MLS Cup Playoff Schedue is set

posted by kidpurple October 26, 2009

Columbus Crew Logo VS Real Salt Lake

Columbus Crew (#1 East) vs Real Salt Lake (#5 West)
Game 1: Saturday October 31st – 5:30 PM @ Salt Lake
Game 2: Thursday November 5th – 7:00 PM @ Columbus (ESPN2)
Regular Season Series tied 1-1

Chicago Fire vs New England Revolution

Chicago Fire (#2 East) vs New England Revolution (#3 East)
Game 1: Sunday November 1st- 1:00 PM @ New England (Fox Soccer Channel)
Game 2: Saturday November 7th – 7:30 PM @ Chicago (Fox Soccer Channel)
Regular Season Seried tied 0-0-2

LA Galaxy vs Chivas USA

LA Galaxy (#1 West) vs Chivas USA (#4 West)
Game 1: Sunday November 1st – 4:00 PM @ Chivas (ESPN2)
Game 2: Sunday November 8th – 6:30 PM @ Galaxy (ESPN2)
Regular Season Series: Galaxy lead 2-0-1

Houston Dynamo vs Seattle Sounders

Houston Dynamo (#2 West) vs Seattle Sounders FC (#3 West)
Game 1: Thursday October 29th – 9:00 PM (ESPN2) @ Seattle
Game 2: Sunday November 8th – 2:00 PM @ Houston
Regular Season Series: Seattle lead 1-0-1

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Chicago Fire join the playoffs

posted by kidpurple October 22, 2009

The Fire joined the 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs tonight with a victory over Chivas USA. A single point would have put them in, but they ended up with a 1-0 victory on an own goal scored by Eduardo Lillingston in the 67th minute.

Here is the updated standings:

49 Columbus
45 Los Angeles
45 Houston
45 Chivas USA
45 Chicago
44 Seattle
40 Colorado
39 Toronto FC
—
39 FC Dallas
39 New England
39 D.C. United
37 Real Salt Lake
32 Kansas City
30 San Jose
18 New York

Who is next?

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Chivas USA and Seattle Sounders FC join playoffs

posted by kidpurple October 20, 2009

Chivas USA and Seattle Sounders FC both have guaranteed themselves a spot in the 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs. They are joining defending champions Columbus Crew along with Houston Dynamo and LA Galaxy.

That leaves 3 positions up for grabs on the last weekend of the year. Those 3 spots that are up for grabs will have 7 teams possibly still alive to grab one of them. Right now the 3 teams that control their own fate are Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, and Toronto FC. If they win, they are in. Chicago Fire only need a single point to ensure their spot.

The other teams that need to win and get some help are FC Dallas, New England Revolution, DC United, and Real Salt Lake. Real Salt Lake would almost need a miracle to sneak their way in, but it is still possible.

This is what the single table looks like going into the last week:

49 Columbus
45 Los Angeles
45 Houston
45 Chivas USA
44 Seattle
42 Chicago
40 Colorado
39 Toronto FC
—
39 FC Dallas
39 New England
39 D.C. United
37 Real Salt Lake
32 Kansas City
30 San Jose
18 New York

I think DC United might be able to sneak in there at the expense of the Rapids. Colorado has to play at Real Salt Lake while DC United has the Kansas City Wizards. Chicago Fire and Toronto FC will keep their positions.

What do you think? Who will grab those final 3 spots?

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Bad day for MLS in US Open Cup

posted by kidpurple June 30, 2009

US Open CupSeveral MLS teams took place in the 3rd round of the US Open Cup today.  A few of those teams will play again in the 4th round – several will not.

Defending MLS Champions Columbus Crew went to OT and then to PKs against the always dangerous Rochester Rhinos.  The Rhinos came out on top in PKs at 5-3 to move on.

The Chicago Fire have been hot in MLS play – but they couldn’t keep it up against Wilmington Hammerheads.   The only goal of the game went to the Hammerheads in the first half.  Four time US Open Cup champions Chicago Fire can now focus on the MLS regular season.

Chivas USA was the third MLS side to fall to a lower division opponent.  They ran into the Charleston Battery and went home 3-1 losers.

Some MLS teams did advance out of this round.  DC United beat the Ocean City Barons 2-0 and The Kansas City Wizards snuck out of Minnesota with after winning 4-2 on PKs after a 3-3 draw.

A couple teams will still be in action on July 1st.  The Houston Dynamo will be playing at the Austin Aztecs while Seattle Sounders FC will be playing at their old USL rivals Portland Timbers.

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Seattle Sounders FC dominating all star voting

posted by kidpurple May 20, 2009

Fan voting is under way for this years MLS All Star Game.  Just like with other all star games sometimes the fans of one team can dominate the voting.  Luckily for everyone that is not on the Seattle Sounders FC roster the fans vote only count 25% of the final tally to determine the starting 11.  If that were not the case – as of today the All Star starting 11 would be made up of 8 Seattle Sounders FC players.

Kasey Keller, Freddie Ljungberg, Fredy Montero, Osvaldo Alonso, Tyrone Marshall, Steve Zakuani and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado are the top 7 in the voting right now, while James Riley comes in at the 9th highest voting total.  Non-Seattle players currently in the top 11 are Columbus Crew defender Frankie Hejduk, TFC’s Dwayne De Rosario and LA Galaxy’s Landon Donovan.

How would that be for a starting lineup?

The team that is 8 points ahead of anyone else in the league (Chivas USA) would not even be represented.  Certainly someone there must be worthy?  Would Brian McBride not make the starting 11?  How about Josh Wolff?

Maybe Seattle will get into gear and get a starting 11 fully represented by Seattle Sounders FC players.  That would be swell.  Would MLS realize then that fan voting for all stars is a bad idea?

What do you think?  Should fans still be able to get 25% of decision of who starts the all star game?

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Who is the man?

posted by kidpurple May 16, 2009

These guys are on fire right now. Sorry if you think I’m excluding someone more deserving.

Josh Wolff

Josh Wolff

This 32 year old striker for the Kansas City Wizards struck Real Salt Lake for 2 goals today. This has Wolff right up near the top of the season scoring leaders.
Zach Thornton

Zach Thornton

Thornton started out as a backup keeper for Chivas USA. Just earlier tonight he beat Brad Guzan’s Chivas USA record for most consecutive shutout minutes – and he is still adding to it.

Both of these guys left Major League Soccer and eventually came back. Neither were too successful in Europe but they both seem to have a bright future in MLS.

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