MLS San Jose Earthquakes

San Jose Earthquakes First to Clinch MLS Cup Playoff Berth

Published on September 8, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose Earthquakes became the first team to clinch an MLS Cup Playoff berth following Chivas USA's 2-1 loss against Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday. The postseason trip is San Jose's second in three years and the eighth in club history. By securing their playoff spot seven weeks from the end of the regular season, the Earthquakes equaled the LA Galaxy last year and D.C. United in 2006 for the earliest clinching in League history.

To purchase tickets for Quakes first home playoff game, visit sjearthquakes.com.

The Earthquakes (16-6-5, 53 pts.) continue to pace the Western Conference and Supporters' Shield races. Seattle (13-6-8, 47 pts.) and Real Salt Lake (14-11-4, 46 pts.) trail San Jose in the conference standings, while Eastern Conference leader Sporting Kansas City (15-7-5, 50 pts.) is the next closest for the Supporters' Shield.

The Earthquakes won MLS Cups in 2001 and 2003 and took home the Supporters' Shield in 2005. They last qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2010, earning the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. After knocking off the top-seeded New York Red Bulls in the Conference Semifinals, San Jose bowed out with a 1-0 loss to the eventual MLS Cup champion Colorado Rapids in the Eastern Conference Championship at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

ABOUT THE MLS CUP PLAYOFFS

In 2012, ten teams, the top five in points from each conference at the end of the regular season, qualify for the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs.

The fourth and fifth place teams in each conference will play a single knockout game, the winner of which will advance to the Conference Semifinals and face the first place team in the conference.

The four Conference Semifinals will be decided by two-game aggregate series, with the lower seed hosting the first leg and the higher seed hosting the second leg. If the aggregate score is tied after 180 minutes of play, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary.

The two Conference Championships will be decided by a two-game aggregate series, with the lower seed hosting the first leg and the higher seed hosting the second leg. If the aggregate score is tied after 180 minutes of play, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary.

MLS Cup will be a single championship match hosted by the higher seed. If the score is tied after 90 minutes of play, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary.

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