by Brian Straus
It took 225 games played over seven months to separate the eight MLS Cup playoff teams from the seven also rans. Then, with just 10 additional matches, the league determines which two teams will play for the title. To call that a sprint would be an understatement. It’s a hiccup, an almost random exercise that offers scant reward to the clubs that demonstrate consistency over the long-haul.
But those are the rules for now, and the league and ESPN undoubtedly are hoping silently that this weekend’s roll of the dice sends the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chicago Fire to the Nov. 22 final in Seattle. Beckham v. Blanco. Donovan v. McBride. The markets are large and the subplots compelling. In the way stands the two-time champion Houston Dynamo, who simply don’t yield goals, and a relatively anonymous Real Salt Lake side that may have figured something out about MLS’s curious competition format.
Months of Work Come Down to 90 Minutes in MLS Cup Semifinals originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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