MLS Major League Soccer

MLS Cup Playoffs Start Tomorrow; Playoff Previews and Game Guides Now Available

Published on October 29, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Eastern Conference Semifinal Series Game 1 Preview Notes

Thursday, Oct. 30

Chicago Fire at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2/Deportes)

- The Fire swept the 2008 season series winning all three games by a combined score of 9-1. Chicago holds the edge in the all-time, regular-season series between the two teams, 15-13-6.

- This was the third consecutive season the Fire have won the season series versus New England.

- The teams have faced each other six times previously in the playoffs (2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007). New England holds the slight edge in playoff games at 6-5-0.

- In the last playoff meeting - the Eastern Conference Championship on Nov. 8, 2007 - forward Taylor Twellman's 38th-minute bicycle kick was the only goal of the game, as the Revs advanced to their third consecutive MLS Cup.

- New England has ended Chicago's season in the playoffs four of the last six seasons (2002 Eastern Conference Semifinals, 2005 Eastern Conference Championship, 2006 Eastern Conference Semifinals and 2007 Eastern Conference Championship), while Chicago stopped the Revs' 2003 postseason campaign (Eastern Conference Final).

- Taylor Twellman is out indefinitely due to concussion like symptoms. His absence will be a big loss for New England as he leads all Revs players in goals (12) and assists (5) in regular-season games against Chicago. He has also scored four of his 10 career postseason goals against Chicago.

- New England goalkeeper Matt Reis is 7-5-3 in 15 postseason games, with a miniscule goals against average of 0.73, with six shutouts.

- Chicago Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch is 2-2-3 in seven playoff games (all with the Columbus Crew) and has a playoff goals against average of 0.97.

- Revolution Head Coach Steve Nicol has a postseason record of 10-8-7 and ranks fourth all-time in postseason wins.

Complete series guide available here: http://www.mlsnet.com/pdf/mls/2008/playoffs/CHIvNEecsf.pdf

Saturday, Nov. 1

Columbus Crew at Kansas City Wizards, 8 p.m. ET (HDNet/ONN/Metro Sports/TWC-50)

- The Kansas City Wizards concluded the regular season with a 5-1-1 record and head into the playoffs as the hottest team in the League.

- The Wizards begin postseason play with a four-game unbeaten streak (3-0-1) and are 7-0-3 in their last 10 matches at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

- The Columbus Crew won the Supporters' Shield Trophy awarded to the team with the League's best regular season record 17-7-6, four more victories than any other club.

- Columbus won the 2008 season series 2-0-1 and outscored Kansas City 8-4. Since the Crew defeated the Wizards at CommunityAmerica Ballpark on June 14, the Wizards have gone 7-0-3 at home.

- The Crew's high-powered attack, led by Volkswagen MVP candidate Guillermo Barros Schelotto, produced the second highest goal total during the regular season - 50 goals. The Wizards, on the other hand, scored the third fewest in the League with 37.

- In a playoff series that will test each team's mettle, the results may come down to goalkeeping. The Crew's William Hesmer led all goalkeepers in 2008 with 17 wins. He was tied with two others, including Wizards keeper Kevin Hartman, with 10 shutouts - the most in the League.

- Hesmer has no playoff appearances, while Kevin Hartman has appeared in 42 playoff games and is the all-time leader in playoff wins with 22.

- Crew Head Coach Sigi Schmid's playoff record stands at 16-7-3. Among coaches, he is the all-time leader in playoff wins.

- Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo, in his second season as an MLS head coach, is 1-1-1 in playoff games.

Complete series guide available here: http://www.mlsnet.com/pdf/mls/2008/playoffs/CLBvKCecsf.pdf

Western Conference Semifinal Series Game 1

Saturday, Nov. 1

Houston Dynamo at New York Red Bulls, 4 p.m. ET (MSG/Ch. 55/Ch. 43)

- The Houston Dynamo qualified as the top team in the Western Conference, while the Red Bulls qualified as the second wild card team. They shifted over to the Western Conference side as the lowest ranked wild card and fifth team from the Eastern Conference.

- Houston finished the first three months of the season at 4-4-7 and was third in the Western Conference. During the rest of the season, they had only one loss and finished 13-5-12. The one loss came against New York - a 3-0 Red Bulls win at Giants Stadium on Aug. 24.

- In the all-time series, the teams have met six times and gone 2-2-2; Houston has outscored the Red Bulls 7-6.

- Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad has played in and started 14 career playoff games and has a record of 9-5-2. The Red Bulls will start the playoffs with goalkeeper Danny Cepero, who has played in only two career MLS games.

- New York's active streak of six straight playoff appearances is second only to that of the New England Revolution, who have made seven straight playoff appearances.

- New York is tied with Los Angeles, Dallas and Chicago for the most playoff appearances with 10.

Complete series guide available here: http://www.mlsnet.com/pdf/mls/2008/playoffs/HOUvNYwcsf.pdf

Saturday, Nov. 1

Chivas USA at Real Salt Lake, 6 p.m. ET (FSC/FSE)

- These 2005 expansion teams, Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake, have faced each other 14 times with Chivas USA holding the advantage at 8-3-3 all-time.

- Real Salt Lake qualified for the club's first playoff appearance in their four-year history on the last day of the regular season.

- Chivas USA forward Ante Razov's 11 goals and 10 assists lead all players in the 2008 MLS Cup playoffs. He ranks fifth all-time in playoff goals and is tied for third most assists.

- Chivas USA head coach Preki will be looking for his first playoff victory. Preki guided Chivas USA to the playoffs in his first season as head coach, but went 0-1-1 in the Western Conference Semifinal series.

- With regular starter Dan Kennedy out due to a red card suspension, Chivas USA will start 13-year veteran Zach Thornton in goal. Thornton ranks second to Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman in playoff appearances for a goalkeeper with 31 and ranks second in wins with 17 and shutouts with 13.

- In net for Real Salt Lake is veteran goalkeeper Nick Rimando who has appeared in 12 playoff games and is 7-4-1.

Complete series guide available here: http://www.mlsnet.com/pdf/mls/2008/playoffs/CHVvRSLwcsf.pdf

MLS Cup Trophy Unveiled and Named After Soccer Visionary Philip F. Anschutz

Major League Soccer today unveiled its newly redesigned MLS Cup trophy, named for soccer visionary Philip F. Anschutz. The trophy reflects the traditions of the game, while providing a dynamic and forward-looking design. Since 1996, the MLS Cup championship trophy has been presented as a symbol of the highest achievement in North America's top-flight professional soccer league.

The Philip F. Anschutz Trophy will be presented at this year's MLS Cup on Sunday, November 23 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. at 3:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised live on ABC, TeleFutura and CBC.

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 29, 2008


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