MLS Playoffs 2007 (R)

Here is a pretty good synopsis of the chances of the four teams still fighting for the final 2 available spots in the MLS playoffs:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mls/news;_ylt=AhVP...=yhoo&type=lgns

KANSAS CITY WIZARDS (10-12-7, 37 points)

A victory at FC Dallas on Saturday would guarantee the Wizards a playoff spot, regardless of all the other results. A draw in Dallas would clinch a postseason berth if Colorado fails to win.

A tie in Dallas and a Colorado victory would result either in a decisive goal-difference tiebreaker for the final postseason berth between the Wizards and Rapids, or a three-way tie-breaker between those two teams and Chicago unless the Galaxy beat Chicago after already failing to beat New York.

If Kansas City loses in Dallas, it still can reach the playoffs, but only if both of the following occur: The Galaxy take less than four points from their final two games and the Rapids lose.

Odds on making the playoffs: 2-1

CHICAGO FIRE (9-10-10, 37 points)

Beating the Galaxy at home would guarantee the Fire a playoff spot regardless of all the other results. Tying L.A. would clinch a berth unless Kansas City and Colorado both win their final games. In that instance, Chicago would lose a goal-difference tiebreaker to Colorado and be eliminated.

If the Fire loses to the Galaxy, they still can reach the postseason if at least two of the following occur: The Galaxy already has lost to New York on Thursday, Kansas City loses or Colorado loses.

Odds on making the playoffs: 2-1

COLORADO RAPIDS (9-12-8, 35 points)

A draw or a defeat at home to Real Salt Lake eliminates the Rapids. A win over RSL would guarantee them a place if Kansas City loses, regardless of the Fire-Galaxy result.

A Colorado victory and a Kansas City draw would result in a tiebreaker between the two based on goal difference. The team with a superior goal difference would go through; the other would be eliminated regardless of the Chicago-L.A. result.

A Rapids win and a Wizards win would result in Colorado being eliminated unless the Fire-Galaxy game ends in a draw. In that instance, Colorado would beat Chicago in a goal-difference tiebreaker and claim the final spot.

Odds on making the playoffs: 3-1

LOS ANGELES GALAXY (9-13-6, 33 points)

Winning both remaining games clinches the Galaxy a playoff berth. Anything less than a win and a draw eliminates them. A victory over New York and a draw in Chicago on Sunday still could be enough, but only if both Kansas City and Colorado lose on Saturday.

A draw against New York and a win in Chicago would put L.A. ahead of the Fire on tiebreakers, but that still would not be enough if the Wizards managed at least a draw and Colorado won on Saturday.

Odds on making the playoffs: 4-1

So of the four teams left only Colorado doesn't "control it's own destiny." in other words if KC, Chicago or LA win their remaining games they are in no matter what happens with the other teams. If Colorado wins their remaining match they still have to wait on other teams' results. It all begins tonight with NY playing at LA. Apparently Red Bulls, who are already in, are planning on resting some players. Will that mean they'll play loosely and without pressure or that they'll be easy prey for the suddenly streaking Galaxy?

I think the best of the contenders is Chicago. With some of teams near the top of the standings looking less impressive (DC, NE, Houston and Chivas have all looked better than they do now) they could cause some serious damage in the playoffs.

I'm underwhelmed by the Galaxy but they must be doing something right. Maybe their opponents (Houston and KC) tend to choke when the large crowds show up for "Beckham night"!

I'll switch over from the baseball playoffs in a few minutes and see if the Gals will take their chance to show me wrong.

Any team with Blanco will have a chance in a playoff series. He's the type of player with a free kick or a brilliant individual play can win a game on his own.

I watched the 1-1 tie between LA and NY. How did Juan Pablo Angel miss so many chances? Always seemed like he wanted to take one touch too many and that gave the defense time to recover. LA were lucky no penalty was called for the goalie's foul on New York's Richards. A very lively player that Richards. He was fun to watch.

I was wondering the same about Angel. He should have wrapped up that game in the first half with all the opportunities he had. And good point about LA catching a break with the no call on what was a penalty. MLS wouldn't be doing anything to favor the Galaxy now would they?

I really don't know what to expect from my Wizards when they travel to Dallas Saturday.

You'd like to think -- with so much on the line -- that KC could get the one point it most likely needs to secure a playoff spot playing against a Dallas team that really has nothing to play for in terms of seeding.

On the other hand, Dallas hasn't played for nine days and may want to trot out the regulars just to get them tuned up for the playoffs

What I do know is that KC hasn't been the same team it was earlier in the season. National team call-ups for Johnson and Conrad for the Gold Cup and Copa America halted KC's early season chemistry and momentum

An even bigger factor, imo, is Onalfo's apparent inability to adjust. After the Bunker Bob Gansler days, I think opponents were caught off guard at first by the Wizards all-out attacking mentality.

It didn't take long for opposing coaches to figure out that the way to handle KC was to disrupt the midfield, fouling if necessary, and cutting off the supply to Johnson. Plus, with KC committing so many numbers forward, it wasn't that hard to carve apart the Wizards' defense on the counter.

The saving grace in this game for KC may be Dallas' defensive deficiencies and their lack of incentive, other than stretching their legs for 90 minutes.

Sorry, not exactly play-off related, but a question about KC and their season, shel...early on it seemed like Marinelli was really providing good creativity for the Wizards, but has disappeared somewhat down the stretch. Now that I live out of the area I don't have a real good handle on what's been going on. Has the league figured him out? Simply a guy that blows hot and cold? Nursing an injury?

I'd like to see them in the playoffs, could be EJ's MLS swan song and it'd be nice to see him go out with a bang.

I was wondering the same about Angel. He should have wrapped up that game in the first half with all the opportunities he had. And good point about LA catching a break with the no call on what was a penalty. MLS wouldn't be doing anything to favor the Galaxy now would they?

I was disappointed in Angel's missed opportunities too. He moved well without the ball, looked good when he had the ball but then he looked like he wanted to take too many touches before shooting. Hopefully he corrects that before the playoff series versus New England. I agree with SuperEagle that Richards was a very entertaining winger to watch play.

Roos, Marinelli has been something of an enigma. He started out promisingly but hasn't delivered much -- one goal (on a PK) and, I think, a couple of assists. Onalfo also has kept him out of the starting XI fairly often lately.

I think there are several factors in play. He didn't have the benefit of preseason training with the team. In fact, I'm not sure he played much at all in 2005-06. He also came in nursing a hamstring injury, and I'm not sure he's played his way into "MLS shape."

There's no doubt about his skills, but he over-uses them. He frequently tries to take on 2-3 defenders when an early ball would be effective. For that reason, he's pretty easy to shut down, thus choking off the supply to EJ.

Beyond that, I'm not sure where this guy's head is. He was one of any number of Argentines who was designated the next Maradonna at an early age. He went off to Middlesborough, then Italy and Portugal, never really delivering anything along the way.

So, maybe is just a case of a promising young player who really didn't mature.

In games involving the playoff fight, these were Saturday's scores:

Dallas 0 Kansas City 2
Real Salt Lake 1 Colorado 0

Two goals for Scott Sealey for KC as they qualify for the playoffs. Say who said soccer specific stadiums would get rid of american football lines? Dallas' field was covered in them. Colorado's loss eliminates them. So it all comes down to the Chicago-Los Angeles game tomorrow. Chicago qualifies with a win or a tie, LA must win in order to advance. Sets up some good drama.

By the way Chivas USA and Houston played an extremely dull 0-0 game, but the tie clinches the western conference title for Chivas USA.

It is good to have such a decisive game end the regular season. I am looking forward to watching this game. My only wish is Chicago doesn't try and get too conservative knowing a tie is good enough to advance. That is a recipe for disaster usually.

Chicago gets a late goal from Thorrington to beat Los Angeles 1-0 and qualify for the playoffs. Probably a deserved result as Chicago had many more opportunities but couldn't beat an inspired Joe Cannon in LA's goal before Thorrington decded the best way to do so was over not through him!

Joe Cannon saved LA from a much larger defeat with some excellent stops. as manzanares wrote though Thorrington smartly chipped it over him when everyone else failed by shooting it hard and low.

Did Landon Donovan play in this game? You sure didn't see much of him. Good game from Chicago's Conde in midfield.

I see what the Chicago fans mean by Chad Barrett's ability to frustrate the fans. Hard to believe a player as clueless as he is a starter for a team as good as Chicago. Blanco I thought had a good game against Los Angeles but he was let down so many times by Barrett's naivety on the field. enganche is right that Cannon saved LA from a much larger defeat and he kept them in the game with his good saves and Chicago's faulty finishing. Again I agree with enganche in asking about Landon Donovan. He did go missing in this game. You can excuse Beckham due to his injuries for not having an influence on the game but Donovan is supposed to be healthy but was AWOL.

Chicago's defense and the individual ability of Blanco, Conde and a few others will keep Chicago in all their games but I don't see them going far in the playoffs. DC United has too many ways to beat their opponents and I think they'll show that against Chicago.

I beg to differ Sergio. I think the Fire matches up better with the east clubs and their recent matches against DC (though DC was missing players) showed me that the Fire can play with DC in important matches.

The Fire & DC have met three previous times in the playoffs with the Fire winning each time ('98, '03, & '05). I think they can do it again.

Osorio may end up deciding that he can't keep Barrett in the lineup any longer and Thorrington in the midfield may be his best option (moving Rolfe up front).

As for LD being missing, he was always lurking and moved the ball into position several times but he didn't shoot himself, never decided to charge into the box himself. Conde, Pause, and Segares all defended him well at various points in the match.