MLS Cup 2009: Real Salt Lake vs LA Galaxy

posted by kidpurple November 15, 2009

MLS Cup 2009

real-salt-lakevs LA Galaxy

Real Salt Lake (#4 East) vs LA Galaxy (#1 West)

The semi-final tonight between Real Salt Lake and the Chicago Fire was a wild one.  Some people might say 120 minutes with no scoring is a boring game – but this was far from boring.  The game eventually went to a shootout and went to 7 shooters before Nick Rimando took over saving the last couple of Fire PKs.

Real Salt Lake had the better of the Galaxy during this past regular season with a single win and a single draw.  Will they be able to continue in their first ever MLS Cup Final?  Any predictions?  I’ll have mine later this coming week.

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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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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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Different paths to MLS Cup

posted by kidpurple November 18, 2008

So the New York Red Bulls made it to MLS Cup. I was wrong. Alexi Lalas was wrong. He has consequences to pay. People should expect me to be wrong. I was so sure RSL was gonna beat the Red Bulls, I’m glad I didn’t agree to do anything in case of a Red Bulls victory. Lalas now has to shotgun a can of Red Bull before MLS Cup.

The Red Bulls and the Columbus Crew have had a long journey to get to MLS Cup. They have had very different routes. The Crew were in 1st place in the league for a lot of the year and finished with the best record. They were the first team to qualify for the playoffs. The Red Bulls needed help from other teams to get in. They left the door open for both DC United and Colorado Rapids to take that playoff position if either team could get a win on the last week of the regular season.

One soccer mom is involved in a very different road to MLS Cup. Watch and see what I mean.

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Crew advance to first MLS Cup

posted by kidpurple November 13, 2008

The Columbus Crew had to overcome a 1-0 halftime defecit to beat the Chicago Fire 2-1 in the Eastern Conference final.  The Fire looked pretty good throughout most of the first half.  At halftime Alexi Lalas didn’t understand what was going on with the Crew.  He had predicted them to win the game.

The second half was like a totally different game.  The Crew looked like a championship team.  Thanks to goals by defender of the year Chad Marshall and Eddie Gavin the Crew still have a chance to become that championship team.

This will be the first trip to the MLS Cup for the Columbus Crew. Their opponents will also be newcomers to the MLS Cup.  The New York Red Bulls have been this far before but never won that conference final game.  Real Salt Lake made the playoffs for the first time in their history this year.

I am going to go ahead and fully agree with Alexi Lalas that Real Salt Lake will play the Crew for the Cup and the Crew do become MLS champions.  Lalas is going to shotgun some Red Bull if the Red Bulls are able to beat Real Salt Lake – that would be mildly interesting to see at least.

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