The 2005 MLS Cup Conference Championships are now set as two single-elimination games next weekend will determine the participants in MLS Cup 2005 to be played on November 13 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas (3:30 p.m. ET live on ABC Sports).
Eastern Conference Championship
Chicago Fire (# 3 seed) at New England Revolution (# 1 seed)
Gillette Stadium
Sunday, November 6, 2005
3:00 p.m. ET - ESPN2
Western Conference Championship
Los Angeles Galaxy (# 4 seed) at Colorado Rapids (# 3 seed)
INVESCO Field at Mile High
Saturday, November 5, 2005
9:00 p.m. ET - HDNet; Other TV TBD
The Chicago Fire earned their place in the Eastern Conference Championship game after defeating D.C. United 4-0 on Sunday, October 29 to win the aggregate goal series 4-0. The teams held each other scoreless last week in Chicago in the first game. The Revolution advanced with a come-from-behind 3-1 victory over the MetroStars on Saturday night, taking the series 3-2 on aggregate after losing the away leg 1-0 at Giants Stadium last weekend.
In the West, the Galaxy upset the San Jose Earthquakes - the top team during the regular season with 64 points - with a 4-2 aggregate score by tying last night 1-1 in San Jose after winning the opening game 3-1 at The Home Depot Center on October 22. Colorado advanced by defeating FC Dallas 5-4 in penalty kicks on October 29 at Pizza Hut Park after finishing the series even on goals. The teams had tied the first game 0-0 in Denver on October 22 and battled to a 2-2 tie after 120 minutes in the return leg last night in Frisco.
In the case that teams are tied following regulation time in the Conference Championships, a 30-minute extra time period will be played followed by penalty kicks if necessary. The winners of each of the Conference Championship games will advance to MLS Cup 2005.
How they qualified:
Eastern Conference Semifinals (Two-game series)
New England Revolution (No. 1) defeated the MetroStars (No. 4) 3-2 on aggregate.
October 22 - New England 0 at MetroStars 1
October 29 - MetroStars 1 at New England 3
Chicago Fire (No. 3) defeated D.C. United (No. 2) 4-0 on aggregate.
October 21 - D.C. United 0 at Chicago 0
October 30 - Chicago 4 at D.C. United 0
Western Conference Semifinals (Two-game series)
Los Angeles Galaxy (No. 4) defeated the San Jose Earthquakes (No. 1) 4-2 on aggregate
October 23 - San Jose 1 at Los Angeles 3
October 29 - Los Angeles 1 at San Jose 1
Colorado Rapids (No. 3) defeated FC Dallas (No. 2) 5-4 on Penalty Kicks after 2-2 aggregate.
October 22 - FC Dallas 0 at Colorado 0
October 29 - Colorado 2 at FC Dallas 2 (Colorado wins 5-4 on penalty kicks)
