MLS Playoff Bracket Set

After 30 weeks of action we’re finally in playoff mode. Instead of recapping the week like I normally do on Mondays I will be sizing up the eight teams later on today to see who’s a contender for the MLS Cup and who’s really a pretender at this point.

For now I wanted to post the playoff schedule for the first round now that every thing is set in place.

Here are the first-round MLS Playoff match-ups:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

E1. New York Red Bulls vs. W6. San Jose Earthquakes

E2. Columbus Crew vs. W5. Colorado Rapids

WESTERN CONFERENCE

W1. Los Angeles Galaxy vs. W4. Seattle Sounders

W2. Real Salt Lake vs. W3. FC Dallas

Conference Semifinal #1 (at lower seed):
Thursday, Oct. 28: Columbus Crew at Colorado Rapids, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2/Deportes/ESPN3.com
Saturday, Oct. 30: Real Salt Lake at FC Dallas, 5 or 5:30pm ET, FSC/ Fox Deportes
Saturday, Oct. 30: New York Red Bulls at San Jose Earthquakes, 10 p.m. ET, TeleFutura
Sunday, Oct. 31: LA Galaxy at Seattle Sounders FC, 8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2/Deportes/ESPN3.com

Conference Semifinal #2 (at higher seed, plus OT and PKs if necessary):
Thursday, Nov. 4: San Jose Earthquakes at New York Red Bulls, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2/Deportes/ESPN3.com
Saturday, Nov. 6: Colorado Rapids at Columbus, 4 p.m. ET, TeleFutura
Saturday, Nov. 6: FC Dallas at Real Salt Lake., 10 p.m. ET – FSC/Fox Deportes
Sunday, Nov. 7: Seattle Sounders FC at LA Galaxy, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN/Deportes/ESPN3.com