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Four Teams Vie for Two Spots in the Conference Semifinals - This Week in MLS

October 28, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


There's no rest for the four Major League Soccer teams who begin the long road to MLS Cup 2013 with the Knockout Round that begins Wednesday night.

The Seattle Sounders FC, who could manage only a 1-1 tie in front of 66,216 home fans at CenturyLink Field in their Sunday night finale against the LA Galaxy (and only one point in their final five games), host the Colorado Rapids in the Western Conference's 4 vs. 5 matchup Wednesday night (10:30 p.m. ET, NBC SN). The Rapids were 3-0 losers at Vancouver in their final regular season game. The winner of the match will advance to play the Portland Timbers in a home-and-away conference semifinal series.

In the Eastern Conference, the Houston Dynamo will host the Montreal Impact on Thursday night (8:30 p.m. ET, NBC SN, TSN, RDS/2), with the winner advancing to play the New York Red Bulls, who captured the Supporters' Shield on Sunday night with an emphatic 5-2 victory over the Chicago Fire. Houston is familiar with being a participant in the knockout round, having advanced all the way to MLS Cup a year ago from the same position. Montreal, who began the year with four straight wins, barely snuck into the playoffs, winning just one of their final eight.

2013 MLS Cup Playoffs Schedule

Conference Knockout Round

Wednesday, October 30

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Colorado Rapids, 10:30 p.m. ET (NBC SN, Local TV)

Thursday, October 31

Houston Dynamo vs. Montreal Impact, 8:30 p.m. ET (NBC SN, TSN, RDS/2, Local TV)

Conference Semifinals - Leg 1

Saturday, November 2

New England Revolution vs. Sporting Kansas City, 8:00 p.m. ET (NBC SN, Local TV)

Seattle Sounders FC/Colorado Rapids vs. Portland Timbers, 10:00 p.m. ET (NBC SN)

Sunday, November 3

Houston Dynamo/Montreal Impact vs. New York Red Bulls, 3:30 p.m. ET (NBC)

LA Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake, 9:00 p.m. ET (ESPN, TSN2, RDS2)

Quotables

"An amazing win. This is a moment to savor. The essence is that this is a team. It was special for Mike [Petke], and we really tried to put the icing on the cake for him. This guy is the heart and soul of the club. He knows what it means to be a Red Bull, and to get this trophy."

New York Red Bulls forward Tim Cahill on winning the Supporters' Shield and New York's first major trophy

"To be quite honest, it's heartbreaking. It's extremely disappointing. [New York] is the best team in the league right now. There's no question about it. They have the most points in the league over this last month or so, they have the most class, and that's why they've got the Supporters' Shield."

Chicago Fire forward Mike Magee on their loss to the New York Red Bull 5-2 and being eliminated from playoff contention

"The way we have responded to these must-win games down the stretch, it's like this team has been in the playoffs before. I really don't anticipate any issues with the intensity of a playoff match; I think the guys are relishing that opportunity."

Portland Timbers midfielder Will Johnson on their upcoming postseason matches

"I am extremely lucky to have played in MLS for the past 15 years, for five exceptional organizations. The game itself has afforded me opportunities and experiences that I would not have had otherwise and I'm forever grateful. The men that I have had the good fortune of calling coaches and teammates have truly shaped my career and I'm especially honored to have been able to end it with my hometown club, Philadelphia Union."

Philadelphia Union defender Chris Albright on retiring from the league after a 15 year career in MLS

"So I have ended my career with a great team in Vancouver. I want to thank a lot of people, especially the fans. So the last two years, I never forget the last two years that this team, in my mind, is my team."

Vancouver Whitecaps FC defender and World Cup veteran Y.P. Lee on concluding his impressive career with Vancouver Whitecaps FC

"I am one of the originals. I'm the only one still playing after 18 seasons, and after so many years, I am proud of that. I never thought in my wildest dreams that I was going to be playing this long."

San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Ramiro Corrales on retiring after 18 seasons as the last MLS Original

Sweet Tweets

þ@DaxMcCarty11 - October 28 - Dax McCarty, New York Red Bulls

"18 years, no cups." Said no one ever again. #RBNY

@DiegoFagundez - October 27 - Diego Fagundez, New England Revolution

We are in the PLAYOFFS!!!!! Thanks for all the support. #NERevs #MLS

þ@jonnysteele22 - October 27 - Jonny Steele, New York Red Bulls

Feels good to make history at home wit our fans & wit a bunch of great guys #mls #SupportersShield #RBNY

@CamWeaver15 - October 27 - Cam Weaver, Houston Dynamo

Time to put away the razors. #playoffs #patchybeards #herewecome #ForeverOrange

þ@ajeanbaptiste92 - October 26 - Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Portland Timbers

Western conference champs. Feels good. But we ain't done. The bigger prize is 5 games away. #RoseCity.

þ@raygaddis - October 26 - Ray Gaddis, Philadelphia Union

Congratulations to @ChrisAlbright03 on an amazing career! Thank you for teaching me so much and being great influence in my life.

MLS Cup Playoffs: Knockout Round Previews

Wednesday, October 30

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Colorado Rapids, 10:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN)

The teams met three times in the regular season. Sounders FC won the first, 1-0 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on April 20, behind an Obafemi Martins goal. The teams reached a 1-1 draw July 20 in Seattle, then the Rapids rolled to a 5-1 victory on Oct. 5 in Colorado, as Deshorn Brown scored twice and Gabriel Torres added a goal and as assist.

The win in the last meeting was the first Rapids victory vs. Sounders since May 29, 2010, a 1-0 triumph at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Seattle has won eight of 12 league matches in the series, with two draws, and have never lost to Colorado at home.

Clint Dempsey scored his first goal in nine league appearances since signing with Seattle in the season-ending 1-1 home draw with the LA Galaxy. It was Seattle first goal since Oct. 9, ending a 231-minute goalless drought, the seventh-longest in team history.

The Rapids were shut out in a third consecutive road game in their regular season finale, a 3-0 loss at Vancouver Whitecaps FC. They have scored 10 goals in their last three home games.

The Rapids are in the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2011, when they were eliminated at the quarterfinal stage by Sporting Kansas City. Sounders FC have been in the postseason in each of their five seasons in Major League Soccer.

Thursday, October 31

Houston Dynamo vs. Montréal Impact, 8:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN)

The teams met three times in the regular season. The Impact won the first two, both at Stade Saputo. Felipe Martins and Marco Di Vaio each scored in a 2-0 win on June 19, then Di Vaio scored twice as Montréal cruised to a 5-0 win Aug. 24, the Dynamo's worst defeat in club history. At BBVA Compass Stadium on Oct. 4, Ricardo Clark scored the game's only goal after just six minutes in the Dynamo 1-0 victory.

The Dynamo have won two of the three lifetime meetings in Houston, with one draw. The Impact have won all three meetings all-time at Stade Saputo.

The Dynamo secured a postseason berth for the third consecutive year with a 2-1 victory at D.C. United on the final day of the season. The Dynamo have missed out on the playoffs just one season since their arrival in Houston - in 2011 - and have appeared in four MLS Cups, including the last two.

The Impact concluded their second MLS season with a 1-0 defeat at Toronto FC, their third consecutive loss on the road, all by shutout. The Impact have been blanked in five of their last seven matches.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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