After 30 grueling games the MLS playoffs have finally come. This means that every one is on even playing ground with the overall goal of being the MLS Champion.
The playoff format for the MLS playoffs is that the top 2 teams from each conference are in then the next 4 teams, no matter which conference, are in as wild card spots in their respective divisions. If more than 4 teams of one conference make the playoffs then the fifth will transfer over to the other conference.
This is how the playoffs look this year, the top two seeds in the the western conference is LA (#1) and Houston (#2), and Columbus (#1) and Chicago (#2) have the top honors in the East. This year there are three Western Conference teams with Real Salt Lake winning the final wild card spot over the weekend.
As for the Sounders they grabbed the 3rd spot in the West from their win on Saturday and LA and Houston winning clinching the top spots. What does this mean for the Sounders?
The Sounders are going to play Houston in the first round of the playoffs as the 2 and 3 spot face off. The first round of the playoffs has each team playing one home game and whoever has the most goals overall moves on. So the Sounders will play one at home this week on Thursday and one at Houston next week.
This year the Sounders and Dynamo have had very close matches with the Sounders winning twice (one being an overtime win in the US Open Cup) and tying once on the road. In the closing out of the season in the month of October the Sounders have been hotter winning all 3 games (2 on the road) and Houston winning 1 and tying 2.
Through this last month the Sounders have shown real strength in going on the road and winning crucial games and also, finally, being able to score at home. The Sounders are a young team in the league, but have a lineup filled with quality veterans in Captain Kasey Keller, Midfileder Freddie Ljungberg and, the now winningest coach in the MLS, Sigi Schmid.
I see the Sounders coming out strong and winning the first game and tying the second game to move on.
The other game in the Western Conference is Chivas USA vs. LA Galaxy. This is a very intriguing match up with both teams situated in LA, play on the same pitch and have the prestigious Super Classico going on between them. Since they both play on the same field there is no home field advantage for either team here.
LA has the advantage on the regular season winning one game and both teams tying the other. This season Chivas has been an interesting team starting off the season with well with a good 7-1-3 record but cooling down then heating up again to make the playoffs.
LA has been the opposite starting out decent but really heating up after the return of David Beckham. I see LA winning big in the first game then Chivas winning the second, but LA advancing because of the number of goals scored in the first game.
On the other side of the bracket in the Eastern Conference the one team that has really dominated in Columbus who has won the Supporters Shield (Won by the team with the most points at the end of the season).
I see Columbus really dominating their first match up and having the best chance to advance to the finals. One team that does intrigue me is the New England Revolution who has really surged at the end of the season to make the playoffs, and I see that fighting spirit carrying over to the playoffs. Look for them to upset Chicago in the first round.
Overall I see Columbus advancing to the finals from the East. The other side is harder to predict as the Sounders and LA are pretty evenly matched, with both sides having seasoned veterans and well coached sides, but I see the coaching of Sigi Schmid pushing the Sounders over the edge.
Sigi has really been outstanding coaching this team in crucial road games and overcoming the top team Columbus at home earlier this month, who before hadn't lost a game at home in 22 games. I see the Sounders winning in overtime.
This makes a fun Sounders vs. Columbus game. Columbus having the advantage of playoff experience and personnel, and the Sounders having the advantage of coaching and home field advantage. I could see this game going into overtime and possibly PKs.
I just hope the Sounders could pull off an inaugural season championship run, something that hasn't happened since 1998 with Chicago.
What are your thoughts on the playoffs? Do you think the Sounders could pull this off? Or will they fall early?
The playoff format for the MLS playoffs is that the top 2 teams from each conference are in then the next 4 teams, no matter which conference, are in as wild card spots in their respective divisions. If more than 4 teams of one conference make the playoffs then the fifth will transfer over to the other conference.
This is how the playoffs look this year, the top two seeds in the the western conference is LA (#1) and Houston (#2), and Columbus (#1) and Chicago (#2) have the top honors in the East. This year there are three Western Conference teams with Real Salt Lake winning the final wild card spot over the weekend.
As for the Sounders they grabbed the 3rd spot in the West from their win on Saturday and LA and Houston winning clinching the top spots. What does this mean for the Sounders?
The Sounders are going to play Houston in the first round of the playoffs as the 2 and 3 spot face off. The first round of the playoffs has each team playing one home game and whoever has the most goals overall moves on. So the Sounders will play one at home this week on Thursday and one at Houston next week.
This year the Sounders and Dynamo have had very close matches with the Sounders winning twice (one being an overtime win in the US Open Cup) and tying once on the road. In the closing out of the season in the month of October the Sounders have been hotter winning all 3 games (2 on the road) and Houston winning 1 and tying 2.
Through this last month the Sounders have shown real strength in going on the road and winning crucial games and also, finally, being able to score at home. The Sounders are a young team in the league, but have a lineup filled with quality veterans in Captain Kasey Keller, Midfileder Freddie Ljungberg and, the now winningest coach in the MLS, Sigi Schmid.
I see the Sounders coming out strong and winning the first game and tying the second game to move on.
The other game in the Western Conference is Chivas USA vs. LA Galaxy. This is a very intriguing match up with both teams situated in LA, play on the same pitch and have the prestigious Super Classico going on between them. Since they both play on the same field there is no home field advantage for either team here.
LA has the advantage on the regular season winning one game and both teams tying the other. This season Chivas has been an interesting team starting off the season with well with a good 7-1-3 record but cooling down then heating up again to make the playoffs.
LA has been the opposite starting out decent but really heating up after the return of David Beckham. I see LA winning big in the first game then Chivas winning the second, but LA advancing because of the number of goals scored in the first game.
On the other side of the bracket in the Eastern Conference the one team that has really dominated in Columbus who has won the Supporters Shield (Won by the team with the most points at the end of the season).
I see Columbus really dominating their first match up and having the best chance to advance to the finals. One team that does intrigue me is the New England Revolution who has really surged at the end of the season to make the playoffs, and I see that fighting spirit carrying over to the playoffs. Look for them to upset Chicago in the first round.
Overall I see Columbus advancing to the finals from the East. The other side is harder to predict as the Sounders and LA are pretty evenly matched, with both sides having seasoned veterans and well coached sides, but I see the coaching of Sigi Schmid pushing the Sounders over the edge.
Sigi has really been outstanding coaching this team in crucial road games and overcoming the top team Columbus at home earlier this month, who before hadn't lost a game at home in 22 games. I see the Sounders winning in overtime.
This makes a fun Sounders vs. Columbus game. Columbus having the advantage of playoff experience and personnel, and the Sounders having the advantage of coaching and home field advantage. I could see this game going into overtime and possibly PKs.
I just hope the Sounders could pull off an inaugural season championship run, something that hasn't happened since 1998 with Chicago.
What are your thoughts on the playoffs? Do you think the Sounders could pull this off? Or will they fall early?
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