MLS PLAYOFF CAPSULES
| Earthquakes vs.Galaxy
| FC Dallas vs. Rapids
By Steven Goff, The Washington Post
Friday, Oct. 21, 2005
Format: Home-and-home first-round series, with the team scoring the most total goals advancing to the conference finals."
In the case of an overall tie following the second game, a 30-minute overtime period (no sudden death) will be played." If no one scores, penalty kicks will determine the winner. Each one-game conference final will be played Nov. 5 or 6." MLS Cup is scheduled for Nov. 13 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Tex."
United vs. Fire
When/Where: -- 9 p.m. tonight, Soldier Field, Chicago. TV: -- Comcast SportsNet.
Radio: -- WMET-1160 (English), WACA-1540, WYSK-1350, WKDV-1460, WLXE-1600 (Spanish).
D.C. Probable Starters (3-5-2 formation): -- GK Nick Rimando; Ds Bryan Namoff, Facundo Erpen, Brandon Prideaux; MFs Josh Gros, Brian Carroll, Ben Olsen, Christian Gomez, Dema Kovalenko; Fs Santino Quaranta, Jaime Moreno.
Chicago Probable Starters (3-5-2): -- GK Zach Thornton; Ds C.J. Brown, Jim Curtin, Gonzalo Segares; MFs Logan Pause, Chris Armas, Thiago, Justin Mapp, Ivan Guerrero; Fs Chris Rolfe, Nate Jaqua.
Second Leg: -- Oct. 30, RFK Stadium, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN2).
Records: -- United 16-10-6, Fire 15-13-4.
Season Series: -- United won, 2-1-1.
Top Scorers: -- United F Jaime Moreno (16 goals, 7 assists), Fire F Chris Rolfe (8 goals, 5 assists).
Of Note: -- United's all-time playoff record is 22-6-1, but it is 0-3-0 against the Fire. The losses came in the 1998 final and a pair of first-round games in 2003, which included the only home playoff loss in club history.
Prediction: -- United (4-3 aggregate score).
Revolution vs. MetroStars
When/Where: -- Tomorrow, Giants Stadium, 7 p.m., Oct. 29, Gillette Stadium, 8 p.m. Records: -- Revolution 17-7-8, MetroStars 12-9-11.
Season Series: -- Revolution won, 2-1-1.
Top Scorers: -- Revolution F Taylor Twellman (17 goals, 7 assists), MetroStars MF Amado Guevara (11 goals, 11 assists).
Of Note: -- The MetroStars, who have never been to MLS Cup, went 2-0-1 down the stretch under interim coach Mo Johnston to sneak into the playoffs. The Revolution started 7-0-4 and stayed in first place most of the season.
Prediction: -- Revolution (on 4-2 aggregate).
Earthquakes vs. Galaxy
When/Where: -- Sunday, Home Depot Center, 3 p.m. (ESPN2), Oct. 29, Spartan Stadium, 10 p.m. Records: -- Earthquakes 18-4-10, Galaxy 13-13-6
Season Series: -- Earthquakes won 3-1-0.
Top Scorers: -- Earthquakes MF Dwayne De Rosario (9 goals, 13 assists), Galaxy F Landon Donovan (12 goals 10 assists).
Of Note: -- San Jose, a two-time champion, ran away in the West after finishing with a 14-game unbeaten streak, which began after a 3-0 loss to United on July 15. The Earthquakes are 9-0-7 at home, the Galaxy 3-10-3 on the road.
Prediction: -- Earthquakes (on 4-1 aggregate).
FC Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids
When/Where: -- Tomorrow, Invesco Field, 9 p.m., Oct. 29, Pizza Hut Park, 8:30 p.m. Records: -- FC Dallas 13-10-9, Rapids 13-13-6
Season Series: -- Dallas won, 2-0-2.
Top Scorers: -- Dallas F Carlos Ruiz (11 goals, 2 assists), Rapids F Jeff Cunningham (12 goals, 3 assists).
Of Note: -- Dallas started 10-2-3, followed that with an 0-3-5 skid and ended by going 3-3-3 to stumble into the playoffs. F Eddie Johnson is sidelined with a foot injury and the enigmatic Ruiz has missed recent practices for undisclosed reasons.
Prediction: -- Dallas (on 3-1 aggregate).
