By Ridge Mahoney
Senior Editor
Soccer America Magazine
1. COLUMBUS (12-5-13) VS. NEW ENGLAND (8-13-9)
GAME 1: at New England Saturday, Oct. 23, 7:30 pm ET (TV: MLS Direct Kick, live; Fox Sports World, delay, 9:30 pm)
GAME 2: at Columbus Sunday, Oct. 31, 5 pm ET (TV, ESPN2, live)
REGULAR SEASON: New England failed to win any of the four games, losing 1-0 away and 2-1 at home, and tying 1-1 at Crew Stadium and 2-2 at Gillette. The teams haven't met since Aug. 7.
THE OBVIOUS: The Revs again scraped into the playoffs; they didn't look particularly impressive until Jose Cancela got back in the lineup. Pat Noonan and Taylor Twellman combined for 20 goals and must be efficient with their chances. The Crew's 18-match unbeaten bubble hasn't been flood-lit with sparkling play, either, yet wins and ties sans losses is a tough record to knock.
THE SUBTLE: New England's heart and soul is Steve Ralston. His glorious volley for the gamewinner against Chicago lifted his team into the postseason, but if the Revs can't unhinge the Crew's back line — perhaps by playing three up top? — and dictate tempo, they will be overrun. Crew coach Greg Andrulis is salivating at the prospect of unleashing Jeff Cunningham, Kyle Martino and Edson Buddle together, so midfielder Simon Elliott, who led the team with 10 assists, will be winning balls as well as spraying them around.
BURDEN OF PROOF: Imperative for the Revs is stellar play in goal, and from the defensive corps and Shalrie Joseph.
QUOTE: ''The team has kept everything in perspective. The night we qualified for the playoffs, in the locker room it was just like another night.'' — Andrulis.
2. D.C UNITED (11-10-9) vs. METROSTARS (11-12-7)
GAME 1: at MetroStars Saturday, Oct. 23, 7:30 pm ET (TV: MLS Direct Kick, Fox Sports World)
GAME 2: at D.C. United Saturday, Oct. 30, 7 pm ET (TV: MLS Direct Kick, HDNet, Fox Sports World)
REGULAR SEASON: United won three of four, beating the Metros 6-2 and 3-2 at home and also winning 1-0 at the Meadowlands. Metros' only win (3-2) was way back on April 17.
THE SUBTLE: D.C. has won five of its last six. Two of those wins were against the Metros, who led the league in goals scored (47) as well as goals allowed (49). It hasn't been a great season for Eddie Pope and Jonny Walker. For a team coached by Bob Bradley, the Metros have been maddeningly inconsistent. They have the weapons to win but do they have the will? And what does John Wolyniec (10 goals) have to do to be loved?
BURDEN OF PROOF: D.C.'s late-season addition Christian Gomez is another lance by which the Metros soft center can be pierced. If he can free up Alecko Eskandarian and Jaime Moreno, the Metros are cooked. Someone must help Ricardo Clark clean up the middle. Will D.C. thumper Dema Kovalenko or MetroDiva Amado Guevara (10 goals, 10 assists) be cautioned first?
THE OBVIOUS: Nick Rimando has looked sharp and strong, yet his limited range puts the onus on his D.C. teammates to clear the balls he can't get to.
QUOTE: ''During the season, I told my team winning is about running and fighting, not just soccer. That is why we have been winning and lately we have been able to play soccer, too.'' — D.C. United coach Peter Nowak.
3. KANSAS CITY (14-9-7) VS. SAN JOSE (9-10-11)
GAME 1: at San Jose Sunday, Oct. 24, 5 p.m.. ET (TV: ESPN2, live)
GAME 2: at Kansas City Saturday, Oct. 30, 8:30 pm ET (TV: MLS Direct Kick, live)
REGULAR SEASON: Wizards tied 1-1 and 0-0 at Spartan Stadium and split (0-2, 1-0) at home.
THE OBVIOUS: Wizards won the Western Conference despite losing Preki, Chris Klein, Igor Simutenkov and Tony Meola to injuries for long periods. Since Aug. 24, Kansas City has won six of 10 games, all 1-0, and twice has lost by 3-1 scores. San Jose has been mired in a funk at times this season. Game breaker Landon Donovan (6 goals, 10 assists) and strongman Brian Ching (12 goals) no longer have national-team duties to distract them.
THE SUBTLE: KC goalie Bo Oshoniyi, while agile and quick, is prone to occasional flubs, and his playoff experience is nil; Meola has the experience but hasn't played in two months. The speed of Josh Wolff can stretch the Quakes back line, especially if San Jose cannot limit service to him and Davy Arnaud with its renowned pressure. A fascinating midfield battle looms between Richard Mulrooney and Diego Gutierrez.
BURDEN OF PROOF: If Brian Mullan buzzes and swoops as he did in 2003 and in the last two regular-season games, the Quakes can generate enough chances to win. Simutenkov may be called upon for inspiration if the Arnaud-Wolff partnership isn't clicking.
QUOTE: ''If you look at the teams that have won the MLS championships, for each one the commitment to defense has been first-class. I think we play an attractive, counterattacking soccer that gets results.'' — Wizards defender Jim Conrad, a member of San Jose's championship team in 2001.
4. LOS ANGELES (11-9-10) vs. COLORADO (10-9-11)
GAME 1: at Colorado Friday, Oct. 22, 9:30 pm ET (TV: MLS Direct Kick, HDNet, Fox Sports World, live)
GAME 2: at Los Angeles Saturday, Oct. 30, 10 pm ET (TV: MLS Direct Kick, Fox Sports World, live)
REGULAR SEASON: Only one game, a 2-0 Galaxy win at Home Depot Center July 10, didn't end in a tie. The two games at Invesco Field finished 0-0 and 1-1, and the teams also tied 1-1 at HDC.
THE OBVIOUS: Joe Cannon's incredible season in goal made up for an anemic Rapids attack (29 goals) that suffered from a rash of injuries to John Spencer, Jean-Philippe Peguero, Mark Chung and a host of others. With a 2-3-3 record since Steve Sampson replaced Sigi Schmid, the Galaxy looks vulnerable, but it can ignite at any moment. With Dan Califf off the injured list and Tyrone Marshall back from international duty, it can be tough in the back.
THE SUBTLE: Rapids rookie Jordan Cila (4 goals) has tormented defenses. He may be called upon again. Carlos Ruiz hasn't enjoyed playing as a lone striker, supported primarily by wide players and Jovan Kirovski behind him, in a 4-5-1.
BURDEN OF PROOF: With the danger of Ruiz a secret to nobody, Kirovski has a prime opportunity to burnish his lackluster reputation in big games. Colorado needs monster games from Pablo Mastroeni, whose occasionally tepid MLS performances belie his U.S. prowess, and Spencer.
QUOTE: ''Between Spencer's injuries and Pedro's [Peguero's] injuries and Chung was out for five weeks and Pablo was out for five, six weeks, we've just had to make the best of it. We're still going through it and hope players can weather those issues.'' — Hankinson