2010 MLS Cup Playoffs

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2010 MLS Cup Playoffs

Country	United States Canada
Teams	8
Defending champions	Real Salt Lake
Champions	Colorado Rapids (1st title)
Runners-up	FC Dallas
Semi-finalists	Los Angeles Galaxy San Jose Earthquakes
Matches played	11
Goals scored	25 (2.27 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)	Edson Buddle Conor Casey Bobby Convey David Ferreira (2 goals each)
← 2009 2011 →

The 2010 MLS Cup Playoffs was the postseason tournament subsequent to Major League Soccer's 2010 season.

The playoffs began on Oct. 30, with the Los Angeles Galaxy defeating the Seattle Sounders FC in the quarterfinal-round. Three weeks later, the Colorado Rapids defeated FC Dallas 2-1 in the Cup final at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario. It was Colorado's first title and second MLS Cup final appearance, and it was FC Dallas's first appearance in an MLS Cup final.

Of the eight MLS clubs to earn qualification into the tournament, only four of them qualified the season before; Columbus Crew, Los Angeles Galaxy, Seattle Sounders FC, and the defending-champions, Real Salt Lake. The San Jose Earthquakes were making their first playoff appearance since 2005, Dallas' since 2007. It was Colorado's and New York Red Bulls's first time since 2008.

Format[]

At the 2010 season's end, the top two teams of each conference advanced to the playoffs; in addition the clubs with the next four highest point totals, regardless of conference, were also added to the playoffs for a total of eight clubs. In the first round of the knockout tournament, aggregate (total) goals over two matches would determine the winners; the Conference Championships would be one match each, with the winner of each conference advancing to MLS Cup. In all rounds, the tie-breaking method would be two 15-minute periods of extra time, followed by penalty kicks if necessary. The away goals rule would not be used.^[1]

Standings[]

Conference standings[]

Eastern Conference v t
Pos	Club	Pts	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD
1	New York Red Bulls	51	30	15	9	6	38	29	+9
2	Columbus Crew	50	30	14	8	8	40	34	+6
3	Kansas City Wizards	39	30	11	13	6	36	35	+1
4	Chicago Fire	36	30	9	12	9	37	38	−1
5	Toronto FC	35	30	9	13	8	33	41	−8
6	New England Revolution	32	30	9	16	5	32	50	−18
7	Philadelphia Union	31	30	8	15	7	35	49	−14
8	D.C. United	22	30	6	20	4	21	47	−26

	2010 MLS Cup Playoffs

Western Conference v t
Pos	Club	Pts	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD
1	Los Angeles Galaxy	59	30	18	7	5	44	26	+18
2	Real Salt Lake	56	30	15	4	11	45	20	+25
3	FC Dallas	50	30	12	4	14	42	28	+14
4	Seattle Sounders FC	48	30	14	10	6	39	35	+4
5	Colorado Rapids	46	30	12	8	10	44	32	+12
6	San Jose Earthquakes	46	30	13	10	7	34	33	+1
7	Houston Dynamo	33	30	9	15	6	40	49	−9
8	Chivas USA	28	30	8	18	4	31	45	−14

	2010 MLS Cup Playoffs

Overall standings[]

Pos	Team v t	Pld	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	LA Galaxy (SS, W1)	30	18	7	5	44	26	+18	59	2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage 2
2	Real Salt Lake	30	15	4	11	45	20	+25	56	2011 North American SuperLiga 3
3	New York Red Bulls (E1)	30	15	9	6	38	29	+9	51
4	FC Dallas	30	12	4	14	42	28	+14	50	2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round 2
5	Columbus Crew	30	14	8	8	40	34	+6	50	2011 North American SuperLiga 3
6	Seattle Sounders FC	30	14	10	6	39	35	+4	48	2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round 2
7	Colorado Rapids	30	12	8	10	44	32	+12	46	2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage 2
8	San Jose Earthquakes	30	13	10	7	34	33	+1	46	2011 North American SuperLiga 3
9	Kansas City Wizards	30	11	13	6	36	35	+1	39
10	Chicago Fire	30	9	12	9	37	38	−1	36
11	Toronto FC	30	9	13	8	33	41	−8	35	2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage 2
12	Houston Dynamo	30	9	15	6	40	49	−9	33
13	New England Revolution	30	9	16	5	32	50	−18	32
14	Philadelphia Union	30	8	15	7	35	49	−14	31
15	Chivas USA	30	8	18	4	31	45	−14	28
16	D.C. United	30	6	20	4	21	47	−26	22

Bracket[]

	Conference Semifinals v t						Conference Finals					MLS Cup 2010
	E1	New York	1	1
	E4	San Jose	0	3
							E4	San Jose	0
	Eastern Conference
							E3	Colorado	1
	E2	Columbus	0	2
	E3	Colorado (5–4, PSO)	1	1
												E3	Colorado	2
												W3	Dallas	1
	W1	Los Angeles	1	2
	W4	Seattle	0	1
							W1	Los Angeles	0
	Western Conference
							W3	Dallas	3
	W2	Salt Lake	1	1
	W3	Dallas	2	1

Conference Semifinals[]

San Jose Earthquakes advance 3–2 on aggregate

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Colorado Rapids advance 5–4 on penalties

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FC Dallas advance 3–2 on aggregate

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Los Angeles Galaxy advance 3–1 on aggregate

Conference Finals[]

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MLS Cup 2010[]

External links[]

• MLS Cup Playoffs at MLSsoccer.com

References[]