The 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs are kicking off tonight with a match between DC United and Chicago Fire which is airing on ESPN 2.
The first round of the playoffs (the Conference Semifinals)are played in two legs with the results from both legs added up to decide what team will qualify for the conference finals.
In this post, I would like to give a brief preview of the first legs of each of the first round matchups:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Thursday October 25 (tonight): DC United @ Chicago Fire (8:30 PM on espn 2)
DC United has a tough match ahead of them tonight. They may be the best team in Major League Soccer right now, but they are playing away from home against a team that is currently on an eight game unbeaten streak. I believe that DC United will be the one to qualify for the Eastern Conference finalafter both legs are completed, but Chicago will defitnely give them a run for their money. My predicition for this leg: 1-1 tie.
Saturday October 27: New England Revolution @ New York Red Bulls (7:30 pm on Fox Soccer Channel)
This match between two out of the three "Interstate 95" rivals will deitnely be entertaining. Both teams have very good players: Altidore and Juan Pablo Angel from the Red Bulls and Taylor Twellman from teh Revolution (Twellman is best known for his part in the US National Team in this summer's Gold Cup (the official continental national team competition for North and Central America and the Carribean which the United States won). The Red Bulls are defintely the better of the two teams despite their regular season record being at New England's advantage. I just recently purchsed tockets for this game so I will defintely will be blogging baout it in the future (look out for it!).
My Prediction: 2-1 for the Red Bulls
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Saturday October 27: Houston Dynamo @ FC Dallas (8 pm)
This will deintely be a good match between the two Texas rivals. Houston Dynamo is the current MLS Cup champion and it will be very interesting to see if Houston can successfully defend their title. Houston's record against FC Dallas during the regular season was 2-0-1 and I think Houston will qualify for the Western Conference final once again this year, but it will not be an easy task againt FC Dallas.
My Prediction: 2-2
Saturday October 27: Chivas USA @ Kansas City Wizards(8 pm)
Kansas City is originally an Eastern Conference team but being that MAjor League Soccer has changed the seeding procedure from top four team from each conference qualifying to the top eight teams in general advancing to the playoffs, Kansas City managed to qualify as the last team and in order to fill the gap in teh Western Conference, the Wizards has to switch brackets and are tehrefor eplaying the top seeded Western Conference seeded Chivas USA. I'm not a big fan of Chivas USA because of their heated rivalry with the Los Angeles Galaxy, a team that I respect and my favorite Western Conference team. I'm also quite dissapointed with Chivas USA being that they continue to assist on playing at Home Depot Center, the Galaxy's home field, without paying any kind of territorial fee or rent to the Galaxy or stadium owners especially since the owners of Chivs USA, which also happen to be the owners of Mexico's Chivas de Guadalajara, have enough money to be build their own stadium, being that their Mexican club is extremely successful in both ticket sales and performance. However, I feel that Chivas USA will defintely win both legs and qualify for the Western Conference finals. My Prediction: 2-0 for Chivas USA
For more information regarding the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs, check out the offical websbite.
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