- by Tyler Walter, writing from Richmond, VA
As the mid table teams race for the playoff berth, the upper table teams race for the Shield, and as the league claims that the bottom table teams are still in the playoff race, this week said a lot about what teams will likely see the MLS Cup Playoffs. Thanks to the myriad amount of matches in hand, and absolute lack of equilibrium in matches played, truly figuring out the table is a pain, and the teams could abruptly plummet or skyrocket the standings like a broken elevator.
1. LOS ANGELES GALAXY
Last Week: 1
Result: W 3–0 vs. VAN (L 1–2 @ MOR in the CONCACAF Champions League)
Last Five: L-W-W-T-W
If anyone doubted that the Galaxy would take the Shield seriously, and begin to rest players for the playoffs, well, this might prove otherwise. Upon a disheartening, and undeserving, road loss to Morelia, the Galaxy put the fluky outcome behind them, and trounced the league minnows, Vancouver, in clinical fashion. And with it, Mike Magee carves his name into being a fan-favorite, and Robbie Keane continues to live up to the DP tag, with no indications as of yet of burning out.
2. REAL SALT LAKE
Last Week: 2
Result: W 1–0 vs. KC
Last Five: L-W-W-W-W
Salt Lake may have picked up their forth-straight victory, but the manner of winning it was hardly in the form of domination. A well serviced-free kick from Kyle Beckerman that eventually resulted in Nat Borchers’ well timed heading goal, was possibly, maybe the only, legitimate chance on frame. If Salt Lake wants to see the Shield and the Cup, victories cannot come in this type of fashion.
3. SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Last Week: 3
Result: W 3–0 vs. DCU (W 2–1 @ HER in the CONCACAF Champions League)
Last Five: T-W-W-L-W
In order to get a stubborn monkey of their back, which was beating D.C. United in their confines of the “Clink”, the Sounders lost a pivotal player, Mauro Rosales for an undisclosed period of time. But as we’ve seen with the absence of Zakuani, this Sounders squad has depth to deal without his presence for the time being.
4. SPORTING KANSAS CITY
Last Week: 6
Result: L 0–1 vs. RSL
Last Five: W-L-T-W-L
Rarely does a team travel on the road, lose, and move up two places in the Power Rankings. Not unless there is a solid claim of excuses to back it up. And to be honest, a one-goal defeat to Salt Lake, in Rio Tinto is nothing (an Eastern Conference) club should be ashamed of, and despite the loss, many fans can collectively agree Kansas City was the better team for the 90 minutes of play. Heck, their form lately has outpaced the two 2010 MLS Cup finalists.
5. FC DALLAS
Last Week: 4
Result: L 0–1 vs. NY (T 1–1 vs. TAU in the CONCACAF Champions League)
Last Five: T-L-W-L-L
No Brek Shea nor Marvin Chavez, and this electrifying FC Dallas side loses its flicker. Certainly drawing at home to the weakest team in your Champions League group nor losing at home to the heavily out of funk Red Bulls constitutes anything on par with Dallas’ standards. A rematch against Pumas, leading up to Texas Derby league match will determine if Dallas can keep in their foot in the Western Conference top three.
6. PORTLAND TIMBERS
Last Week: 10
Result: W 3–0 vs. NE
Last Five: L-W-W-T-W
In their return season to the top tier of American soccer, the Timbers have developed a reputation of creating monstrous leads at home, and then puncturing them in a moment’s notice. Not since the LA match had they had a home victory in commanding style, and in a critical match to stay in the playoff chase. Their stance may not allow them to finish in the same regular season spot that the Sounders did in 2009, but they have the potential to go further than that squad.
7. HOUSTON DYNAMO
Last Week: 9
Result: T 0–0 @ CLB; W 2–1 vs. SJ
Last Five: W-L-L-T-W
A gritty, well fought win for San Jose, has allowed the Orange Crush to sludge their way back into the muck that is the wildcard race, but, as I’ve said far too many times before...if they miss the postseason, it will be strictly blamed on road form.
8. D.C. UNITED
Last Week: 7
Result: L 0–3 @ SEA
Last Five: W-T-L-W-L
Well, it looks like Pontius is going to be missed, and missed deeply in the nation’s capital. A mix of bad luck and lack of depth, has allowed the Eastern Conference to sigh in relief at United losing one of their matches in hand. Still, with a relatively sizable amount of winnable games remaining in the season, clinching a wildcard spot, even a direct bye into the conference semis is more than attainable for the injury-laden squad.
9. COLORADO RAPIDS
Last Week: 5
Result: L 1–2 @ TOR (L 1–4 vs. CSL in the CONCACAF Champions League)
Last Five: W-T-L-L-L
By far an uninspiring effort from the Rapids, the defending MLS Cup champions see themselves on a three game skid, and you can make four if you count their horrid loss at home to Santos Laguna in Champions League competition.
10. TORONTO FC
Last Week: 12
Result: W 2–1 vs. COL (L 0–4 vs. UNAM in the CONCACAF Champions League)
Last Five: W-L-T-W-W
Although, technically, Toronto is only six points away from postseason berth, they have played, by far, the most matches in the Eastern Conference. However, their form has nearly ousted every Eastern team, apart from maybe D.C. and Kansas City. While it might be a tad bit too late to make the postseason chase, don’t doubt there’s a real threat for Toronto to reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League, as well as vie for the Eastern Conference title come next year.
11. COLUMBUS CREW
Last Week: 8
Result: T 0–0 vs. HOU; L 0–1 @ PHI
Last Five: W-L-L-T-L
Columbus has hit the form, that well, many of us were expecting when were pulling names out of a hat making MLS prediction last February. Yet they’re, somehow, floating on top in the crapshoot East. The way things are going, Columbus might see the playoffs through, for a fourth straight year, even without finishing with another win this season.
12. PHILADELPHIA UNION
Last Week: 13
Result: W 1–0 vs. CLB
Last Five: T-L-T-T-W
Long-time out of their funk, the Union finally get a blessing from Sebestian Le Toux late in the second, and grab their first win at home against Columbus. The moral should greatly improve around the win, as they hover over Houston, New York and D.C. for the final conference semifinal berth out east.
13. CHICAGO FIRE
Last Week: 15
Result: W 3-2 vs. CHV
Last Five: T-W-W-L-W
Chicago had some unfortunate turn of events to lose this one to swooning San Jose. Sean Johnson, for all he could do, had a superb night, saving a penalty and limiting Chris Wondolowski’s shooting spell to only a goal, where Johnson was simply milliseconds shy of saving. If anything really halted Chicago’s chances of potentially considering the playoffs, it was this loss. Really now, their focus will evidently turn towards the Open Cup final in three weeks.
14. NEW YORK RED BULLS
Last Week: 18
Result: W 1–0 @ FCD
Last Five: T-L-T-T-W
An unexpected pairing created the Luke Rodgers and Juan Agudelo show before a more-than-modest crowd in Frisco, Texas. While it’s nice to say the Red Bulls are in the final playoff spot, the mighty “matches in hand” asterisk immediately follows. Whether or not they can build off this moment will depend if Rodgers and company can save New York from arguably the most embarrassing letdown in league history.
15. CHIVAS USA
Last Week: 11
Result: L 2–3 @ CHI
Last Five: T-L-L-L-L
What has happened with this team? The Fraser-led squad looked determined to finally have some of their best success since the days of Preki, and they have chosen the worst possible time in the campaign to lose matches left and right. Apart from their loss to D.C., the worst thing about it is that their loses have been by the slimmest of margins. And, well, that’s all it needs.
16. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
Last Week: 14
Result: L 0–3 @ POR
Last Five: T-L-T-W-L
Through the course of arguably the worst season in Revs history, the club loses not in a winnable game, but in outright ugly fashion, getting spanked in Jeld-Wen to the upstart Timbers. While they’re not mathematically out of postseason contention, that’s probably the only thing that keeps them in the postseason race. Other than that, these final matches are simply playing for pride.
17. VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
Last Week: 17
Result: L 0–3 @ LA
Last Five: L-L-L-W-L
Were there a few bursts of energy by the Whitecaps? Of course there were, and there were some decent appeals for penalty kicks, but, had that fallen in their favor, I still would have seen this side fallen on the losing side of the match. Several midfield roles are needed to be filled come 2012.
18. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Last Week: 16
Result: L 1–2 @ HOU
Last Five: L-L-T-W-L
From Stephenson’s goal early on, it seemed as if the ‘Quakes were poised to turn their hopes around. And then came Brad Davis and eventually Will Bruin to deliver a gut punch, and a sucker punch to the ‘Quakes. Since it’s MLS, and the playoff hopes never die until the last day, the only way the Quakes are not out of the playoffs is mathematically.
