas City on Saturday

New England Revolution:

• Will clinch a playoff spot IF:
• New England defeats FC Dallas on Saturday AND
• Columbus fails to win against Kansas City on Saturday AND
• Colorado fails to win against Chivas USA on Sunday

Houston Dynamo:

• Will clinch a playoff spot IF:
• Houston defeats host Los Angeles on Sunday AND
• Columbus fails to win against Kansas City on Saturday AND
• Colorado fails to win against Chivas USA on Sunday

No other teams can clinch playoff berths this weekend, but none can be mathematically eliminated, either. The regular season ends Oct. 21, the MLS Cup Playoffs begin Thursday, Oct. 25 on ESPN2, and MLS Cup takes place Nov. 18 in Washington, D.C. on ABC.

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:

*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) at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

MLS PLAYOFF RACE

Key:


* Has clinched a playoff spot


Blue - Automatic berths in MLS Cup Playoffs


Black - Wildcard berths in MLS Cup Playoffs


Red - Out of playoffs

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.

NOTE: The seeding is incorrectly described in the 2007 Fact and Record Book.

MLS GAMES THIS WEEKEND

(All times Eastern)

Saturday, September 15

Real Salt Lake at Toronto FC , 3:30 p.m. (CBC)

FC Dallas at New England Revolution, 7:30

Columbus Crew at Kansas City Wizards, 8:00 p.m. (HDNet)
New York Red Bulls at Chicago Fire, 8:30 p.m. (FSC, FSE)

Sunday, September 16
Chivas USA at Colorado Rapids, 3:00 p.m. (TeleFutura)
Houston Dynamo at Los Angeles Galaxy, 8:00 p.m.