Revolution eager to prove worth vs. Fire

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- No one should be surprised to see the New England Revolution and Chicago Fire tangle in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

The two teams have met in the Eastern Conference playoffs in each of the last three seasons. New England has emerged victorious all three times on its way to three consecutive MLS Cup defeats.

Chicago turned the tables during the 2008 regular season, disposing of the Revs in all three games of the season series by a 9-1 aggregate.

The recent trend won't be helped by New England's recent run of poor form. The Revs haven't won in six league matches (0-4-2) to slide down the Eastern Conference standings.

"We've gone through a lot in the past couple of months since SuperLiga," Revs midfielder Jeff Larentowicz said. "We've had some ups and a lot of downs. It's another chance for us to show what we've got."

Despite the season series and the poor form heading into the playoffs, Larentowicz expects the playoff series to feature closer, more competitive games.

"We're two teams that have had lopsided affairs this season," Larentowicz said. "When it all comes down to it, it's going to be like years past because it's the playoffs now."

Even if the games and results remain the same, it won't be exactly like years past for the Revolution as injuries and suspensions have robbed New England of key contributors. Steve Ralston and Taylor Twellman are out injured and aren't expected to play. Khano Smith won't play in the series either while serving a three-match ban.

But the physical battles between the two sides aren't likely to taper off and both sides will try to buckle down to ensure they advance to the Eastern Conference Championship, Revs coach Steve Nicol said.

"We'd like to go out and play, but the nature of the playoffs and the nature of us and Chicago, there will certainly be a physical element to the game," Nicol said. "To earn the right to play, you've going to have to win that physical element first. Hopefully, we'll do both. It's no use to both teams if it's just a fight. We want it to be a soccer match. We don't want a boxing match."

Nicol will have to alter his starting XI to adjust the absences of Ralston, Twellman, Smith and the suspended Gabriel Badilla.

Kenny Mansally will partner Kheli Dube at the front of Nicol's 4-4-2 formation. The duo are roommates off the field and will try to replicate their off-field camaraderie on the pitch as they did earlier this season. Dube and Mansally partnered in two Revolution wins back in May and Dube scored in each of those games.

Dube and Mansally will provide a different look than the traditional Revolution pairing where Twellman floats in his usual predatory spots while Dube runs off of him. The new pairing will interchange more, swapping roles depending on the situation.

"You have more legs, more enthusiasm," Nicol said. "They probably make too many runs. They've both played together earlier in the season and they did really well. Kheli scored some goals. We're pretty confident they'll do well."

After not starting a league game since Sept. 27, Mansally can't wait for the opportunity.

"I've been dreaming of it for a long time," Mansally said. "For a while, I've come off the bench and played 20 or 25 minutes. Now I will get the chance to start. We were working hard today and we'll work hard [Thursday]. We want to get the results we are used to."

Mansally thinks ingrained chemistry with Dube will help on the field as the duo tries to replace Twellman's ample playoff production -- 10 goals in 21 games -- and replicate the team's torrid regular-season form -- 9-4-3 -- without its star striker.

"We keep talking because we live together," Mansally said. "When we're off, we sit at home doing some work. We keep talking while we're there, playing video games. It'll be easier for us."

Changes will also sweep through the rest of the team. Mauricio Castro will return to the left side to cover for Smith, opening the right wing for Sainey Nyassi. Jay Heaps moves into the middle with Michael Parkhurst to create an opening for Chris Tierney at left back.

"There are some circumstances that have led to me getting the opportunity," Tierney said. "I'm not going to think about that. I'm going to do the best that I can. I've been in a couple of big games already this year with the SuperLiga final and a couple of league games. I'm hoping the experience I've gained there will help me out [Thursday] night."

Tierney and his Revolution defenders will need all the help they can find against a Fire attack that has sliced up the Revs this season. Chicago's pace has proven a significant challenge for the Revolution defenders as wingers Justin Mapp and Chris Rolfe funnel the counter attack through midfield fulcrum Cuauhtemoc Blanco.

"Every one of them, you have to close the ball quickly," Nicol said. "If you let Rolfe, Mapp and Blanco have time on the ball, they'll hurt you. We want to play, but when we do lose possession or they have possession, we need to make sure we close up the holes quickly and close the ball quickly."


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Anschutz immortalized with trophy

NEW YORK -- At first glance, it looked like the UEFA Champions League Cup had been modernized. It has the same type of cup, but with some intriguing additions -- fluted, sterling silver handles that are definitely 21st century.

And the trophy is definitely North American.

On the eve of the start of the 13th MLS Cup Playoffs, the league unveiled a new trophy with a new name for its MLS Cup -- the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy at Tiffany & Co. on Fifth Avenue in midtown Manhattan Wednesday morning. Tiffany produced the last piece of important MLS silverware -- the Alan I. Rothenberg Cup.

Naming the trophy after Anschutz, Garber said, was a natural. Anschutz, who owns the Los Angeles Galaxy and half of the Houston Dynamo, is credited with being one of MLS' founders ... and even saviors.

"Phil is the driving force," Garber said. "He is the heart and soul of Major League Soccer."

New England Revolution owner Robert Kraft brought up the possibility of renaming the trophy at a meeting. "We really believed that Phil Anschutz deserved a lasting legacy," Garber said.

Garber added Anschutz's involvement with the sport is more than just throwing around money.

"Phil Anschutz believes in the sport down to its core," he said. "He attends games almost every weekend with his family. He believes in the American player. He believes that this country has to have a top-flight league that celebrates what he thinks is the best sport in the world."

But there was a time when Anschutz had to throw a lot of money at the league.

"In our darkest hour, we went through contraction," Garber said, remembering late 2001 and early 2002. "We were really questioning what the future of MLS would be. Phil Anschutz stood up and said, 'Even if I have to carry this league on my shoulders, I won't allow Major League Soccer not to continue or grow.'"

Which he did. At one time he owned as many as six teams at once. Now it's down to one and part of another.

Of all the players who have performed in the league since the opening kickoff of MLS on April 6, 1996, no one is more suited to talk about the MLS Cup trophy than New York Red Bulls technical director Jeff Agoos. During his playing days Agoos became the resident expert regarding holding and carrying championship trophies high over his head. He is the only player in league history to be a part of the winning side on five occasions. That's three times for D.C. United (1996, 1997 and 1999) and twice more for the San Jose Earthquakes (2001 and 2003).

"Having the cup so close and the door so near, I want to take it, but that's the easy way out," he said during the ceremonies.

But then he got serious.

"It's a gorgeous trophy," Agoos said. "This symbolizes hard work, dedication and excellence."

Agoos and Tiffany & Co. vice president Thomas O'Rourke had the honor of taking the wraps off the newest piece of MLS hardware. The trophy will get its first official use at MLS Cup 2008 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., when Garber hands the silverware to a fortunate captain of one of eight playoff teams.

As to who clutches and caresses the silver, it remains to be seen. It could be any team from the elite eight. Start with the conference titlists, the Columbus Crew, the Supporters' Shield winners and two-time defending MLS Cup champions Houston Dynamo. Perhaps one of the hardened Eastern Conference rivals, four-time cup finalist New England Revolution, or the Chicago Fire, who have been trying to duplicate the success of its 1998 expansion season for a decade. Maybe, just maybe, one-time expansion teams Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake will get an opportunity to take the final victory lap. Or perhaps one of the wildcard playoff teams -- the Kansas City Wizards and or the Red Bulls -- will pull off a miracle and dance around with the precious silverware.

The first two MLS championship trophies, which have been paraded around football and soccer stadiums since the very first MLS title match at a wet, windy and cold Foxboro Stadium on Oct. 20, 1996, were named after Rothenberg, one of the founding fathers of the league. Rothenberg, the former U.S. Soccer president, organized and directed the USA's successful World Cup in 1994.

Garber said he spoke with Rothenberg about the name change. "The first person we contacted was Alan," he said. "Alan was very gracious and agreed with this concept."

Garber said a new MLS award will be named after Rothenberg, which will be announced soon.

Oh yeah, about new silverware's stats: it's 24 inches tall, plus an additional seamless base of 4-1/2 inches, and weighs 43 lbs. The MLS Cup logo is etched on the front of the trophy with Phil Anschutz's name. On the bottom is a map of North America with 14 stars that symbolizes each of the league's teams (if you want a better description, take a look at the picture that accompanies this story).

Before it is awarded, the Anschutz trophy will get its own little parade of its own, well, actually a short tour. It will stop in Bristol, Conn. to be shown at ESPN studios for Thursday night's first playoff match between the Revolution and Fire before going to Chicago on Nov. 6 and Houston on Nov. 8 before finally reaching its ultimate destination in Los Angeles and Carson, Calif. from Nov. 19-23.

Volkswagen of America will serve as the official MLS Cup fleet during "The Road to MLS Cup" tour, bringing the cup from Chicago to Houston to Los Angeles.

Barring extra time or a penalty-kick shootout, the Anschutz trophy will be held high in the air by the winning team, kissed countless times before a victory lap and dance around The Home Depot Center.

That trophy, however, won't be kept by the championship side for long. The winning team will receive a duplicate one to show off at its home opener and some other functions before being displayed in the team's trophy case. The original trophy will call the MLS offices in Manhattan home.


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Gritty United fall to Marathon

WASHINGTON -- With their domestic campaign already concluded, D.C. United did their best to play the spoiler's role against CD Marathon in their final CONCACAF Champions League match Wednesday night. But the Honduran side secured the victory they needed with an impressive offensive performance that led to a 4-2 win at chilly RFK Stadium.

Santino Quaranta's ejection just before halftime gave Marathon the considerable advantage of an extra man for more than 45 minutes, and while United showed no shortage of grit, they ultimately had no answer for the visitors' constant waves of attacks and will enter the offseason with an even poorer taste in their mouths after ending their CCL campaign with just a single point in the standings.

With veteran mainstays Jaime Moreno and Bryan Namoff sidelined by injury, United trotted out a first XI built around Fred in the playmaker's role, with Santino Quaranta and Ivan Guerrero in support on the wings while Francis Doe and Boyzzz Khumalo got the nod up front. Zach Wells manned the nets due to first-choice goalkeeper Louis Crayton's red-card suspension.

Seven minutes in, D.C. left back Marc Burch's inswinging corner kick was met by a firm header from Khumalo inside the six-yard box, but the South African was well-marked and the ball deflected over the crossbar.

United surged into the lead less than three minutes later, though, on another set-piece opportunity as Quaranta delivered a dangerous cross into a crowd of bodies in the Marathon box and a subtle deflection -- either off Burch's head or that of his marker -- surprised netminder Juan Angel Gutierrez. The ball caromed off the far post and sat up right in the path of Francis Doe, who calmly slotted home on the half-volley for a 1-0 D.C. advantage.

The Honduran tourists responded with the urgency required given their lingering hopes of advancement into the CCL's knockout rounds, as frontrunner Saul Martinez began to wreak havoc on the United rearguard.

First Marvin Chavez hit a good chance wide of the net, then Martinez's angled run gave him a golden opportunity to level matters, but he wastefully fired high with only Wells to beat.

The D.C. back line was gashed open again by another long through ball to Martinez in the 25th minute, but as Wells raced well outside his box to challenge him, the onetime Miami Fusion striker poked his early shot well wide of the target as his club's expatriate fans moaned.

But Marathon's No. 9 continued to exploit the large gaps granted to him by United's defense and finally beat Wells in the 31st minute, running on to Milton Nunez's looped through ball to clip home a tidy finish with the outside of his right foot.

Yet United's front line were producing quality soccer despite having nothing to play for, as Doe clipped the outside of the post minutes before Fred smacked a near-post header just wide in the 36th minute.

The match suddenly descended into a morass of short tempers, niggling fouls and angry reactions as the first half wound to a close, leading to a flurry of bookings by referee Benito Archundia -- most notably, an ejection for Quaranta.

The sequence began when Doe tangled with Oscar Bonilla as the Marathon defender lingered too long on the ball in his own penalty area -- and though Archundia whistled for a foul on Doe, both men were soon carded for dissent as they complained to the Mexican referee. When action switched to United's end, a frustrated Quaranta hacked down Mario Berrios and earned two yellows in quick succession as he jawed at the man in the middle, sending him to an early shower as his team braced for a shorthanded second half.

The visitors were surely optimistic of pressing that advantage after the break, but even head coach Manuel Keosseian might have been amazed at the speed with which they seized the advantage. Just 24 seconds after Archundia's opening whistle, Berrios latched onto Gonzalo Martinez's headed half-clearance and beat Wells with an excellent dipping half-volley into the upper corner to give Marathon their first lead of the night.

The side known to their fans as "The Green Monster" doubled their lead in the 53rd minute as Martinez broke loose again, slipping behind Greg Janicki to hit a low shot that was saved by Wells' outstretched left hand -- only for Nunez to poke home the rebound from close range just before the United 'keeper could recover to make it 3-1.

The tally gave the Honduran international his third goal in two appearances at RFK: seven years ago, the 35-year-old's brace helped pace his country to a stunning 3-2 win against the United States in a World Cup qualifier in the nation's capital, the last loss on home soil for the U.S.

But the home side showed impressive resolve to strike back just past the hour, once again making the most of a free kick as Devon McTavish flicked on Burch's delivery for Janicki deep in Gutierrez's box. Though he found himself right in the goalmouth, the tall center back nonetheless showed impressive composure, avoiding two defenders with a quick touch to his right before bulging the net for his first goal in a D.C. uniform.

D.C. boss Tom Soehn soon introduced leading scorer Luciano Emilio in place of Khumalo, and the Brazilian striker nearly grabbed a stunning leveler after a snappy passing sequence between Fred and Doe. But with Gutierrez exposed, no one in a black jersey could pull the trigger and the Hondurans were able to transition into attack at speed, leading to a goal for Marvin Chavez as he took a pass from Nunez and slotted a low shot past Wells to run the score to 4-2 in Marathon's favor.

Even a man down, the Black-and-Red were still seeing plenty of the ball and creating chances. A slick passing move ended just short of fruition when Emilio flicked a header into Gutierrez's arms, and Doe should have notched his second after being sent in by Fred in the 80th minute -- but Gutierrez produced an impressive one-on-one save to deny the Liberian and maintain his team's two-goal cushion.

The match ended on an ugly note as Marathon killed off the clock with an extended game of keepaway, drawing a series of lusty challenges from an increasingly frustrated United side and Doe was sent off in the final seconds to provide a sad but fitting finale for D.C.'s disappointing season.


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Donovan wins Boot in LA-FCD draw

CARSON, Calif. -- Landon Donovan's penalty kick in the 79th minute gave the Los Angeles Galaxy a 2-2 draw with FC Dallas on Sunday afternoon at The Home Depot Center in the 2008 season finale for both teams.

Donovan's goal, his 20th of the season, gave the U.S. international the Budweiser Golden Boot as the league's top scorer, the first time he's won the honor. Donovan finished two goals ahead of FC Dallas striker Kenny Cooper, who was kept off the scoresheet.

Edson Buddle put the Galaxy into the lead in the 21st minute, but FC Dallas scored twice within five minutes through Drew Moor and Victor Sikora. Both sides finished the game a man down as red cards were shown on either side of halftime.

The game got off to a quick start. In the opening minute of the game, Dallas worked a great combination through the midfield with a series of one-touch passes that eventually sprung Jeff Cunningham. While Cunningham's shot was blocked out for a corner kick, it showed a signal of intent that neither team was going to just go through the motions.

Despite the fast start for the visitors, it was the Galaxy that started to take control of the match. In just the fifth minute, LA forced a turnover. On the play, Buddle slipped Donovan through. Donovan's first touch got a little to far out ahead of him, and by the time he caught up to the ball, goalkeeper Dario Sala had cut down the angle, giving Donovan nowhere to shoot.

The Galaxy continued to control the run of play, including a header by Alan Gordon from a David Beckham corner kick that sailed just over the bar. It wasn't until the 21st minute, though, that LA got the breakthrough.

Eddie Lewis started the break with a long switch of fields to Beckham. Beckham collected the ball and sent it into the mixer where Buddle rose up and knocked a header into the side netting past Sala. It was the 15th goal of the season for Buddle, a career-high, and moved him into sole possession of third place in the MLS goalscoring table.

Six minutes later, Buddle nearly doubled his tally. Mike Randolph had ventured forward from his left back position and hit a looping ball over the top of the Dallas defense. Buddle did a good job of controlling the pass then held off two defenders before rattling the upright with a well-struck shot.

The Galaxy seemed to be in complete control, tracking back well on defense and doing well to keep possession. Then, just past the half-hour mark, everything fell apart in a blink of an eye.

Dallas found their equalizer in the 34th minute. A good buildup had the Galaxy scrambling in their penalty area. Eventually the ball made its way to Bobby Rhine, whose shot was deflected out by Sean Franklin. On the ensuing corner kick, Galaxy 'keeper Josh Wicks completely misplayed the cross, and when the ball made its way to Moor, the Dallas right back simply had to tuck the ball into an empty net.

Five minutes later, Dallas took the lead. Duilio Davino picked out Sikora running down the center channel. Wicks initially charged off his line, then backtracked two steps before advancing again. The indecision allowed Sikora to tuck the ball past him and into the back of the net.

A minute later, as the Galaxy were pushing forward to try and respond, Dallas launched a counterattack. Alvaro Pires fouled Sikora in an attempt to break up the play and was immediately shown a straight red card by referee Tim Weyland, reducing the Galaxy to 10 men.

The half would end with the Galaxy down a man, but it wouldn't take long for things to even themselves out. Four minutes into the second half, Donovan drew a foul on Aaron Pitchkolan. The foul earned Pitchkolan a yellow card, his second of the match, leveling the playing field.

With both teams forced to rethink their formations and tactics, the coaches went to their bench. As a result the game slowed down and there were few chances created by either team for a long stretch. It wasn't until the 63rd minute that Dallas was finally able to carve out a chance.

The Hoops worked the ball up the right side of the field, feeding Cooper in the box. Chris Klein was tracking back and managed to keep Cooper in a wide position, and the Dallas striker shot wide of the mark from a sharp angle.

The Galaxy got a good look of their own in the 74th. Donovan controlled a long ball with his chest, dropping it off for Brandon McDonald. The rookie tried to replicate his goal from two weeks ago, getting great contact on the ball from long range, but his aim was a bit off, as McDonald hit his shot right at Sala.

The game began to open up again and in the 78th minute, Cooper worked himself free for a good scoring opportunity. Cooper drifted wide on the play to receive a pass, cut inside a defender, but missed wide of the target.

LA quickly got the ball back in play to Beckham, who picked out Lewis making a run in behind the Dallas defense. Lewis got the ball, and attempted to round Sala. The Dallas 'keeper bowled over Lewis, drawing a penalty kick. Donovan stepped up to the spot and buried his shot, notching his 20th goal on the campaign and evening up the score at 2-2.

LA wasn't content with a draw and continued to press for a winner. In the 82nd minute, Beckham played an inch-perfect cross to Buddle, whose glancing header skipped just wide of the back post.

With the Galaxy pushing forward, it was Dallas that nearly got the winner. Cooper fed Cunningham a nice ball that sprung him loose. Cunningham sprinted in on Wicks, but his attempt to chip the 'keeper sailed well over the crossbar.

That was the last good chance of the game, as the match ended in a 2-2 draw. The point put the Galaxy into a tie with San Jose for the league's worst record, but LA will avoid the dubious distinction of finishing dead last in MLS by virtue of their head-to-head record with their northern California rivals.


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Rolfe leads inspired Fire effort

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- Chris Rolfe has scored a lot of goals in his life, but they don't come in groups of three very often.

"This is the first time I have had a hat trick since, if not college, then high school," Rolfe said after scoring three goals in the first half of the Fire's 5-2 win over the New York Red Bulls Thursday.

With the win, the Fire clinched home-field advantage against the New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series between the two clubs. The two-leg, aggregate goals series will begin next Thursday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.

Rolfe also had two assists in the second half as the Fire put a second hurting on the Red Bulls this season, following their 5-1 win in East Rutherford, N.J. in May. Many believe the Fire play harder against New York this season because the Red Bulls' coach, Juan Carlos Osorio, begged out of his Fire contract last year to move to New York.

"Our guys went out and played well and stuck to our game plan tonight," said Fire head coach Denis Hamlett. "I know our players know the history between our teams but we never talk about it. When we play our game I think we are hard to beat." Rolfe turned home a Stephen King cross into an empty goal in the 11th minute, then volleyed home a half-clearance on a corner kick from outside the area in the 32nd minute, after Juan Pablo Angel's header tied the score.

Then in the 38th minute, Rolfe ran onto a Cuauhtemoc Blanco backheel and calmly passed the ball into the lower left corner past New York goalkeeper Danny Cepero for a 3-1 halftime lead.

Rolfe became the fifth Fire player to score a hat trick, the first to score all three goals in one half. The last Fire player to scored a hat trick was Nate Jaqua on June 4, 2005 against Chivas USA.

"He had a fantastic night. I told him to remember when he would go at guys and tonight he did just that," Hamlett said. "He had that mindset tonight that he was going to score. If he gets a chance he can put the ball on goal."

Rolfe started the Fire's fourth goal when he sent a through ball from midfield to Fire defender Diego Gutierrez streaking down the left side. Gutierrez, who was feted at halftime for his long service with the Fire, sent another long through ball past two Red Bulls to Brian McBride streaking in from the far right side for an easy tap-in.

"I saw Diego running down the outside and I saw a Red Bull player turn on his outside foot," Rolfe said. "Somehow it snuck through, it was a great run by Diego and a great pass to Brian."

Gutierrez, who was playing in place of suspended defender Gonzalo Segares, has announced his retirement at the end of this season.

"What can you say about his performance tonight?" Gutierrez said about Rolfe. "I don't think he did anything wrong tonight. I tried to make a run, hoping he would see me, it was a perfect pass and I was glad to get it to Brian."

The Fire scored their fifth goal in the 75th minute and Rolfe earned his second assist of the game. Second-half substitute defender Daniel Woolard was in the game for less than a minute when he dove headlong to head home a Rolfe cross from the right, after the ball popped out following a tackle in midfield.

Rolfe was alone when he made the pass, and could have taken the shot in an attempt for a club-record fourth goal of the game.

"Initially that is what I was planning on doing but I saw him flying into the box and I had to pass to him," Rolfe said.

The win was the first for the Fire in the month of October. They will be taking on the Revolution for the sixth time in eight years in the MLS Cup Playoffs, a team Chicago has defeated three times this year, including by a 4-0 margin and a 3-0 margin.

"I think most people in the league know we are a good team and I think tonight's game shows we are ready for the playoffs," Rolfe said. "We have a lot of respect for New England. They are a good team but we'll be prepared and ready to play them."


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Williams helps push RSL to promised land

In the middle of the euphoric celebrations of the Real Salt Lake players and coaches following their 1-1 draw with Colorado last Saturday that propelled the club into its first postseason appearance, there was a brief moment that was missed by most of the thousands looking on.

Two of the team's originals, Jason Kreis who started at Real as a player and is now the head coach, and midfielder Andy Williams, found each other in the crowd and emotionally embraced. Out of everyone else celebrating on that field those two are among the few who have experienced the rollercoaster ride of RSL's first four seasons. And for them, the sweet taste of success was all the better.

"I thought last week was amazing," said Williams of RSL's 3-1 win against FC Dallas a week earlier, "but this tops it by far. It means a lot, not only to us -- me, Jason, Kenny [Cutler], and Clint [Mathis] -- the Checketts family, the front office, but most of all the fans. Four years of hardship, you can call it."

In an effort to overcome such hardship, at the end of last season Kreis challenged his players to an intense offseason program designed to improve everyone's fitness. Williams was one of a handful of players who decided to brave the Salt Lake winter and to work on fitness.

The result was having Williams show up to preseason camp in top physical condition. The Jamaican international has stepped up as one of RSL's leading veterans and provided an example of hard work to the younger players.

As this season has been the most positive for Real Salt Lake, players like Williams are not immune to the struggles of life. In July the Williams family were informed that Andy's wife Marcia was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia.

While taking care of his wife and helping raise money for her treatments, Kreis has noticed that Williams' dedication on the field has not faltered.

"It's been a very, very difficult year for Andy," said an emotional Kries following the Colorado match. "There's so much going on in his life. He's just continued to work hard. He's somebody who's shown so much commitment and dedication in the offseason ... to work as hard as he did."

His on-field role might have shifted during his time in Salt Lake, where Williams has enjoyed his longest tenure out of any of the other previous six MLS teams he has played for, but his presence is still vital to the team's success.

"Bomma" hasn't found the net a lot this season, but his lone goal was a memorable one, where he nearly ripped a hole in the with a blast over New England's Matt Reis that helped give Salt Lake a vital point on the road against an Eastern Conference team.

In the most crucial match of all, against Colorado on the final day of the season, it was Williams who came on in the second half to help recover the midfield from the Rapids.

The game, and season, seemed out of reach until the final minute. Williams saw Robbie Russell go up for a high ball in the Colorado box. He moved to where he thought Russell would flick it, and was ready to turn his defender. When the ball came Williams was in on goal and was able to force a save from Bouna Coundoul. Yura Movsisyan was there to collect the rebound at the back post and usher in history.

"The way it comes there, at the very last moment, and having Andy Williams involved in that goal, for me that's just unbelievable -- unbelievable," said Kreis. "To have him involved in that goal is just absolutely special. That stuff history's made of."


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Smith lauded for Rapid turnaround

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. -- The Colorado Rapids were stockpiling momentum in the final weeks of the season, turning the page on their 6-10-3 record through the first 19 matches to ride a 5-4-2 surge tantalizingly close to an improbable playoff spot over the final 10 weeks of the campaign.

The ride came crashing to its conclusion in the 90th minute of Saturday's do-or-die finale with Real Salt Lake, when after holding a 1-0 lead for 71 minutes, the Rapids' season slipped from their grasp. RSL got the equalizer from Yura Movsisyan, finding the net off a deflection from 'keeper Bouna Coundoul, sending Salt Lake to its first postseason and bringing an early winter to the Rapids after a thrilling stretch run in their bid for an MLS Cup Playoffs berth.

There's little doubt in the Rapids locker room exactly when their season found its legs. When Gary Smith stepped in for an absent head coach Fernando Clavijo for a 2-1 win against Kansas City, then took over as interim coach for the final 10 games of the season after Clavijo and the Rapids agreed to part ways, the Rapids took an initial spark and parlayed into a firm identity and a sense of consistency that had too often eluded the Colorado side.

"Gary got handed a situation that was a mess for three-and-a-half years, and he did wonders, absolute wonders," said veteran defender Mike Petke, the shock of the sudden end to the season still heavy in the air in the Rapids locker room Saturday night. "He actually bought the enjoyment back in soccer for most of us."

Smith took the reins of a team that had sunk to sixth place by mid-August and had them battling for third on the final day of the season, keeping their spirit alive and energizing both his players and their fans over the final third of the season.

"I'm proud of what they've produced in the last 11 games whilst I've been in charge," Davis said after Saturday's season-ending draw. "The situation I came into was to try to pull a team together that were lacking in confidence, losing games, and I think at the time either bottom or joint bottom of our group. I think I did that. I think I steadied the ship. I gave a bit of confidence back to players that were maybe lacking a little bit, that were frustrated and disappointed at the same time. The fact that we've taken it to the last game of the season, and under enormous pressure in the last two games, have managed to take four out of six points - we needed more of that earlier in the season, sadly."

Whether Davis' success at reinvigorating the Rapids will lead to an offer of the vacant head coach's post should play out quickly as Colorado shifts its focus from its playoff pursuit to ensuring that the late-season surge can translate into a full season of top-flight performance in 2009.

"Gary being in here has made it unbelievable," Petke said. "I'll tell you right now, if he does not get this full-time job, then somebody up there has a screw loose, to be honest with you. For them not to give it to him because we didn't made the playoffs after he came in and did what he did over the last 10 games after [the past] three and a half years ... he deserves this job, I'll tell you right now. He's one of the best coaches I've ever had."

Though the wounds were still raw after having victory rudely snatched from their side by their Rocky Mountain rivals Saturday, there was no shortage of pride in the Rapids locker room, the abrupt conclusion all the more painful in light of their accomplishment in climbing the ladder and forcing the issue down to the season's final moments.

"You can tell that the whole end of the season, the team had a goal," said goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul. "We know what we been doing. We're almost there. If we had come through, we would have made it all the way. We just got short. It's the beginning of next season. What we have right now, we have to keep it up. When next season comes, we're going to have to worry about [not] waiting to the last days to make it to the playoff."

With a few days off to catch their breath before a team meeting Wednesday and some end-of-season training sessions before scattering their separate ways, the Rapids should waste no time answering the most important question of their offseason, resolving Smith's status and enticing the coach to accept the head coach's role as the Rapids move forward, building on their strong finish and setting their sights on raising their standard of success.

"I think I'd need to sit down, I need to take a deep breath," Smith said Saturday when asked if he'd accept an offer, were one made to him. "It's been a very interesting and strange and emotional season, all rolled into one. Lots of changes. This certainly wasn't the reason I came to the club. But I'd like to just take a couple days to think about what has happened and where we've got to, what point we're at. I'm sure at some point in that time I'll speak to [managing director] Jeff [Plush] or the powers that be, and we'll decide upon that. If someone asks me that question, it would be a nice position to be in to have to make a choice."

With so little separation between the teams in the league, it's a natural instinct to look for a way to bottle the formula that drove Colorado through its final third of a season. But rarely is the secret ingredient so clearly packaged, so easily identifiable in one man striding the sidelines.

Taking control of a team that has seemed perpetually in transition, Davis was steadfast in sticking to a game plan and insisting on consistency - even when it called for bold moves like benching former MLS MVP Christian Gomez shortly after the midfielder appeared in his fourth consecutive All-Star match in July.

The result was evident in a cohesive team that pulled together and salvaged their season, only to see it glance off the upright at the last possible moment.

"The last six or seven, eight weeks, we've started really understanding each other as players and we really had an identity as a team," Rapids midfielder and team captain Pablo Mastroeni said Saturday. "We had 28 guys all on the same page. And that hasn't been the case here. Off and on it was the case, but it was solid for the last eight weeks. It's been a real treat. To have everyone show up tonight, to execute the plan almost to a 'T', and to be robbed of that is so unjust.

"This team has a lot of great things to build on. We won a game on the road [against Chivas USA last week] where people didn't think it was possible. We put ourselves in a position [Saturday] to win this game, and a lot of people didn't think that was possible," he continued. "The sad thing is that we've come a long way in eight weeks, and just to have it end so quickly is one of those cruel realities."

Colorado came so close it could taste that playoff spot, only to be left with the bitter aftertaste of a draw to Salt Lake lingering on the palate. It marked the first time in club history that the club has missed the postseason in consecutive years, but having found their identity and shown the ability to sustain a level of excellence over the season's final third, the Rapids appetite for success has been stoked, replacing the empty gnawing feeling of frustration and futility with a hunger demanding satisfaction.


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Dynamo turn attention to defending title

CARSON, Calif. -- Leading by a goal late in Saturday's match, the Houston Dynamo had a bounce go against them as a failed clearance resulted in a Chivas USA equalizer.

Houston thus settled for a 1-1 draw against Chivas USA and will now turn their attention on defending their MLS Cup 2006 and 2007 crowns.

With the Western Conference top seed already in the bag well before Saturday's game, the result then might not have been quite as important. But Houston midfielder Dwayne De Rosario said the team did not go to The Home Depot Center content with the first 29 games of the season.

"That's not our mentality," De Rosario said. "Every time we play there is always something on the line. That's pride. We always want to win."

De Rosario scored Houston's goal in the 52nd minute as he converted a penalty kick. But in the game's waning moments, Chivas USA defender Jim Curtin scored on a rebound. Carey Talley sent a ball into the penalty area from the right side and Eddie Robinson tried to clear it. However, the ball went straight at the goal. Pat Onstad saved it but the ball fell on the goal line and Curtin raced in and poked the ball across the line.

"Not the result we wanted, especially with the chances we had. In saying that I thought we played well. The ball movement was sharp," De Rosario said. "Defensively we did well. One funny bounce and they scored. We got punished for not punishing them."

Houston went up a man after Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy fouled Nate Jaqua inside the penalty area to set up the 52nd-minute opener. On the play, Jaqua was the beneficiary of a turnover deep in Chivas USA's defensive third.

"I was able to get through. It was kind of a miscommunication between Curtin and (Claudio) Suarez," Jaqua said. "I was able to kind of bounce through there and get the ball out."

Kennedy clipped Jaqua as he went by and referee Terry Vaughn pointed at the penalty spot before showing Kennedy a red card. Although Chivas USA coaches and players vehemently protested the call, Jaqua said the call itself was justified.

"I tried to jump over him. He got my foot but very, very minor and it was enough to keep me off balance a little bit. I tried to keep my feet and I felt like I would have stayed on my feet in stride I would have gotten to that," he said. "It's a harsh PK and it's definitely a harsh red card but I also felt like I was impeded somewhat in my process to get to the ball."

Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear protested in favor of Chivas USA after Vaughn sent Kennedy off.

"I didn't want to see the guy get sent off. That was it," Kinnear said. "I just thought that the Kennedy guy was trying to play the ball. I know what the rule is but you don't want to see the guy miss his first playoff game."

After De Rosario converted the spot kick, Houston settled into a groove and had multiple chances to put the game away. Replacement goalkeeper Zach Thornton made two clutch saves to keep his side on the team and without converting their opportunities, Houston eventually let Chivas USA back in the match.

Still, the result won't taint the high spirits the club has entering the playoffs, players said.

"I thought we played good soccer tonight and had our chances. It was unfortunate we weren't able to put them away," Jaqua said. "We're confident right now and were playing well and that's all that really matters, being confident and playing well. The result -- obviously you don't want to tie 1-1, but that's fine. We'll put it past us and just concentrate on the playoffs."

Rapids' heroic effort falls short against RSL

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. -- The Colorado Rapids locker room on Saturday night after losing their season finale was about as dark as it gets in professional sports. So were their hopes for a spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

The team had made a Herculean effort, climbing from the depths of their conference to within inches of the final playoff spot over the final third of the season and leading their rival Real Salt Lake side until the 90th minute of a do-or-die match.

RSL finally found the back of the net in those final moments, tying the game and robbing the Rapids of a return to postseason soccer.

"It was like somebody put a set of socket spanners around me guts as the ball went into the back of the net," interim coach Gary Smith said of the leveler. "It's completely deflating for everybody. I don't think you've seen any player in that changing room who hasn't given every ounce of energy, of their heart and soul. Sadly, we just had too much to do. I thought we had enough. Knowing that we conceded it in the 89th minute -- maybe that mountain was just slightly too steep to climb."

As the Rapids waited for their coach to address them following the final bell tolling the end of their season, players sat in front of their lockers, shell-shocked at the sudden turn of events, crushed at having their moment of triumph snatched from their grasp as the last seconds on the clock ticked away.

"It's hard, man," said defender Mike Petke, a veteran of four seasons with the Rapids. "It's hard to swallow. One of the toughest losses I've ever had.

"We fought hard. We came out strong. We did everything right but put more goals in and keep the one goal out. We were doing anything we could to get a goal. I thought until the last second that we were going to get it," Petke continued. "That final whistle blows, and it's like a bullet to the head. I hate to say it like that, but that's what it feels like. I wanted to win this game more than anything. I wanted to win last weekend's game more than anything, and we did that. I wanted that feeling again. I wanted that feeling to get to the playoffs like we deserve since Gary's taken over."

If there were any regrets in the Colorado locker room, they were few and far between. The team took pride in the way they played sudden-death soccer over the season' final two weeks, bringing themselves to a precipice few believed they could reach.

But to get so close after playing so well down the stretch and dominating their opponents to the degree that even RSL head coach Jason Kreis admitted his side probably didn't deserve the point they won Saturday night -- to win so much in their long climb up that mountain only to find themselves swept away in a season-ending landside just steps from the summit, made the pill all the more bitter.

"To be honest with you, I felt like there was only one team on the field today," said Rapids captain Pablo Mastroeni. "We initiated the game, we found the game, we maintained the game, we created the better chances. Soccer's a cruel sport. If you don't find a way to get that second goal, there's no insurance. There's no reprieve.

"I think we're on the short end of the stick. That's the game. That's the way it goes. That's why you play the game," he continued. "We did everything we possibly set out to do. Got a goal early in the first half, put pressure on them, didn't let them get into their possession, their flow that they enjoy doing. Made it tough for their forwards up top. Basically we imposed our will upon them. For 89 minutes it was great. But it's a 90-minute game."

A near-capacity crowd was as numb as the team they'd come to root into the postseason when the final whistle blew. It was another frustrating loss on a home field the Rapids feel should be their "fortress," as Terry Cooke put it.

"The first half we took some really good chances," Cooke said. "I was looking at [RSL's] body language, and they looked a bit despondent, because they thought they had it wrapped up last week. They came out the second half throwing everything at us - the kitchen sink, the dog and cat. We got deeper and deeper. It's just the law of averages, the more and more you keep defending for 45 mintues, sooner or later they're going to get a clear chance. The clear chance came in the 89th minute, and there's no way of coming back."

Though the Rapids never let up in their intensity, outshooting their rivals 10-6 in each of the halves and looking like the better team throughout, a momentary lapse after a 45-minute assault at their lead ended up costing them their season. Even those on the field weren't sure how it unraveled so quickly.

"I'm disappointed," said Colorado 'keeper Bouna Coundoul. "We almost made it to the playoffs. They got lucky with the goal. These things happen in soccer. You can dominate the whole game and when there's a little breakdown, they tied the game, and that's all they needed. They needed just to come out here and get a point."

Mastroeni, the team's longest-tenured player, summed up the feeling permeating a clubhouse that had been nothing short of heroic, only to go home empty-handed.

"Playoffs come and go," Mastroeni said. "I've yet to win a championship and the likelihood of me winning one in my career - it's eluded me up to this point. But that's not the disheartening part. The disheartening part is coming to work every day, enjoying what you do everyday, being in the locker room with 28 guys that you really enjoy everyday, putting a result out, putting an effort out in the last game when you have to win, doing that for 89 minutes and then coming up short - that for me is the kick in the [gut]."


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Home struggles hurt FCD in '08

FRISCO, Texas -- Over the last three seasons, it was almost expected that FC Dallas would make the playoffs. In fact, heading into this campaign, only twice in club history had the Hoops missed out on the postseason. And there was every reason to believe that the 2008 team wouldn't add themselves to that list.

However, looking back, the '08 campaign took on an almost ominous tone in the season opener against Chivas USA on March 30. FCD took an early lead on a 21st-minute goal by Juan Toja, who would leave for Romania later in the year. However, a gaffe by new center back Duilio Davino just six minutes from full time allowed Maykel Galindo to net an equalizer and the Hoops had to settle for a 1-1 draw and just a point.

It was a scenario that replayed itself time and time again throughout the season. FCD finished the year at just 5-4-6 at home. To put the mark in historical perspective, even the 2003 team, which finished just 6-19-5 overall and missed the playoffs for the first time in FCD history, won five times at home in an otherwise abysmal season. And the '04 team, which also missed the postseason, won six times at home.

FCD's struggles at Pizza Hut Park are something current head coach Schellas Hyndman, who took over in mid-June after Steve Morrow was fired in May, is well aware of.

"I don't know if this team ever really got the support that other teams get at home," he said. "(It was a case of) not fulfilling our job at all, not getting it done at all. When I talk to the players because we always have to have a closure after the game (at Real Salt Lake on Oct. 18), I said it should have never come down to this game, it should've been decided earlier. We should've been in the playoffs earlier.

"I think if we had taken care of some of our home games, we'd have been fine," Hyndman continued. "Right at this point in time, we have 11 ties and if you take half of those into wins, then we're in the playoffs. So, we're a team that had to come back and tie or either people caught us."

Four disappointing results in particular stand out: A May 28 match with Houston that saw FCD blow two leads and settle for a 2-2 draw with the two-time defending league champs. Others were a 1-0 loss to Colorado on Sept. 4 and a 1-1 draw with San Jose on October 2 and a 2-2 tie with Toronto FC nine days later. The Hoops were headed for defeat in both of those before being bailed out by late penalty kicks.

And Sunday at The Home Depot Center, FCD finished the year in disappointing fashion. After trailing early after a goal by the Galaxy's Edson Buddle, the Hoops got unanswered tallies from Drew Moor and Victor Sikora to lead 2-1 at the break. However, that lead didn't hold and late in the game, Landon Donovan tied it on a penalty kick and the sides finished tied 2-2. FCD also had a player sent off for the second consecutive week when Aaron Pitchkolan was sent to the locker room after getting a second yellow in the final half of play.

The FCD players are also well aware of how many points they left on the table this year.

"Bottom line is that we had opportunities, we had chances and we put ourselves into a good position to make the playoffs at the end of the season," defender Drew Moor said. "It wasn't as easy as we wanted the road to have been but we put ourselves into those spots and just didn't take advantage of them. We had some missed opportunities where we had to get a point or three points but we didn't. It's a long, tough season and we play a lot of games in a lot of competitions but to not make the playoffs is disappointing."

This year has been nothing short of a rollercoaster for FCD and their supporters. Things started off with the team in a 3-5-2 under Steve Morrow but ended with the Hoops being coached by midseason hire Schellas Hyndman, who employed a 4-4-2 system.

A number of players came and went, including two-time MLS all-star Toja, now in Romania, and Arturo Alvarez, who was traded to San Jose. FCD also acquired veteran striker Jeff Cunningham and he performed well down the stretch.

But this promises to be a busy offseason in Frisco. A coaching change won't happen and FCD president/general manager Michael Hitchcock is down for another year but on the player front, there could be a lot of comings and goings. That list could start with Kenny Cooper, who finished second in MLS scoring with 18 goals. He could be leaving for Europe. But then again, the Dallas native could be staying. That would be one sweet tune for FCD supporters indeed.

"Bottom line, it was wins," defender Adrian Serioux said. "It could've been not getting the results that we needed at certain times when we should've gotten results. Fortunately for us, we had an opportunity coming down to the end of the season but still, you shouldn't have to wait until then and it came back to bite us. Now, we have to look forward to next year."


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Fire pour it on New York, clinch home field

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. -- The Chicago Fire clinched home-field advantage for the first round of the playoffs Thursday, while the New York Red Bulls went home with nothing.

Fire forward Chris Rolfe scored three first-half goals and set up two others on the night as the Fire went on to record a 5-2 win against the visiting New York Red Bulls in the regular season finale for both teams at Toyota Park.

With the win, the Fire (13-10-7, 46 points) clinched home-field advantage against the New England Revolution in their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series. That means the Fire will play at home in the second leg of the two-game, aggregate goals series.

The Red Bulls (10-11-9, 39 points) could have clinched a wild card playoff spot with a win. Instead, they have to wait on the result of the D.C. United-Columbus Crew game on Sunday afternoon to find out their playoff fate. If United wins, the Red Bulls will miss out on the postseason; if United ties or loses, the Red Bulls will face Western Conference top seed Houston Dynamo in the first round. The Kansas City Wizards clinched a playoff spot with the Red Bulls loss.

The Red Bulls finished the regular season with a 1-8-6 road record.

The Fire's five goals was the most they scored since beating the Red Bulls 5-1 on May 25 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

The Fire took an early lead on their first real attack on goal. Rookie midfielder Stephen King, getting a start with the absence of injured midfielder John Thorrington, ran on to a perfectly timed through ball from Justin Mapp in the penalty area to the right of the goal. King rounded goalkeeper Danny Cepero and then sent a low cross through two defenders to Rolfe, who headed it home into an unguarded net.

The Red Bulls tied the score in the 32nd minute when Dave van den Bergh dribbled past a Fire defender down the left side, then sent a ball to the right side eight yards out to Juan Pablo Angel, whose header bounced just in front of the goal line then past Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch.

In the 38th minute, the Fire scored eventually off a corner kick by Cuauhtemoc Blanco. The kick initially bounced off a Red bull defender standing directly in front of Blanco, but it bounced into the penalty area. The ball was partially cleared, but only to the top of the arc, where Rolfe chested down the ball, then looped a one-time, instep volley into the upper left corner for a 2-1 lead.

Just before halftime, the Fire took a 3-1 lead on Rolfe's third goal. Fire striker Brian McBride and New York's Seth Stammler challenged for a long Busch clearance, the ball continuing on to the foot of Blanco. He sent a heel pass to Rolfe streaking in between two Red Bull defenders. Cepero came out to challenge Rolfe, but the Fire forward slotted the ball coolly inside the left post to complete his hat trick.

Rolfe became the fifth player in Fire history to record a hat trick, and the 33-minute span was the second-quickest in club history, after the 23 minutes Ante Razov took to complete a hat trick on May 6, 2000.

New York coach Juan Carlos Osorio, the former Fire coach, sent forward Macoumba Kandji into the game at halftime for Seth Stammler, and replaced Juan Pietravallo with defender Luke Sassano.

Rolfe started the Fire's fourth goal when he sent a through ball from midfield to Fire defender Diego Gutierrez streaking down the left side. Gutierrez, who was feted at halftime for his long service with the Fire, sent another long rolling cross past two Red Bulls to McBride streaking in from the far right side, who had an easy tap-in for the goal.

Gutierrez, who was playing in place of suspended defender Gonzalo Segares, has announced his retirement at the end of this season.

In the 71st minute, the Red Bulls finally had a scoring chance when Fire defender Wilman Conde slipped as the ball went through his legs and Dane Richards, who had come on for Jorge Rojas six minutes earlier, headed directly toward Busch from the right side. Richards shot went off Busch's head and out.

Fire coach Denis Hamlett made his first substitution in the 74th minute, sending defender Daniel Woolard into the game for midfielder Justin Mapp.

The Fire scored their fifth goal in the 75th minute and Rolfe earned his second assist of the game. The ball was tackled from Woolard in the midfield, but went straight to Rolfe on the right flank. Rolfe curled a cross back in front of goal were Woolard dove in to head it into the back of the net.

Kandji rounded out the scoring in the 88th minute for the Red Bulls, knocking home a Richards pass for his first MLS goal.


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Wizards top Revs, will face Crew in first round

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Kansas City Wizards will face Columbus in an Eastern Conference Semifinal Series after clinching the fourth seed in the conference with a 3-1 win Saturday against a nine-man New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium.

Claudio Lopez scored on a penalty in the 26th minute after Gabriel Badilla drew a red card for preventing Lopez's goal-scoring opportunity. Khano Smith saw red three minutes before halftime for a harsh tackle on Herculez Gomez. Davy Arnaud added the killer second eight minutes after the break to seal the victory before Michael Parkhurst scored an own goal. Jeff Larentowicz scored in second-half stoppage time for New England.

Kansas City extended its hex over the Revs at Gillette Stadium -- the Wizards have gone 6-1-4 at the venue -- and picked up only its second road win of the season while New England saw its winless streak reach six games.

Revolution head coach Steve Nicol named an unchanged side from last Thursday's 2-1 defeat in D.C. That meant Sainey Nyassi had to settle for a place on the bench with Mauricio Castro preferred once again on the right wing. Gabriel Badilla once again partnered Michael Parkhurst in the middle of the team's four-man back line.

Kansas City also opted to stick with the same 11 players who toppled San Jose 3-2 at CommunityAmerica Ballpark last Saturday. Argentinean striker Lopez hoped to add to the goal and two assists he notched against the Earthquakes as the Wizards tried to garner their first away win since Apr. 20 in Chicago.

The two teams struggled for meaningful possession in the opening stages. Neither team could establish a rhythm going forward and the passing in midfield looked choppy rather than crisp. This led to a period of aimless play with little on the ball possession.

Out of nothing, Kansas City found the opener. Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman launched the ball forward from inside his own penalty area. Parkhurst misjudged the distance and the ball bounced over Badilla's head. The gaffe allowed Lopez in behind the defense. The Costa Rican defender wrapped his arms around Lopez's collarbone and tugged him to the ground.

Referee Kevin Stott issued a red card for the tug as Badilla denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Lopez dusted himself off and drove the resulting penalty straight down the middle of the goal to give the Wizards a precious lead.

Nicol elected to remain with the personnel on the field. The transition meant the Revs returned to a back three with Parkhurst sliding into the middle.

The dismissal seemed to spark the Revs momentarily. Castro saw his shot deflected wide en route to goal before Jimmy Conrad poked away an opportunity before Taylor Twellman could fire on goal.

Things went from bad to worse three minutes before the break when Smith lined up Herculez Gomez in the corner and slid in with a high, two-footed tackle on Gomez. Stott issued his second red card on the evening for the reckless tackle as the Revs watched any possibility of dragging out a result skitter away after being reduced to nine men.

The game turned into a war of attrition after that as Nicol withdrew Shalrie Joseph to avoid a second booking and both teams set up shop for the most part.

Onalfo sent on Kerry Zavagnin with nine minutes to play so the retiring midfielder -- a key cog for the Wizards in the center of the field in Kansas City's MLS Cup run in 2000 -- could enjoy a last swansong in his final regular season game.

Parkhurst added a late own goal before Larentowicz tallied to provide an exclamation point as the Wizards sealed a date with Columbus next Saturday to open the MLS Cup Playoffs.


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Real look to clinch vs. rival Rapids

SANDY, Utah -- Clint Mathis has seen both ends of the spectrum in his pair of stints in a Real Salt Lake uniform.

Mathis was with the club in its inaugural season -- when RSL's playoff hopes were extinguished well before the final month. Now, after rejoining the Utah team during its stretch run this time around, he stands on the brink of seeing history and feels excited at the possibilities ahead.

"It would be great to be part of a team making its first playoffs," Mathis said. "You never know what could happen if we get there."

To finally reach that milestone, RSL must come away with at least a draw when it hits the road to face Colorado on Saturday. The stakes are always high for each combatant in the annual Rocky Mountain Cup. But so much more is riding on this single game than in any from past seasons.

A win or tie for Real clinches the third seed from the Western Conference and sends them to the playoffs. A loss, on the other hand, will catapult the Rapids right past their archrival and leave RSL sitting home with the sting of knowing they missed out on reaching the playoffs by the slimmest margin.

It adds a new dimension to a rivalry where extra incentive to secure a victory is not needed. Still, RSL players acknowledge that Saturday's game will mean more with something greater than pride on the line.

"It's definitely going to be heated," defender Chris Wingert said. "But, more than anything, it's going to be heated because of the playoffs, not because of what has gone on in the past."

Indeed, Real values clinching a playoff berth much more than simply locking down bragging rights for a second consecutive season in the quest for the Rocky Mountain Cup.

Veterans like Mathis, Wingert and midfielder Kyle Beckerman -- who have suited up for both sides -- have even gone to great lengths to insist the rivalry isn't infused with the same degree of venom and meaning to them than what fans assign to these games with Colorado. "In the past, the rivalry was all there was to play for," Beckerman said. "This game, it will just be what it is. It's a playoff game pretty much. It's great that we'll get that cup. But it's a bigger thing when that's the only thing you're playing for."

When RSL takes the field against the Rapids, they will be at full strength for the first time in several weeks. Oft-injured stars like Dema Kovalenko and Fabian Espindola are fully healed from recent injuries that sidelined them. Nat Borchers is expected back from the neck strain that sidelined him against FC Dallas last week.

For RSL coach Jason Kreis, it means he will have a host of tactical options to consider on who he starts and who he brings in as a substitute and what formations he will use against Colorado.

"It will be the first time in a long time I can remember that we have everyone in consideration for the 18 and everybody in consideration for the starting 11," Kreis said. "There's going to be some difficult choices to make."

While the stakes are high for RSL in this match, the outcome is equally important for the Rapids on several levels.

Real cost Colorado a playoff berth with their 1-0 road victory in the 2007 season finale to claim the Rocky Mountain Cup for the first time. For the Rapids, revenge would be twice as sweet because they are more than simply a spoiler.

A win this time would not only take back the Rocky Mountain Cup, but thrust Colorado into the MLS Cup Playoffs over their resurgent rivals.


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Crew dash United's playoff hopes

COLUMBUS -- In a game with everything on the line against the Columbus Crew, D.C. United could not get the ball across the goal line despite a dominating performance Sunday and their 1-0 defeat at Columbus Crew Stadium put the New York Red Bulls into the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Needing a victory against Columbus to secure the last playoff spot in the last game of the MLS regular season, D.C. hit the framework three times during a scoreless match then watched Crew midfielder Brad Evans lace a strike from 30 yards that nicked the inside of the left post and continue to the back of the net in the 77th minute.

Kansas City's win Saturday against New England wrapped up fourth place in the Eastern Conference and simplified D.C.'s mission: win or go home. D.C. was trying to usurp New York for the final playoff position and a move to the fourth slot in the Western Conference to meet two-time defending MLS champion Houston.

Just prior to Evans' winner, Thabiso Khumalo, who had been on the field three minutes, missed a prime chance to give D.C. the lead. The ball was on his foot six yards in front of the goal after a mad scramble from a corner kick. His powerful strike on the turn hit the crossbar, came down in front of the goal line, then was cleared.

Columbus was luckier. Evans took a pass from Frankie Hejduk with a clear run straight toward goal. He got behind the ball with his left foot and drilled it past a diving Louis Crayton. The ball glanced off the inside of the left post and moments later Crew fans were chanting "No more playoffs" to D.C. and its supporters.

The Crew received the Supporters' Shield for having the most points in the league in a postgame ceremony. United won it last season but a 2-11-2 road record was one reason it did not qualify for the postseason.

D.C. outshot the Crew 19-10 and had four of the six attempts on goal.

United coach Tom Soehn made two changes from the lineup that beat New England Oct. 16. Bryan Namoff started for defender Gonzalo Peralta and midfielder Fred went in for forward Thabiso Khumalo.

Columbus finally returned to a full lineup after fielding less than half its starters in a 3-1 loss at New York on Oct. 18 that ended a nine-game unbeaten streak in its first match after clinching the Supporters' Shield.

William Hesmer returned to goal after sitting for the first time in 49 matches. Defenders Hejduk and Chad Marshall, midfielders Robbie Rogers and Eddie Gaven and forward Alejandro Moreno also reclaimed spots in the first XI.

Luck was not wearing United's white uniforms in the first half as they twice hit the left post and could not get the ball to bounce into the goal.

The second opportunity came in stoppage time when Luciano Emilio was sent through and forced goalkeeper Hesmer to challenge for the 50-50 ball at the right edge of the penalty area. Emilio got there first and took several dribbles before bending the ball toward the open goal. He missed scoring by inches as the ball smacked the pipe to end a frustrating 45 minutes for United.

D.C. nearly struck first in the 13th minute when Bryan Namoff was unmarked six yards off goal to receive a corner kick from the right from Marc Burch. Namoff's header from the near post whistled past Hesmer before finding the far post and falling away.

The visitors played like a desperate team with aggressive play at both ends, taking the only four shots and both corner kicks through 33 minutes. The Crew finally got a shot when Chad Marshall headed a free kick by Guillermo Barros Schelotto but it was deflected out of bounds.

United dominated everywhere but the scoreboard in the opening half with 10 of the 13 shots and the lone one on goal by Emilio in the 18th minute. D.C. led in fouls, 7-3, and had the game's two cautions.

Columbus didn't test Crayton until the 52nd minute when Brad Evans sent a low liner from 35 yards that was easily stopped. A minute later, Burch was issued a yellow card for a hard tackle on Guillermo Barros Schelotto and in the 54th minute forward Jaime Moreno replaced McTavish, a defender, to start D.C.'s final push for the playoffs.

Moreno was alone when the ball rolled to him at the top of the box but his strike went over the crossbar in the 60th minute. Fred was on target four minutes later from 18 yards but Hesmer did not have to move to make the save. In an exchange of forwards, Khumalo replaced Francis Doe for D.C. in the 70th.

The Crew was attired in all black at home for the first time this season instead of its traditional yellow. They are 1-1-1 in the dark uniforms.

The Crew will travel to Kansas City to take on the Wizards on Sat., Nov. 1 in the first leg of their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.


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Wizards clinch berth, may lose Wolff

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Thursday was a good news, bad news day for the Kansas City Wizards.

The Chicago Fire's 5-2 win against the New York Red Bulls on ESPN Primetime Thursday means the Wizards are guaranteed a place in the MLS Cup Playoffs as a wildcard. But they might have to do without forward Josh Wolff for their last regular season game on Saturday in New England and the duration of their playoff run.

The injury has been labeled a fibular stress reaction in his lower leg. Basically, it's similar to a stress fracture, "but not quite to that point," according to Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo.

"He got a knock a couple of months back, and it just got progressively worse and worse to the point where before the New England game (on Oct. 11) it was a game-day decision because he wasn't able to train," Onalfo said. "He was able to go play (in that match), but he took a turn for the worse after he played. It's one of those things. He's in lots of pain."

After returning to Kansas City in mid-July following a year and a half at 1860 Munich in Germany, Wolff has tallied three goals and three assists in 12 games helping to rejuvenate the Wizards attack.

"It wasn't good news to hear. Josh is important to the team. Everyone sees the stuff he does for us offensively, and also defensively he works hard, which maybe a lot of people don't see," said Davy Arnaud, Wolff's closest friend on the team. "Having said that, we have to move on. Injuries happen, and we have to deal with it. And we have to go out there and get results."

Wolff sat out the Wizards' dramatic 3-2 home win against the San Jose Earthquakes last Saturday, witnessing Claudio Lopez's masterful goal and two assists performance at forward in his stead.

"A lot of guys are ready to step in when needed. Last week Abe [Thompson] and Claudio did a great job up there, and Ivan [Trujillo] was ready when Abe went down [with an abdominal strain]," said Jack Jewsbury. "We have 18 guys ready for the game. You never know when your number is going to get called, so everybody's got to be alert and ready."

Thompson is ready to go for Saturday, but the Wizards remain hopeful Wolff will be ready soon.

"That's why we have depth," said Onalfo. "It's unfortunate, but we're going to stay optimistic that [Josh] will heal quickly and be able to contribute at some point down the line."


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Hoops frustrated with result

SANDY, Utah -- When FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman entered the dressing room at halftime against Real Salt Lake on Saturday night, he knew his team needed some kind result for their playoff chances to remain intact.

Heading into the match Dallas was a point behind Real Salt Lake in the standings, who were sitting in the third and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Hoops were already playing a man down at the break with goalscorer Marcelo Saragosa getting sent off just a half hour into the match. Before seeing two yellow cards, Saragosa put Dallas in the lead with a goal in the seventh minute. But, just minutes after he left the game, FCD gave up that lead on a Yura Movsisyan goal in the 35th.

Up until his team went a man down Hyndman felt his players were on the right track to win. But the ejection of Saragosa changed everything.

"It started off great with the first goal," said Hyndman. "And then we picked up a silly yellow [from] Marcelo, and then the second yellow put us a man down, and gave them a chance to do what they wanted to do and score a goal. From then on it was just trying to play at altitude and trying to find a way to score."

The hardest part to swallow for Hyndman is that one of his goals he stated to his team is to finish the game at full strength -- 11 players on the field. With the playoffs on the line he knew that emotions would be running high during the match, and he wanted his players to be the ones in control.

"This was a must-win game for us, obviously, and that's the frustrating part," said Hyndman. "One of the things we said, we go on the field with 11 players, we come off with 11 players. We knew emotions were going to be quite high here, and we weren't able to do that."

The uneven matchup of numbers on the field was difficult, but striker Kenny Cooper said that Hyndman made sure his team would be prepared for such situations.

"It's something we've prepared for in the past," said Cooper. "Schellas is great in that he doesn't leave a stone unturned. So, it's not a situation we're unfamiliar with. It's something we practice a lot on training."

Playing with 10 men made Dallas much more vulnerable defensively. The added space made the remain players have to work harder to cover more ground, and that began to wear on the FCD players like Victor Sikora, who was getting a start in place of the suspended Andre Rocha. Hyndman was pleased with Sikora's effort, but needed to insert some fresh legs late in the match as he brought on Dominic Oduro for Sikora in the 70th minute.

"I thought he did fine," Hyndman said of Sikora. "He just ran out of gas, he was working awfully hard on both sides of the ball, and that made it a little bit difficult. We were in desperation. Going with three in the back, and trying to get fresh legs up front. Trying to get some speed up there and make something out of nothing."

The last two goals from Salt Lake in the second half came from a combination of problems. The added room from playing a man down didn't help, but neither did the fact that FCD needed to equalize. The Hoops pushed desperately for goal as their time was running out, which opened even more space behind the Dallas defense.

"It really doesn't matter," said Hyndman. "It doesn't matter whether we lose 2-1 or 10-1. What we were trying to do was get a goal and try and salvage the season."

With the loss, in combination with New York and Kansas City each winning their matches, FC Dallas are now mathematically out of the playoff race. Hyndman heard of the other results from around the league when his team came into the dressing room at halftime, but he opted not to tell his players the news.

"Yeah, I didn't share it with the players, but I know that we would be eliminated if we didn't come out with a result," said Hyndman. "We went into a 4-4-1 trying to get a tie and then maybe try and get a win next week. At the same time, once we were down, we were just throwing everything forward."

With little more than pride to play for next week against the LA Galaxy, Cooper tried to put a positive spin on their final game of the season.

"We just got to keep our heads up and stay positive and move forward," said Cooper. "It's disappointing result, but we still have another game to play in the regular season, and hopefully that one will go our way."


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Real Salt Lake open stadium with draw

SANDY, Utah -- Amid dreams of opening its new stadium in grand fashion, Real Salt Lake came away with a result that felt less than satisfying -- especially for a team trying to reach the playoffs for the first time.

For the second week in a row, RSL earned one point instead of three, battling to a 1-1 draw with the New York Red Bulls at Rio Tinto Stadium on MLS Primetime Thursday.

The honor of scoring the first goal in the latest soccer-specific stadium fell to New York's Dave van den Bergh, who put the Red Bulls ahead in the 31st minute. But Jamison Olave knocked home a corner kick late in the first half for the equalizer. The Red Bulls were forced to play the final seven minutes a man down after Juan Pietravallo was sent off.

The tie left both teams with 36 points, and each sitting in fourth place in their respective conferences -- but with the rest of the league still to play over the weekend.

RSL had its first good scoring opportunity in the seventh minute on a free kick by Javier Morales. The kick was set up when Seth Stammler was shown a yellow card for tugging on the back of the shirt of Yura Movsisyan as he threatened to break away. Morales had a clean look at the net and had enough power behind his shot, but the ball rocketed just to the right of the far post.

Morales tried to get something going off a free kick again in the 17th minute. This time his shot was perfectly on frame, but Red Bulls 'keeper Jon Conway wrapped up the ball anyway.

New York didn't enjoy much early success in their offensive third either.

Mike Magee drilled a shot with his right foot off a throw-in by Kevin Goldthwaite. RSL 'keeper Nick Rimando came up with a nice catch to keep it from turning into anything important.

Magee then came up with a nice header after setting things in motion with a corner kick during the 23rd minute, but Rimando was in perfect position to a fantastic sprawling save and tip the ball wide of the post.

The Red Bulls finally took the lead in the 31st minute when van den Bergh capitalized on a corner kick. The ball was sent into the box and Stammler put his header right on target, beating Rimando's dive. Kyle Beckerman was perfectly placed to head it off the line -- but sent it right to van den Bergh, who rocketed a full-blooded drive on the rebound into the back of the net.

Movsisyan tried to answer on the other end. Beating the high Red Bulls defensive line, he raced in alone on goal, drawing out Conway while he dribbled around in the area. He rounded the goalkeeper and sent his shot toward goal, but it bounced off the shin of New York defender Jeff Parke who had slipped in behind the Red Bulls 'keeper.

With the sellout crowd at Rio Tinto Stadium desperately waiting for a reason to explode, the moment finally came in the 42nd minute. Morales swung a corner kick toward the center of the area. The ball took a bounce and Olave put a foot onto it and looped it over Conway into the back of the net.

It marked the 15th career assist for Morales in an RSL uniform, which helped him surpass teammate Andy Williams as the club's all-time assists leader.

RSL's first solid chance at taking a second-half lead came in the 54th minute when Morales found Will Johnson on the run. Morales laid it down to Johnson just as he penetrated into the far side of the area. Johnson uncorked a strong right-footed shot, but Conway knelt down to make the save.

Morales then had back-to-back corner kicks in the 56th minute. Both times, the ball bounced back his way instead of traveling to the intended teammate in front of the six-yard box.

Several shots for RSL as the second half moved on increasingly were off frame. Movsisyan, Johnson and Clint Mathis each took a turn going either wide left or wide right for Real.

The most stinging of these off-frame misses had to be Beckerman's would-be dagger in the 71st minute. After Morales and Movsisyan had difficulty creating a shot in the penalty area, the ball was cleared back out to Beckerman. He launched a line-drive rocket from 25 yards out, but the ball sailed just inches over the crossbar.

While RSL struggled to finish, the Red Bulls struggled to even create shots. Real held New York in check throughout the second half. They gave up no shots on goal after allowing five during the initial 45 minutes.

The task became even tougher in the 83rd minute when Pietravallo was sent off by referee Terry Vaughn after his high kick in midfield caught the top of Clint Mathis's head and left him bloodied and in need of medical attention on the touchline. But RSL were not able to break through.

RSL will play their second game in their new home next Saturday, when they play host to FC Dallas. The Red Bulls return home where they will take on the Columbus Crew.


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Reserves lead Quakes past CD FAS

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- On a night when the San Jose Earthquakes were intent on using their depth, their reserves delivered, defeating Club Deportivo FAS of El Salvador 2-1 Tuesday at Buck Shaw Stadium, Mikel Arce and Jovan Kirovski scored in the first half, while Alejandro de la Cruz countered in the second half for the visitors.

With a mammoth game against Chivas USA on tap for this Saturday, San Jose manager Frank Yallop opted to rest all of his starters. FAS were by no means at full strength either. The visitors were missing no fewer than five players due to Salvadoran national team duty, including captain Alfredo Pacheco, while three other players were left at home due to injury.

Both sides displayed some decent approach work early on, but precision in the final third was lacking. FAS midfielder Josue Flores won a free kick 30 yards from goal in the fifth minute, but his subsequent attempt at goal was easily scooped up by San Jose goalkeeper Mike Graczyk.

FAS began to assume greater control, and nearly went on top in the 19th minute. A cross from the left wing by de la Cruz was deflected by Graczyk in the box, but Quakes defender Jamil Roberts, with some help from Ryan Cochrane, cleared the danger.

Amid some confusion, the Quakes went ahead against the run of play in the 25th minute. Davide Somma picked out Arce in the box, who backheeled the ball past FAS 'keeper Jose Gonzalez. The play was initially judged to have been offside, but after consulting with his assistant, referee Edvin Jurisevic allowed the goal, and San Jose was ahead 1-0.

FAS tried to up the tempo, and the visitors appealed for a penalty in the 33rd minute when de la Cruz went down in the box, but Jurisevic was having none of it and waved play on.

San Jose responded five minutes later with Somma springing Arce on a clear breakaway, but the Spaniard could only hit a tame shot that was saved by Gonzalez.

The home side didn't have to wait much longer to add to their tally. Shea Salinas broke free down the right wing in the 42nd minute, and his inch-perfect cross was nodded home by Kirovski to make the score 2-0.

Yallop brought on Michael Ghebru in place of Matt Hatzke to start the second half, and the German made his presence felt in the 49th minute, winning a penalty after a mistimed challenge from a FAS defender. Ghebru spurned the resulting spot kick however, smashing his attempt off the crossbar.

Emotions boiled over shortly thereafter when de la Cruz was laid low by a late challenge from Kirovski. A scuffle involving most of the players from both teams broke out, but order was soon restored with Kirovski earning a yellow card.

The incident served to crank the intensity up a notch, and FAS nearly pulled a goal back in the 55th minute, but Graczyk was on hand to deny Oswaldo Mendoza from point-blank range.

The hour mark saw a flurry of substitutions with Michael Gustavson replacing Graczyk in the San Jose goal, while FAS brought on Hector Avalos, Carlos Aparicio and Jose Solis. The fresh legs saw FAS control possession, with most of the play going through the feisty de la Cruz, while San Jose were looking dangerous on the break.

Yet it was the visitors who finally made a breakthrough in the 77th minute. Aparicio's free kick from the left wing found de la Cruz wide open in the box, and his glancing header left Gustavson with no chance.

Somma nearly made the game safe for the home side in the 83rd minute, but his blast from 14 yards hit the base of the post. Ghebru corralled the rebound, but was unable to get a shot off and the danger was averted.

The same fate befell Somma just four minutes later. Arce slotted home the rebound, but this time, the assistant referee's offside call stood, keeping the score 2-1.

de la Cruz had one final chance in the 88th minute, skipping up the endline on the left wing, but his centering feed was cleared by Roberts.


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Twist of fate pays off for De Rosario

HOUSTON -- The Houston Dynamo have to be thinking that fate was on their side after pulling out a last-minute win against San Francisco FC Tuesday night in CONCACAF Champions League Group B play.

Sure, they might have been the favored team in the 2-1 win at Robertson Stadium. But until Dwayne De Rosario beat Carlos Valdes in the 88th minute, it looked like just another draw for the Orange.

Emotions shot from one end of the spectrum to the other in a matter of minutes, as Chris Wondolowski's bid for a second goal deflected off the post followed by De Rosario's 25-yard unassisted shot that beat a screened Valdes for the final margin.

Fate, you ask?

Had De Rosario not received a yellow card in the Canadian national team's last match against Mexico -- when leaves him suspended for the team's match against Honduras this weekend -- De Rosario would have been representing his country instead of with the Dynamo Tuesday night.

That yellow card in a 2-1 loss Sept. 10 at Tuxtla Gutiйrrez, Mexico, sealed his fate as a substitute for Nate Jaqua in the 78th minute Tuesday night. And the rest, as they say, is history.

But his thoughts were not centered on winning the game right away. No, De Rosario -- perhaps more used to having been on the field from the start -- worked his way into the limelight in the team's first home game in exactly one month.

"Mainly I have to just slowly work myself into the game," said De Rosario. "I know the time was short right there, but when you come into the game that late, you have to make the most of every opportunity you are given to you.

"The main thing for me was to go out there and put the other team under pressure and get them back on their heels again ... I thought their defense was a little 'leggy' at that point, and my job was go out there, get the ball wide and keep pressure on. Eventually, I knew something was going to open up."

Even after Wondolowski scored early in the match, the Dynamo had many opportunities to extend their lead. But just like so many times earlier in the season, the team was forced to work around one near miss after another.

But as the game wore on, and after a poor start to the second half yielded their opponents' only score, the Dynamo looked like a team prepared to do what they have done all season.

Rebound, score late, and somehow get the win or tie when logic said otherwise. Tony Caig's miscue -- playing out too far on a chip shot by Temistocles Perez in the 47th minute -- did not leave the team rattled.

It just set up what has become the norm for the Men in Orange.

"Really, though, I think it is just the attitude and the character of these guys to just play to the end," said Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear. "I don't know how many games this year that we have won or tied by scoring late, but it has been quite a few.

"And whether or not we are behind or are ahead, I always think we try to play the same way. I think their goal did stun us a little bit, and I don't think we started the second half really well. Their goal definitely caught us by surprise, and the game really appeared to be destined for a tie."

And it was until De Rosario picked the proverbial pocket of San Francisco defender Alberto Blanco -- in the split-second that Blanco took his eye off De Rosario -- and sent a stunning shot into the net. For a split second, it did not look like De Rosario's teammates could believe what just had happened.

"I saw when (Blanco) got the ball he wasn't really looking behind him," said De Rosario. "I kind of snuck up on him, got the ball and as soon as I turned, I saw that I had some space in front of me. I kind of pushed it to the side and I saw that the goalie was screened a little bit.

"I tried to pick (the top right corner), hit it and thankfully it went in the back of the net."

With the win, the Dynamo moved into a first-place tie in Group B with Pumas UNAM. Both teams have five points with a 1-0-2 record. Pumas takes on CD Luis Angel Firpo at home on Thursday, then the Mexican club travels to Robertson Stadium to take on the Dynamo on Wednesday, Oct. 22. The teams played to a wild 4-4 draw last week in Mexico City.


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