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2010 MLS Cup Playoffs
Tournament details
CountryUnited States
Canada
Teams8
Defending championsReal Salt Lake
Final positions
ChampionsColorado Rapids (1st title)
Runner-upFC Dallas
Semifinalists
Tournament statistics
Matches played11
Goals scored25 (2.27 per match)
Attendance214,885 (19,535 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)United States Edson Buddle
United States Conor Casey
United States Bobby Convey
Colombia 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 October 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

Main article: MLS Cup Playoffs

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 was 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 was not used.[1]

Standings

Conference standings

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

Pos Team
 Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 LA Galaxy 30 18 7 5 44 26 +18 59 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 Real Salt Lake 30 15 4 11 45 20 +25 56
3 FC Dallas 30 12 4 14 42 28 +14 50
4 Seattle Sounders FC 30 14 10 6 39 35 +4 48
5 Colorado Rapids 30 12 8 10 44 32 +12 46
6 San Jose Earthquakes 30 13 10 7 34 33 +1 46
7 Houston Dynamo 30 9 15 6 40 49 −9 33
8 Chivas USA 30 8 18 4 31 45 −14 28
Source: MLS

Overall standings

Pos Team
 Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 LA Galaxy (S) 30 18 7 5 44 26 +18 59 CONCACAF Champions League
2 Real Salt Lake 30 15 4 11 45 20 +25 56
3 New York Red Bulls 30 15 9 6 38 29 +9 51
4 FC Dallas 30 12 4 14 42 28 +14 50 CONCACAF Champions League
5 Columbus Crew 30 14 8 8 40 34 +6 50
6 Seattle Sounders FC 30 14 10 6 39 35 +4 48 CONCACAF Champions League
7 Colorado Rapids (C) 30 12 8 10 44 32 +12 46
8 San Jose Earthquakes 30 13 10 7 34 33 +1 46
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 CONCACAF Champions League[a]
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
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head record; 3) goal difference; 4) number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (S) Supporters' Shield
Notes:
  1. ^ As winners of the 2011 Canadian Championship

Bracket

Conference semifinals Conference finals MLS Cup
          
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

New York Red Bulls1–0San Jose Earthquakes
Ballouchy Yellow card 46'
Lindpere 56'
Miller Yellow card 71'
Coundoul Yellow card 83'		 Report Wondolowski Yellow card 65'
Buck Shaw Stadium
Santa Clara, California
Attendance: 10,525
Referee: Paul Ward
San Jose Earthquakes3–1New York Red Bulls
Corrales Yellow card 32'
Convey 8', 76'
Wondolowski 81'
Busch Yellow card 81'		 Report Ángel 78'
Red Bull Arena
Harrison, New Jersey
Attendance: 22,839
Referee: Mark Geiger

San Jose Earthquakes advance 3–2 on aggregate

Columbus Crew0–1Colorado Rapids
Carroll Yellow card 57' Report Mastroeni 23'
Mastroeni Yellow card 90+2'
Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Commerce City, Colorado
Attendance: 11,872
Referee: Jair Marrufo
Colorado Rapids1–2Columbus Crew
Mullan Yellow card 38'
Casey Yellow card 48'
Casey 84'		 Report Gaven 22'
Schelotto Yellow card 31'
Ekpo Yellow card 52'
Carroll Yellow card 56'
Francis Yellow card 64'
Rogers 70'
Rogers Yellow card 70'
Penalties
Casey soccer ball with check mark
Kandji soccer ball with check mark
Larentowicz soccer ball with check mark
Lopez soccer ball with check mark
Baudet soccer ball with check mark		 5–4 soccer ball with check mark Schelotto
soccer ball with check mark Garey
soccer ball with check mark Gaven
soccer ball with check mark Brunner
soccer ball with red X Carroll
Columbus Crew Stadium
Columbus, Ohio
Attendance: 10,322
Referee: Michael Kennedy

Colorado Rapids advance 5–4 on penalties

Real Salt Lake1–2FC Dallas
Espindola 5'
Williams Yellow card 46'
Morales Yellow card 49' Yellow-red card 69'		 Report Benitez Yellow card 25'
Cunningham 44'
Hernandez Yellow card 49'
Harris Red card 75'
Avila 88'
Pizza Hut Park
Frisco, Texas
Attendance: 11,003
Referee: Kevin Stott
FC Dallas1–1Real Salt Lake
McCarty 17'
Chavez Yellow card 27'
Loyd Yellow card 84'		 Report Olave Yellow card 25'
Grabavoy Yellow card 29'
Borchers Yellow card 34'
Findley 79'
Rio Tinto Stadium
Sandy, Utah
Attendance: 19,324
Referee: Jorge González

FC Dallas advance 3–2 on aggregate

Los Angeles Galaxy1–0Seattle Sounders FC
Buddle 38'
Juninho Yellow card 48'
Kovalenko Yellow card 65'
Kirovski Yellow card 82'		 Report Montero Yellow card 49'
Nkufo Yellow card 90+4'
Qwest Field
Seattle, Washington
Attendance: 35,521
Referee: Alex Prus
Seattle Sounders FC1–2Los Angeles Galaxy
Ianni Yellow card 65'
Zakuani 86'		 Report Beckham Yellow card 8'
Buddle 19'
Gonzalez 27'
Home Depot Center
Carson, California
Attendance: 27,000
Referee: Baldomero Toledo

Los Angeles Galaxy advance 3–1 on aggregate

Conference finals

San Jose Earthquakes0–1Colorado Rapids
Report Kimura 42'
Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Commerce City, Colorado
Attendance: 17,779
Referee: Jorge González
FC Dallas3–0Los Angeles Galaxy
Ferreira 26'
John 54'
Chavez 73'
Loyd Yellow card 85'		 Report Kovalenko Yellow card 31'
Beckham Yellow card 73'
Birchall Yellow card 82'
Cazumba Yellow card 84'
Home Depot Center
Carson, California
Attendance: 27,000
Referee: Jair Marrufo

MLS Cup 2010

Main article: MLS Cup 2010
FC Dallas1 – 2 (a.e.t.)Colorado Rapids
Ferreira 35'
Benitez Yellow card 84'		 Report Wallace Yellow card 41'
Smith Yellow card 51'
Casey 57'
Casey Yellow card 84'
John 106' (o.g.)
BMO Field
Toronto, Ontario
Attendance: 21,700
Referee: Baldomero Toledo

External links

References

  1. ^ "Playoff Format & Tiebreakers | Major League Soccer". Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
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