MLS Cup Playoffs Set for Enticing Battles With Big Name Players
Nicholas Spiller
The MLS season is drawing to a close and that means fans across America are bracing for what should be an enthralling MLS Cup Playoffs to decide the winner of Major League Soccer.
10 teams will enter the playoffs, and six have already qualified, leaving the rest of the league battling and scraping for those last few spots and a chance at MLS Cup glory. Here is a preview of the playoffs and a prediction of how it will pan out.
Because of the importance of playoffs in American soccer, the regular season is largely focused on just earning a spot in the tournament. Once the playoffs begin, the importance and magnitude of the games will increase to entirely new heights and will require the stars of these teams to really play their best in tense games.
The MLS Playoffs will begin with a wild-card match between the 4 and 5 seeded teams of each conference. Currently, these spots are being fought over and will be decided on the next few weeks as the regular season wraps up. However, some of the major MLS clubs are currently in these positions and will have to enter the MLS Cup Playoffs through wildcard matches.
One such team is the LA Galaxy. Last year's MLS Champions boast the most famous lineup of soccer stars from around the world. David Beckham is one of the icons of the game and has recently found great successes in America. World-renowned for his exploits at Manchester United, Real Madrid, and captaining the England national team, Beckham can still bend in shots like no other and is a great veteran leader with a nose for amazing crosses.
Also on the Galaxy is Irishman Robbie Keane, who excelled in the EPL before moving to America. American leader Landon Donovan rounds out the trio of attacking stars on the Galaxy, who were powerful last season. This year has been a mixed bag. The team began horribly but rediscovered their poise mid-season and has been stellar ever since. With the championship-winning experience of last season and their current hot form, expect the Galaxy to fare well.
The Western Conference does have several other good teams, however. One such team is the San Jose Earthquakes, currently the strongest team in the MLS. Behind league goal-scoring leader Chris Wondolowski, the Earthquakes will be looking for MLS Cup glory. Another great player on the team is forward Alan Gordon.
Gordon has scored a solid 13 goals on the year and recently was awarded a call-up to the national squad. In his first appearance this past weekend, Gordon provided the assist for Eddie Johnson’s last minute winner against Antigua and Barbuda. It has been a remarkable turnaround for the team that was among the league's worst last season in the standings.
In the Eastern Conference much hype has been lauded onto the New York Red Bulls. The team has acquired several quality foreigners including Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill. Henry has been a wonderful delight to watch in America and has displayed his class and skill with several outstanding appearances and goals. Other good players on this team are striker Kenny Cooper and midfielder Dax McCarty, who has been called up to the US Men’s National Team several times.
The Red Bulls have yet to qualify for the playoffs and though they probably will, it will likely be for a wildcard spot. Their season began wonderfully and saw them on top of the conference, but their form has since slipped and will need to step it up to make some noise. With Henry playing, I think they have every opportunity to do just that.
Sporting Kansas City leads the Eastern Conference behind an impressive defense. They have only given up 26 goals so far this season, and actually broke an MLS record for minutes played without giving up an opposing shot. Chance Myers, Matt Besler, Seth Sinovic, and Frenchmen Aurelien Collin have forged a dominant back line for the team.
Up front Kei Kamara gives the team goals from the solid midfield play of former American international, Bobby Convey. Kansas City was on top of the standings last year but lost in the Conference finals, and they are ever so hungry to make the next step this season and have the defensive fortitude to do just that.
Some other teams that look to enter the playoffs will be the Chicago Fire, D.C. United, Real Salt Lake, and the Seattle Sounders. These teams are all more than capable of lifting the MLS Cup come December, so how will this exciting tournament play out?
I truly feel that star-power becomes a huge bonus in the playoffs, because these games mean so much more than regular season games. Unlike other soccer leagues around the world where the table defines the champion, the final standings in America really mean nothing. All that matters is getting into the tournament and how you play then. Therefore, like they did last year, I expect the star players to up their game in the playoffs. However, a couple teams will be too good for them.
In the Western Conference, I think it will come down to the San Jose Earthquakes and the LA Galaxy. I think that Wondolowski and the Earthquakes will come from behind to win this tie with an aggregate score of 5-4. In the Eastern Conference I see a showdown between the New York Red Bulls and Sporting Kansas City. Kansas City will have a great defensive showdown and thwart Thierry Henry and the Red Bulls, winning 1-0.
This will set a dream tie between the league's best defense and its best striker. In the MLS Cup Final, Chris Wondolowski will earn his marks and lead his team to victory with two goals in a 2-0 victory. The Earthquakes are by far the best team in the MLS right now and have all the tools needed to stage a grand victory.
© Nicholas Spiller & Soccerphile.com
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