October 20, 2012
MLS PLAYOFF UPDATE
East Conference settled

NEW YORK– D.C. United, Houston Dynamo, and New York Red Bulls clinched the final three Eastern Conference berths in the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs on Saturday.

D.C. United’s 3-2 win over the Columbus Crew not only secured their own position in the postseason but also eliminated the Crew from playoff contention and helped to secure positions for Houston and New York.

New York tied Eastern Conference leader Sporting Kansas City 0-0 while Houston defeated the Philadelphia Union 3-1.

Just one open playoff position remains and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC will be playing for that Western Conference spot Sunday. The Whitecaps and FC Dallas are battling for the final spot.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC will clinch a playoff spot IF:
• Vancouver Whitecaps FC win vs. Portland Timbers on Sunday
OR
• FC Dallas lose vs. Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday
OR
• Vancouver Whitecaps FC tie vs. Portland Timbers on Sunday AND
• FC Dallas tie vs. Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday

Western Conference
San Jose Earthquakes
Real Salt Lake
LA Galaxy
Seattle Sounders FC
TBD

Eastern Conference
Sporting Kansas City
Chicago Fire
D.C. United
New York Red Bulls
Houston Dynamo

The top five teams in points from each conference at the end of the regular season (10 total) will qualify for the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs.

The fourth and fifth place teams in each conference will play a single knockout game, the winner of which will advance to the Conference Semifinals and face the first place team in the conference.

The four Conference Semifinals will be decided by two-game aggregate series, with the lower seed hosting the first leg and the higher seed hosting the second leg. If the aggregate score is tied after 180 minutes of play, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary.

The two Conference Championships will be decided by a two-game aggregate series, with the lower seed hosting the first leg and the higher seed hosting the second leg. If the aggregate score is tied after 180 minutes of play, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary.

MLS Cup will be a single championship match hosted by the higher seed. If the score is tied after 90 minutes of play, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary.