Let the (real) season begin
It took seven months, but finally, the 14 teams that began the 2008 season with hopes of lifting the MLS Cup on Nov. 23 at the Home Depot Center have been whittled down to eight. Let's take a look at the runners and riders in the conference semifinals.
Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution
Why New England could win: Déjà vu
The news that Taylor Twellman is out indefinitely with concussion-related symptoms is the latest, and perhaps defining, blow to the championship hopes of a New England team that has looked jaded since winning SuperLiga in August.
The Revs are past masters at this playoff lark and are not averse to eliminating Chicago, but without Twellman, who joins Steve Ralston on the sidelines as well as the suspended Khano Smith and Gabriel Badilla, it will take something remarkable to get past Chicago.
New England still has Matt Reis, Michael Parkhurst and Shalrie Joseph, but those veterans need help. And recent form does not suggest it is forthcoming. Kheli Dube, who will lead the line in Twellman's absence, has not scored in MLS since June 12, and since then the New England defense has recorded just one more shutout in the regular season.
Why Chicago should win: Old heads, young legs
Reversing recent playoff results against the Revolution will not be easy, but this Chicago team can point to a regular season record of 3-0-0 in '08 against the Revs -- with nine goals scored and just one allowed -- as evidence that they've got the hang of facing New England.
The next four weeks are the reason why the Fire brought in Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Brian McBride for their experience. Coupled with the form of Chris Rolfe and Justin Mapp, as well as the league's second-best defense, Chicago is the favorite, even when you consider New England's playoff success under Steve Nicol.
Who advances? Chicago (3-1 on aggregate)
Houston Dynamo vs. New York Red Bulls
Why New York could win: Divine intervention
Only in a league frequented by the Los Angeles Galaxy could New York's own soap opera have flown under the radar to the extent it has. However, even after everything Juan Carlos Osorio's side has been through, the Red Bulls find themselves in the postseason and with a puncher's chance of progressing, as they seek to end their own run of five straight first-round knockouts.
In Juan Pablo Angel, New York has arguably the best natural goal scorer in MLS, although the Colombian will have to be otherworldly if the Red Bulls are to eliminate the two-time defending champions. Optimism will stem from a 3-0 win over the Dynamo in August. On that day, led by Angel, who opened the scoring, seven different players had either a goal or an assist for New York. Such a team effort is imperative once again.
Why Houston should win: It's what they do
For soccer fans in Houston, November is trophy month. That's the way it has been in each of the past two years, and the 2008 edition of the Dynamo suggests that a three-peat is very much on. Establishing a commanding lead in the Western Conference, allied with arguably the deepest squad in the league, has enabled Dominic Kinnear to rotate players in and out while still effectively challenging on more than one front.
The upshot of it all is that Houston enters November with hopes of retaining its domestic crown as well as continuing to pursue Champions League glory. Complacency might be something to guard against, but with pros such as Pat Onstad, Wade Barrett and Craig Waibel on a staff blessed with a diversity of talent that enables Houston to win in many different ways, catching the champions off-guard seems unlikely.
Who advances? Houston (4-1 on aggregate)
Chivas USA vs. Real Salt Lake
Why Real Salt Lake could win: Fresh faces
The notion of home-field advantage in the opening round of the playoffs is, to me, always a little overemphasized, and Real Salt Lake, which only lost once at either of its homes in the regular season, has the chance to prove why that is when they face Chivas. Far from offering the higher seed the chance to know what it has to do when it goes home, the present system affords an opportunity to the tie's underdog to make a start so fast they cannot be caught.
In Javier Morales, Jason Kreis has a player who would be a bona fide star were he to play in one of the league's bigger markets. Likewise, the impressive Jamison Olave at the back. That key duo, along with Yura Movsisyan and Kyle Beckerman, must continue to perform if the franchise's first playoff foray is to be a successful one.
Why Chivas should win: A well-rounded offense
Against the league's other 2005 expansion franchise, Chivas will look to maintain the balanced attack that served them so well in the regulars season, when 10 Goats players found the net more than once. That depth has been crucial to a squad that has suffered injuries to a number of key players.
Salt Lake might have been great at home, but Chivas was the only team to win in Utah this year. In all, Preki's side amassed five road victories, the highest number by a Western Conference side. A postseason that they hope will end in front of its home fans must begin for Chivas with another resilient road display.
Who advances? Chivas (3-2 on aggregate)
Columbus Crew vs. Kansas City Wizards
Why Kansas City could win: Momentum
While their opponents have been on cruise control, the Wizards have been playing playoff soccer for a month. No team was hotter than Curt Onalfo's side over the closing weeks of the regular season, as Kansas City recorded a 5-1-1 record since Sept. 13.
At the start of that run, Claudio Lopez could not even get in the Wizards' side, but his awakening from a slumber that lasted more than half the season has seen the Argentine revitalized to the point where he contributed two goals and three assists in Kansas City's final two games. With Davy Arnaud in similarly good form and a defense anchored by Jimmy Conrad and the unheralded Tyson Wahl, there may be more magic to come from the Wizards.
Why Columbus should win: The Crew are the best side
The winner of the Supporters' Shield is the best team in the league and, by definition, starts the playoffs as the team to beat. In Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Columbus has the league's MVP-elect, while Chad Marshall seems certain to be named Defender of the Year. In goal, Will Hesmer has been consistent, anchoring a side that blends youth, experience and potential match winners.
Three of their past five regular-season wins ended 1-0, and the Crew's defensive solidity could be an invaluable attribute in the playoffs, especially against a Kansas City side that has scored in each of its past 12 matches. If things are tight, the bench depth at Sigi Schmid's disposal is a further advantage for Columbus.
Who advances? Columbus (3-2 on aggregate)
Well played, old men
Bobby Rhine and I have a history. Back in 2006, the FC Dallas defender not only represented his franchise's team in the MLS Media Cup at Pizza Hut Park but also scored an extra-time golden goal against my New England side in the final. In the game's immediate aftermath, I (and others on my team who shall remain nameless) admit to having had a temporary sense of humor failure.
Two seasons later, Rhine has earned himself legitimate participation rights in similar future tournaments by announcing his retirement. The 32-year-old wore the hoops of FC Dallas for the final time Sunday against Los Angeles, ending a 10-year career with the franchise.
Opposing Rhine and also taking the field for the final time as a professional was Greg Vanney, who ended his career playing for the club with which he began, back in 1996. In-between, he made stops at Dallas -- where he was a teammate of Rhine -- Colorado and D.C. United.
Between the two of them, Rhine and Vanney made 482 MLS appearances, their combined legs logging over 35,000 minutes. Over that time, they were sent off just four times combined (Rhine three times, Vanney once). Though both were primarily concerned with keeping opponents out, they combined for 45 goals and 57 assists. As examples of what it took to play the game in the right way, there were few better.
Happy retirement to two of the league's unsung, yet invaluable, players. See you at the media cup ...
A thing that made me go hmmm ...
As we have discovered since the rule was brought in specifically to bring David Beckham to MLS, there are Designated Players ... and there are Designated Players. For every Beckham, there has been a Denilson; for every Blanco, a Reyna.
I might be proved wrong, but when I think of the league's latest over-the-salary-cap investment, Freddy Ljungberg, DP conjures "Disappointing Purchase" rather than "Dominant Personality." A solid pro over the past decade he may have been, but the Swede, who West Ham paid to leave Upton Park, hardly fits the designated player mold as it was originally drawn up.
If he stays injury-free, Ljungberg will be an adequate asset for the league's debutants next year. However, not too many new fans will fall in love with soccer because of him. Nor will he put up numbers that earn him MVP consideration. A not-so-sound move from Seattle.
Andrew Hush
