By DAN KARELL
The 2013 Major League Soccer regular season is complete, and boy did it finish with a bang.
For the first time ever, the New York Red Bulls won a major trophy, taking the Supporters Shield title and with it, a chance to host the MLS Cup final at Red Bull Arena as well as a place in next season’s CONCACAF Champions League.
Following their loss to Toronto FC last Saturday, the Montreal Impact were on the edge of missing the playoffs despite their large lead in the Eastern Conference earlier in the season, though they were saved while the New England Revolution, and Houston Dynamo move on as well. The Colorado Rapids’ defeat to the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Seattle Sounders’ draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy leave Sigi Schmid’s club in the mid-week knockout game against the Rapids.
Considering the up and down form of many teams that have qualified for the postseason, it should create an exciting and unpredictable next round of games.
Here’s a closer look at the complete MLS playoffs schedule:
MLS PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE (Team written first is host) (All times Eastern)
KNOCKOUT ROUND
WEDNESDAY
Seattle Sounders vs. Colorado Rapids – 10:30pm – NBC Sports Network
THURSDAY
Houston Dynamo vs. Montreal Impact – 8:30pm – NBC Sports Network
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CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS FIRST LEG
SATURDAY
New England Revolution vs. Sporting Kansas City – 8pm – NBC Sports Network
(Sounders or Rapids) vs. Portland Timbers – 10pm – NBC Sports Network
SUNDAY
(Dynamo or Impact) vs. New York Red Bulls – 3:30pm – NBC
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake – 9pm – ESPN
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CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS SECOND LEG
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6
New York Red Bulls vs. (Dynamo or Impact) – 8pm – Univision Deportes
Sporting Kansas City vs. New England Revolution – 9pm – Local TV
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7
Real Salt Lake vs. Los Angeles Galaxy – 9pm – ESPN2
Portland Timbers vs. (Sounders or Rapids) – 11pm – NBC Sports Network
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CONFERENCE FINALS FIRST LEG
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9
Eastern Conference game – 2:30pm – NBC
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10
Western Conference game – 9pm – ESPN
CONFERENCE FINALS SECOND LEG
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23
To Be Determined
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24
To Be Determined
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MLS CUP 2013
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7
Eastern Conference finalist vs. Western Conference finalist – 4pm – ESPN/UniMas
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What do you think of this schedule? Which teams do you see having the best path to MLS Cup?
Share your thoughts below.