MLS Major League Soccer

Sounders FC and Chivas USA Meet in Impact Game of the Week

Published on September 14, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Impact Game of the Week: Chivas USA at Seattle Sounders FC, Saturday, Sept. 19, 3 p.m ET (FSC, FSE)

With two games in hand on Seattle (9-6-10, 37 points), and only one point behind in the standings, Chivas USA (11- 9-3, 36 points) make their first visit to Qwest Field to face Sounders FC. Chivas USA won the previous meetings, both at The Home Depot Center - 2-0 on April 18 and 1-0 on June 6.

Both teams nabbed crucial victories in Week 25. Seattle beat D.C. United, 2-1, and Chivas USA defeated New England, 2-0. Seattle continues to see stellar play from Rookie of the Year candidate Steve Zakuani and Newcomer of the Year, and Budweiser Golden Boot candidate Fredy Montero. Each scored in Seattle's victory, while Chivas USA newcomer Maicon Santos scored the game winner against New England.

Each squad will return key players this week as Sounders FC midfielder Freddie Ljungberg and Chivas USA forward Maykel Galindo return from suspension. The teams currently hold wild card spots in the MLS Cup Playoffs, but with the standings so tight, each point is crucial in the next five weeks. There is a logjam of seven teams between 33 and 37 points, and teams tied on 36 points currently hold the final playoff berths.

While each offense has the potential to do big things, both teams are rely on solid foundations at the back. Seattle's defense ranks second in the League giving up only 0.96 goals per game, and Chivas USA's defense ranks third giving up 1.04 goals per game. If either team grabs three points from this match, it will catapult into a battle for the top spot in the Western Conference with leaders Houston Dynamo and the Los Angeles Galaxy.

MLS Cup Playoffs Race: Seven teams within striking distance of four automatic berths

The top two in each conference did not change as the Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire remain 1 and 2 in the Eastern Conference, and the Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy remain tops in the Western Conference. A full slate of seven games is on tap for Week 27 of the regular season, with each game meaningful in the playoff race.

The Galaxy's 6-3 loss to FC Dallas left LA with a 9-5-11 record and 38 points, allowing a group of three teams (Seattle, Colorado and Chivas USA) to within two points. Seattle and Chivas won over the weekend, while Colorado's loss is a setback, but the Rapids have games in hand over the leaders.

The New York Red Bulls have been eliminated from playoff contention, but they will look to play the part of spoilers for the remainder of the season, beginning with a home game versus the Revolution, who are struggling at the moment.

Currently five teams out of the Western Conference would qualify for the playoffs, if the season were to end today. But the season does not end today, and the current rankings cannot account for the uneven amount of games played. Each club has between five and eight games left to secure one of eight spots before the MLS Cup Playoffs begin Oct. 29.

Eight teams qualify for the playoffs. Playoff berths will be determined by points in the standings upon the completion of the regular season. All 15 teams will have played 30 games. The top two teams in each conference qualify and are seeded 1 & 2 in their respective four-team playoff conference brackets. The four MLS teams with the next most points, regardless of conference, receive "wildcard" berths:

The four wildcard teams will be seeded according to conference first. If more than four teams qualify from one conference, the team(s) finishing lower than fourth in its conference will shift over to the other conference bracket. A team switching conference brackets will be seeded below all other teams in its new conference playoff bracket.

As of today, the top two teams in each conference and four wild card teams that would qualify for the playoffs (bold print), the order in which they would be seeded, and their total Points (in parentheses), and Games Remaining [in brackets] is as follows:

Eastern Conference: Western Conference:

Rk Team Pts GR Rk Team Pts GR

1. Columbus (42) [6] 1. Houston (40) [4]

2. Chicago (39) [5] 2. LA (38) [5]

3. D.C. United (36) [4] 3. Seattle (37) [5]

4. Toronto (34) [5] 4. Colorado (36) [6] *

5. New England (33) [7] 5. Chivas (36) [7] ^

6. Kansas City (27) [6] 6. RSL (34) [5]

7. New York (16) [5] 7. FC Dallas (27) [6]

8. San Jose (20) [8]

* COL wins 3-way tie-breaker over DC and CHV (points per game) to become #4 seed in the Western Conference.

^ CHV becomes the #4 seed in the Eastern Conference bracket. DC wins the tie-breaker for the third wild card, but Chivas USA would occupy the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs regardless.

Cunningham and Montero on Casey's heels in Budweiser Golden Boot Race

In the most widely contested Golden Boot race since 2004, Colorado Rapids forward Conor Casey scored for the second straight game against Toronto FC to push his total to 13 goals and remain the frontrunner.

FC Dallas speedster Jeff Cunningham has scored eight goals in the past six games - including two in a 6-3 thrashing of LA this past weekend - to move into second place on the all-time career goals list with 116. Only D.C. United's Jaime Moreno (129) has scored more regular season MLS goals than Cunningham, who just passed Chivas USA's Ante Razov (114). Cunningham's 2009 total of 12 goals matches his output in 1999 and 2005; his most productive seasons were 2002 and 2006, when he finished with 16.

Seattle Sounders FC forward Fredy Montero scored his 11th goal of the season to separate from the pack of players with 10 goals each: Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC), Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew), and Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake).

The first tiebreaker for the Budweiser Golden Boot is assists. If two players are tied for first in MLS in goals and have an equal number of assists, the player with the fewest games played wins the award.

Games Home

MLS Club Remaining Games

Colorado Rapids 6 2

FC Dallas 6 3

Columbus Crew 6 3

Los Angeles Galaxy 5 3

Real Salt Lake 5 2

Seattle Sounders FC 5 2

Previewing Week 27: Sept. 18-20, 2009

(All Times Eastern)

Friday, September 18

New England Revolution at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. (DK, Match Center)

- Pressure is mounting for the New England Revolution as they face New York Red Bulls Friday night at Giants Stadium. Currently three points out of the last spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs, the Revolution began a stretch of four out of five games on the road with a 2-0 to Chivas USA on Saturday. It was the second consecutive loss for New England after a season-high three-game winning streak. New York has not defeated New England in league play since Sept. 17, 2005, a span of 12 matches. The Red Bulls are playing for pride and jobs for next season because Saturday's 1-0 loss to Kansas City officially eliminated them from playoff contention.

Colorado Rapids at San Jose Earthquakes, 11:00 p.m. (ESPN2, Deportes)

- This is the first game of a home-and-home series between the clubs. After winning back-to-back games for the first time since the second and third weeks of the season, the Rapids lost 3-2 at Toronto FC to begin a run of five away matches in the final seven games of the season. The Earthquakes are playing a League game for the first time since a 2-1 loss to New England on Aug. 29. While the break afforded them time to integrate some of the club's recent signings, they lost midfielder Darren Huckerby for the remainder of the season due to hip surgery.

Saturday, September 19

Chivas USA at Seattle Sounders FC, 3:00 p.m. (FSC, FSE)

- Chivas USA forward Maykel Galindo makes his return to the city where his North American life - and pro soccer career - launched with fear and uncertainty in the summer of 2005 when he defected from Cuba. Fellow Cuban defector Osvaldo Alonso anchors Seattle's midfield. Galindo might have trouble cracking the starting lineup after serving a one-game suspension, during which newcomer Maicon Santos scored his first MLS goal. Freddie Ljungberg returns to ignite the Sounders' attack after his own one-game suspension.

FC Dallas at Kansas City Wizards, 8:30 p.m. (DK; Match Center)

- With both teams hanging on by a thread for a playoff berth, they meet with identical 7-11-6 records and 27 points. Each team is coming off a win and looking to carry the momentum. Kansas City forward Josh Wolff and FC Dallas forward Jeff Cunningham both have three goals in the past three games. The last time these teams met, Cunningham netted four goals and FC Dallas won 6-0.

Real Salt Lake at Houston Dynamo, 8:30 p.m. (DK; Match Center)

- A tie and a loss, respectively, leave RSL (9-9-7) and the Dynamo (11-8-7) eager for three points. Houston needs a win to continue vying for the Supporters' Shield, while Real, with this the first of three tough road games, is in danger of missing a wild card spot. Forward Cam Weaver returned from hernia surgery and scored the lone goal in a loss at Columbus. The Dynamo will look to break a five-game winless streak against Salt Lake, who are undefeated in three games. Houston leads the all-time series 5-2-4.

Toronto FC at Los Angeles Galaxy, 10:30 p.m. (DK; Match Center)

- The Reds hope for the debut of Designated Player and Canadian international Julian de Guzman and look to reverse the outcome of their 2-1 loss to LA on June 6. The Galaxy (9-5-11, 38 points) needs to recover from a 6-3 loss to FC Dallas on Saturday. Toronto (9-9-7, 34 points) earned a much needed win in Week 26, only their second in 10 games. Dwayne De Rosario (10 goals), continues to lead the club, but they are getting production from rookies O'Brian White and Sam Cronin. White scored his second goal in four games, while Cronin dished his fourth assist of the season.

Sunday, September 20

Columbus Crew at Chicago Fire, 3 p.m. (TeleFutura)

- The top teams in the Eastern Conference meet on Sunday. Each is in good position for playoffs, but Chicago has an eye on the Supporters' Shield, and an eye on the teams chasing. Having tied twice already in the 2009 campaign, a win for the Fire could see them to the top of the conference. Columbus solidified their claim as the top team in the League after defeating the Houston Dynamo, 2-1, with goals from Eddie Gaven (his third in six games) and defender Frankie Hejduk. Chicago battled Real Salt Lake to a 1-1 tie, losing a lead for the fourth time this season. Brian McBride returned from a shoulder injury suffered on July 11, playing 73 minutes after missing eight games.

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 14, 2009


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