2010 MLS Cup Playoffs

The 2010 MLS Cup Playoffs was the postseason tournament subsequent to Major League Soccer's 2010 season.

2010 MLS Cup Playoffs
CountryUnited States
Canada
Teams8
Defending championsReal Salt Lake
ChampionsColorado Rapids (1st title)
Runners-upFC Dallas
Semi-finalists
Matches played11
Goals scored25 (2.27 per match)
Top goal scorer(s) Edson Buddle
Conor Casey
Bobby Convey
David Ferreira
(2 goals each)
← 2009
2011 →

The playoffs began on Oct. 30, with the Los Angeles Galaxy defeating the Seattle Sounders FC in the quarterfinal-round. Three weeks later, the Colorado Rapids defeated FC Dallas 2-1 in the Cup final at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario. It was Colorado's first title and second MLS Cup final appearance, and it was FC Dallas's first appearance in an MLS Cup final.

Of the eight MLS clubs to earn qualification into the tournament, only four of them qualified the season beforehand; Columbus Crew, Los Angeles Galaxy, Seattle Sounders FC, and the defending-champions, Real Salt Lake. The San Jose Earthquakes were making their first playoff appearance since 2005, Dallas' since 2007. It was Colorado's and New York Red Bulls's first time since 2008.

Format
Main article: MLS Cup Playoffs

At the 2010 season's end, the top two teams of each conference advanced to the playoffs; in addition the clubs with the next four highest point totals, regardless of conference, were also added to the playoffs for a total of eight clubs. In the first round of the knockout tournament, aggregate (total) goals over two matches would determine the winners; the Conference Championships would be one match each, with the winner of each conference advancing to MLS Cup. In all rounds, the tie-breaking method would be two 15-minute periods of extra time, followed by penalty kicks if necessary. The away goals rule would not be used.[1]

Standings

Conference standings
Eastern Conference
Pos Club Pts GP W L T GF GA GD
1 New York Red Bulls 51 30 15 9 6 38 29  +9
2 Columbus Crew 50 30 14 8 8 40 34  +6
3 Kansas City Wizards 39 30 11 13 6 36 35  +1
4 Chicago Fire 36 30 9 12 9 37 38  −1
5 Toronto FC 35 30 9 13 8 33 41  −8
6 New England Revolution 32 30 9 16 5 32 50  −18
7 Philadelphia Union 31 30 8 15 7 35 49  −14
8 D.C. United 22 30 6 20 4 21 47  −26
2010 MLS Cup Playoffs
Western Conference
Pos Club Pts GP W L T GF GA GD
1 Los Angeles Galaxy 59 30 18 7 5 44 26  +18
2 Real Salt Lake 56 30 15 4 11 45 20  +25
3 FC Dallas 50 30 12 4 14 42 28  +14
4 Seattle Sounders FC 48 30 14 10 6 39 35  +4
5 Colorado Rapids 46 30 12 8 10 44 32  +12
6 San Jose Earthquakes 46 30 13 10 7 34 33  +1
7 Houston Dynamo 33 30 9 15 6 40 49  −9
8 Chivas USA 28 30 8 18 4 31 45  −14
2010 MLS Cup Playoffs

Overall standings
Pos Team Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts
1 LA Galaxy (SS, W1) 30 18 7 5 44 26 +18 59 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage 2
2 Real Salt Lake 30 15 4 11 45 20 +25 56 2011 North American SuperLiga 3
3 New York Red Bulls (E1) 30 15 9 6 38 29 +9 51
4 FC Dallas 30 12 4 14 42 28 +14 50 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round 2
5 Columbus Crew 30 14 8 8 40 34 +6 50 2011 North American SuperLiga 3
6 Seattle Sounders FC 30 14 10 6 39 35 +4 48 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round 2
7 Colorado Rapids 30 12 8 10 44 32 +12 46 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage 2
8 San Jose Earthquakes 30 13 10 7 34 33 +1 46 2011 North American SuperLiga 3
9 Kansas City Wizards 30 11 13 6 36 35 +1 39
10 Chicago Fire 30 9 12 9 37 38 −1 36
11 Toronto FC 30 9 13 8 33 41 −8 35 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage 2
12 Houston Dynamo 30 9 15 6 40 49 −9 33
13 New England Revolution 30 9 16 5 32 50 −18 32
14 Philadelphia Union 30 8 15 7 35 49 −14 31
15 Chivas USA 30 8 18 4 31 45 −14 28
16 D.C. United 30 6 20 4 21 47 −26 22
Source:

(SS) = Supporters Shield winner; (E1) = Eastern Conference champion; (W1) = Western Conference champion

  • ^Note 1 - Toronto FC cannot qualify for the U.S. Open Cup, as it is a Canadian-based team. If they qualify for an automatic berth into the U.S. Open Cup, the next highest placed team not already qualified will be given a berth. Similarly, they cannot qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League through MLS. Rather, they can qualify through the Canadian Soccer Championship. If they qualify for the Champions League through MLS, then the highest placed team not already qualified will qualify.
  • ^Note 2 - The winner of the 2010 MLS Supporters' Shield (Los Angeles Galaxy) and the winner of MLS Cup 2010 (Colorado Rapids) qualified for the 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage. The runner-up of MLS Cup 2010 (FC Dallas) and the winner of the 2010 U.S. Open Cup (Seattle Sounders) qualified for the 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round.
  • ^Note 3 - 2011 SuperLiga berths are awarded to the top 4 finishing teams from MLS who do not qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League.

Bracket
  Conference Semifinals Conference Finals MLS Cup 2010
                             
E1 New York 1 1  
E4 San Jose 0 3  
  E4 San Jose 0  
Eastern Conference
  E3 Colorado 1  
E2 Columbus 0 2
E3 Colorado (5–4, PSO) 1 1  
  E3 Colorado 2
  W3 Dallas 1
W1 Los Angeles 1 2  
W4 Seattle 0 1  
  W1 Los Angeles 0
Western Conference
  W3 Dallas 3  
W2 Salt Lake 1 1
W3 Dallas 2 1  

Conference Semifinals
New York Red Bulls1–0San Jose Earthquakes
Ballouchy  46'
Lindpere  56'
Miller  71'
Coundoul  83'		 Report Wondolowski  65'
Buck Shaw Stadium
Santa Clara, California
Attendance: 10,525
Referee: Paul Ward
San Jose Earthquakes3–1New York Red Bulls
Corrales  32'
Convey  8', 76'
Wondolowski  81'
Busch  81'		 Report Ángel  78'
Attendance: 22,839
Referee: Mark Geiger

San Jose Earthquakes advance 3–2 on aggregate

Columbus Crew0–1Colorado Rapids
Carroll  57' Report Mastroeni  23'
Mastroeni  90+2'
Attendance: 11,872
Referee: Jair Marrufo
Colorado Rapids1–2Columbus Crew
Mullan  38'
Casey  48'
Casey  84'		 Report Gaven  22'
Schelotto  31'
Ekpo  52'
Carroll  56'
Francis  64'
Rogers 70'
Rogers  70'
Penalties
Casey
Kandji
Larentowicz
Lopez
Baudet 		5–4 Schelotto
Garey
Gaven
Brunner
Carroll
Columbus Crew Stadium
Columbus, Ohio
Attendance: 10,322
Referee: Michael Kennedy

Colorado Rapids advance 5–4 on penalties

Real Salt Lake1–2FC Dallas
Espindola  5'
Williams  46'
Morales  49'  69'		 Report Benitez  25'
Cunningham  44'
Hernandez  49'
Harris  75'
Avila  88'
Pizza Hut Park
Frisco, Texas
Attendance: 11,003
Referee: Kevin Stott
FC Dallas1–1Real Salt Lake
McCarty  17'
Chavez  27'
Loyd  84'		 Report Olave  25'
Grabavoy  29'
Borchers  34'
Findley  79'
Attendance: 19,324
Referee: Jorge González

FC Dallas advance 3–2 on aggregate

Los Angeles Galaxy1–0Seattle Sounders FC
Buddle  38'
Juninho  48'
Kovalenko  65'
Kirovski  82'		 Report Montero  49'
Nkufo  90+4'
Qwest Field
Seattle, Washington
Attendance: 35,521
Referee: Alex Prus
Seattle Sounders FC1–2Los Angeles Galaxy
Ianni  65'
Zakuani  86'		 Report Beckham  8'
Buddle  19'
Gonzalez  27'
Home Depot Center
Carson, California
Attendance: 27,000
Referee: Baldomero Toledo

Los Angeles Galaxy advance 3–1 on aggregate

Conference Finals
San Jose Earthquakes0–1Colorado Rapids
Report Kimura  42'
Attendance: 17,779
Referee: Jorge González
FC Dallas3–0Los Angeles Galaxy
Ferreira  26'
John  54'
Chavez  73'
Loyd  85'		 Report Kovalenko  31'
Beckham  73'
Birchall  82'
Cazumba  84'
Home Depot Center
Carson, California
Attendance: 27,000
Referee: Jair Marrufo

MLS Cup 2010
FC Dallas1 – 2 (a.e.t.)Colorado Rapids
Ferreira  35'
Benitez  84'		 Report Wallace  41'
Smith  51'
Casey  57'
Casey  84'
John  106' (o.g.)
Attendance: 21,700
Referee: Baldomero Toledo

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-10-28. Retrieved 2010-10-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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