Real Salt Lake and New England did what they had to do, while their four rivals for the final two playoff spots failed with varying degrees of absurdity to seize opportunities -- meaning that we finally have a postseason lineup of eight teams, from which one will emerge to lift the MLS Cup.
At the start of the year, I picked Chicago to beat Los Angeles in the MLS Cup. Although I'm not convinced of such an outcome by any means, there is no obviously safer prediction, so I'll stick to my guns. However, before we crown the team that will succeed in Seattle, there are conference semifinals to be played.
Columbus Crew versus Real Salt Lake
Columbus may have won only one of its final four games, but Robert Warzycha's side should have too much for Real Salt Lake, which hardly enters the playoffs in prime form itself.
In RSL's favor is the opportunity to play the first leg at Rio Tinto, where it lost just once all year and where, lest we forget, Columbus was the recipient of a 4-1 shellacking back in April. Robbie Findley scored a hat trick that night, and he'll be a key man once again -- especially if Chad Marshall is missing for the Crew.
However, even without the U.S. international, Columbus has sufficient quality throughout its squad to survive a tricky trip to Utah before finishing the job at home. RSL's back line will struggle to contain the likes of Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Robbie Rogers, Alejandro Moreno and Eddie Gaven.
Verdict: Columbus advances 3-1 on aggregate.
Chicago Fire versus New England Revolution
It wouldn't be an MLS postseason without a New England-versus-Chicago matchup, would it? The two sides meet in the playoffs for the seventh time in eight years and Chicago enters this tie as a clear favorite to advance.
Each side is undefeated against the other on its home field in the playoffs and, for New England especially, it's vital that this trend continues. The Revolution have made the postseason despite losing a host of internationals (to injury) and assistant coach Paul Mariner (to Plymouth). If they're to progress further, they'll have to take a lead to Toyota Park.
Not that Chicago is necessarily firing on all cylinders. Last Thursday's 1-0 win over Chivas was the first by Denis Hamlett's men in seven games and, though talent is abundant throughout its roster, the suspicion remains that the Fire's correct blend of players and tactics has yet to be found. It may get past a goal-shy New England side, but if my MLS Cup prediction is to come true, Chicago has to show more than the spasmodic form we've seen to date this year.
Verdict: Chicago advances 2-0 on aggregate.
Los Angeles Galaxy versus Chivas USA
The first playoff meeting of these SuperClasico rivals matches up two teams that had contrasting regular seasons. While Chivas began the season in fine form, Los Angeles gained momentum through the second half, recording six wins in its last 11 games.
Los Angeles won two of the three meetings between the sides in the regular season by 1-0 scores, and breaching the Galaxy's improved defense will again be Chivaas' biggest challenge. Of the eight playoff teams, only New England has scored fewer goals than Chivas in 2009, and it will be incumbent on Sacha Kljestan to take a leading creative role.
The Galaxy has more star power but will need more than flair to get past their gritty Home Depot Center cohabitants. With Chivas likely to try slowing down the game, will the likes of David Beckham and Landon Donovan be able to find enough space from which to dictate? If not, who can step up? Edson Buddle, who got the winner in the teams' July meeting, may be a key figure.
Verdict: Los Angeles advances 3-1 on aggregate.
Houston Dynamo versus Seattle Sounders
Featuring two evenly matched sides, both of which are more than capable of winning the MLS Cup, this is the closest tie to call. Furthermore, sprinkled throughout Houston's and Seattle's ranks are many players who know what it takes to win a championship.
Dominic Kinnear and Sigi Schmid have pretty decent playoff pedigrees, too, and this matchup may be decided by which of the two adjusts more effectively within games. On the field, the form of both teams has contrasted recently. Seattle ended the regular season with three straight wins, although its home form has slipped. Last weekend's win over Dallas ended a run of three straight games at Qwest Field in which the hosts failed to score.
Meanwhile, Houston has won just twice in league play since the middle of August, as a hectic schedule (which featured six CONCACAF Champions League games) appeared to take its toll. The jury remains out on Luis Angel Landin, who scored just once in seven games. The Mexican's DP battle with Freddie Ljungberg -- Seattle's big-money man has four assists in his last two games -- is another of the tie's pivotal clashes.
Verdict: Seattle advances on penalties (aggregate 2-2).
A thing that made me go hmmm …
D.C. United president Kevin Payne had some interesting things to say in the aftermath of the club's failure to reach the playoffs. According to Steven Goff's blog in the Washington Post, Payne suggested that some teams -- he mentioned New England, Salt Lake and Colorado specifically -- adopt an overly conservative approach that he believes may turn some off MLS.
D.C. United would, in Payne's words, "rather attack than cynically defend." Hmmm. This is a club that scored nine goals in its final 10 games. And given that Tom Soehn's side failed to win 10 of the 17 matches in which it scored the first goal, perhaps a more pragmatic mindset would have resulted in its season lasting a little longer.
Although Payne's concern for the overall well-being of the league is admirable, I wonder if he shouldn't be more concerned that D.C. United has failed to reach the postseason for two straight years under his watch. I wonder how many of the club's fans would swap places with followers of the Revolution and RSL, who are preparing for a playoff campaign.
Payne may be correct when he says D.C. has "a lot more trophies in our case than everybody else," but only four have arrived at RFK Stadium this century and only one of those was an MLS Cup. Given D.C.'s ongoing issues on and off the field, perhaps its supporters wish for the focus of its president to stay a little closer to home.
Well-played, golden man
His goals may not have been quite enough to sneak FC Dallas into the playoffs, but from a personal standpoint Jeff Cunningham has something to celebrate after claiming the second golden boot of his career, following a campaign in which he scored 17 times.
The 33-year-old Cunningham, who previously won the award in 2006 after a 16-goal season with Real Salt Lake, also got my vote for league MVP. Although Dallas didn't make the postseason, that it even came close was due in no small part to Cunningham, who scored game-winning goals in seven of the Hoops' 11 victories.
Dallas under Schellas Hyndman is certainly a team to watch in 2010 and, despite his advancing years, Cunningham will remain a key man. Furthermore, I'll sign off this week with this out-of-left-field thought: If he starts next season in the form he ended this year, could Cunningham force his way into contention for a spot on the U.S. World Cup squad?
The Carling Cup on ESPN360.com
Speaking of Liverpool and Torres, you can watch the glamor tie in the Carling Cup between Arsenal and Liverpool this Wednesday on ESPN360.com: