The 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs game dates and television schedules are complete. All 11 post-season games will be televised, nine to national audiences on MLS broadcast partners ABC, ESPN2, Telefutura, HDNet, Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Español. Regional television schedules are also included below.
The MLS Cup Playoffs kick off Thursday night in primetime on ESPN2 at 8:30 p.m. ET when the top team in the Eastern Conference, Supporters' Shield winner D.C. United, faces the red hot Chicago Fire. Chicago is unbeaten in eight straight games and is coming off a big victory that pushed the Fire into the playoffs.
The other three Conference Semifinal matches take place on Saturday. In the Eastern Conference, the New York Red Bulls host the New England Revolution. Chivas USA, the top team in the Western Conference, travels to play the Kansas City Wizards, who qualified as the fifth team from the Eastern Conference, and shifted over to become the fourth seed in the West. Defending MLS Cup Champions Houston Dynamo travel to Frisco, Texas to face intrastate rivals FC Dallas.
Playoff Format
All four Conference Semifinals Series will be decided by a home-and-home, aggregate goal format.
• The team that scores more goals in the two-game series will advance.
• All goals scored are counted equally; there is no away goals preference.
• If the score is tied after 90 minutes of the first game, no overtime period will be played; the game ends in a tie.
• If the total goals in the series are tied after 90 minutes of the second game, a 30 minute overtime period (two 15-minute halves) will be played in its entirety (no golden goal).
• If the total goals in the series remain tied after 30 minutes of overtime, a penalty kick tiebreaker will determine the team that advances.
• The same tiebreaking procedures are used if a Conference Championship is tied after 90 minutes.
• Each of the two Conference Championships will be determined by a single game at the higher seed's home venue.
For both the Conference Championships and MLS Cup, if the score is tied after 90 minutes, a 30-minute overtime period (two 15-minute halves) will be played in its entirety. If the score remains tied after 30 minutes of overtime, a penalty kick tiebreaker will determine the team that advances or wins MLS Cup.
MLS Cup 2007 is Sunday, Nov. 18 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., at Noon ET (ABC and TeleFutura).
All times Eastern; schedule subject to change
Printable bracket:
CLICK HERE
Complete playoff media guide:
CLICK HERE
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Series Guide:
CLICK HERE
Thursday, Oct. 25:
Game 1: D.C. United at Chicago Fire, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Thursday, Nov. 1:
Game 2: Chicago Fire at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Series Guide:
CLICK HERE
Saturday, Oct. 27:
Game 1: New England Revolution at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. (FSC, FSE)
Saturday, Nov. 3:
Game 2: New York Red Bulls at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. (FSC, FSE)
WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Series guide:
CLICK HERE
Saturday, Oct. 27:
Game 1: Chivas USA at Kansas City Wizards, 8:30 p.m. (FSN Prime Ticket, Metro Sports, Direct Kick, MLSnet.com)
Saturday, Nov. 3:
Game 2: Kansas City Wizards at Chivas USA, 10:30 p.m. (HDNet, Metro Sports, Direct Kick, MLSnet.com)
Series guide:
CLICK HERE
Saturday, Oct. 27:
Game 1: Houston Dynamo at FC Dallas, 8:00 p.m.
(HDNet, Channel 55, Direct Kick, MLSnet.com)
Friday, Nov. 2: Game 2: FC Dallas at Houston Dynamo, 8:30 p.m. (Channel 52, Direct Kick, MLSnet.com)
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Thurs., Nov. 8:
Eastern Conference Championship, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Sat., Nov. 10:
Western Conference Championship, TBD (FSC, FSE, HDNet)
MLS CUP 2007
Sun., Nov. 18:
Noon (ABC and TeleFutura) at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Key:
FSC - Fox Soccer Channel
FSE - Fox Sports en Español
MLS Cup Playoffs Matchup Notes
D.C. United vs. Chicago Fire
• Season series: June 16 - CHI at DC (1-3); Sept. 23 - DC at CHI (1-1); Oct. 13 - CHI at DC (0-0)
• Playoff History: Chicago holds the upper hand when playing D.C. in the postseason. Chicago has beaten D.C. four of the five times (one of the games ended in a tie) the teams have played in MLS Cup Playoffs. One of those wins includes MLS Cup 1998 when Chicago beat the two-time defending champions D.C. United 2-0. D.C. has yet to score against Chicago in postseason play.
• D.C. United forward Luciano Emilio won the Budweiser Golden Boot awarded to the League's top goal scorer. His 20 goals were the most among all MLS players, and it was the first time since 2002 (Carlos Ruiz 24) that a player had a 20-goal season.
• D.C. is among the hottest teams in MLS entering the playoffs, having tallied 19 points in their last 10 games, but United are winless in their last three games (0-1-2).
• Chicago is on an 8-game unbeaten streak entering the playoffs.
Both teams have only lost one of their last ten games. United's 13-game unbeaten streak came to an end when it lost its final regular season match on Oct. 19 to Columbus 3-2. Chicago has not lost since September 1.
• Since joining the Fire on July 29, Designated Player Cuauhtemoc Blanco has sparked Chicago's run to the playoffs. Blanco has scored four goals (two game-winning) and recorded seven assists in fourteen games played. He also has played a part in 11 of the 18 goals Chicago has scored since his arrival.
• D.C. United won its second straight Supporters' Shield, awarded to the team with the best regular season record.
New England Revolution vs. New York Red Bulls
• Season series: July 14 - NE at NY (1-0); Aug. 25 - NY at NE (1-2); Sept.22 - NE at NY (2-2)
• New York Red Bulls forward and Designated Player Juan Pablo Angel finished second in race for the Golden Boot as he recorded 19 goals during the regular season.
• New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman has scored three of his 16 goals (third in MLS) this season against the Red Bulls.
New England Revolution midfielder and MLS original Steve Ralston led the League in assists with 14.
• This matchup could be won on the wings as both teams outside midfield play is among the best in the League. New England's Ralston and Khano Smith combined for 20 assists this season, and New York's Dane Richards and Dave Van den Bergh combined for 14 assists.
• Playoff History: The two teams have met twice (2003 and 2005). The Revolution has won both two-game series.
Chivas USA vs. Kansas City Wizards
• Season series: July 29 - CHV at KC (2-3); Sept. 22 - KC at CHV (1-2)
• Chivas USA Goalkeeper Brad Guzan led the League in shutouts with 13 during the regular season, which ranks for second all-time in the regular season.
• Chivas USA's forward tandem of Maykel Galindo and Ante Razov combined for 23 goals during the regular season.
• Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan followed up a good rookie campaign with a stellar second season, as he scored four goals and recorded the second most assists in the League with 13. His matchup with Wizards midfielder Davy Arnaud will be an interesting one. Arnaud recorded four goals and nine assists this season, and each plays with a fearless style.
Razov, second in MLS career goals with 109, may miss the playoffs with a knee injury.
• Kansas City forward Eddie Johnson ranked fourth in the league in goals scored with 15.
• Playoff History: This is the first meeting between the two teams in the Playoffs.
Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas
• Season series: June 3 - DAL at HOU (1-2); June 30 - HOU at DAL (0-0); Aug. 19 - DAL at HOU (0-1); Sept. 30 - HOU at DAL (3-0)
• Houston Goalkeeper Pat Onstad recorded a 0.82 goals against average this season, which ranks as the best ever in an MLS season. His 11 shut outs ranked second this season and his 13 wins ranked third.
• Houston's defense allowed only 23 goals all season, the fewest in the 12-year history of the League. FC Dallas' offense ranked ninth among 13 teams with 37 goals scored
• FC Dallas midfielder Juan Toja had a standout season in his first MLS season, scoring six goals.
• The defending MLS Cup Champions Houston Dyanmo have just one loss in their last nine games.
• Playoff History: This is the first playoff meeting between the intrastate rivals.
MLS Cup Playoffs qualification procedures are as follows:
• 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.
