BY RIDGE MAHONEY
The bizarre format be damned: this year's MLS playoffs figure to be every bit as compelling and competitive as was the regular season.
Flaws abound in the first-to-five system but even the most strident critics can't dispute that it does tend to reward the team playing better soccer. Any one game can be decided on a fluke, but in the series superiority usually prevails.
San Jose finished as the No. 5 seed last year but rolled past Columbus and Miami in five games despite playing only two of them at home. In those five games, the Quakes gave up only two goals and its only loss was a 1-0 defeat to the Fusion — the No. 1 seed — at Lockhart Stadium.
In last year's quarterfinals, the Galaxy had a man sent off in each game yet still ousted the Metros. L.A. then overcame Chicago's homefield advantage to reach the final in another three-game thriller.
With the red-hot Revs holding the No. 2 seed as Eastern Conference champions and the always-dangerous Fire facing them in the first round, the Galaxy will have a stern test if it gets past 2000 champion Kansas City in the first round.
Likewise, the Quakes cannot look past the Crew. Coach Greg Andrulis and his team are seething over being bounced out of the playoffs last year by San Jose and having to watch the Quakes and Galaxy cavort on their field in MLS Cup 2001. Awaiting the Quakes-Crew winner will be Dallas or Colorado. They finished just two points apart in the tough Western Conference.
Here's how the quarterfinal series that begin Wednesday shape up:
DALLAS (No. 4) vs. COLORADO (No. 5)
Season series: Dallas 2-1-1. Goals: 11-7.
The Burn thrashed the Rapids twice at home (3-1, 4-1) and also had the better defensive record (43 goals conceded to 48). In many series, that is the deciding factor.
ATTACK: The Burn has been a bit tepid, however. Jason Kreis (13 goals, 4 assists) has scored just one goal and two assists in his last 12 games, and catalyst Ronald Cerritos is out with a knee injury.
Colorado recently welcomed back its attacking zealot, John Spencer, and the Rapids are a much more dangerous team with his ferocity complementing the sublime skills of Carlos Valderrama and the Gang of 11. Chris Henderson Chris Carrieri, and Mark Chung, each of whom scored 11 goals.
Edge: Colorado.
MIDFIELD: Besides Valderrama, the Rapids midfield includes Chung and Henderson and Pablo Mastroeni and as well as destroyer Wes Hart and young dynamo Zach Kingsley. The Burn has cagey veterans down the middle in Oscar Pareja and Chad Deering, young upstarts Antonio Martinez (4, 10) and Joselito Vaca (1, 9) out wide and fiery Irishman Ronnie O'Brien.
Edge: Colorado (barely).
DEFENSE: The Rapids switched to a man-marking system in August with Robin Fraser as sweeper. The Burn's four-man back line is anchored by middlemen Tenwya Bonseu and Steve Morrow.
Edge: Dallas.
GOALKEEPING: It is a close call between David Kramer and Matt Jordan. Both are capable but not especially renowned for the big save.
Edge: None.
Prediction: Going against the grain, Colorado.
LOS ANGELES (No. 1) vs. KANSAS CITY (No. 8)
Season series: Los Angeles, 2-1-1. Goals: 7-6.
As the total goals indicate this was a very tight matchup. Two of the games went into overtime.
Tony Meola didn't play in the first two meetings and was ejected from the third. He can stonewall any team.
ATTACK: The Galaxy doesn't typically generate a ton of chances although with 24-goal scorer Carlos Ruiz lurking in the box not many opportunities are needed.
Preki (7 goals, 10 assists) is still the main danger man. Coach Bob Gansler's choices up front are the rugged Chris Brown (4, 3), the mobile Igor Simutenkov (4, 5) and the enigmatic Dario Fabbro (6, 3).
Edge: Los Angeles
MIDFIELD: Both teams feature midfielders who love to barrel up the right side. Chris Klein (7, 3) was a vital cog in the 2000 championship team and recently has been playing like his old self. Ezra Hendrickson (2, 8) has more freedom to go forward since Coach Sigi Schmid went to a three-man defensive scheme and moved him into midfield.
Both teams also boast reliable holding mids in Kerry Zavagnin of K.C. and Simon Elliott of L.A. Both are tough tacklers and good passers. Pete Vagenas and Sasha Victorine give the Galaxy playmaking options if Mauricio Cienfuegos is shackled.
Edge: Los Angeles
DEFENSE: Danny Califf and Tyrone Marshall are a physical, athletic pair of man-markers and Alexi Lalas seems to have been reborn as a sweeper, although his lack of pace can be exploited.
The Wizards also went to a three-man system during the season, but with Peter Vermes limited to 13 games by injury their defense hasn't looked all that secure.
Edge: Los Angeles
GOALKEEPING: Meola is the great equalizer in goal, but Kevin Hartman — who sat on the bench for the first two games against the Wizards as Schmid persisted with Matt Reis — has looked very sharp down the stretch.
Edge: Kansas City
Prediction: These teams needed a mini-game to separate them in 2000, but it shouldn't take that much play for Los Angeles to prevail.
SAN JOSE (No. 3) vs. COLORADO (No. 6)
Season series: 2-2. Goals: Crew, 9-8.
This is another series tighter than the respective seedings would indicate and a reminder these teams finished with the same number of points last year.
ATTACK: Jeff Cunningham (16, 5) has four goals and two assists against the Quakes this season. Ariel Graziani (14, 5) has bought into the Quakes' program of pressure and commitment.
The pairing of Graziani with Landon Donovan (7, 3) is one of the league's most potent. Whether Cunningham and Brian McBride (5, 5) can be as troublesome in the playoffs may dictate which team advances.
In Crew colors, Dante Washington has logged three goals and two assists in seven games against San Jose. The Quakes merely have Dwayne DeRosario (4, 8), who scored the OT winner in MLS Cup 2001.
Edge: San Jose.
MIDFIELD: Danish midfielder Ronnie Ekelund (6, 8) has been transformed into an offensive machine. He didn't score a single goal last year but one of his half-dozen this season was a incredible half-volleyed laser against Columbus. Edson Buddle (9, 5) scored twice for the Crew in that same 4-3 overtime spectacle Sept. 7.
With Richard Mulrooney out with a fractured ankle, the Quakes may have problems containing John Wilmar Perez and Freddy Garcia. A lot will be asked offensively and defensively of the Quakes' Ramiro Corrales and Manny Lagos.
Edge: Even.
DEFENSE: The Quakes' backline hasn't been as resilient with central defenders Troy Dayak and Jeff Agoos — the best tandem in the league last year — not having played together since April 27.
Agoos is back, but Dayak will only be used in an emergency. Replacement Eddie Robinson has scored twice at the near post on corners but has given away penalties and goals.
The Crew has a capable defensive group and Brian Dunseth has been especially solid but it has trouble stopping the top teams.
Edge: San Jose.
GOALKEEPING: With Jon Busch in goal, the Crew has lowered its goals-allowed per game from nearly two to barely more than one. He's brave, athletic and confident. Can he handle playoff pressure?
Joe Cannon has the experience of last year's superb postseason run in which the Quakes gave up only three goals in six games.
Edge: Even.
Prediction: San Jose but this time in three.
Tomorrow: Revs vs. Fire.