Fearless playoff predictions

We will be breaking down the MLS match-ups in more detail on the It’s Called Football Daily show tonight, but for the sake of it here are my fearless playoff predictions:

Houston v Seattle

This is a tough one to call in that I’m not sure how Seattle will react to the playoff pressure and Houston has been a below average team the last two months of the season. Experience counts though. Houston starts its final push to glory with a tough 2-0 win (0-0 and 2-0)

Galaxy v Chivas

Welcome to MLS (playoffs) David! It’s a good thing Adrian Serioux isn’t there, but you can bet that there won’t be many pleasantries exchanged. The playoffs are a rough and tumble environment and as much as I love what Bruce Arena has done with the Gals in one short year (and as much as I have doubts about the Goats), I think the third time is the charm for Chivas to prove they can win in the post season. Chivas advances 3-1 (1-1, 2-0)

Columbus v Salt Lake

The Crew have not looked great the last month (ok, more like “just OK,” than “not great” but still…). SLC is damn lucky to be at the dance, but also damn good at home. No Sigi, Lots of cry. SLC rides a big win in the first leg to a 2-1 series win (2-0, 0-1).

Chicago v New England.

Ugh. Two teams that look like they don’t want to be there. The Fire have more talent. The Revs have an uncanny ability to win in the playoffs (in the east). Chicago’s old boys have just enough left in them to squeak through 1-1, 4-3 on PKs (0-0, 1-1).

West final –
Houston v Chivas

The Dynamo ride the hot goaltending of 83-year-old Pat Onstad to a tight 1-0 win. Stuart Holden gets the 88th minute winner helping the Houston faithful totally forget DeRo.

East final –

Chicago v Salt Lake

Just to make things fair, the Fire cough up the East final at home (where they have been mysteriously awful this year) to a west cross over team. The MLS Cup final is all west, after going all east last year. The game itself is strangely not close, with now hot SLC completing the miracle comeback from death (in Toronto) to win 3-0.

MLS Cup final-

Houston v Salt Lake

The Cinderella ride will end (which will, thank God, stop 3,876 posters at BigSoccer from proclaiming that SLC isn’t a Real (hardy har har) champion because they won in a playoff. The vets in Houston get one last ring. Onstad announces that he really is going to think about retiring and the parity league will hand a fifth crown to the franchise that can now lay claim to being the best ever in MLS’ short history. Final 2-0.