The overall level of play has improved significantly this year in MLS. Miami has the best record, but the MetroStars, whom we rank sixth, have beaten the Fusion three times. Like Miami and the MetroStars, Chicago, San Jose, Los Angeles and Columbus have all put together at least one long hot streak during the campaign.
Handicapping the playoff field for 2001 begins with a twist: The defending champs have to be ranked way down the list.
Kansas City accumulated the most regular-season points last season with the leagueÆs best defense. This year, the Wizards have leaked goals at an alarming rate.
The team likely to finish with the most points is the highest-scoring team in the league: Miami.
This amazing Trans-Fusion of talent, confidence and success by Coach Ray Hudson includes experienced players plucked from rosters of past winners.
Chris Henderson and Preki were Wizards last year, and Carlos Llamosa won two MLS Cups with D.C. United.
Injuries to Tony Meola and Peter Vermes contributed to the WizardsÆ defensive woes this season, but they should be healthy enough for the postseason.
ôOne was MVP [Meola] and one was Defender of the Year [Vermes],ö said Quakes coach Frank Yallop, whose team is locked in a battle with Los Angeles for a divisional crown and home-field advantage. ôThose injuries were massive. They just want to get into the playoffs. A bad year turns into a great year if you go all the way. I expect them to be tough.ö
The most surprising MLS playoff run is property of Colorado, which finished fourth in the Western Conference 1997 but reached the MLS Cup by sweeping Kansas City and Dallas.
The WizardsÆ defeat of Chicago in last yearÆs final was regarded by some observers as an upset, despite the fact K.C. had the best regular-season record.
Chicago is again among the favorites for the 2001 postseason, for which the formula is the same as that adopted last year. The first team to accumulate five points wins the series.
A 20-minute, sudden-death mini-game is played if neither team has garnered five points by the end of the third game.
Kansas City reached MLS Cup 2000 the long way. It needed three games to beat Colorado in the quarterfinals and beat Los Angeles, 1-0, in Game 3 of the semifinals to leave the teams deadlocked on points, 4-4. The Wizards won the series six minutes into the mini-game on a goal by Miklos Molnar.
A small crowd of 8,320 came out to see the Wizards in Game 3, yet Kansas City players credited the home-field advantage as a factor in their triumph.
The Wizards had tied the first game at home and lost the second game in Los Angeles in overtime to leave themselves on the edge of elimination, but the Galaxy couldnÆt get the tie it needed in Game 3 to clinch the series.
Playing for a win at home and a tie on the road is standard fare ù but the catch, as the Galaxy found out, is that a win at home and a tie on the road in the first two games arenÆt enough to clinch the series.
Playoff matches are tighter and rougher, and every refereeÆs call is that much more critical.
ôThe intensity level is a lot higher, sure,ö said Fire midfielder Chris Armas, who has played in 21 playoff games. ôThereÆs a lot more fouls and it always seems like thereÆs one or two plays that decide the outcome of a game or a series.ö
Some teams make tactical changes for the playoffs. In last seasonÆs first round, the Galaxy moved defender Greg Vanney to defensive midfielder so he could shadow Carlos Valderrama, and it man-marked Mamadou Diallo to leave Robin Fraser free to sweep.
Los Angeles swept out Tampa Bay in two games.
Like last year, a World Cup qualifier ù the USA-Jamaica game Oct. 7 in Foxboro, Mass. ù is scheduled in the middle of the playoffs. This year, the qualifier falls in the middle of the semifinal series, not four days before the final.
by Soccer America Senior Editor Ridge Mahoney