The LA Galaxy are in, who's joining them? (Getty Images)

I’ve had it marked for a few days now but the league offices finally came on board today and announce the LA Galaxy have clinched a spot in the playoffs for this year. After their 2-1 win over D.C. United last weekend the Galaxy saw themselves at 50 points on the year, enough to easily ensure them a place in the post-season dance.

Others are close to joining them while one club is close to joining D.C. on that eliminated area.

With five weeks left in the regular season, 14 teams are vying for seven remaining playoff spots. Two more teams can clinch berths this week:

Columbus Crew will clinch a playoff spot IF:

• Columbus defeats New England on Saturday AND
  • Kansas City loses to either Houston (Wednesday) or FC Dallas (Saturday) AND
  • Seattle loses to Chicago (Saturday)

Real Salt Lake will clinch a playoff spot IF:

• Real Salt Lake defeat Colorado on Saturday

Real Salt Lake will clinch a playoff spot IF:

• Real Salt Lake tie Colorado AND
  • Kansas City loses to either Houston (Wednesday) OR FC Dallas (Saturday) AND
  • Seattle loses to Chicago (Saturday)

New York and FC Dallas are close to joining RSL and Columbus here.

Colorado, Seattle and San Jose are battling it out with Kansas City, Toronto and Chicago for those final three playoff spots.

With the loss in LA, D.C. United was the first team eliminated from postseason contention. One other team can be eliminated this week:

Houston Dynamo will be eliminated IF:

• Houston loses to Kansas City (Wednesday) OR D.C. United (Saturday) AND
  • Colorado defeats Real Salt Lake (Saturday) AND
  • San Jose defeats Toronto (Saturday) AND
  • Seattle defeats Chicago (Saturday)

You can nearly add New England, Philadelphia and Chivas USA to this mix as well.

Just how tight is the race? Let’s have a look. For our purposes in tiebreakers we will use the teams with the most remaining games as the higher team.

—SUPPORTER’S SHIELD RACE—-
Houston 11-7-7, 40 points
Columbus 10-4-9, 39 points
Chicago 10-6-8, 38
Los Angeles 9-4-11, 38
—AT LARGE BIRTHS—-
Seattle 8-6-10, 34 points
New England 9-6-6, 33
Colorado 9-7-6, 33
Chivas USA 10-9-3, 33
——-NEXT IN LINE——–
Real Salt Lake 9-9-6, 33
D.C. United 7-5-11, 32
Toronto 8-8-7, 31
—–ALL BUT ELIMINATED—–
Dallas 6-11-5, 23
Kansas City 5-10-6, 21
San Jose 5-12-5, 20
New York 4-16-4, 16

Right now it is a true dead heat for the Supporter’s Shield crown as LA inches closer to the top with a win over their rivals Chivas USA. Houston, Columbus and Chicago all dropped games this weekend. I still feel that LA has the best shot out of the four to win the Supporter’s Shield crown this season. Chicago doesn’t look like they have the right mix of things to do it and Columbus’ and Houston’s schedules are too packed in the final months of the season. LA has plenty of win-able games left and it makes sense to see them continue on their current form.

Now the bigger fun is really in the at-large section of the race. Four spots with seven clubs in contention to grab them. Real Salt Lake really helped their playoff position this past week as they won two straight including a rare road win in Kansas City. Looks like Jason Kreis has his club playing very well right now. I still think they are the biggest long-shot of the seven clubs. I just don’t see them having a winning record at the end of the year, same goes with Toronto.

Out of the seven that could actually sneak into the top four in the Supporter’s Shield race is actually New England. With the games in hand I could see them making a slight run to the top of the east if Columbus and Chicago continue to drop games to clubs that they should beat.

We had 31 long weeks this season but now the league heads into an American past-time, the playoffs. The Major League Soccer version of the playoffs is still being worked on by the league but this year’s edition is set to be one of the best after how this season went.

It all came down to the final week for a couple clubs to get in. That’s how it should be and it’s how the league wanted it to be. More interesting from week one through 31. It worked and now we should be getting a decent product on the field for the post season.

So after week 31, Kansas City finally got in thanks to a New York loss on Thursday, RSL got in thanks to a late game-tying goal against Colorado, and New York ended up getting in thanks to a DC loss at Columbus.

Here is how the bracket is laid out:

Eastern Conference

(1) Columbus Crew vs. (4) Kansas City Wizards
(2) Chicago Fire vs. (3) New England Revolution

Western Conference

(1) Houston Dynamo vs. (4) New York Red Bulls
(2) Chivas USA vs. (3) Real Salt Lake

Off the bat the Columbus-Kansas City matchup looks to be one of the best. Columbus wrapped up the Supporter’s Shield in style and then in the final couple weeks of the season Sigi Schmid made sure his club stayed healthy and competitive. Kansas City on the other hand for once didn’t stumble into the post season, they made believers out of many by winning some impressive games down the stretch. Sure it may have helped that they got a struggling New England twice in the final couple weeks but wins are wins.

Honestly, I wouldn’t want to play the Wizards right now. But I love this series between them and the Crew, it should be a great one.

The New England-Chicago matchup would have been better had New England not stumbled into the playoffs. They clinched a bit too early and got banged up in the process. Chicago didn’t look much better until they dominated the Red Bulls this past week. For the first time in a while the Fire looked like the MLS Cup contenders that we expect them to be.

Out west is another story. Houston shouldn’t have a lot of trouble with New York as they’ve dominated the Red Bulls over the last couple years. Plus New York didn’t exactly win over a lot of people down the stretch with their play. You could say they got lucky to get in the playoffs.

Real Salt Lake and Chivas should be an interesting series. RSL got into their first post season and you can bet they will do whatever they can to build a big lead at home to start the series.

I won’t give out who I think will win it all from here. I’d like to say I am staying with my preseason pick of New England and Chivas but right now that doesn’t look all that good. But we will see.

What do you all think of this year’s playoffs? What’s a series that will be the most entertaining or one that your looking forward to?

Just one final weekend stands between four MLS clubs and playoff glory. Thing is only two of those clubs will be able to enjoy that glory. The old “Just Win Baby” slogan will ring true to those four clubs.

One club did catch a break last night as Kansas City punched their ticket to the dance thanks to a New York blowout loss to the Fire in Chicago. The Wizards will either play Columbus or Houston in the first round of the playoffs (all depends on DC’s result this weekend).

Week 31 has six games on the menu for us all to enjoy, two with major implications for the post season. As always feel free to post your predictions below.

Kansas City Wizards – at – New England Revolution: Looks like the Revs will not go into the post season with any sort of positive momentum while the Wizards look good heading into the playoffs. With the Wizards in the playoffs it takes a little steam out of this game. Look for this one to be a pretty evenly played game. Both will want to get momentum going forward for the playoffs but each will want to probably rest some key players. KC on the road this year hasn’t been anything to brag about which leads me to take the Revs in this one. I think New England is a bit more desperate to  get back on track here, especially since the Wizards won’t be pushing hard to get in the playoffs now that they have clinched.

WVH Prediction: New England 2, KC 1

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Real Salt Lake – at – Colorado Rapids: I said it a month or so ago, it would all come down to this game for these two. One would move on while the other would end up wondering what could have been. Each have been hot and cold over the last month or so too. Colorado kicked it into gear last week to push it to this game while RSL made sure they didn’t drop any more points at home this year. This Mountain Cup game should be one of the best since it has so much on the line. RSL doesn’t score a lot on the road while Colorado doesn’t give up a lot at home this year. The Rapids need the full three points so expect RSL to sit back and go for the draw in this one. I think a late surge by Conor Casey will do it though for the Rapids and upset RSL here.

WVH Prediction: Colorado 1, RSL

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Toronto FC – at – San Jose Earthquakes: Two clubs that are already wondering what could have been this year and where things went wrong square off. Definitely not the sexiest of matchups this weekend for clubs that have no playoff hopes left. Toronto will go into a full rebuild mode after this game while the Quakes will be left to figure out what kind of offense they can add next year to help boost that attack. For this one I like the home side simply because of Darren Huckerby. His play should be more than enough to lift the Quakes over the visiting Reds.

WVH Prediction: San Jose 1, Toronto 0

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Houston Dynamo -  at – Chivas USA: Could this be the western conference final preview? Maybe. Just depends on what both managers want to put out there on the field this weekend. Of all the games this one may have the littlest of meaning as both pretty much know where they will be in the first round of the playoffs. Chivas does have a chance to score three points at home and possibly move up into contention to play in SuperLiga next year but I doubt that is a major concern right now for them. I really could care less about this one so I will stay with the home side for the mild upset because of guys like Sasha Kljestan.

WVH Prediction: Chivas 1, Houston 0

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FC Dallas – at – LA Galaxy: Very interesting matchup of two eliminated clubs. Who will win the Golden Boot? Landon Donovan or Kenny Cooper? This game will determine that. A bigger question (that won’t be answered right away) is will this be the final MLS game for Cooper and Donovan? Look for this game to be a bit crazy too. Both times these clubs met this year it was a blowout and then a coach got fired a day later. While I doubt Schellas Hyndman or Bruce Arena have any worry of getting fired this time around but look for some goals between these two. I think it will end up as a crazy draw and be one of the more entertaining games of the year. Cooper and Donovan will go out in style if that is the case.

WVH Prediction: LA 3, Dallas 3

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DC United – at – Columbus Crew: I would imagine the Crew to continue to rest a few players but still start some key guys here and there so they aren’t too rusty going into the playoffs. Last week they rested a bunch of players but I see Sigi Schmid only resting a couple this time around. They host a desperate DC club that was just given a gift of life by the Red Bulls. Thing is they have to get three points against a club that has absolutely owned them this year. DC has also been terrible on the road this year while the Crew have been one of the better home sides this year. I think Columbus will get on the board early and sit on the lead then to only allow DC a game-tying goal. Yup, a draw is what I figure here with DC failing to reach the post season in the process.

WVH Prediction: Columbus 1, DC 1

However, the Kansas City Wizards, New York Red Bulls, D.C. United, Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids are going to make this one of the best finishes to any season in recent memory here.

It all comes down to one final week of games, just how MLS dreamed it up for this season. I honestly don’t think they expected the new playoff format to work this well this season. Most argued that it wasn’t good enough but now we can see that it may just be what the league needs if they are going to keep the playoff format.

Now that one week has a lot of “if’s” surrounding it. If this club wins they are in as long as this club loses or ties their game. Yeah, there are plenty of them and I will run down what each club still in contention has left to do or not to do here this week. I spent some time this morning figuring out the possible scenarios that need to happen for each club. If for some reason I am wrong about something, just let me know and it will be corrected.

Here is the final week’s schedule for playoff hopefuls (no need to add the other games until the predictions later this week since they aren’t in contention):

• Thursday- New York Red Bulls at Chicago Fire
• Saturday- Kansas City at New England, Real Salt Lake at Colorado
• Sunday- D.C. United at Columbus Crew

Here is a rundown of what each team needs to happen in order to qualify for the playoffs (current point total included):

Kansas City Wizards – 39 pts. – Currently 4th in East

The Wizards are in probably the best spot of any of the clubs. But if they do drop their game at New England it makes things very complicated. A win and some help puts them in.

KC will be in with a win at New England, and would be the No. 4 seed in the East.

KC will be in with a draw if:

New York or DC fails to win. IF neither wins, KC would be the 4th seed in the East. If New York or DC wins and the other fails to win, KC would be the No. 4 seed in the West.

KC will be in with a loss if:

New York loses to Chicago OR DC ties/loses to Columbus. KC would be the 4th seed in West if New York wins or ties and DC doesn’t win, or if DC wins and New York loses.

Biggest thing KC owns:

KC owns tie-breakers against New York and Real Salt Lake (head-to-head) and D.C. United (goal differential).

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New York Red Bulls – 39 pts. – Currently 4th seed in West

The Red Bulls make this a bit interesting but they too are in a decent position to get in as a wild card.

New York will be in with a win at Chicago. Would be No. 4 seed in the East with win and KC loss or tie. Would be No. 4 seed in the West if they win and KC wins.

New York will be in with a draw if:

KC loses or DC ties or loses. New York would be the 4th seed in East if KC loses and DC ties or loses. New York would be the 4th seed in the West if KC wins and DC ties or loses, or if DC wins and KC loses.

If Kansas City ties and D.C. United wins, then both teams with be tied with Red Bulls at 40 points. New York would then be in based on their tie-breaker with DC.

New York would be in with a loss if:

DC ties or loses. If the Red Bulls lose, they can only qualify for the playoffs as the 4th seed in the West.

Tie-breakers the Red Bulls own:

Red Bulls owns tie-breakers against DC (goal differential) and Real Salt Lake (head-to-head).

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DC United – 37 pts. – Currently Fifth in East

DC has a lot of work to do here. Winning is one thing but they need plenty of help. Their chances are very slim right now. No tie-breakers to help themselves out either.

DC would be in with a win at Columbus if:

Kansas City or New York Red Bulls lose. DC would be the 4th seed in East if both KC and NY lose, otherwise DC would be No. 4 seed in West.

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Real Salt Lake – 39 pts. – Currently 3rd in the West

Just as I thought it would a few weeks back, it comes down to the final game of the year against their Mountain Cup rivals. Its pretty simple, they just need a point but if they drop this game they will enjoy another long winter.

RSL will be in with a win or draw at Colorado. The win or draw will put them as the 3rd seed in the West.

RSL can’t lose because:

They would be eliminate with a loss because KC and Red Bulls hold head-to-head tie-breakers.

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Colorado Rapids – 37 pts. – Currently 4th in West

Simple as it is, win and they are win. Anything less and its a long winter.

Colorado will be in with a win vs. Real Salt Lake. If Colorado wins, the Rapids will be No. 3 seed in the West.

Just when you think they are dead huh? Yeah, well two clubs are pretty much dead in the water (San Jose and Toronto) but the rest are not. We may not find out about the wildcard births just yet but I do have a feeling we will get a better understanding of who will come in third place out west.

As always feel free to pipe in your predictions below. I’m sure to be wrong on nearly all of them but I do reserve the right to gloat endlessly if I do get one right.

Chicago Fire – at – Toronto FC: Look Toronto is pretty much all but done here. Three points or bust is what will the slogan will be in the locker room. Thing is after last night’s result in DC they will need some big time help even if they win these next two. Those are some big if’s. Chicago on the other hand just needs to find some mojo before the playoffs begin. They’ve coasted along for the last two months or so and that won’t cut it in the second season. I think both clubs get up for this game but I see desperation win over here with Toronto going out on top here.

WVH Prediction: Toronto 2, Chicago 1

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Columbus Crew – at – New York Red Bulls: One of the few bad losses that the Crew took this year was on the road against the Red Bulls at the start of the year. I wonder if they use that as motivation for this game even though they’ve wrapped everything but a MLS Cup title up here this year. New York is in a world of hurt right now after yesterday’s news about Jon Conway and Jeff Parke. Losing Conway is killer as even with him they weren’t all that great. Now a reserve has to step up. Aside from that the Red Bulls have been largely inconsistent for a month or so now. Its a three points or bust kind of game for them after last night’s result. I think the Crew make it interesting and squeeze a draw out of this one. New York is good enough on a given day to win but their defense and the lack of Conway scares me for this one.

WVH Prediction: New York 1, Columbus 1

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San Jose Earthquakes – at – Kansas City Wizards: I believe the Quake’s chances are about as slim as they could possibly get without saying they are eliminated here. They can play spoiler though as KC is looking to take their own chances and turn them into reality. KC has the schedule and the ability to reach the second season again but they cannot slip up at home against a very dangerous San Jose club. I see the Wizards stepping up thanks to guys like Jimmy Conrad here and they get the three points. But don’t be shocked if the Quakes pull the upset in this one; KC always likes to wait until the final weekend to clinch a playoff spot.

WVH Prediction: KC 2, San Jose 1

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LA Galaxy – at – Houston Dynamo: Another club with a lot of “if’s” surrounding their playoff hopes visits a club trying to wrap up a conference title. LA, like Toronto and San Jose would need a lot of help to reach the playoff and I for one don’t see it happening. Houston played very well in the midweek and I think that will carry over even with some tired legs. The Galaxy defense is still largely pathetic here and on the road they are even worse.

WVH Prediction: Houston 2, LA 1

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FC Dallas – at – Real Salt Lake: Here’s the big one on the menu for the weekend. RSL moves into the playoffs for the first time with a win, Dallas just makes things that much tigher if they win. This one should be a solid game as both are pushing hard for that third and final automatic bid out west. Their matches this season have entertaining as well. I think for Dallas they have to control the pace from the start and not allow RSL and their fans into this one. I think the 12th man situation will help RSL out in the end on this one and carry them into the playoffs for the first time. Dallas still has a shot but it will be a slim one.

WVH Prediction: RSL 2, Dallas 0

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Colorado Rapids – at – Chivas USA: Colorado still has a slim chance of their own here while Chivas is hoping to catch up to Houston for that western conference crown. To be quick I like Chivas much more at home than I do with the Rapids on the road. The Goats have been much more impressive in recent weeks and that is the way to do it in this league before the playoffs. I see them keeping their momentum up here with a nice win to knock Colorado out (not officially though).

WVH Prediction: Chivas 3, Colorado 1

Lost in the shuffle of today’s expansion madness was a game, a very important game between Houston and San Jose. The two square off tonight in Houston as they make up this game due to Hurricane Ike a few weeks ago. For a while we said that this game in hand would be huge for San Jose and tonight they have to prove it.

Houston has looked mighty solid at home this season but I wonder if they put their best foot forward now that they won’t be winning the Supporter’s Shield this year. They do have their sights set on winning the western conference again and three points will certainly help them get closer to that goal.

But for the Quakes and their playoff chances they have to win out in their final three. So far the road play this season hasn’t been all that great. They’ve dropped some games that they shouldn’t have dropped and have had some calls not go their way in the process.

I like the Quakes tonight on the bases that Houston will try to go for the draw in this one and save some legs for this weekend’s game against LA. A desperate team is the Quakes and I think they get their stuff back in order to make the playoff race even more interesting. Thing is they have to or else they won’t be apart of it if they fail to get three points. I’m pretty sure they’d be all but eliminated after this game if they fail to get three full points.

Still I see them coming through tonight by the way of Darren Huckerby.

WVH Prediction: San Jose 1, Houston 0

1. Columbus Crew (54 pts., same) – There’s really no way anyone passes Columbus up top here in the final two weeks of the year. They’ve wrapped up the Supporter’s Shield and have still looked very solid in the process.

2. Houston Dynamo (44 pts., same) – The draw to DC ended Houston’s hopes at a Supporter’s Shield but more importantly I am wondering if this club will run out of gas before the playoffs begin. A lot of tired legs out there.

3. Chicago Fire (43 pts., up 1) – There was a big reason why they wanted Brian McBride. He proved that this past weekend against Columbus. Still this club looks a bit out of sync from what we saw most of the year. I’m curious to see if they can find their form in the final couple weeks of the year. Right now it looks like they will get New England in the playoffs, which should be a good thing for the Fire.

4. New England Revolution (43 pts., down 1) – Lacking consistent play lately but more important they lost Steve Ralston for the rest of the year. That blow may just end their MLS Cup hopes in my mind.

5. Chivas USA (42 pts., same) – Looking better and better each week. Preki better get plenty of votes for Coach of the Year after keeping this club together through all the injuries that have ravaged this club this season. Now they are healthy and looking dangerous.

6. FC Dallas (35 pts., same) – Kenny Cooper saves Dallas once more. My question is was that the last time that he saved him in Pizza Hut Park? The playoff hopes now go to the road, where Dallas has been much better than they have been at home this season.

7. Real Salt Lake (36 pts., up 1) – Coasting in right now is RSL. Rio Tinto looks great but this club hasn’t looked great in weeks.

8. New York Red Bulls (36 pts., up 1) – Nice draw on the road but the last two games will be tough for this club. Between New York and KC getting in I would say New York has a much tougher road than KC to get in right now.

9. Kansas City Wizards (36 pts., up 2) – The schedule absolutely helps this club. If they fail to reach the playoffs it will be due to their horrible play on the road.

10. San Jose Earthquakes (30 pts., down 3) – Dropping like a fly right now. Three wins should get them in but its highly unlikely here. They lose tomorrow to Houston and they are done.

11. Colorado Rapids (34 pts., down 1) – Defense has given up 10 goals in the last three games. That my friends is one of the many reasons why they won’t be in the playoffs in 2008.

12. LA Galaxy (32 pts., up 2) – The win again delayed elimination. But it was still a nice win over Colorado. The second straight win at home was probably still too little too late for the Galaxy.

13. DC United (34 pts., down 1) – Sure it was a good draw that keeps them in contention but with all the injuries this club still has little hope of reaching the second season this year.

14. Toronto (32 pts., down 1) – They can blame the refs or themselves but really this club hasn’t looked like a playoff contender in months. 2009 sounds like a good year to do it though.

Congrats to Major League Soccer. Really, for once a playoff race actually has meant something from week one to the end of the season. Usually by now we have at least six or seven clubs already in the playoffs with one or two going for the final spot. This year however is completely different.

Right now NO CLUB HAS BEEN ELIMINATED! Yeah, it deserved the all CAPs there to prove a point. Usually by now at least two or three or even four clubs have been eliminated from playoff contention.

It seems as though as the league expands the playoff push actually start to mean something like we all had hoped it would. Even though most still agree that eight-club playoff in a 14-club league is still too many for a second season it at least has had the drama that most would want it to right now.

So today we have five clubs in and three spots still up for grabs with two weeks left in the year. These two weeks are rather huge if you really think about it since no one has been eliminated. Nearly ever game has some sort of playoff meaning and there is a good chance that the final two playoff spots will be finalized next weekend and not this weekend.

Nine clubs going for three spots is what we are left with. Just how each club looks at getting there is left to be figured out. First let’s just look at the full table along with who plays who over these next two weeks:

Columbus – 54 pts (2 games left; at NY; vs. DC)
Houston – 44 pts (3 games left; vs. SJ, vs. LA; at Chivas)
Chicago – 43 pts (2 games left; at TOR; vs. NY)
New England – 43 pts (2 games left; at DC; vs KC)
Chivas – 42 pts (2 games left; vs. COL; vs. HOU)
Kansas City – 36 pts (2 games left; vs. SJ; at NE)
Real Salt Lake – 36 pts (2 games left; vs. DAL; at COL)
New York – 36 pts (2 games left; vs. CLB; at CHI)
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FC Dallas – 35 pts (2 games left; at RSL; at LA)
Colorado – 34 pts (2 games left; at CHV; vs. RSL)
DC United – 34 pts (2 games left; vs. NE; at CLB)
Toronto FC – 32 pts (2 games left; vs. CHI, at SJ)
LA Galaxy – 32 pts (2 games left; at HOU; vs. DAL)
San Jose – 30 pts (3 games left; at HOU, at KC, vs. TOR)

First off there is one more automatic bid out in the west that is left. You can pretty much give it to the winner of the RSL-Dallas game this weekend. Then there is the two wild-card spots. Right now two eastern clubs (New York and KC) sit in them.

Again, let’s look at each club’s chances here:

Real Salt Lake (36 pts.) – A win Saturday and they are in, no question about it. Two games left and I really believe now that the Dallas game will send one club in and put the other a point or two away from a wild-card spot. I believe RSL has the best shot of anyone not in the playoffs right now to make it. Now saying that they have to get a win in these next two. Two draws only makes things harder on themselves. Two losses and Jason Kreis is looking at a very long off-season.

New York (36 pts.) – This club may have it easy since they play two clubs that are already in the playoffs. That sort of helps. Thing is this club continues to shoot themselves in the foot week in and week out. If it weren’t for Dave van den Burgh (not Juan Pablo Angel, though he did help at times) this club would not even be nearly close to this position. Too bad there are about five other really good MVP candidates this year because DvB would certainly be in the discussion.

Kansas City (36 pts.) – How many times have we seen this out of the Wizards. Making it come down to the final weeks of the season. Boy I would not want to be a Wizards fan because of that kind of drama. Sure it can be fun if you make it but heartbreaking if you don’t. Thing is they have to beat San Jose this weekend, they do that and they are fine. I think they have the softest schedule out of every left here. Two very winable games, but if they don’t I just don’t see how Curt Onaflo will keep his job this off-season.

FC Dallas (35 pts.) – A win at RSL and things are headed in the right direction. That would be 38 points for Schellas Hyndman’s bunch. A draw would pretty much mean they would be in a do-or-die situation in LA. I think the Galaxy will finally be eliminated this week so they could play spoiler but I am kind of hoping for the ladder of the two because a LA-Dallas game has produced some crazy results this year…usually resulting in a coaching change.

Colorado Rapids (34 pts.) – I think after this past weekend they are done. I’ve wrote them off before and they’ve bounced back but with two weeks left and two tough games I just don’t like their chances. They win the Chivas game they have some solid life going into the Mountain Cup rival game with RSL. That game could still send a club into the playoffs and send one to an early off-season. Or it even could send two clubs home for the year, who knows. I just think Colorado is actually finally done this season.

DC United (34 pts.) – United is backed into a corner against a very tough schedule. Two clubs that have practically owned them this season. Both are locked into a playoff spot but with all the injuries the chances have gone from solid to decent to very little in a matter of two or three weeks here. I think Tom Soehn has been spending more time brushing up the old resume here more than anything else.

LA Galaxy (32 pts.) – Got some new life without their main two punches of Donovan and Beckham. Should they win that Houston game they will be at 35 points, still not enough to actually be in. Then a win over Dallas would put them at 38 points. For the Galaxy to make it they need a lot of things to happen. And I mean a lot.

Toronto FC (32 pts.) – Two wins would put them at 38 points as well but just like the Galaxy they need more help than they will actually get. The draw to Dallas was tough, espeically with the way it ended but this club’s playoff chances went out when the Kenny Cooper PK was scored.

San Jose Earthquakes (30 pts.) – Three games left but they must win all three in my book to reach the playoffs. Two road games and a home game is a tough way to get nine points. Even at 39 points they may be locked into a tie with someone else and not make it on tiebreakers. Who knows.

A lot of soccer if left to be played here. Weird how 15 games can determine so much. Right now I see RSL, KC and Dallas reaching the playoffs. But really anything is possible at this point.

Its all sold out for tonight’s opener at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. It couldn’t be a bigger night to debut the league’s seventh soccer specific stadium too as Real Salt Lake and New York Red Bulls are eager to grab three points in their current playoff push.

Stadium openings usually mean one thing: crazy games. Most games don’t go down as 1-0 or anything of that nature. They are usually 3-3 or 2-2 and when you throw the history of RSL and New York in the mix it is assured to be even crazier.

RSL needs three points to help assure their place in this year’s MLS Cup Playoffs. In doing so they will have to beat a club they’ve never beaten before in New York. Its not that the Red Bulls have owned RSL in the previous seven meetings between the two clubs, its just been both have found weird ways to draw even with one another five out of the seven times.

I see that happening tonight. Both will be missing a couple key players which should make this just as even as always. Recent stadium openings haven’t gone well for the home side but I think RSL will get a point out of this. I see another draw really is what I am saying. Its kind of like RSL winning consistently on the road, until they do it I won’t pick them to do so. Same goes against the Red Bulls.

A lot is at stake but I see it being another wild one. Plus I am honestly not that thrilled with the way either club’s defense has been as of late.

WVH Prediction: RSL 2, NY 2