Three underdogs and one major title favorite.
That's the best way to describe the remaining MLS playoff field, the four Western Conference teams still alive for an MLS Cup championship.
San Jose and FC Dallas knocked off more highly-regarded opponents with strong first round displays, while Colorado needed penalty kicks to win a tightly-fought series against Columbus. And Los Angeles? The Galaxy looked every bit like the Supporters Shield winners with an easy series victory against the Seattle Sounders.
Here are the conference final match-ups:
SATURDAY
Eastern Conference Final- Colorado Rapids vs. San Jose Earthquakes
SUNDAY
Western Conference Final– Los Angeles Galaxy vs. FC Dallas
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How did these teams do against each other in the regular season? Colorado and San Jose split their series, while Los Angeles won both meetings against Dallas.
Who do you like in the remaining match-ups? Cast your vote after the jump:
What are my picks? I see Los Angeles beating FC Dallas in what should be an exciting and close game, while I see the Earthquakes continuing their surprising run with a win in Colorado.
Who did you vote for? Which MLS Cup Final do you see materializing?
Share your thoughts below.
That would also mean that the #1 and #2 teams don’t play for essentially 2 weeks. Essentially lots of rust and no momentum.
Agreed.
Hell yeah- the real California rivalry, east coast style! Of course first things first- gotta get it done in Denver, and the Rapids showed they can score out of seemingly nothing just as well as the Quakes. Should be a good matchup, but frankly a road game suits the Quakes just fine. Still, already dreaming about the SJ-LA final…
Not to mention that teams from the West Coast wind up in the East Bracket of the NCAA tourny all the time. Hell, you sometimes see a number one seed come from a different part of the country if they’re the lowest thought of number one team.
Just call it a semi-final.
Nobody ever complains that St. Louis Rams are in the NFC West and Dallas Cowboys is in the NFC East or Indianapolis Colts are in the AFC South. As soccer fans we get way too worried about what outsiders will think.
By the way, anyone else think Dallas and Houstan are the two teams being moved to the eastern conference next year?
Just wondering how you think the other teams in the playoffs would’ve done against LA. Like, say, if SJ or Colorado had snuck past Seattle for that 4W seed… think they’d have beaten LA? And do you think Seattle wouldn’t have beaten NY or Columbus?
While it’s not a 100% guarantee, I’d say that the results so far prove that the West is an utterly dominant conference, and I’d put money on SEA or FCD in the alternate universe where they were the 3E and 4E seeds.
California Classico in Toronto! Time to resurrect one of the best rivalries in MLS history.
So I’m sitting at the H D C last night watching the Galaxy play the X-Box 360’s like a 40 yr old with motivational issues ( no offense Ives). At the end of the game in the parking lot I run into the sounder’s supporters group. As they walk out, I say ” Hey guys thanks for coming…you guys are great losers!
One of them says “thanks for having us”
They are the happiest bunch of losing M-Fers I have ever met. However, that might have been because it wasnt raining…(shrugs)
you’re weird.
Rave Green Retards…love it.
this pic makes me not want to see the earthquakes in the final. they just look looney!
The HOOPS!
damn, Seattle is sad. Can you hear the Sounders sing? No…no…
Enjoy watching from home you rave green retards.
Ouch, RK. That cuts deep, because it’s probably true. Time for the lads to put themselves on the soccer map!
Vamanos Rapids!
AMEN.
I’d like to see a 6 team Playoff, with the top two teams receiving a bye in week one; while #3 plays #6 & #4 & 5 square off in a one game set at the top seeds home. Then a home and home series for the Semi-final, rather than the quarter final. That would make the regular season that much more important with two less slots available.
lol
Just call it a ‘Semi-final’, problem solved. They’re ‘casual’ fans, they’ll equate it to the NCAA brackets which statistically is about right ot have 8 teams qualify from a field of 18 teams.
Was really hoping for a LA/NY final, but since the RedBulls shat the bed, I’ll take LA/SJ instead.
i wouldn’t mind keeping the final a newly crowned champion keeps DC’s two championship buffer.
It makes the games more exciting. Same reason the final isn’t a home-and-away.
Don’t hate!! Quakes rule!!!
East Coast soccer sucks!
I guess I’ll root for FCD since they knocked my team out.
Does anyone hate the Rapids? I think everyone couldn’t care less about them.
San Jose/LA for the MLS Cup. Revive the rivalry. God help us if Colorado/Dallas is the final.
The semis aren’t home and away?
In a move precipitated by the stagnant concert market, Wham were forced to replace their “Choose Life” slogan with a corporate sponsor for the 2010 reunion tour.
frickin awesome. Wow, i’ve never wanted to comment on this site STRICTLY because of a photo (cuz i hate San Jose after their last win) but damn this photo cracked me the #### up!! Gotta love the SBI staff for their senses of humor. Caption: “yippeee! Santee Claus brought baby Quakes ponies and gumdrops!”
Haha looks like they just saw Justin Bieber
Actually, I didn’t intend to “put” anything on Ives. I just thought he may not appreciate me highjacking his post on the MLS playoffs and turning it into an off-topic YWTC contest.
And I agree with you, Smacking, your comment is mildly entertaining.
I think its to give advantage to the higher seed as much as possible for doing well over the course of the season. I think thats also the reason why there is no away goal rule. As long as the aggregate is tied, higher seed gets another 30 minutes at home.
Ives…Why do you continue to have no love for the Rapids? There is no way that the quakes will win at altitude in Denver. And if you really paid enough attention to the Rapids you will know the true reason that we have made it this far is not Omar and Conner. Pablo and Jeff L. are the reason that we are in the finals. Goals are nice, but San Jose will not be able to express themselves in denver just like most of the other teams who came to denver and left w/o any points.
If any of you are going to the game, you will find me tailgating in the same spot that I have been for every home game this year, drinking the finest colorado micro brewed beers.
GO RAPIDS!!!!!!!
(SBI-I just think San Jose will pull the upset on the road again. Not a lot of “hate” or lack of “love” for Colorado. Just don’t think they’ll get it done.)
The difference this year is that we actually have 2 Western Conference teams playing in the Eastern Conference final, which has never happened before.
I’m predicting a Los Angeles v. San Jose final. It would be great to see one of the original rivalries in MLS take center stage in the championship game.
*meant that for a reply to Wispy
John Busch is Pee-wee Herman finding out there actually is a basement in the Alamo.
What is the logic of not having home-and-away semifinals?
good point. prove him wrong would be more accurate
How about taking a little initiative instead of just putting it on Ives.
YWTC: Busch and Wondo further enraged losing New York fans when they broke into an A Cappella duet celebrating their victory over the Red Bull.
…or whatever mildly entertaining comment you want to make.
Thought the same thing! One of the funnier photos that has been up lately.
What do you mean again? When have the Rapids ever proved anything?
Colorado has a week to market an important game–hopefully, they can draw a full house and really put a spark to grow that franchise. Not a sarcastic comment, a legitimate hope.
Yep, I’m sure it’ll force their hand. Just like it forced them to change last year and the year before.
Gosh, Ives, that photo is just begging for a YWTC contest.
It’s tough for me to explain to my friends who are casual soccer fans how Colorado is hosting San Jose in the Eastern Conference Final. Hopefully this result will force MLS to change it’s asinine playoff structure.
Ives is such a Rapids hater. I cannot wait for the Rapids to prove him wrong yet again.
Considering the goal that SJ got against CO was an offside goal (and everyone knows it) and the CO goal against SJ was a complete flub on the part of Jon Busch (which is not likely to happen again) I still feel like these teams are dead even. It’s going to come down to the wire and as a Rapids fan I can’t wait to see it all go down at DSG!
Daniel Hernandez and Dema Kovalenko are gonna get into it bad, i just know it.
FCD!!!!!
RAPIDS!!!
Go Quakes! It was great to see Bobby Convey back in the same form he was in when Reading were promoted to the Prem.
Go Rapids!!!!!!