A stellar game from Bobby Convey and the San Jose Earthquakes has ousted the New York Red Bulls
from the MLS Cup playoffs. Convey scored 2 goals and added an assist on Chris Wondolowski's game
winner after being moved to left back as a result of an injury to Ramiro Corrales. Jon Busch
provided a few key saves, the biggest one being a second half kick save on Mehdi Ballouchy
(although it helped that Ballouchy had the keeper 1v1 and shot the ball into his foot).
The Columbus Crew bowed out of the MLS playoffs in the most agonizing way possible. Losing on
penalty kicks at home. Not only did they blow a 2-1 aggregate lead by allowing a late Conor Casey
goal but the elimination came down to the final kick of the regular PK round. After all five Rapids
players converted PK's and all four Crew players hit theirs, Brian Carroll stepped up with a chance
to move the teams into 1 off eliminations.
My pick (and Sam's) to win and repeat as MLS Cup Champions were eliminated by FC Dallas after a
1-1 draw in Salt Lake City. Kevin Hartman kept RSL from tying the aggregate score and the loss of
Javier Morales proved to be too much to overcome. These two were probably the best all around team
in MLS going into the playoffs.
The Los Angeles Galaxy spared MLS the embarrassment of having to watch a conference final from a
half empty Pizza Hut Park. LA shut down Fredy Montero and Seattle's speed on the wings. Once Los
Angeles grabbed the aggregate lead at 2-0 Seattle's fate was sealed.
The Galaxy will now host FC Dallas at the Home Depot Center next Sunday night for the right to
play in MLS Cup.
So I did manage to get one half of the MLS Cup participants correct by predicting that Colorado
would win the Eastern Conference. As it turns out, the first round battle between Real Salt Lake
and FC Dallas probably featured the two best all around teams in MLS.
Despite racking up 14 draws during the regular season, FC Dallas only lost 4 times all year and
managed to get playoff results in Rio Tinto and at the Home Depot Center.
The Colorado Rapids are raising MLS Cup 2010 as league champions and the league seems to be
doing everything it can to ensure that lesser teams continue to provide playoff surprises that
aren't necessarily wanted or needed by most of it's fan base. Sure, an MLS Cup win is great for the
fans of that particular team when a fifth seed gets through and surprises a favorite in the final
but is it really necessary?
