MLS Playoffs

      (The Washington Post)

UNITED VS. FIRE

RECORDS

D.C. United: 16-7-7
Chicago Fire: 10-10-10

SCHEDULE
(Two-game, total-goals series)

Tonight at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill., 8:30 (ESPN2)
Nov. 1 at RFK Stadium, 7:30 (ESPN2)

ALL-TIME SERIES (REG. SEASON)

Tied, 12-12-7

PLAYOFF HISTORY
(Fire leads, 4-0-1)

1998: Fire 2, United 0 (neutral site)
2003: Fire 2, United 0 (RFK Stadium)
2003: Fire 2, United 0 (Soldier Field)
2005: Fire 0, United 0 (Soldier Field)
2005: Fire 4, United 0 (RFK Stadium)

PREDICTION

Chicago claims the opener, 1-0, United takes Game 2 by the same score, forcing 30 minutes of overtime and then penalty kicks, which D.C. wins, 4-3.

INJURY REPORT

United: MF Josh Gros (head, wrist), F Jamil Walker (Achilles' tendon) and GK Shawn Crowe (knee) are out. Fs Jaime Moreno (ankle-foot) and Luciano Emilio (ankle) are probable.

Fire: Ds Jeff Curtin (groin) and Osei Telesford (groin) are out. MF Justin Mapp (ankle) is doubtful. D Ivan Guerrero (ankle) is questionable.

KEYS TO VICTORY

United: MF Clyde Simms must disrupt the rhythm of playmaker Cuauhtemoc Blanco, whose delicate passes and blazing free kicks have rejuvenated Chicago's attack since his midseason acquisition from Mexico.

Fire: Chicago needs to take the initiative at home and flood the attack with players in an effort to win the match and put the second-game pressure on United, which has not fared well at home in critical playoff games.

REVOLUTION VS. RED BULLS

RECORDS

New England Revolution: 14-8-8
New York Red Bulls: 12-11-7

SCHEDULE
(Two-game, total-goals series)

Saturday at Giants Stadium, 7:30 (Fox Soccer Channel)
Nov. 3 at Gillette Stadium, 7:30 (FSC)

SEASON SERIES

Revolution 1, at Red Bulls 0
At Revolution 2, Red Bulls 1
Revolution 2, at Red Bulls 2

OUTLOOK

After a 5-1-2 start, the Red Bulls faded from the Eastern Conference race and ended the regular season with a 2-2-4 stretch. Management never addressed defensive problems, the goalkeeping has been suspect and veteran Claudio Reyna has been a disappointment, leaving the club dependent on MVP candidate Juan Pablo Angel (19 goals) and rising star Jozy Altidore (nine) to outscore a seasoned New England side that has played in three of the past five MLS Cups.

The Revolution sputtered at the end of the regular season as well, but Taylor Twellman's eye for the goal, Shalrie Joseph's midfield presence and Michael Parkhurst's defensive prowess should be enough to eliminate the Red Bulls.

PREDICTION

Revolution advances on a 4-2 aggregate score.

CHIVAS USA VS. WIZARDS

RECORDS

Chivas USA: 15-7-8
Kansas City Wizards: 11-12-7

SCHEDULE
(Two-game, total-goals series)

Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium, 8:30
Nov. 2 at Home Depot Center, 10:30 (HDNet)

SEASON SERIES

At Kansas City 3, Chivas USA 2
At Chivas USA 2, Kansas City 1

OUTLOOK

The Wizards play in the Eastern Conference, but because their fifth-place record was better than Colorado's fourth-place mark in the Western, they earned the final playoff berth and moved into the other bracket. Kansas City looked like a title contender at the start of the year, but a late 2-7-2 rut jeopardized its postseason hopes.

F Eddie Johnson is a troublesome forward, but he must finish his opportunities with more consistency. Chivas USA, in its third season, will need to compensate for the loss of F Ante Razov, who injured a knee late in the regular season and might not return this year. Chivas scored just once in its final three matches and leading scorer Maykel Galindo has been blanked since Sept. 9.

PREDICTION

Chivas sneaks through on penalty kicks after a 2-2 aggregate score.

DYNAMO VS. FC DALLAS

RECORDS

Houston Dynamo: 15-8-7
FC Dallas: 13-12-5

SCHEDULE
(Two-game, total-goals series)

Saturday at Pizza Hut Park, 8 (HDNet)
Nov. 3 at Robertson Stadium, 8:30

SEASON SERIES

At Houston 2, Dallas 1
Houston 0, at Dallas 0
At Houston 1, Dallas 0

OUTLOOK

Defending champion Houston fell one point short of Chivas USA in the Western race, but is not bothered by a first-round matchup with intrastate rival Dallas, which has been a postseason disappointment for years. The Dynamo has been a streaky club throughout the year; in the last six weeks of the regular season, it scored 10 goals during three consecutive victories and then managed just two in the final three games.

MF Ricardo Clark is sidelined with a suspension for intentionally kicking Carlos Ruiz while the Dallas forward on the ground. Dallas does not seem to have the proper chemistry to advance and Brazilian MF-F Denilson has not fulfilled expectations since his high-priced acquisition late in the season.

PREDICTION

Houston breezes with a 4-1 aggregate score.