MLS Cup: Revs unlucky in opener

Chicago 0-0 New England (Gillette Stadium)
The 2008 MLS Cup playoffs opened up with arguably the best match-up that fans will see until the Cup final, as New England drew 0-0 with Chicago in the first leg of the #2 vs. #3 Eastern Conference semi-final. The Revolution, who were without three starters -- Taylor Twellman, Steve Ralston and Adam Cristman, were unlucky to come away with only a point, as they clearly had the better run of play in the second half and would have scored if not for some timely tackles by John Thorrington and Bakary Soudmare. Chicago may count themselves unlucky as well, considering they had a Brian McBride goal disallowed for offside, but replays showed that it was the correct call. The Fire will host New England at Toyota Park on November 6 in a winner take all match.

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MLS Cup: Format tougher for East seeds

The 2008 MLS Cup tournament begins on Thursday, October 30, and while Houston get to play the worst qualifying team (ranked eighth on a single table), Columbus (who won the true championship of MLS -- the Supporters Shield) have to play the sixth team overall, a streaking Kansas City. And thanks to MLS Cup's farcical format, Chicago face New England, while Chivas USA get Salt Lake. Here's the rundown of match-ups.

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

#2 (#3) Chicago vs. #3 (#4) New England

#1 (#1) Columbus vs. #4 (#6) Kansas City

WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

#2 (#5) Chivas USA vs. #3 (#7 ) Salt Lake

#1 (#2)Houston vs. #4 (#8) New York

*Conference Rank (Single-Table Rank)

Click here for the complete MLS Cup schedule.

TYH'S MLS BEST 11 (Week 31)

GOALKEEPER

W. Hesmer (CLB)

DEFENDERS

R. Cochrane (SJ), J. Curtin (CHV), F. Hejduk (CLB), D. Moor (DAL)

MIDFIELDERS

L. Donovan (LA), J. Morales (RSL), R. O'Biren (SJ)

FORWARDS

C. Rolfe (CHI), Y. Movsisyan (RSL), C. Lopez (KC)

MLS Sunday: United, they fall (Week 31)

DC United 0-1 Columbus (Crew Stadium)

In one of those season defining moments, Luciano Emilio beat the keeper one-v-one, fired a shot past the the fractured defense and ... hit the far post. Brad Evans scored the lone goal of the game, a spectacular long-range effort, and shattered the hopes of DC United fans, knocking the once dynastic club out of the playoffs in the final game of the regular season. DC's loss clears the way for the New York Red Bulls to back into the MLS playoffs, where they will switch conferences as the last team to qualify for the Cup.
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Los Angeles 2-2 FC Dallas (HDC)
Landon Donovan's 79th minute penalty kick gave LD the regular season Golden Boot and assured that the Galaxy would not suffer the humiliation of finishing dead last in Major League Soccer this season ... by themselves at least. The point assured that they would finish level on points with re-expanded San Jose. Edson Buddle scored his 15 goal of the season, but the LA defense did what it do. You know what I'm sayin'? They surrendered two goals in five minutes to Drew Moor and Victor Sikora, a couple of guys who have a total of three goals this year between them. Each side also saw players ejected, as Alvaro Pires (LA) was sent off with a straihgt red in the 40th and Aaron Pitchkolan was sent off four minutes into the second half with a second caution.

MLS Saturday: Colo cry Salty tears (Week 31)

Salt Lake 1-1 Colorado (DSG Park)
With a dramatic 90th minute goal, Yura Movsisyan saved RSL from elimination by equalizing Conor Casey's 11th goal of the season. The draw allows RSL to punch their ticket into the MLS Cup and eliminates Colorado on the final weekend of the regular season.
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Kansas City 3-1 New England (Gillette Stadium)
It was not the way New England wanted to go into the playoffs, as the Revs saw two players sent off in a 3-1 loss to KC. The Wizards Claudion Lopez scored from the spot after Gabriel Badilla was ejected for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity in the 28th minute. Just before halftime, Khano Smith was also sent off for a hard foul on Herculez Gomez (retaliation for Steve Ralston, perhaps?). In the second half, KC added a goal from Davy Arnaud and an own goal scored off the Revs Michael Parkhurst. The Revolution's Jeff Larentowicz managed a consolation goal in the 90th minute.

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Toronto 0-2 San Jose (BS Stadium)
In a game with no MLS Cup implications, San Jose managed the home win, getting goals from Ryan Cochrane and Shea Salinas (from the penalty spot). The win put San Jose a point over Los Angeles, who currently have the worst record in MLS but have a game to play.

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Houston 1-1 Chivas USA (HDC)
Also, no direct playoff implications in the other nightcap, as Houston's Dwayne DeRosario and Chivas USA's Jim Curtin exchanged second-half goals. But Chivas USA will be without their keeper for the first match of the playoffs, after Dan Kennedy, who stopped one PK, was sent off for taking down Nate Jaqua on a breakaway.

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MLS Thursday: NY Rolfed up (Week 31)

New York 2-5 Chicago (Toyota Park)
With their playoff chances on the line, a win and your in scenario, the Red Bulls did what it does best ... they choked -- hard. Chris Rolfe rolfed all over the NY defense, scoring a FIRST-HALF hattrick, en route to a rout. Juan Pablo Angel equalized after the initial Rolfe score, but after two-more by the diminutive University of Dayton product and then two more Fire goals by Brian McBride and Daniel Woolard on the other side of halftime, the Red Bulls were looking like pink ponies. Macoumba Kandji scored a meaningless goal for NY in the 88th. Now, New York must pray that both DC and Colorado lose their matches, so they can back in to the MLS Cup playoffs. New York's loss also puts KC in to the playoffs regardless of this weekend's results.

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TYH'S MLS BEST 11 (Week 30)

GOALKEEPER

L. Crayton (DC)

DEFENDERS

J. Bornstein (CHV), W. Barrett (HOU), P. Mastroeni (COL)

MIDFIELDERS

S. Holden (HOU), R. Ricketts (TFC), D. DeRosario (HOU), J. Morales (RSL)

FORWARDS

F. Doe (DC), J.P. Angel (NY), C. Lopez (KC)

The MLS Cup playoff picture

What if I show them my man boobs?

With one match to play, five teams are vying for the final three spots in the MLS Cup playoffs. Taking into consideration tie-breaks (head-to-head, then goal differential), these are the current standings:

TEAM	GP	W	L	D	Pts.	Diff
Kansas City	29	10	10	9	39	-4
New York	29	10	10	9	39	-3
Salt Lake	29	10	10	9	39	1
Colorado	29	11	14	4	37	-1
DC United	29	11	14	4	37	-7

As you can see, Kansas City, New York and Real Salt Lake are all in the driver's seat. The match to watch next week will be Real Salt Lake versus Colorado, with the winner most likely punching their ticket to the MLS Cup playoffs. The other four clubs will face teams that have already qualified or have been eliminated. DC face Columbus on Sunday, who will likely rest their starters, but even if the Red-and-Black manage a win, they could be eliminated if Colorado beat Real Salt Lake. This is because Colorado boast a much better goal differential, meaning DC would have to win by something like eight goals (depending on the score of Colorado v Salt Lake) to move ahead on the tie-break.

Is all that too confusing?