MLS Playoffs Kick-off Thursday
The Major League Soccer playoff pairings are set and the Columbus Crew are the No. 1 seed overall. The Crew went 17-7-6 to top the Eastern Conference during the regular season. Two-time defending MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo led the Western Conference at 13-5-12, the second best record overall. The playoffs begin this week with the conference semifinals, a home-and-home series of games in which the team with the most overall goals advances to the conference championship games. If the teams are tied after both games, overtime and (if needed) penalty kicks, will be held immediately after Game 2. The winners of the conference finals will play for MLS Cup 2008 on Sunday, Nov. 23, 3:30 pm/ET, ABC.
Conference Semifinals, Game 1
• Chicago Fire at New England Revolution
Thursday, Oct. 30, 7:30 pm/ET, ESPN2
• Houston Dynamo at New York Red Bulls
Saturday, Nov. 1, 4 pm/ET, local TV coverage only
• Chivas USA at Real Salt Lake
Saturday, Nov. 1, 6 pm/ET, Fox Soccer Channel
• Columbus Crew at Kansas City Wizards
Saturday, Nov. 1, 8 pm/ET, HDNet and local TV coverage
Conference Semifinals, Game 2
• New England Revolution at Chicago Fire
Thursday, Nov. 6, 8:30 pm/ET, ESPN2
• Kansas City Wizards at Columbus Crew
Saturday, Nov. 8, 7:30 pm/ET, HDNet and local TV coverage
• Real Salt Lake at Chivas USA
Saturday, Nov. 8, 10:30 pm/ET, Fox Soccer Channel
• New York Red Bulls at Houston Dynamo
Sunday, Nov. 9, 3 pm/ET, TeleFutura and local TV coverage