Breaking down the MLS postseason scenarios

Oct 25, 2008 - 10:26 AM By Bill Bernardi PA SportsTicker Soccer Editor

The MLS kicked off its season on March 29, and with its first header came both promise and expectation.

Seven months and 414 collective matches later, six sides have qualified for the postseason - leaving two spots left to be filled on the league's dance card.

First, let's look at who's in:

The Columbus Crew (16-7-6) clinched the Supporters Shield as the league's top team. In addition, they've also staked their claim to home field in the Eastern Conference championship, while the Houston Dynamo (13-5-11) have done the same in the Western Conference. Furthermore, the Chicago Fire (13-10-7), New England Revolution (12-10-7), Kansas City Wizards (10-10-9) and Chivas USA (12-11-6) have all clinched playoff berths.

Kudos to them, they can rest easy as the season enters its final weekend. Some other teams, however, don't have that luxury.

So with that in mind, let's take a closer look at this weekend's festivities on the pitch.

The best of the four Saturday matches takes place in "The Centennial State" as Real Salt Lake (10-10-9) visits the Colorado Rapids (11-14-4) in what amounts to a winner-take-all match.

The winning side would clinch both the No. 3 spot in the West and a date with Chivas USA in the conference semifinals, while eliminating the losing team from postseason contention. A draw would net Real the coveted berth, while eliminating the Rapids in the process.

"It would be great to be part of a team making its first playoffs," Real veteran midfielder Clint Mathis said. "You never know what could happen if we get there."

"We've won come-from-behind, we've won staying ahead - it's just a matter of getting it done and being sharp and wanting it more," Rapids midfielder Pablo Mastroeni said.

On Saturday's undercard is the Wizards-Revolution clash in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Both sides have clinched a postseason berth, with New England occupying the No. 3 seed in the East and a date with the second-seeded Fire in the conference semifinals.

Should the Wizards emerge victorious, the fourth spot in the East would be theirs - along with a matchup against the top-seeded Crew in the postseason.

Should the Revolution persevere, the Wizards could still clinch the fourth seed in the East with a D.C. United loss to Columbus on Sunday. Should the American capital contingent net a victory, Kansas City claims both the No. 4 seed in the West and a date with the Dynamo.

And should the Wizards draw with the Revolution, Kansas City would claim the fourth seed in the East if D.C. does not win by three goals or more. Should the latter happen, the Wizards would be sent to the West.

Focusing on D.C. United, a Wizards victory nets it the No. 4 seed in the West (and a date with Houston) and officially eliminates the New York Red Bulls (10-11-9).

"There were a lot of good lessons learned by our older guys from the young guys this year, going out and competing in environments that are really tough," D.C. United coach Tom Soehn said. "And it's carried over. Our mentality's a lot better, it's a lot healthier - the confidence to pull through and get a result."

If the United draws with the Crew, D.C. is eliminated and the Red Bulls claim the fourth seed in the West.

"After a performance like that, I have a very big question mark as to if we deserve to be in the playoffs," Red Bulls coach Juan Carlos Osorio said following Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Fire.

"I think it is unacceptable. We let everybody down, mainly ourselves."

As for Saturday's other matches, they have no bearing on the playoffs. Conference cellar dwellers Toronto FC (9-12-8) and the San Jose Earthquakes (7-13-9) compete with nothing more than pride on the line, while Houston and.Chivas USA will also do battle. The Dynamo have secured the top spot in the West, with Chivas occupying the second seed.

Sunday's FC Dallas (8-10-11) challenges the Los Angeles Galaxy (8-13-8) in a battle of teams who are eliminated from postseason contention.

The conference semifinals begin on October 30 and the conference championships are slated to begin on November 13.

The MLS Cup 2008 will take place on November 23 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California.