NEW YORK - In Sunday's dramatic Major League Soccer regular season finale, the MetroStars captured the fourth and final postseason berth in the Eastern Conference and in the process provided the final piece to the schedule for the MLS Cup Playoffs. By virtue of a 2-0 road win over Chivas USA on Sunday, the MetroStars advanced to face the New England Revolution (No. 1 seed in Eastern Conference) in the aggregate goal Eastern Conference Semifinal home-and-home series beginning on Saturday, October 22 from Giants Stadium (7:00 p.m. ET).
The second Eastern Conference Semifinal series will feature defending MLS Cup Champions D.C. United taking on the Chicago Fire, who return to the MLS Cup Playoffs after failing to qualify in 2004. As the lower seed, the Fire will host the first game of the semifinal series on Friday, October 21 at Soldier Field (9:00 pm. ET). The return leg of the aggregate goal series will be played at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, October 30 and will be broadcast live on ESPN2 (4:30 p.m. ET).
The San Jose Earthquakes (No. 1 seed in Western Conference), who finished the season as Supporters Shield winners and riding a 14-game undefeated streak, will take on the Los Angeles Galaxy (No. 4 seed) with the first leg aired live on ESPN2 on Sunday, October 23 from The Home Depot Center (3:00 p.m. ET). FC Dallas (No. 2 seed) will face the third-seeded Colorado Rapids beginning on Saturday, October 22 at INVESCO Field at Mile High. Colorado and Los Angeles finished the season tied with 45 points each, however the Rapids had the better overall goal differential and qualified as the No. 3 seed.
In the case that teams are tied on aggregate goals following the conclusion of Game 2 of the Conference Semifinal series, a 30-minute extra time period will be played followed by penalty kicks if necessary. The two teams left standing in each conference after the Conference Semifinals will meet in the single-game Conference Championship to be hosted by the higher seed. The winners of each Conference Championship advances to MLS Cup 2005 at Pizza Hut Park on Nov. 13 (live on ABC Sports at 3:30 p.m. ET).
EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
GAME 1:
New England Revolution (No. 1) at. MetroStars (No. 4)
Saturday, October 22
7:00 p.m. ET
Giants Stadium
TV: CN 8 and DirectKick
GAME 2:
MetroStars (No. 4) at New England Revolution (No. 1)
Saturday, October 29
8:00 p.m. ET
Gillette Stadium
TV: WB -56 and Direct Kick
GAME 1:
D.C. United (No. 2) at Chicago Fire (No. 3)
Friday, October 21
9:00 p.m. ET
Soldier Field
TV: Comcast Sports Net and Direct Kick
GAME 2:
Chicago Fire (No. 3) at D.C. United (No. 2)
Sunday, October 30
4:30 p.m. ET
RFK Stadium
TV: ESPN2
WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
GAME 1:
San Jose Earthquakes (No. 1) at Los Angeles Galaxy (No. 4)
Sunday, October 23
3:00 p.m. ET
The Home Depot Center
TV: ESPN2
GAME 2:
Los Angeles Galaxy (No. 4) at San Jose Earthquakes (No. 1)
Spartan Stadium
Saturday, October 29
10:00 p.m. ET
TV: FSN West and Direct Kick
GAME 1:
FC Dallas (No. 2) at Colorado Rapids (No. 3)
Saturday, October 22
9:00 p.m. ET
INVESCO Field at Mile High
TV: UPN-21 and Direct Kick
GAME 2:
Colorado Rapids (No. 3) at FC Dallas (No. 2)
Saturday, October 29
8:30 p.m. ET
TV: TBD
