A crazy set of Conference Semifinal second legs set the tone for what should be a highly entertaining pair of matches to determine which two teams will battle for MLS Cup.
In the West, a former Cup winner managed to secure advancement by the slimmest of margins, while the number one seed justified their league standing in a battle of the superclubs.
On the East side of the bracket, the defending champs just couldn't overcome a serious manpower shortage, and a recent playoff powerhouse showed signs of re-emergence over a new challenger.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]
Wednesday, October 2
Sporting Kansas City 2-0 Colorado Rapids
(Sporting win 4-0 on aggregate, advance to Eastern Conference Final)
A serious shortage of warm bodies plagued Colorado, already down 2-0, from the get go in a weather-battered Livestrong Sporting Park.
Down seven regular starters due to injury or suspension, the Rapids couldn't muster any of the magic that lifted them to an unlikely championship in 2010.
The hosts were not sympathetic to Colorado's plight, taking the game to their visiotrs as if they were the ones down two. A fantastic attacking display by KC's front three was much more than the overmatched, makeshift Rapids backline could handle.
Seattle 2-0 Real Salt Lake
(RSL win 3-2 on aggregate, advance to Western Conference Final)
In what ended up being American goalkeeper legend Kasey Keller's final match as a professional, the SEattle Sounders finally found their playoff scoring boots in front of an impassioned home crowd.
Despite having made the post-season in all three of their MLS seasons thus far, Seattle had never won a playoff match. In fact, they'd only ever scored once in 2.5 playoff campaigns, and their woeful 3-0 losing start to this year's post-season didn't make it look like any hope was in sight.
Looking straight up a mountain, the Sounders battled from the opening whistle, but the savvy RSL side thwarted all Seattle forays for the opening 45 minutes. A questionable penalty call at the 56 minute, converted by Osvaldo Alonso, woke both the Sounders and their huge home crowd up, and just five minutes later local boy Lamar Neagle pulled the green-clad hosts to within one.
For the next half hour, wave after wave of Seattle attacks were absorbed by Salt Lake, who were full marks for doing exactly what they had to dfo in the first leg and defending that lead like hell in the return match.
Thursday, October 3
Houston Dynamo 1-0 Philadelphia Union
(Houston win 3-1 on aggregate, advance to Eastern Conference Final)
Over the past month or so, Houston have been the hottest team in the league. They've showen no signs of cooling down after dispatching a confused Philadelphia Union team in this one.
The Union, who dug themselves into a hole in the home leg by setting up a hyper-defensive shape in hopes of countering Houston's set piece dominance, did just about the same thing in the return fixture, despite needing to win out at Roberston Stadium.
Houston, who win or lose would be saying goodbye to their home of six seasons, relied on wily old Brian Ching to nod them into the lead. The 48th minute marker was Ching's first goal since early August, and his eighth in playoff history for the Dynamo.
The rest of the match would see a puzzling strategy play out by Philly, as they brought on three offensive weapons around the hour mark in a despereate attempt to claw back into the series. The question of why Union coach Peter Nowak didn't use his attacking options from the beginning will need to be asked.
Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 New York Red Bulls
(LA win 3-1 on aggregate, advance to Western Conference Final)
The marquee match-up of the round didn't fail to disappoint.
Just four minutes in, a great sequence of passing ended with a perfectly weighted through-ball by Thierry Henry pounced on by fiesty strike partner Luke Rodgers to put New York up 1-0 and pull the series level. The Galaxy responded well, patiently taking over the possession game and eventually getting a beautifully-headed goal from first game hero Mike Magee.
LA put the match and series on ice after NY left back Roy Miller somehow managed to commit three separate fouls inside the area in a three second span. The ensuing penalty was converted by Landon Donovan, and the Galaxy put in a professional team effort to kill off the rest of the clock.
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With the above results in, the Conference Finals are set.
In the East, Kansas City will host the surging Houston Dynamo, while the Western final sees RSL travel to the Home Depot Center to take on the LA Galaxy.
Both games look to be intriguing, as all four teams have momentum on their sides. It's hard not to favour the home sides in both matches, but both visiting teams have a ton of big game experience and coaches who have tasted success in these situations before.
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MLS Playoff Wrap appears the day after each playoff round is completed.
Rudi Schuller contributes Toronto FC, MLS, and Canadian national team content to the 24th Minute. He is MLSsoccer.com's beat writer for all things concerning Canada's men's national teams, and has contributed to Goal.com and other soccer media. Follow Rudi on Twitter, @RudiSchuller.