MLS Playoff Race Analysis

As the MLS regular season winds down and we find out who the real contenders are, the parity of the league has never been more obvious. All 14 teams are still in contention for a playoff spot while only one - the Columbus Crew - has absolutely clinched a spot in the postseason.Below is a breakdown of each team's remaining games, as well as the percentage of available points they have taken both at home and on the road so far this year.

Columbus Crew (14-6-5) - 1st in East
Home games (2): vs. LA Galaxy, vs. DC United - (74.35%)
Away games (3): @ New England, @ Chicago, @ New York - (50.00%)

The only team that is guaranteed a spot in the MLS playoffs, Columbus has been flying high as of late - despite the absence of MVP candidate Guillermo Barros Schelotto. But a quick look at their remaining schedule proves that the Crew's chances of securing the Supporters Shield for the second time in club history remain unclear because of three tough games on the road against strong Eastern Conference opponents.

New England Revolution (12-7-6) - 2nd in East
Home games (3): vs. Columbus, vs. Real Salt Lake, vs. Kansas City Wizards - (58.33%)
Away games (2): @ Kansas City, @ DC United - (53.85%)

Bob Kraft's club has plateaued lately, but could still make a run at the Supporters Shield, based on their two upcoming meetings with Kansas City and a road game against road-weary United. If Columbus falters, Steve Nicol will have his squad ready to swoop in for the kill.

Chicago Fire (11-9-5) - 3rd in East
Home games (3): vs. LA Galaxy, vs. Columbus, vs. New York - (47.22%)
Away games (2): @ Kansas City, @ Toronto FC - (53.85%)

Not that he is the reason for Chicago's recent lack of results, but the Fire are a mediocre 2-4-0 since Brian McBride made his debut with the club. Coach Denis Hamlett has been forced to tinker with the lineup, leaving two national team pool players to a role coming off the bench (Chris Rolfe, Justin Mapp).

New York Red Bulls (9-8-8) - 4th in East
Home games (3): vs. Colorado, vs. Toronto FC, vs. Columbus - (75.00%)
Away games (2): @ Real Salt Lake, @ Chicago - (20.51%)

Perhaps no team has benefited from having a subpar playing surface more than the Red Bulls, who have taken three out of every four points up for grabs at home this season. This should bode well for New York down the stretch, as they will host lowly Toronto FC and the Colorado Rapids in the coming weeks.

DC United (10-12-3) - 5th in East
Home games (2): vs. Chivas USA, vs. New England - (66.67%)
Away games (3): @ FC Dallas, @ Houston, @ Columbus - (19.44%)

Looking more and more likely to miss the playoffs with each week that goes by, D.C. United is clearly worn down by their inclusion in the CONCACAF Champions League. Add to the mix injuries to their Designated Player (Marcelo Gallardo) and MLS all-time leading scorer (Jaime Moreno), and it seems unrealistic to believe that United will win more than a single game for the rest of the season.

Kansas City Wizards (8-9-8) - 6th in East
Home games (3): vs. Chicago, vs. New England, vs. San Jose - (66.67%)
Away games (2): @ Chivas USA, @ New England - (20.51%)

Recent acquisitions and prominent veteran leadership have kept the Wizards in the hunt while other teams in the East have dropped like a stone. Still, Kansas City has a pair of meetings with the Revolution in the future, and will also have to square off against red-hot San Jose and a close-to-full-strength Chivas USA.

Toronto FC (7-12-6) - 7th in East
Home games (2): vs. Houston, vs. Chicago - (53.85%)
Away games (3): @ New York, @ FC Dallas, @ San Jose - (16.67%)

At least Toronto fans have next season and a Designated Player signing to look forward to, right? This club needs to get better playing on the road; TFC has secured just one out of every six points available in away games this season.

-------------

Houston Dynamo (10-5-9) - 1st in West
Home games (3): vs. DC United, vs. San Jose, vs. LA Galaxy - (75.00%)
Away games (3): @ Toronto FC, @ Colorado, @ Chivas USA - (33.33%)

The cream eventually rises to the top, as evidenced by Houston's steady plod up the Western Conference standings in 2008. Looking good with a game in hand over most of the league, Houston is almost a certain-lock to enter the playoffs as the #1 seed in the West.

Chivas USA (9-10-6) - 2nd in West
Home games (3): vs. Kansas City, vs. Colorado, vs. Houston - (58.33%)
Away games (2): @ DC United, @ San Jose - (30.77%)

While Cuban sensation Maykel Galindo remains disappointingly out of action for the Goats, the returns to health of Alecko Eskandarian, Ante Razov, Claudio Suarez and Jesse Marsch have the red-and-white in prime position to capitalize on the weak West. Making it to MLS Cup in their home stadium would be the ultimate in-your-face by Chivas to the rival Galaxy.

Colorado Rapids (9-12-4) - 3rd in West
Home games (2): vs. Houston, vs. Real Salt Lake - (58.97%)
Away games (3): @ New York, @ LA Galaxy, @ Chivas USA - (22.22%)

Despite benching their biggest off-season acquisition, the Rapids have surprised everyone by pulling themselves into a tie for the last playoff spot at the moment. If only the fans in Colorado would take notice.

Real Salt Lake (8-10-7) - 3rd in West
Home games (2): vs. New York, vs. FC Dallas - (66.67%)
Away games (3): @ San Jose, @ New England, @ Colorado - (13.89%)

After over-achieving for much of the season, Jason Kreis' club is now entrenched in a dogfight for that last playoff spot when it looked like they were in the running for a solid runner-up finish in the West just a few weeks ago. A series of defensive blunders has left RSL in a precarious position with three dreaded road games left to play.

FC Dallas (7-9-9) - 5th in West
Home games (3): vs. DC United, vs. San Jose, vs. Toronto FC - (44.44%)
Away games (2): @ Real Salt Lake, @ LA Galaxy - (35.90%)

Last weekend's dismantling of the Chicago Fire has served as notice that FC Dallas is still a dangerous club to face; mid-season acquisition Jeff Cunningham scored twice in that game, and could have had several others. Younger players such as Bruno Guardo, Andre Rocha and Eric Avila are emerging as stars for the Hoops and their play could propel Dallas into a last-second swoop for the final playoff spot.

Los Angeles Galaxy (7-10-8) - 6th in West
Home games (2): vs. Colorado, vs. FC Dallas - (48.72%)
Away games (3): @ Chicago, @ Columbus, @ Houston - (27.78%)

Finally breaking a 12-game winless streak over the weekend, Los Angeles has no room left for error if they are to make the postseason for the first time in three years. It won't be easy - Donovan, Beckham & co. have to make trips to the leaders of both conferences and outplay at home two other West teams fighting for their playoff lives.

San Jose Earthquakes (7-9-8) - 7th in West
Home games (3): vs. Real Salt Lake, vs. Chivas USA, vs. Toronto FC - (52.78%)
Away games (3): @ FC Dallas, @ Houston, @ Kansas City - (27.78%)

Some Quakes fans are worried that last weekend's postponement of their league match against Houston blunted the expansion team's momentum. But as long as Darren Huckerby continues outplaying David Beckham and the San Jose defense holds strong, San Jose has a real shot at booking their ticket to the posteason. Only one of their remaining six games is against a bona fide contender (Houston).