MLS Playoff Structure Keeps Many Involved
Major League Soccer’s most significant success this year has been in the way it has structured the competition to assure meaningful games right to the season’s end.
With less than a week remaining in the regular season, five MLS teams have clinched a playoff spot, two have been eliminated from contention and five are fighting for the three remaining berths.
The format of the three division winners plus the next five teams, based on points and regardless of division, qualifying for the playoffs has been well received by everyone.
“I think what has happened is there are more possibilities at the end in terms of who will make it and what the matchups will be,” Chicago Fire Coach Bob Bradley said. “When you look at how many important games are left, it has worked well.”
So why not, as Alexi Lalas and others have suggested, do away with the divisions altogether and simply have a 12-team league with the top eight finishers reaching the playoffs?
“We’re fairly close to that,” said Ivan Gazidis, the league’s executive vice president. “Certainly, the race for the top eight playoff spots really works like a single division.
“In terms of overall records and who qualifies for the playoffs, we effectively do have a single league.
“The divisions were set up after a lot of discussion and thought to promote local rivalries. We have a fairly unique situation in the United States, where the country is just so vast that to have one single open league, while it has some attractions, takes away from some of the local rivalries.
“If New York and D.C., for example, only meet twice a year, that may not be the best way to set ourselves up. I think people are interested in our divisional races and rivalries. That’s what the divisional system was set up to try and promote.”
A CLASSY EXIT
Being dropped from the U.S. Olympic team only two weeks before the Summer Games was obviously a huge disappointment for injured Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Adin Brown, but the 22-year-old’s reaction showed maturity beyond his years.
“It’s definitely frustrating,” he said. “You don’t know how many years you have as a player, but hopefully I’ll have a long career and plenty of good experiences ahead of me.
“Hey, I just feel lucky to be a professional soccer player. I get paid to play soccer every day, how tough is that? Reminding myself of that helps me keep things in perspective and get over the disappointment.
“It will be tough to have to stay behind, especially after being with the group for three years, but I’ll be watching and my heart will be with them, and hopefully they can have a great performance and bring back a medal.”
QUICK PASSES
Wolde Harris, the New England Revolution and Jamaica national team forward, tied an MLS record by scoring a goal in seven consecutive games. . . . Kansas City Wizard midfielder Preki has become the first player in league history to notch 50 goals and 50 assists. . . . MLS has turned down a $3-million offer from Independiente of Argentine for Dallas Burn forward Ariel Graziani. . . . Columbus Crew striker Brian McBride will play on loan for Preston North End of England’s first division during the MLS off-season. . . . U.S. Soccer will chalk up two off-field successes this weekend when the federation stages sold-out games on opposite sides of the country. Tonight at 5:30, the U.S. women’s Olympic team will play its Brazilian counterpart in front of more than 26,000 at Spartan Stadium in San Jose. On Sunday at 11 a.m. PDT, a sellout crowd of more than 50,000 is expected at RFK Stadium in Washington for the U.S.-Guatemala World Cup 2002 qualifying game. Both matches are being televised live, on ESPN and ABC, respectively.
