With all four ties in the playoffs wide open as they enter their second legs, it seems certain that, come Sunday evening, some of the higher seeds will be clearing out their lockers.

One of those in danger is Columbus, although I expect the Crew to find a way to eliminate Real Salt Lake, which was just 2-11-2 on the road all season. Columbus fans will have to be patient against a side that is likely to come with a defensive mind-set and it will be incumbent upon Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Alejandro Moreno to respond positively to being left out of the first leg.

Staying in the east, Chicago against New England is likely to play out in a similar manner, although I fancy the Revolution's chances more than I do RSL's. Can the Fire deal with the pressure? My tip for MLS Cup has flattered to deceive all season and continued in that manner in the tie's first leg. Afterwards, coach Denis Hamlett was bullish about Chicago's chances about return match, but it remains to be seen whether Chicago can break down what is likely to be a resolute New England rearguard.

I still fancy Houston and Seattle to go to penalties although I do expect there to be goals at Robertson Stadium, as long as both sides can be more clinical with their chances. For Houston, it is important not only that Luis Angel Landin is fit but that he performs. After all, it was for games such as these he was signed as a DP late in the season. Seattle could have Tyrone Marshall back while Fredy Montero should be over the illness that bugged him in the first game.

You would expect both Los Angeles and Chivas to defend better than each did last Sunday, meaning that the sides' second SuperClasico playoff meeting will be a cagier affair. David Beckham needs to step up after he spent much of the first leg on the game's periphery while Goats fans will be hoping to see more of the same from Maykel Galindo, whose pace worried the Galaxy's backline throughout the second half on Sunday.

End the errors

Maybe I'm being picky or getting grumpier in my old age but I cannot help hoping that, whichever teams do prevail this weekend, they do so due to their own excellence rather than opponents' mistakes. We saw plenty of those in the opening legs of the four ties, games which, overall, I felt were disappointing in their level of play.

After a lack of composure in front of goal blighted Seattle against Houston, the first goal of the postseason came about due to a Columbus loss of concentration. Not only was Frankie Hejduk at fault, he allowed Yura Movsisyan to get in a cross, but also the hitherto impressive Eric Brunner, who was beaten at the near post by Robbie Findley.

Meanwhile, both goalkeepers were culpable at Foxborough on Sunday. First, Chris Rolfe capitalized on Matt Reis' inability to hold Marco Pappa's cross and later, as New England fought back, Jon Busch's failure to hold a Pat Phelan header led to Shalrie Joseph bundling home the winner.

However, nothing that preceded it could outdo the comedy of errors we saw at the Home Depot Center as Los Angeles and Chivas repeatedly made basic mistakes to allow their opponents back into the game. It may have been exciting for the fans but I doubt Bruce Arena or Preki enjoyed it.

Let's hope this postseason is remembered for the good, as opposed to anything bad or ugly. After all, I haven't even mentioned referees ...

A thing that made me go hmmm

From the ridiculous to something more sublime. Awards season begins today as MLS announces the winners of the goalkeeper of the year and fair play prizes. Accolades continue to be handed out on an almost-daily basis until shortly before MLS Cup, with the 2009 MVP as well as the commissioner's award the last to be distributed.

I cast my votes last week and gave Jeff Cunningham the nod as my MVP for almost single-handedly pulling FC Dallas back to the brink of the playoffs with game-winning goals in seven of the Hoops' 11 wins. Fredy Montero and Shalrie Joseph were Cunningham's closest rivals in my eyes.

Here are my selections for some of the other big prizes:

Coach: Bruce Arena, Los Angeles (tough call as there were many good candidates)

Goalkeeper: Zach Thornton, Chivas USA (he was also my choice as comeback player of the year)

Defender: Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Seattle (Geoff Cameron was close and deserves a U.S. call-up)

Rookie: Omar Gonzalez, Los Angeles (I voted before that backpass vs Chivas!)

Newcomer: Fredy Montero, Seattle (teammate Freddie Ljungberg's late-season form saw him considered too).