and seven teams are still alive for the final three places in the tightest playoff race in league history -- after the results of Week 31 of the 2009 Major League Soccer season.
Sounders FC came back for a 2-1 second-half deficit for a 3-2 victory at the Kansas City Wizards and become the first expansion team since the 1998 Chicago Fire to reach the postseason. But some teams missed out on a chance to secure their spots in the top eight, while others kept alive their remarkable playoff chances.
The Chicago Fire could have booked their ticket, but were held to a scoreless draw at the New England Revolution, who kept alive their postseason bid. FC Dallas continued their remarkable late-season charge, keeping the Colorado Rapids from qualifying with a 2-1 win. D.C. United also stayed alive, holding off the Columbus Crew's aim at repeating as Supporters' Shield winners with 1-0 win. And Toronto FC maintained their hopes of a first-ever appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs with a 1-0 win against Real Salt Lake.
Meanwhile, nothing was settled in the Western Conference, as three teams already qualified for the postseason dance are all tied with a week to play. Chivas USA and the San Jose Earthquakes played to a 2-2 draw on Saturday, then the Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy reached a scoreless result on Sunday.
At CommunityAmerica Ballpark, by the time the match had kicked off, the Wizards had been eliminated from playoff contention, coming in off a three-game winless streak. Sounders FC were coming off a 1-0 win at Columbus that moved them to the verge of playoff qualification.
The visitors took the lead after 27 minutes. Freddie Ljungberg nearly hooked in a goal straight from a corner kick, but Kevin Hartman was able to push it out at the near post. But Tyrone Marshall was there to slam the rebound back home, his second goal on the year.
But shortly after the break, the Wizards moved ahead. In the 51st minute, Zoltan slid in at the back post to turn home a Michael Harrington shot-cum-cross from long distance, his second goal in as many games. Then three minutes later, Josh Wolff snuck in to turn home a Davy Arnaud cross from close range, his single-season career-high 11th goal.
Yet Sounders FC came storming back. In the 69th minute, another Ljungberg corner was flicked on by Marshall, and Roger Levesque was completely unmarked at the back post to nod home his second goal in two games.
Then seven minutes later, Ljungberg stripped a K.C. defender of the ball on the right touchline, rounded the corner and danced along the endline before sliding the ball to Nate Jaqua in the heart of the six, and he tapped into an empty net for his eighth goal on the year and the playoff-clincher.
At Gillette Stadium, the Fire hadn't won in five games, but could still clinch their postseason place with a victory. The Revolution could not be eliminated with a loss, but were riding a three-game winless streak of their own.
In the end, neither team could break through for a decisive goal. Jon Busch made seven saves in the Chicago goal while New England's Matt Reis contributed four. There was a dramatic incident in the 62nd minute when Chris Rolfe went down in the area as Reis slid to knock the ball away with the Fire striker in alone on goal, but referee Jorge Gonzalez booked Rolfe for simulation.
At Pizza Hut Park, FC Dallas had kept their remarkable postseason charge alive with a third consecutive win the weekend before at San Jose, while the Rapids kicked off the game knowing a victory would secure their place in the top eight overall despite having played to four consecutive draws.
But the home side went ahead just four minutes into the game. Dave van den Bergh swung in a free kick from the right side and it found George John in a scrum at the back post, the rookie heading home his first professional goal.
Another set piece led to FCD's second in the 66th minute, and again it came from a central defender. This time Dax McCarty played in a free kick, where Atiba Harris headed it back across goal. Ugo Ihemelu was all alone to side-foot the ball off the 'keeper and in, the goal coming against his former club who dealt him Aug. 31.
Five minutes, though, Colorado pulled a goal back. Nick LaBrocca had the ball tackled away in the left side of the area but Pat Noonan was able to get to it and skip through a couple of tackles before poking home his second Rapids goal, but it wasn't enough.
At RFK Stadium, D.C. United were coming off three consecutive home defeats -- their first three league losses on East Capitol Street on the season -- while the Crew rebounded from their first home league loss in more than a year with a 1-0 win at New England the week before.
With their playoff hopes on life support, Luciano Emilio gave his team the start it needed. Boyzzz Khumalo threaded a through ball into the Columbus area and Emilio ran onto it before chipping a shot over the advancing William Hesmer, the ball just crossing the goal line before it was cleared for Emilio's 10th goal on the season.
D.C. United and goalkeeper Steve Cronin -- making his club debut after being acquired on loan during the week -- withstood withering pressure down the stretch to hold on, Cronin called upon to make six saves.
At BMO Field, Real Salt Lake had all but ensured their playoff chase would remain intact to the final weekend with a crucial 2-0 win at home against New York at midweek, ending a three-game winless run. Toronto FC was coming off back-to-back draws, in the second a stoppage-time leveler scored by San Jose.
Amado Guevara had rattled a free kick off the bar and RSL's Kyle Beckerman cleared a shot off the line in the first 45 minutes, then the game's lone goal came in the 48th minute.
Chad Barrett split a pair of Real defenders after latching on to a through ball, but 'keeper Nick Rimando was able to parry his shot. But Jim Brennan was able to turn it back goalward with his right foot, the ball slipping past an RSL defender and just inside the post for the all-important winner.
At The Home Depot Center, both teams had already learned their postseason places. Chivas USA had clinched a place the week before, but still in the hunt for the Western Conference top seed and the Supporters' Shield, while the Earthquakes were one of three teams eliminated by kickoff.
The home side got off to a bright start. Sacha Kljestan won the ball in midfield and sent Maykel Galindo free with a perfect pass up the center of the park. Galindo stroked it under goalkeeper Andrew Weber for his fourth goal and the seventh-minute opener.
But the Quakes leveled the score in the 21st minute. A free kick was played down the right touchline and Shea Salinas hooked in a cross, finding Brandon McDonald who headed home for his first professional goal.
San Jose then remarkably took the lead in the 57th minute. Again it came from a set piece, Chris Leitch swinging in a free kick from the right and Ryan Johnson getting up at the back post to loop a header over Zach Thornton and inside the right post for his 11th goal on the season.
But Chivas was able to come up with the equalizer. Ante Jazic played in an early cross from the left and Justin Braun was able to get a head on it ahead of the onrushing Weber, the ball settling into the back of the net for his third goal on the year and his third in the last three meetings with San Jose.
At Robertson Stadium, the Dynamo and Galaxy entered the game level atop the West, the Dynamo defeating Real Salt Lake to snap a four-game winless run last time out, while were coming off a home win against Chicago two weeks earlier.
The closest either team came to scoring was in the second half. Edson Buddle popped the ball over Houston goalkeeper Pat Onstad after he came off his line, but just before the ball entered the goal, Geoff Cameron was able to clear it away with a bicycle kick.
The Dynamo once again finished the game with 10 men as Brian Ching was sent off in the 82nd minute by referee Kevin Stott. It was the fifth consecutive game Houston had seen a player shown a red card.
