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Kick Off: MLS Cup Playoff field is set after dramatic final weekend; Knockout Round starts Wednesday
It is officially playoff time in Major League Soccer, with the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs presented by AT&T kicking off Wednesday! Who do you think will advance? Fill out your predictions in the official MLSsoccer.com Pick'em game presented by EA Sports.
Meanwhile, here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:
1. SOUNDERS SOAR TO SHIELD
The Seattle Sounders lifted the Supporters' Shield for the first time in their history on Saturday after two late goals from Marco Papa provided a 2-0 win over the LA Galaxy (HIGHLIGHTS). The Galaxy were without Robbie Keane for the game but insist they could not have played much better.
2. TIMBERS GIVE IT THEIR ALL
The Portland Timbers did all they could to try and earn a playoff spot with a 2-0 win at FC Dallas (HIGHLIGHTS), and Caleb Porter believes his side should be proud of themselves. The result means that FC Dallas must now switch their attention to playing in the Western Conference Knockout Round.
3. WHITECAPS WIN, AND THEY'RE IN
With Portland winning, the pressure was on the Vancouver Whitecaps to do the same against the Colorado Rapids, and they succeeded with a 1-0 victory (HIGHLIGHTS) to secure their place in the playoffs. They'll travel to face FC Dallas in the Knockout Round on Wednesday (9 pm ET, TSN1 in Canada, MLS LIVE in US), but are the Whitecaps finding their form at just the right time?
4. BWP TIES RECORD, RBNY HOST CHAMPS
Sporting Kansas City slumped to a fifth-place regular-season finish following a 2-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Sunday (HIGHLIGHTS), but their head coach, Peter Vermes, believes the playoffs are the start of a new chapter. New York boss Mike Petke, on the other hand, called the win, in which Golden Boot winner Bradley Wright-Phillips tied the single-season goalscoring record , one of the most enjoyable of his career. The two sides will do it all over again in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round on Thursday (8 pm ET, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, TSN2 in Canada).
5. COLUMBUS ON THE RISE
The Columbus Crew climbed up to a third seed in the Eastern Conference thanks to a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Sunday (HIGHLIGHTS). But it took a late goal from Bernardo Anor to seal the points which, according to Wil Trapp, is the kind of determination that shows the Crew's playoff potential.
6. FOND FAREWELL
On an emotional night, Logan Pause finished his MLS playing career with one final win, helping the Chicago Fire to a 2-1 victory over the Houston Dynamo (HIGHLIGHTS) last Friday. For the Dynamo, another defeat marked the end of a tough season and a difficult situation.
7. ANOTHER GOAL FOR NGUYEN
The New England Revolution finished their regular season with a 1-0 win over Toronto FC (HIGHLIGHTS) and, believe it or not, their first shutout in two months. TFC feel they should have had a clean sheet of their own but, with another goal for Lee Nguyen, the Revs midfielder further enhanced his MVP claims.
8. NEVER GIVE UP
In the final game of both clubs' seasons, Chivas USA climbed to seventh in the Western Conference thanks to a 1-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes (HIGHLIGHTS), and head coach Wilmer Cabrera praised his team for never giving up. For the Earthquakes, though, things can only get better next season.
9. DI VAIO SAYS GOODBYE WITH A GOAL
Although a late D.C. United equalizer in their 1-1 draw with the Montreal Impact (HIGHLIGHTS) cancelled out Marco Di Vaio's goal in his final competitive game, it was still an incredible day for the retiring Italian striker. United's attention next turns to the playoffs, and it seems they've picked up some pretty cool new fans along the way.
10. RSL: BRING ON THE GALAXY!
Real Salt Lake left back Chris Wingert had said that he hoped his side would get the LA Galaxy in the playoffs and, thanks to other results in the league this weekend, that's exactly who RSL got. Will they be ready? According to Ned Grabavoy, the whole side understand "the important time has come now."
11. SOUNDERS MAKING NEWS
While Marco Pappa may have stolen the headlines during Saturday's Shield-clinching win, it's the Seattle Sounders' star strikers who found their way into the news this weekend. According to ESPN, Obafemi Martins has been rewarded with a new two-year deal. And will Clint Dempsey be heading out on loan again in January?
12. LOOKING FORWARD
With their difficult seasons now wrapped up, both the San Jose Earthquakes and the Colorado Rapids can look toward the future. With a new stadium and a new head coach, there's plenty for the Quakes to look forward to, but after a mixed year, will Rapids striker Gabriel Torres be back in Denver next season?
13. EXPANSION TARGETS?
Where will the next MLS expansion team be based? While it seems that officials from the Sacramento Republic, along with Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson, are set to meet with MLS officials in New York on Tuesday, the Midwest clearly still remains a priority.
14. HOLDEN ON TO HOPE
Ever wondered what it must be like for a player attempting to recover from a major injury? Few know the feeling quite as well as Stuart Holden, and the US international has started a blog to not only keep people up to date with his progress, but also offer an insight into the process.
15. BOUND FOR THE WORLD CUP
Following a 3-0 win over Mexico in the CONCACAF Women's Championship, the US women's national team qualified for next summer's FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada. However, there's another World Cup coming up before then that you might not know about.
MLSsoccer.com Musts
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