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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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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MLS Goal of the Year rivalry

posted by kidpurple November 18, 2008

The voting for MLS goal of the year is down to 5 finalists. That list of the 5 finalists does not contain the clear winner in my mind which was Gallardo’s full volley from an impossible (well at least tough) angle. That is a different story though.

The KC Wizards official blog has asked readers to vote for anyone other than NYRB goalkeeper Danny Cepero’s goal.

The Red Bulls Reader responds and says they want to vote for Danny’s goal 200 times.

I have to agree with the Wizards on this one. The Cepero goal was an amazing goal but here is my thought. If the opposing goalkeeper had just stood on his line he could have just caught the ball. It was more of a mistake from the other keeper than a great goal.

Watch all the goals and try to imagine what they would be like if there was no defense or goalkeeper on the field. What would the goal look like if a video editor could take out all the defense? Who gets my vote then? Blanco.

Don’t forget to go vote yourself – even if you think Cepero should win.

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Kansas City Wizards get a new home

posted by kidpurple November 6, 2007

The Wizards will be moving to the Community America Ballpark for the next 2 season.  The 5 year old ballpark is home to a minor league baseball team in Kansas City, Kansas.  Community America Ballpark had a record attendance at only 10,345.  Most MLS teams have a higher average attendace than that, but the Wizards are usually at or towards the bottom of the attendance numbers list.

The move is supposed to be a temporary one.  A soccer stadium that would become the permanent home of the Wizards should be in the works within that 2 year time frame.

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Predicting the postseason

posted by kidpurple November 5, 2007

Well a weekend full of season ending games and a couple more end of the year awards have been finalized. How are my predictions going?

I correctly predicted that the 4th seed Chicago Fire took out overall league leaders DC United.

I also predicted that the 5th place (East) Kansas City Wizards would defeat 1st place (West) Chivas USA. That happened after a 1-0 KC win in KC and a scoreless draw back in LA this weekend.

Both of the #2 seeds advanced like I predicted, but Houston had to come back and use overtime to dispose of FC Dallas. The Revolution just got a single goal from Taylor Twellman to drop the Red Bulls.

I correctly picked the goalkeeper of the year and the fair play award. The newest awards were given to Eddie Johnson for comeback player of the year, and then the first one I got wrong was defender of the year. Eddie Robinson was my prediction but Michael Parkhurst won the award. So much for a perfect round of post season predictions…

So the next round looks like this:

Chicago Fire @ New England Revolution

Kansas City Wizards @ Houston Dynamo

It looks like we are set up for a repeat of last years MLS Cup, but I’m not making my predictions yet. I imagine KC and Houston both are hoping for a Revolution win on Thursday because no one can lose the big game quite like the Revolution can.

ps – I kinda thought the LA Galaxy might beat Hollywood United yesterday, which they apparently did, 12 – 4.

Posted in 2007 Playoffs, Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, DC United, Eddie Johnson, Eddie Robinson, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, Michael Parkhurst, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Taylor Twellman | Tagged , | Comments (0)