2007 MLS Cup playoffs explained

MLS Cup Playoffs
Year:	2007
Country:	United States
Num Teams:	8
Defending Champions:	Houston Dynamo
Champions:	Houston Dynamo (2nd title)
Runner-Up:	New England Revolution
Semi-Finalist1:	Chicago Fire
Semi-Finalist2:	Kansas City Wizards
Matches:	11
Goals:	19
Top Goal Scorer:	Taylor Twellman
Prevseason:	2006
Nextseason:	2008

The 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs was the postseason to Major League Soccer's 2007 season, and it concluded with MLS Cup 2007 on November 18, 2007 at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington, D.C. The Houston Dynamo were victorious for the second season in a row, defeating the New England Revolution in the Final, also for the second year in a row.

Format

See main article: article and MLS Cup Playoffs.

At season's end, the top two teams of each conference made the playoffs, along with the teams with the next four highest point totals, regardless of conference. In the first round of this knockout tournament, aggregate goals over two matches determined the winners; the Conference Championships were one match each, with the winner of each conference advancing to MLS Cup. In all rounds, draws were broken with two 15-minute periods of extra time, followed by penalty kicks if necessary. The away goals rule was not used.

Standings

Conference standings

Eastern Conference
Club		Pts	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD
bgcolor=#3399FF align=center	1	D.C. United	55	30	16	7	7	56	34	+22
bgcolor=#3399FF align=center	2	New England Revolution	50	30	14	8	8	51	43	+8
bgcolor=#FFFF00 align=center	3	New York Red Bulls	43	30	12	11	7	47	45	+2
bgcolor=#66CC00 align=center	4	Chicago Fire	40	30	10	10	10	31	36	–5
bgcolor=#66CC00 align=center	5	Kansas City Wizards	40	30	11	12	7	45	45	0
6	Columbus Crew	37	30	9	11	10	39	44	–5
7	Toronto FC	25	30	6	17	7	25	49	–24

Western Conference
Club		Pts	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD
bgcolor=#FF7F00 align=center	1	Chivas USA	53	30	15	7	8	46	28	+18
bgcolor=#FF7F00 align=center	2	Houston Dynamo	52	30	15	8	7	43	23	+20
bgcolor=#FFFF00 align=center	3	FC Dallas	44	30	13	12	5	37	44	–7
4	Colorado Rapids	35	30	9	13	8	29	34	–5
5	Los Angeles Galaxy	34	30	9	14	7	38	48	–10
6	Real Salt Lake	27	30	6	15	9	31	45	–14

	2007 MLS Cup Playoffs, 2008 U.S. Open Cup
	2007 MLS Cup Playoffs (Wild Card)
	2007 MLS Cup Playoffs, 2008 U.S. Open Cup
	2007 MLS Cup Playoffs (Wild Card), 2008 U.S. Open Cup

• - Toronto FC cannot qualify for the U.S. Open Cup, as it is a Canadian-based team.
  If they had qualified for an automatic berth into the U.S. Open Cup, the next highest placed team in the Eastern Conference not already qualified would have qualified.

Overall standings

Club		Pts	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD
bgcolor=#3399FF align=center	1	D.C. United (E1)	55	30	16	7	7	56	34	+22
bgcolor=#66CC00 align=center	2	Chivas USA (W1)	53	30	15	7	8	46	28	+18
bgcolor=#FF7F00 align=center	3	Houston Dynamo (W2)	52	30	15	8	7	43	23	+20
bgcolor=#FF7F00 align=center	4	New England Revolution (E2)	50	30	14	8	8	51	43	+8
bgcolor=#FFFF00 align=center	5	FC Dallas	44	30	13	12	5	37	44	–7
bgcolor=#FFFF00 align=center	6	New York Red Bulls	43	30	12	11	7	47	45	+2
bgcolor=#FFFF00 align=center	7	Chicago Fire	40	30	10	10	10	31	36	–5
bgcolor=#FFFF00 align=center	8	Kansas City Wizards	40	30	11	12	7	45	45	0
9	Columbus Crew	37	30	9	11	10	39	44	–5
10	Colorado Rapids	35	30	9	13	8	29	34	–5
11	Los Angeles Galaxy	34	30	9	14	7	38	48	–10
12	Real Salt Lake	27	30	6	15	9	31	45	–14
13	Toronto FC	25	30	6	17	7	25	49	–24

	MLS Supporters' Shield, 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs, CONCACAF Champions' Cup 2008, SuperLiga 2008, CONCACAF Champions League 2008-09
	2007 MLS Cup Playoffs, SuperLiga 2008, CONCACAF Champions League 2008–09
	2007 MLS Cup Playoffs, SuperLiga 2008
	2007 MLS Cup Playoffs

• - Toronto FC cannot qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League through MLS. Rather, they can qualify through the Canadian Championship.
  If they had qualified for the Champions League through MLS, then the highest placed team not already qualified would have qualified.

• - Additional Champions League berths were awarded to the winner (Houston) and runner-up (New England) of MLS Cup 2007.
  The winner of the 2007 U.S. Open Cup (New England) also qualified.
  Because New England qualified twice, an additional berth was awarded to the 2007 MLS Supporters' Shield runner-up (Chivas USA).

Bracket

¹ The Kansas City Wizards earned the eighth and final playoff berth, despite finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference. They represent the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoff bracket, as only three teams in the Western Conference qualified for the playoffs.

Conference semifinals

----

----

----

Conference finals

----

Final

See main article: article and MLS Cup 2007.

External links

• Official website of Major League Soccer
• Official website of the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs