One of Major League Soccer's most exciting playoff races in the league's 14-year history concluded last weekend as New England waited 79 minutes before a Jeff Larentowicz free kick broke the tie in Columbus and sent the Revs to their eighth straight postseason. With all playoff-bound teams accounted for, Free Kicks decided to do one final power rankings with a special bonus: input from one player per team in which he offers his best pitch why MLS fans should root for his club in the playoffs.
MLS Playoffs Power Rankings
| Rank |
Team |
| 1 |
Columbus Crew
The year began with the defending champs struggling and pundits wondering if they were done. It ended with the club on top of the standings. Again.
Frankie Hedjuk (at left): "If you want to see something that's really tough to do, which is repeat as champions, we're the team to watch. Right now, we're the team to beat. We've won the Eastern Conference and doing that with the target on your back all year long is not an easy thing."
|
| 2 |
Los Angeles Galaxy
MVP front-runner Landon Donovan tallied an even dozen goals on the year and led his squad to its first Western Conference championship since 2002.
Eddie Lewis: "We have six players who were in the World Cup. We have the most famous player in the world [at left]. Finally, and most importantly, we're a team that combines some of the most exciting offense with an aggressive defensive style."
|
| 3 |
Houston Dynamo
Can the squad, which opens the playoff schedule on Thursday at Seattle, recover in time to play its fourth match in 11 days?
Bobby Boswell: "We're the hardest-working team. We
go out there and grind games out. We're not the most exciting team in
the playoffs, but how can you go against those orange jerseys? Also, we
have the most attractive goalie in the league [Pat Onstad, at left]."
|
| 4 |
Seattle Sounders FC
What a story if the first-year club reached MLS Cup at its home, Qwest Field.
Kasey Keller (left): "[We have] an atmosphere that's second to no team in MLS. That's where we're truly going to win over fans, because they know they can be a part of something a tremendous amount of people
care about. Just come to Seattle, jump into the crowd -- if you can get
a ticket -- and you'll be a fan for life."
|
| 5 |
Chicago Fire
Cuauhtémoc Blanco (left) produced magic once again, but the Fire need to be better at home if they want to reach Seattle.
Logan Pause: "We're a fun team to watch. Energetic.
We've got some great veterans that have played internationally in the
World Cup with a mix of young up-and-coming [players]."
|
| 6 |
Chivas USA
The early-season surprise regrouped after a mid-year swoon to finish
tied for the most wins during the '09 campaign despite losing its final
two matches.
Sacha Kljestan (left): "Chivas has the best jerseys to look
at, and we have a plethora of players from all different walks of the
Earth and different countries."
|
| 7 |
New England Revolution
With all the injuries Shalrie Joseph (left) and the Revs had this season, just making it this far could be enough to earn Steve Nicol Coach of the Year.
Matt Reis: "We're an exciting team that's been in the playoffs. We can do some damage again. When you lose a player like Taylor Twellman for most of the year -- a player who's scored 100 goals in the league -- that makes a difference, but the guys that are left have put in the work and are more than ready."
|
| 8 |
Real Salt Lake
For the second year in a row, RSL waited until the last weekend to secure a playoff berth. Its reward: two dates with Columbus.
Clint Mathis (left): "I definitely think we have
the players to win the championship. We got in last, but this is a new
season. We're playing well and technically, I guess you only need to
win three games out of four with the first round being aggregate."
|
|
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