The race for the MLS playoffs

Chicago, Columbus and Colorado. Which of these teams will reach the post-season?

There are five weeks left in the MLS regular season and the race for the final MLS playoff spot is a tight one, if not an exciting one.

Chicago has pulled into the No. 8 spot after beating Columbus while the clock struck midnight on on Colorado's nice Cinderella run courtesy of a 3-1 loss to the awful LA Galaxy. Here is a peek at the standings:

• 7th- Kansas City (9-9-6)..........33 pts.
• 8th- Chicago (8-10-5).............29 pts.
• T-9th- Colorado (7-10-7)..........28 pts.
• T-9th- Columbus (6-8-10).........28 pts.

Surprised to see Kansas City near the No-Playoff Zone? Don't be. The Wizards have collapsed at the end of the past two seasons and could be primed for another collapse if they can't navigate a pretty tough late-season schedule. This weekend's game against COlumbus will be crucial for both teams. A win and the Wizards can start to breath a little easier. Lose and the Wizards players will start feeling the heat.

Columbus is in pretty bad shape heading down the stretch. The Crew head into the KC match without Guillermo Schelotto and Frankie Hejduk and must try to muster offense after having scored just two goals in their past four matches. Columbus must also know that a win against KC, followed by winnable matches against Toronto and LA, could revive the Crew's playoff chances. At this point I wouldn't bet on that happening.

Colorado looked like a good candidate to leap into a playoff spot until the Galaxy smacked the Rapids around last weekend. That inexcusable loss leaves you wondering whether the Rapids really have enough in the tank to take advantage of a soft remaining schedule.

Who will take that final playoff spot? Chicago has rallied to take over the spot and the additions of Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Paulo Wanchope and Wilmer Conde have provided a boost the Crew and Rapids could only dream off, but there's one problem. Take a look at the Fire's remaining schedule. The Fire's next five games include match-ups against FC Dallas, DC United (Twice), Chivas USA and New England. WOW. Even if they beat the Red Bulls on Saturday and the Galaxy in the season finale you still have to wonder if they can get enough points from this death march schedule. On the bright side, Chicago does have a game in hand on the Rapids and Crew.

Want to know the most interesting aspect of this playoff race? The fact that the Fire added three impact players for the second half of the season while the Rapids and Crew have managed to add nothing. It is no secret that Colorado and Columbus are two of the cheapest clubs in MLS but to watch these teams sit by and do nothing is sad. Their frugal ways will likely cost them this time around and fans of those teams should be asking some serious questions of their owners.

Who do I see making the playoffs? I think the Fire navigate through that tough schedule and advance, though the Rapids have the weak schedule to squeek through. The Crew? Stick a fork in them.

What do you think of the race for the final playoff spot? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[Felix]

I hope Chicago makes it. It's too bad that Mapp is hurt, he would be a welcome addition to the attack for sure. But it looks like Conde will be a great addition to the defense. I like this blend of young players and veterans. If they can make it into the playoffs, I think they can possibly pull off a '05 LA Galaxy type of run.

[Collin]

Here's to desperately hoping the Wiz can hang on to one of those spots.

Chicago deserves the other spot. Great points as always, Ives. You just got me even more excited about this race.

[Evan]

Ives, you wrote: "It is no secret that Colorado and Columbus are two of the cheapest clubs in MLS but to watch these teams sit by and do nothing is sad. Their frugal ways will likely cost them this time around and fans of those teams should be asking some serious questions of their owners."

Might you also include New England in this group? Their only additions this season outside the MLS draft are two unproven players from Gambia's U-20 National Team. Considering that the Revolution have senior roster spots open, plenty of cap room, and an appreciably thin bench, do you think there might also be concern about the Revolution, especially seeing how they've begun to fade late in matches over the last couple of games, and considering how close they are to the top of the League on points?

[Adam R.]

Chicago looks primed to take a playoff spot with their revamped roster...even though they miss Mapp and Rolfe has been absolutely wasted on the flanks.

KC's aggresive attacking style should get them another win or two, no matter how they defend. That will be enough.

Interesting side note...

This would be a good time to look at how the new playoff format has affected the playoff races.

Old Format:

Kansas City 33
Chicago 29
Columbus 28

All battling for one playoff spot. The West would be virtually decided, with Colorado having a 10-point lead.

New Format:

4 teams battling for two spots, as Ives described above.

So thanks to the rule change, we've given one more team (Colorado) something to play for.

My opinion: The rule change did something at least, but clearly more needs to be done.

[Pat Eyler]

I think that KC will hold on, and Chicago will do just enough to get in. The Rapids seem headed downstream fast (heh), and the Crew don't seem like their going to do anything else this season.

At this point, I'm just hoping 2008 is better to RSL (and another good year for the BYU Cougars).

[gas huffer]

Ives,

Did you get to see the RB v Chivas game. Any thoughts on it?

How does Goldthwaite get a start over Freeman?

Why is New York so Jeckyll & Hyde?

[PaulLorinczi]

Chicago will make it. Blanco, Wanchope, and Rolfe will have the impact to push them ahead and even compete to the finish.

[Furia Yanqui]

The excitement is building in Chicago. They are already sold out for Saturday's game versus NY Red Bulls. Everything has changed since they brought in Osorio, Blanco, Wanchope and now Conde.

[LAJames]

I'd go with Chicago on this one unless Colorado somehow finds a quality forward before the deadline. Columbus doesn't have enough quality to keep up despite Schelotto's heroics.

[papa bear]

It's Chicago's to lose. I think we will do no worse than draw NY this weekend. Even when we are horrible we always seem to get results against DC (your welcome NY supporters :) ) Chivas has always been a bit of a poison pill for the Fire though.
Dallas is beatable right now. They have been looking horrible. New England is unpredictable. They are probably our biggest rivals right now and all bets are kinda off when we play NE.

Chicago is so much stronger up the middle of the park right now that it's hard not to tab them to make it. In fact, I think they will pass KC for the 7th spot.

[brant]

I'm sick of spending season ticket money on Columbus Crew tickets just to watch us never score a goal. It's not the defense that's a problem. If you give up a goal, you should still me in the game. Columbus gives up a goal and you just know they'll never get it back because they have no shooters. Gaven, Garey, Moreno, Thomas, Virtuoso, Kamara, Grabavoy - doesn't matter. None of them *shoot*! None of them have a nose for the goal. Herron was supposed to be that guy, but he got a 4-game suspension early and has never been back. I guess he pissed off the wrong people. Sigi's game just isn't working, and the Crew - the team of McBride, Stern John, and Jeff Cunningham - have no one to score goals to win a 2-1 game. The defense can't pitch a shutout every time.