Monday League Review

With three weeks left in the season, and the MLS playoff race is still a big mess. Columbus is in the playoff race, and Los Angeles and Houston clinched spots today. That leaves seven teams with a realistic possibility of claiming the final five playoff spot. With the current cutoff point coming down to two points, every goal, point and, win will affect have on the standings as the season comes to a draw. As the season plays into the cold months, the playoff racing is heating up. Here is a review of the week's action.

FC Dallas 1-0 New England Revolution
Heading into the playoff push the New England have a big advantage over the other teams, having two games on hand over their closest competition. However games in hand do not help when you do not get results. Steve Nicol's side traveled to Dallas to play a feisty squad looking to finish out the year strong. Dallas out shot New England 8-1, and Jeff Cunningham scored in 75th minute. Dario Sala only had to make one save for the Hoops to get a shutout win at the clubs first match at the Cotton Bowl since 2004. Dallas still has a slight chance for the post-season, but it's not going to happen in Dallas. The Revolution need to pick it up to secure a spot in the playoffs, otherwise all these games in hand at the end of the season will go to waste.

Los Angeles Galaxy 1-0 Chicago Fire
In the course of 3 months the Galaxy saved their season, from yet another disappointment, to the clubs first playoff birth since the 2005 MLS Cup winning season. Captain Landon Donavan chipped Fire Keeper Jon Busch in the 42nd minute to give the Galaxy a 1-0 win at the Home Depot Center. The Galaxy's Donovan Ricketts made four saves for his seventh shutout for the season. The Galaxy are the league's best home team and now are tied with Houston with 41 points, and trail by 6 markers in goal differential. For the Fire, the Men in Red will have to wait until next week to secure a spot in the playoffs. Chicago is five points behind the Crew for the lead and East so their focus will be on making their playoffs for the rest of the season. The Galaxy trail the Crew by two points for the Supporters Shield, but the Galaxy have one less game to play than the Crew.

DC United 0-2 Chivas USA
The myth of DC United's invincibility at RFK Stadium has been officially been expelled after Chivas' 2-0 win in a pivotal wild-card position. Goalkeeper Milos Kocic was responsible for an own-goal for United for the Goats to go up 1-0 in the 32nd minute. Jesus Padilla scored in the 53rd minute to secure the three points of the road for Chivas. Zach Thornton made five saves for his league leading 11th shutout. With the win Chivas has put them in a great position to put themselves in the playoffs as they sit three points behind Houston, and LA for the conference lead, and have two games in hand on both clubs. It is time to panic for the United faith full, as the Screaming Eagles are in danger of missing the playoffs for the second straight year-which means Head Coach Tom Sohen's job could be in trouble. United now sit 9th overall two points out, with two matches left in the season. DC desperately needs two wins to finish the year.

Columbus Crew 0- Seattle Sounders 1
It was a sweet homecoming for Seattle manager Sigi Schmidt as his Seattle club defeated league leaders Columbus to end the Crew's 24 home game league unbeaten streak. Roger Levesque scored his first career goal in the 36th minute to give his boss a win at his former club. Kasey Keller continued his impressive season by making two saves to get the shutout for the Sounders. Columbus dominated the play out shooting the Sounders 8-3, but could not get one past Keller. Seattle still managed to steal three points on the road, and now sit in the first wild-card spot with two matches to play. The Sounders need only a tie in their final two matches to make the post-season in their first year, the last time that was done Chicago won the 1998 MLS Cup. The Crew still hold two point advantage over the Galaxy and Dynamo, and have a game in hand on both clubs, meaning that a win and a tie will make the Crew back-to-back Shield Champions.

Colorado Rapids 1-1 New England Revolution
Alright, here is a tale you might recognize. The Colorado Rapids are in a playoff chase playing an important game. Their opponents outplay them in every fashion, but a Conor Casey PK gives the Rapids a point when they did not deserve anything. Yep, it this one yet again, seems like Colorado's games are in re-runs as it is the same ole' plot every match. New England's Kheli Dube put the Revolution up 1-0 in the 29th minute. Then Conor Casey was taken down in the box in the 58th minute, Casey stepped up and took the penalty and finished for his league leading 16th goal of the year. With the draw Colorado has 40 points and are seventh overall, while New England is in eight with 38 points. The Revolution do play an extra game, however both teams will look back on this one as a place where they could of secured more points, and help cement a spot in the post-season.

San Jose Earthquakes 1-0 New York Red Bulls
In the ultimate battle of mediocrity the San Jose Earthquakes defeated the New York Red Bulls in a battle of the bottom two. Ryan Johnson scored off a penalty in the 24th minute, that strike along with Joe Cannon making one save for the shutout was enough for the Earthquakes to get the win at home. San Jose out shot the Red Bulls 7-3 and just outplayed New York. The Earthquakes are a surprising 4-2-3 in their last nine games, giving them something to work on for in the future. Both teams are well out of playoff hopes, so the two clubs will be looking to finish the year strong, and carry momentum into 2010, after a disappointing 2009.

Houston Dynamo 1-1 Kansas City Wizards
With Columbus losing at home, and the Galaxy breathing down their necks, the Dynamo were looking for a home win against the desperate Wizards. Instead the Orange will be disappointed with only claiming a draw at home. Luis Angel Cortes Landin struck in the 26th minute, to put the home side up. But the Wizards responded with a late goal in the 73rd minute by Zoltan Hercegfalvi. Kansas City was not intimidated at the Robertson Stadium out shooting the Dynamo 9-6, but could not find a second goal. With the draw the Wizards playoff hopes are now as slim as ever. Kansas City needs to win out to have a shot at post-season play. The Dynamo are qualified for the playoffs, but the draw does not help their cause as the Galaxy are now tied with them for first in the West with two matches for both clubs remaining. The two teams face each other next, in a match that will determine who will win the regular season Western Conference Championship.

Three weeks left in the season and so much is still left to be determined in the season. Since Houston could not take full advantage of the the Crew's loss at home, Columbus still is in command of the Supporter's Shield Race, needing only four points in three games to claim the prize. The last 5 playoff spots are still out there, with Chicago and Seattle as teams that are reasonable safe for post-season births. After that the next three spots might be determined on the last day, and it may come down to goal differential to determine who is in and who is out. Who says baseball gets to have all the fun during October.