MLS playoff race update

NEW YORK - The eight teams that will compete for MLS Cup 2007 could be finalized this week. Now that FC Dallas and the New York Red Bulls have secured passage to the postseason, just two playoff berths remain and both could be determined by Sunday, Oct. 14. Almost every team has two regular season games remaining; Los Angeles and Chivas USA each have three games left.

The teams that could clinch this week are the Kansas City Wizards and the Chicago Fire, but the Colorado Rapids, Los Angeles Galaxy and Columbus Crew are all still in the hunt to extend October. See below for exact permutations.

FC Dallas can breathe easier after securing its spot with a 3-1 victory in Columbus on Saturday. New York can finish no lower than eighth place in the overall standings even if the Red Bulls lose their two remaining games. Neither Columbus nor Colorado can reach New York's current point total of 39. Los Angeles could reach 39 points by winning its three remaining games, but that scenario would ensure that New York finishes ahead of Chicago via points or tiebreakers.

For the Columbus Crew, only a win in New England can keep their playoff chances alive, and even then the Crew need help from other results.

The situation for both the Colorado Rapids and the Los Angeles Galaxy is almost as desperate. A loss to Chivas USA on Sunday would eliminate Colorado, and even a tie will not be enough for the Rapids if the Chicago Fire earns points against D.C. United. With a game in hand, Los Angeles has a little more room for error, but not much. A Galaxy loss or tie against Toronto FC on Saturday will leave their fate in the hands of other results.

D.C. United, meanwhile, could clinch the Supporters' Shield and thereby earn qualification for the 2008 CONCACAF Champions Cup if they get help from FC Dallas against Chivas USA in the Thursday Night Primetime game on ESPN2 and then United defeat Chicago on Saturday.

The remaining MLS schedule is below.

The MLS Cup Playoffs begin on Thursday, October 25 on ESPN2 and MLS Cup 2007 takes place on Nov. 18 in Washington, D.C., where a champion will be crowned for the 12th time in League history.

Below are the scenarios in which teams could clinch or be eliminated this week:

Kansas City Wizards:

Will clinch a playoff spot IF:
Kansas City defeats New York on Saturday OR Kansas City ties New York on Saturday AND Los Angeles and Colorado fail to win

Chicago Fire:

Will clinch a playoff spot IF:
Chicago defeats D.C. United on Saturday AND Los Angeles fails to win versus Toronto FC on Saturday

Colorado Rapids:

Will be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention IF:
Chivas USA defeats Colorado on Sunday OR Chivas USA ties Colorado AND Chicago earns at least a point against D.C. United

Columbus Crew:

Will be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention IF: Columbus fails to win at New England on Saturday OR Columbus defeats New England AND Chicago earns at least a point against D.C. United (Columbus loses the head-to-head tiebreaker with both Kansas City and Chicago)

Los Angeles Galaxy:

Will be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention IF: Los Angeles loses to Toronto FC on Saturday AND Chicago earns at least a point against D.C. United on Saturday OR IF: Los Angeles fails to win against Toronto AND New York ties Kansas City AND Chicago defeats D.C. United

Other important permutations of this week's games include:

D.C. United:

Will win the Supporters' Shield IF: FC Dallas defeats Chivas USA on Thursday AND D.C. United defeats Chicago on Saturday

Chivas USA:

Will clinch first place in the Western Conference IF: Chivas USA defeats FC Dallas on Thursday AND Houston fails to win against Real Salt Lake on Monda OR IF: Chivas USA ties FC Dallas on Thursday AND Houston loses to Real Salt Lake on Monday

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. Kansas City Wizards

New England Revolution vs. New York Red Bulls

Western Conference Semifinals

Chivas USA vs. Chicago Fire*

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) at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

MLS PLAYOFF RACE

Team : Points : Games Left : Max Pts.

D.C. United
: 54 : 2 : 60

Chivas USA
: 51 : 3 : 60

NE Revolution
: 49 : 2 : 55

Houston Dynamo
: 48 : 2 : 54

FC Dallas
: 43 : 2 : 49

NY Red Bulls
: 39 : 2 : 45

Kansas City Wizards
: 37 : 2 : 43

Chicago Fire
: 36 : 2 : 42

Colorado Rapids
: 32 : 2 : 38

Columbus Crew
: 31 : 2 : 37

LA Galaxy
: 30 : 3 : 39

Toronto FC
: 24 : 2 : 30

Real Salt Lake
: 24 : 2 : 30
*Indicates teams that have already clinched the 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.

REMAINING MLS REGULAR SEASON GAMES

(All times Eastern)
Thursday, October 11

Chivas USA at FC Dallas, 9:00 p.m. (ESPN2)

Saturday, October 13

Chicago Fire at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m. (HDNet)

Columbus Crew at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.

Kansas City Wizards at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.

Toronto FC at Los Angeles Galaxy, 10:30 p.m. (FSC, FSE, CBC)

Sunday, October 14

Colorado Rapids at Chivas USA, 3:00 p.m. (TeleFutura)

Monday, October 15

Houston Dynamo at Real Salt Lake, 9:00 p.m.