MLS Playoffs

MLS adidas prime ball

NEW YORK (Wednesday, August 8, 2012) – As Major League Soccer enters the final third of its 2012 regular season, each match takes on increased importance. Only the top five clubs in each conference will qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs, which will begin Oct. 31 and conclude Dec. 1 with MLS Cup, hosted by the finalist with the better regular season record.

Pickens preview Columbus

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Colorado Rapids captain Pablo Mastroeni and goalkeeper Matt Pickens will participate in Movember, a movement dedicated to raising awareness and funds throughout the month of November for men’s health issues, specifically cancers that affect men. Mastroeni and Pickens will grow mustaches and track progress on their www.Movember.com page (keywords: Pablo Mastroeni, Matt Pickens), where fans and supporters can donate money to the organization and see their progress throughout the month.

Rapids celebrate Cummings goal vs Columbus

Photo Credit: 

Garrett Ellwood / Colorado Rapids

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – If it’s just about freezing outside and the Rapids are playing at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, that’s good news in Colorado.

The Rapids endured a 32-degree temperature at kickoff and a pesky effort from the Columbus Crew to surge into the Eastern Conference semifinals on Thursday night, riding a first-half goal from Omar Cummings to a 1-0 win in a do-or-die match between the two wild card teams.

Colorado vs Columbus Preview

Photo Credit: 

MLSsoccer.com

Thurs., Oct. 27, (8p.m. MT; Altitude)

REFEREE: Jorge Gonzalez. SAR (bench): Greg Barkey; JAR (opposite): Kermit Quisenberry; 4th: Andrew Chapin

INJURY REPORT:

COLORADO RAPIDS - OUT: FW Conor Casey (L Achilles tear); DF Anthony Wallace (R knee arthroscopic surgery); QUESTIONABLE: MF Pablo Mastroeni (concussion); PROBABLE: GK Matt Pickens (R groin strain); MF Jamie Smith (R hamstring strain / R calf strain) 

Brian Mullan vs Columbus

Photo Credit: 

Garrett Ellwood / Colorado Rapids

Commerce City, Colo. – If there’s been one constant at the start of the past 10 MLS Cup Playoffs, it’s that Brian Mullan is on the field somewhere. The veteran midfielder will be appearing in his 11^th consecutive postseason when the Rapids host the Columbus Crew in a Wild Card game on Thursday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (8 pm MT).

Rapids defender Drew Moor

Commerce City, Colo. - In order to defend their MLS Cup title, the Colorado Rapids will have to play one extra playoff game this year compared to last. The format of the MLS Cup Playoffs was altered slightly for 2011, adding two single-elimination Wild Card games, with each winner moving on to the home-and-home Conference Semifinals. The Rapids will face the Columbus Crew in one of the Wild Card games on Thursday at 8 pm MT at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.