SA Senior Editor Ridge Mahoney puts the MLS playoff picture in focus following games through Aug. 20: By beating D.C. United 1-0 Saturday (Aug. 19) in a battle of the MLS bottom-feeders, San Jose eliminated the three-time league champions. One more loss for the Quakes and they themselves will be San Hosed-Away. The Galaxy and the Fire could be headed to a first-round playoff showdown. They are currently deadlocked at 44 points, are seeded fourth and fifth, and the chances of either team winning a division title and snagging one of the top three seeds are fading. The Galaxy gets a break the weekend of Sept. 2-3. It doesn’t play that week, and thus will not be affected by the loss of U.S. national team players for the World Cup qualifier against Guatemala. Chicago won the season series 1-0-1 against L.A. and would thus have the home-field advantage if the teams were to meet in a series that would be tattered by Olympic callups and injuries. At the top of the heap are the Wizards with 48 points, one point ahead of the goal-rampaging MetroStars (eight goals in their last two games, one of which they lost!) and Tampa Bay, which drilled four past the Metros last Wednesday (Aug. 16) in an overtime win. Kansas City plays the Metros at the Meadowlands on Wednesday (Aug. 23). Dallas (40) holds the sixth spot, Columbus is at No. 7 with 38 points, and the Rapids (36) are clinging to the eighth and final spot despite being blasted by the Metros 5-3 on Sunday (Aug. 20). They are tied with New England in points, but have won the season series against the Revs 2-0-0. The first MLS tie-breaker is head-to-head results. Goal difference is used next, followed by goals scored. Miami (35) has won three of its last four to edge within a point of the Rapids. The Fusion have two more games at lame-duck D.C. and with United in a tailspin, could garner enough points to crack the top eight. The Revs host the Crew on Saturday (Aug. 26) and probably can’t afford a repeat of the result the last time Columbus came to down, a 1-1 draw August 5. As of Monday (Aug. 21) here’s how the ladder looks and the games to play: 1. Kansas City — 48 points (5 games to play) @Metros, @Rapids, Mutiny, @Revs, @Mutiny 2. Tampa Bay — 47 (4) Fire, @Crew, @Wizards, Wizards 3. MetroStars — 47 points (5) Wizards, @Burn, @Fusion, Fusion, @Revs Mutiny and Metros split their season series 2-2-0, Tampa Bay currently has better goal difference. 4. Chicago — 44 points (5) @Mutiny, Burn, Rapids, Crew, @Crew 5. Los Angeles, 44 points (4) @Quakes, Quakes, Burn, @Rapids Fire won the season series 1-0-1 by beating the Galaxy 2-1 last Saturday (Aug. 19). 6. Dallas 40 points (4) Metros, @Fire, @Galaxy, Quakes 7. Columbus 38 points (5) @Revs, Mutiny, @Quakes, @Fire, Fire 8. Colorado 36 points, (4) Wizards, Fusion, @Fire, Galaxy Rapids have won the season series against the Revs 2-0-0. ———————————- 9. New England 36 points (5) Crew, Mutiny, @Quakes, @Fire, Fire 10. Miami 35 points (5) @United, @Rapids, Metros, @Metros, @United 11. San Jose 26 points (4) Galaxy, @Galaxy, Crew, @Burn 12. D.C. 24 points (4) Fusion, @Revs, Revs, Fusion The playoff brackets would be as follows: 1.Kansas City vs. 8. Colorado, winner plays winner of 4. Chicago-5. Los Angeles. 2.Tampa Bay vs. 7. Columbus, winner plays winner of 3. Metros-6.Dallas. Games coming up: Wednesday — Kansas City at MetroStars. Saturday — Miami at D.C. United, Columbus at New England, Chicago at Tampa Bay, MetroStars at Dallas, Kansas City at Colorado, Los Angeles at San Jose. August 30 — D.C. United at New England, Tampa Bay at Columbus, Dallas at Chicago, Miami at Colorado, San Jose at Los Angeles.