MLS Cup 1st Round Playoff Recap

MLS Cup fever is in the air and the competition has some fresh faces. 

New York Redbulls and Real Salt Lake make their conference finals debut when they go head to head Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium.  Chicago Fire and Columbus Crew are back in the conference finals for the first time in quite a while as the Crew host the Fire on ESPN 2's Thursday night Primetime. 

Chicago shut-out New England 3-0 on aggregate while Columbus eliminated 3-1 Kansas City on aggregate.  Real Salt Lake squeaked by Chivas USA 3-2, but without question the biggest story line from the 1st round was New York's dominant upset over two-time defending cup champs Houston Dynamo.  A 4-1 trouncing on aggregate.  

Chicago and Columbus played to two draws this 2008 season while New York holds a slight 1-0-1 edge over Salt Lake.  Regardless of what happens, there is a 75% chance that a new club will hoist the Phil Anschutz Trophy on November 23. 

Parity makes sport exciting.  Repeated storylines get old.  Freshblood keeps the game interesting.  Chicago is the only club that has won the cup before.  I'm both happy and excited for New York, Columbus and Salt Lake advancing into what has been unknown territory for their respective clubs.  I especially would enjoy seeing the Crew win the cup.  Afterall, the franchise is one of the 10 original MLS teams.  

Let's take a look at the 2008 MLS Awards thus far:

Coach of the Year: Sigi Schmid, Columbus Crew

Newcomer of the Year: Darren Huckersby, San Jose Earthquakes

Supporters Shield: Columbus Crew

Budweiser Golden Boot: Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy

Panasonic Goalkeeper of the Year: Jon Busch, Chicago Fire

Fair Play Away: Michael Parkhurst, New England Revolution

VISA Defender of the Year: Chad Marshall, Columbus Crew