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MLS Cup Playoffs Race: Defending Champs Clinch; 11 Clubs Vie for 6 Spots in Last Four Weeks

Published on September 27, 2010 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


A singular combination of results this past weekend put 2009 MLS Cup Champion Real Salt Lake in a position to defend their title in the playoffs, which begin Thursday, Oct. 28.

The only team among the bottom eight that can catch RSL is Kansas City, but the Wizards can only match RSL's current point total (48) and would lose the first tiebreaker, head-to-head (0-1-1), against Real this season.

In the final four weeks of the season, 11 teams will contend for the six remaining playoff berths and by Oct. 24, half the League's clubs will be done for the year, while the other half will play on for the championship.

Also this past weekend, the New England Revolution and Houston Dynamo saw their slim qualification hopes slip away with four games left; both teams can only match the eighth-place Colorado Rapids' point total of 38, and both lose the head-to-head tiebreaker with Colorado.

Currently in ninth place overall, the Wizards have five games left to try and catch one of the teams ahead of them in the standings. Kansas City currently trails the Rapids by five points.

Follow the chase by going to the Playoff Standings page of MLSsoccer.com. This week's games feature several teams clinging on to postseason dreams and a couple others looking to lock up their spots:

Columbus Crew will clinch a playoff spot this week IF:

* CLB defeats SJ Saturday AND

* KC fails to win Saturday in NY OR IF:

* CLB ties SJ AND

* KC loses to NY.

New York Red Bulls will clinch a playoff spot this week IF:

* NY defeats KC on Saturday (clinches at least 2nd in East)

FC Dallas will clinch a playoff spot this week IF:

* FCD defeats CHI Saturday OR IF:

* FCD ties CHI Saturday AND

* KC fails to win in NY.

Chivas USA will be eliminated from playoff contention IF:

* CHV fails to win against LA on Sunday OR IF:

* SEA, SJ and COL all win (prior to Sunday's CHV-LA game).

Toronto FC will be eliminated from playoff contention IF:

* TOR loses in Seattle on Saturday AND

* SJ and COL both win.

The Chicago Fire and Philadelphia Union both play road games Wednesday night that are essentially must-wins. Neither club can be eliminated on Wednesday, but they both need to win and get help from the teams facing Seattle and San Jose on the weekend to keep realistic chances alive.

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 27, 2010


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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