Colorado Rapids 1- San Jose Earthquakes 1
OK, stop me when you heard this one. The San Jose Earthquakes outplayed the Rapids, and were subsequently awarded with a goal. San Jose carried that goal into the late stages of the game, until a PK call bailed out the Rapids, as Conor Casey stepped up a secured a draw for the Rapids late in the match. Any guesses? well it is EXACTLY what happened in San Jose five days before this incident. It looked as if Chris Wondolowski's 67th goal would proved to be the difference. Then a hand-ball call undid the Earthquakes, and a late penalty proved to be fatal for the black and blue. Conor Kasey stuck the PK to the left (he went down the center last time) to put his name on the top of the goal scoring list. All and all it was a disappointing two match series versus San Jose, the Rapids were looking for 4-6 points, and wound up with 2 points that they probably did not deserve. Despite, the missed opportunities, the Rapids are in the Wild-Card lead as of now. Still it has to be concerning when you need 2 late PK calls to gain only 2 points against one of the league's worst teams.
Columbus Crew 2- Los Angeles Galaxy 0
Crew Stadium has proven to be a fortress, as the Crew are unbeaten in 24 matches in Central Ohio. Eddie Gaven's 33rd minute goal, followed by Steven Lenhart 59th minute goal secured the home win against the Galaxy, the league's best road team. Will Hesmer only had to make two saves to record the shutout. With the win the Crew official become the first team to secure a playoff spot. Columbus is now the driving seat of the Supporter's Shield race, with a 3 point lead on Houston and a game in hand. The Crew are showing their might by beating the Galaxy with a side filled with lots of second-stringers, while at the same time competing the Champions League. As for the Galaxy losing in Ohio is not the worse thing to happen, an injured David Beckham is. Beckham did not travel with the team due to an ankle injury, his health might determine the Galaxy's playoff run. Los Angeles is still second in the West, and are in a great position to clinch a spot in a week or two.
New England Revolution 2- Seattle Sounders 1
Games in hand are useless if you do not take advantage of them. The Revolution have had the ability to creep up the standing with the extra games they have on the schedule, but so far the Revs have not been playing well. However, the Revolution pulled out a much needed home win against the Sounders on Saturday. MVP candidate Shalrie Joseph scored in the 51st and 90th minutes to overcome Seattle's Freddy Montero's 6th minute opening goal. The Revolution now are in the last playoff spot, but have 5 more games left, which two more than the rest of the teams they competing for playoff spots. The Sounders day's of cruising into the playoffs are long gone. Seattle is sixth overall, and should make the playoffs, but they need to get out of their current slump to cement their spot in the post-season
Kansas City Wizards 0- Colorado Rapids 0
What dying embers the Wizards called playoff hopes, are all but stomped out. The Wizards could only get a point at home against a red-hot Rapids team. Colorado's Preston Burpo made four saves for the shutout, while his counterpart, and legend Kevin Hartman made two. Kansas City needs to win their final four matches, all of them against team that are favorites to beat them. The Rapids are in front of all the wild card contenders, and only two points behind Los Angleles for second in the West. Again, the Rapids are in a nasty habit of claiming only a point against teams they should beat.
FC Dallas 3- Real Salt Lake 0
For reasons unknown to man, Real Salt Lake can not beat FC Dallas. No reason why, they just can not. Dallas is 7-0 all-time against the Lakers, and 3-0 beat down the put on Saturday re-enforces the history. Jeff Cunningham put Dallas on the board early in the 5th minute, and David Arturo Rico Ferreira made it 2-0 in the 10th minute. Cunningham continued his bright season again by sealing the win the 87th minute. Dario Sala made 3 saves to get a shutout, and continue the Hoops' dominance over the Lakers. The loss is detrimental for Real as the team now sits 3 points behind New England for the final playoff spot, but the Revs play three more games for Salt Lake. As for Dallas, playoffs are not going to happen this year-you can get out a calculator and an abacus and some computer generated models saying how they still have a shot, but let's face it, your hopes are not good when it requires a Red Bull or Earthquake win.
Chicago Fire 2- Toronto FC 2
Two teams who are disappointed with the results for two different reasons, as it cripples them in two different kinds of races. Thanks to the Fire's terrible defence Dwane DeRosario scored off a breakaway to give the Reds a 1-0 lead in the 6th minute. The Reds were kind enough to return the favor in the form of an own goal by Toronto defender Nick Garcia in the 14th minute. Chad Barrett scored a minute into the second half, after making his way through two Fire defenders to make it 2-1. Hometown hero Brian McBride stuck in 78th minute to salvage a tie for the Fire. The point does not help the Fire's dismal home record, and they now sit five points behind arc-rival Columbus for the Supporter's Shield. Still the Fire will be in the playoffs for yet another year. The draw on the road is not a bad thing for Toronto, their current position in the standing is. The Reds sit 10th overall, 2 points behind the Revolution for the final spot. In a season filled with so much promise, the Toronto faith-full might have to wait another year for a playoff birth.
Chivas USA 1- New York Red Bulls 1
If Chivas misses the playoffs by one or two points, they will look back at this one. It was not the fact that the Goats could only muster one point at home against the league's worst New York. It was the crossbar, and missed penalty that will get to them. Chivas outplayed the Red Bulls, and Sacha Kljestan stuck in the 64th minute to put Chivas up 1-0. Chivas then hit the crossbar shortly after that in a chance to put the game away. Then Juan Pablo Angel stepped up as the team leader by finishing a cross from Sinisa Ubiparipovic in the 84th minute. With the match tied 1-1, it looked like the Red Bulls would steal a point on the road. Then a handball call in the box seemed to rescue Chivas from dropping two necessary points. Kljestan stepped up to take the kick, got the keeper to guess the wrong way, and then completely missed the net wide left. With the heart-breaker Chivas in the second to last playoff position, and has five games left to play to claim a spot. As for New York intern Head Coach Richie Williams, he is looking impressive guiding one of leagues worst teams to a some what respectable finish. Still the Red Bulls are a disgrace.
DC United 1- San Jose Earthquakes 2
DC United is doing a wonderful choking down the stretch. The clubs bread and butter has been winning at their home. But now two defeats against Seattle, and losing to the lowly Earthquakes dispels the rumors of the RFK being a fortress. Jaime Moreno put United ahead in the 26th minute. Then Ramon Sanchez equalized in the 58th minute to cause some concern amongst La Barra Brava. Ryan Johnson, who might be the only highlight of the Earthquakes season scored the game winner in the 73rd minute as the Earthquakes played spoiler for DC. San Jose along with New York are the two sides officially eliminated from the playoffs. United would be the last team out if the season were to end today, as the Screaming Eagles need to gain 2 points on either Chivas, New England, or Seattle. Still hope for the league's premier club, but time is running out in the nation's capitol.
It is the begging of the money season in MLS, and there is still a tight race right now. The Supporter's Shield race is all but won by Columbus, as the Crew need only 2 wins in their last 4 matches to secure the regular season championship. In the play-off race Columbus is the only team who has clinched a spot, but Houston, Chicago, and Los Angeles will clinch soon. The fight for the final four spots is still a brawl. Colorado and Seattle should secure a spot, leaving it up to DC, Chivas, and New England to make up the last two spots. Salt Lake and Toronto have too many teams to jump in so little time to make a push. Whatever the month brings, October will sure bring a the best end to the MLS regular season ever. Man, league expansion was the best idea ever, play-off races would stink if there would only be 10 teams.
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