MLS Season Enters Home Stretch as Teams Fight for Playoffs

The 2008 MLS season has entered the home stretch as teams have less than ten games remaining to get into a preferred playoff position.  The Eastern Division is clearly the class over the Western Division with the surprising Columbus Crew sitting on top of the East at 40 points.  Right behind Columbus is the New England Revolution on 38.  Chicago Fire is on 35 while DC United and New York Red Bull both have 32 points. Toronto and Kansas City bring up the rear.  Toronto FC is nearly unbeatable at home, but equally as bad on the road unfortunately.  There is still all to play for as five of the teams should make the playoffs.  The question is who will be oddman out as there are six worthy squads.  The battle seems to be between DC United and New York Red Bull, but Chicago is only a game ahead of both.

The Western Conference has floundered all year, but lately the Houston Dynamo has been surging winning 6 of their last 7 league matches.  Surprising Real Salt Lake have taken advantage of lackluster quality in the west to jump into the 2nd position.  The third thru seventh positions are all within one game of each other as Chivas USA (27), FC Dallas (26), LA Galaxy (25), San Jose (25) and Colorado (24) have all shown inconsistency.  With three teams guaranteed playoff spots it will be interesting to see if any of the bottom six can step up and earn the third playoff position.  Watch out for San Jose as they improved their team greatly with some new player acquisitions and are unbeaten in their last 7 matches.  The Galaxy have a new coach, but continue to flounder and FC Dallas cant seem to hold onto a lead, so who knows who will claim the last playoff spot.