MLS Weekend: Moving Up, Nobody Out

WASHINGTON, DC (Oct 6, 2008) USSoccerPlayers -- Houston officially makes the playoffs, while the rest of the League gets another week where even the bottom clubs could push into contention. 

Columbus 1 - Los Angeles 0

Another win for the Crew, who are now rolling the rest of the League, ten points up on second-place New England and Western Conference leaders Houston.  Alejandro Moreno got the game's only goal in the 43rd with coach Siigi Schmid absent due to last week's red card.  Will Hesmer needed three saves for the shutout, with both teams putting three shots on goal. 

"The atmosphere again tonight was electric," Hesmer said. "It's been like that for a handful of games this year. You can't say enough -- I know it's cliché to keep saying it -- but the crowd gives us that little extra boost to dig in and we really mean it, they've been a huge part of our success."

Los Angeles stay bottom of the Western Conference, trailing San Jose by a point but with an extra game played. 

"I think the key play in the game was the goal at the end of the first half," Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. "I think tactically, we didn't play the last five minutes of the half properly. We played a short goal kick, lost the ball in our half of the field. Give Moreno credit for stepping in front of the defender and finishing off the play. Those are plays you get a little bit better at as the team gains experience. You position yourself to win these kinds of games and obviously, we're not there yet. However, as for us, that was as complete a 90 minutes as I've seen since I've been here."

Even with the worst record in the West, LA remain in playoff contention.

"I think the frustration is there a few months ago," LA midfielder David Beckham said.  "But we're in a position where we can still qualify for the playoffs. It's tough. You're here to win games. If you don't win games, you don't give yourself a chance. At the moment, we're not winning games. Tonight, the work ethic was there and the togetherness was there and that's all you can ask for."

DC 0 -Chivas USA 3

Credit Chivas USA for keeping their hold on second-place in the Western Conference, at the expense of a DC United squad that continues to disappoint.  Alecko Eskandarian opened the scoring in the 35th minute, Sasha Victorine made it 2-0 in the 56th, and Dejair finished it off in the 68th with assists from Eskandarian and Victorine.

"Things get complicated and guys start taking too many touches and running all over the place," said Chivas USA midfielder Jesse Marsch. "Our team doesn't work when it turns into physical battles -- we're not built for that. We're built to keep the ball on the ground and play, move for each other, find space, be dangerous, get around the goal and lately, some of the goals are going our way. Obviously the first goal was a bit of a break but I also think we've been making our own breaks. It feels good right now."

Dan Kennedy got the shutout for Chivas USA.  DC trail Colorado and Dallas by a point for the final wildcard slot. 

"We came into this game prepared mentally, morally, physically," said DC keeper Louis Crayton. "We had a chance to redeem ourselves and I feel wholly and solely responsible for what went wrong today and I do apologize to my teammates, to the entire D.C. United family for this defeat. I hold myself wholly and solely responsible."

New York 1 - Toronto FC 3

New York took 23 shots putting ten on goal, but Greg Sutton was up for it.  Chad Barrett gave Toronto the lead in the 27th, with Dane Richards getting the equalizer four minutes into the second half.  Chad Barrett got his second in the 65th and Abdus Ibrahim made it 3-1 in the 86th.

"I said before the game to the players that they should believe in themselves. Everybody has written us off, but we showed that it's not over yet....  They showed what can be achieved, and if I had seen that spirit in away games for the rest of the season we wouldn't be struggling to get into the playoffs. They have shown that they can be as good as anybody."

Toronto are two points back of the playoff slots, even though they remain last in the Eastern Conference.  New York are fourth in the East, and would take the first wildcard slot with 35 points. 

New England 2 - Salt Lake 2

For an hour, Real Salt Lake looked like they were cruising to three points and would keep pace with the Western Conference leaders.  Instead, the game turned on them late.  Though they remain third in the West, Chivas USA has opened a four point gap in second, with two clubs now a point back of Salt Lake.

Javier Morales got RSL a 1-0 lead in the 13th that Andy Williams doubled in the 73rd.  New England finally got on the board in the 77th through Steve Ralston, and Taylor Twellman equalized for the Revs two minutes later.  RSL finished a man down when Andy Williams was ejected in the 92nd minute.

"Going down 2-0 in the 75th minute is a big hill to climb, but its not un-doable," said Revolution midfielder Steve Ralson.  "We would have liked to have gotten three points - and it would have been nice to clinch a playoff spot tonight - but we needed to come out with more pressure to start the game."

New England are second in the West, with a two point lead on Chicago but trailing Columbus by ten.

Colorado 1 - Houston 3

The Western Conference leaders are now officially in the playoffs, scoring early and often.  Brian Ching got Houston's first in the 2nd, Conor Casey made it 1-1 in the 7th, and it was Ching again in the 9th.  Ricardo Clark finished off the scoring in the 19th, effectively shutting down the offense.

Houston had most of the second half a man up after Conor Casey got sent off for a second yellow in the 53rd, but had trouble putting anything on frame.  They finished with eight shots, four on goal.  Colorado put six on goal from twenty total, with Houston keeper Pat Onstad making five saves to Preston Burpo's one. 

Kansas City 1 - Chicago 1

Kansas City might be second from bottom in the Eastern Conference, but they're only two points from the playoffs, salvaging a draw on the other side of halftime after giving up a late first-half penalty.  Cuauhtemoc Blanco converted that spot kick in first-half injury time, with Kansas City getting the equalizer from Michael Harrington in the 48th minute.  The Wizards scored on one of their two shots on goal, with Chicago only putting three on goal from the run of play. 

"In games like this, which was a playoff-caliber game, it comes down to a play or two," Wizards coach Curt Onalfo said. "We made two poor plays that led to Chicago's goal. I told the guys at halftime that we just needed one play to get back into it."

For Chicago, the result means they are technically not in the playoffs, currently third in the East on 41 points.  Red Bull NY remains the closest wildcard candidate, trailing Chicago by six points. 

"We're just going to keep working," said Fire coach Denis Hamlett. "We know we're in a very good position and control our own destiny. We have a game coming up at home against the best team in the league, Columbus, and we're looking forward to that match."