The MLS Week That Was - Week 31

New York Red Bulls 2 – Chicago Fire 5

Chris Rolfe had maybe the best performance by an MLS player in 2008, racking up three goals and two assists on Thursday night to lead the Fire over the Red Bulls in a game that New York badly wanted to get a result out of. All three of Rolfe’s goals came in the first half, boosting his season total to nine. Juan Pablo Angel (14th of the season) and Macoumba Kandji (1st career goal) tallied in the losing effort.

Scoring:
CHI – Chris Rolfe 7 (Stephen King, Justin Mapp) 11’
NY – Juan Pablo Angel 14 (Dave van den Bergh) 32’
CHI – Chris Rolfe 8 (unassisted) 38’
CHI – Chris Rolfe 9 (Cuauhtemoc Blanco) 44’
CHI – Brian McBride 5 (Diego Gutierrez, Chris Rolfe) 53’
CHI – Daniel Woolard 1 (Chris Rolfe) 75’
NY – Macoumba Kandji 1 (Dane Richards, Chris Leitch) 88’

10/23/2008
Toyota Park
Attendance: 13,274

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Kansas City Wizards 3 – New England Revolution 1

Having already wrapped up a spot in the postseason earlier in the week, the Kansas City Wizards proceeded to go to New England and walked away with a decisive victory after the Revolution had two men sent off in the first half. Gabriel Badilla and Khano Smith will miss New England’s first-leg playoff match against the Chicago Fire due to red card suspension.

Scoring:
KC – Claudio Lopez 6 (penalty kick) 28’
KC – Davy Arnaud (Roger Espinoza, Claudio Lopez) 53’
KC – Own Goal (Michael Parkhurst) 88’
NE – Jeff Larentowicz 4 (unassisted) 90’

Ejections:
NE – Gabriel Badilla (Denied goal-scoring opportunity) 26’
NE – Khano Smith (Serious Foul Play) 42’

10/25/2008
Gillette Stadium
Attendance: 16,764

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Real Salt Lake 1 – Colorado Rapids 1

With the final Western Conference playoff spot on the line, a last-minute goal from Yura Movsisyan guided Real Salt Lake into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, coming at the expense of their rivals. RSL also claimed the season’s Rocky Mountain Cup for the second straight year, besting Colorado on the tiebreak of ‘away goals scored’ after ending the season with a 1-1-1 head-to-head record.

Scoring:
COL – Conor Casey 11 (Jordan Harvey) 19’
RSL – Yura Movsisyan 7 (unassisted) 90’

10/25/2008
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
Attendance: 16,047

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Toronto FC 0 – San Jose Earthquakes 2

The San Jose Earthquakes outgunned Toronto FC on Saturday night, in a game featuring two teams that had already been eliminated from postseason contention during the previous week. This year’s ‘expansion’ club outshot last year’s by a 17-4 margin, including 10 shots on goal and two that found their way into the back of the net.

Scoring:
SJ – Ryan Cochrane 2 (Ronnie O’Brien) 49’
SJ – Shea Salinas 2 (penalty kick) 91’+

10/25/2008
Buck Shaw Stadium
Attendance: 10,526

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Houston Dynamo 1 – Chivas USA 1

In a matchup of the Western Conference’s top two clubs, Chivas USA and Houston fought to a draw. Though the standings did not change as a result of the final score, Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy was sent off early in the second half for taking out Nate Jaqua in the box, meaning he will have to sit out next week’s playoff game against Real Salt Lake.

Scoring:
HOU - Dwayne De Rosario 7 (penalty kick) 52’
CHV – Jim Curtin 1 (unassisted) 90’

Ejections:
CHV – Dan Kennedy (Denied goal-scoring opportunity) 50’

10/25/2008
Home Depot Center
Attendance: 18,165

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FC Dallas 2 – Los Angeles Galaxy 2

Playing in perhaps his final MLS game for some time, Landon Donovan picked up his 20th goal of the season on a late penalty kick earned by Eddie Lewis. The 2-2 draw also featured Edson Buddle’s 15th goal of 2008 and David Beckham’s 10th assist. Neither team, however, will be playing when the playoffs start next week.

Scoring:
LA – Edson Buddle 15 (David Beckham, Eddie Lewis) 21’
FCD – Drew Moor 2 (Adrian Serioux) 34’
FCD – Victor Sikora 1 (Duilio Davino) 39’
LA – Landon Donovan (penalty kick) 79’

Ejections:
LA – Alvaro Pires (Serious foul play) 40’
FCD – Aaron Pitchkolan (Second caution) 49’

10/25/2008
Home Depot Center
Attendance: 27,000

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D.C. United 0 – Columbus Crew 1

Brad Evans’ late goal sent D.C. United packing, as the Crew’s 1-0 victory ensured that New York would get the final wildcard spot in the playoff race. United would have been in with a win, but were unable to pull it off, ending the season with their league-leading 15th loss. Columbus finished the season six points clear of second-place Houston, earning the 2008 Supporters’ Shield.

Scoring:
CLB – Brad Evans 5 (Frankie Hejduk) 77’

10/26/2008
Columbus Crew Stadium
Attendance: 19,591