MLS Cup Conference Semifinals Leg 2 Day 2 Live Blog

Leg 2: Philadelphia Union vs. Houston Dynamo 8:30 (ESPN2 - Adrian Healey and Taylor Twellman)

Leg 2: New York Red Bulls vs. Los Angeles Galaxy 11:00 (ESPN2 - Ian Darke and John Harkes, SR: Rob Stone) (TSN2)

NFL Week 8/MLS Conference Semifinals Live Blog

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!  DOOP!

Leg 1: Los Angeles Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls 3:00 (ESPN2 - Adrian Healey and John Harkes)

Leg 1: Houston Dynamo vs. Philadelphia Union 5:00 (ESPN2 - Rob Stone and Taylor Twellman)

Leg 1: Sporting Kansas City vs. Colorado Rapids 7:00 (FSC) (TSN2)

CLICK HERE TO GO TO LIVE BLOG!

2011 MLS Cup Conference Semifinals Schedule

After muting Marcelo Balboa for 90 minutes, I can confidently said I managed to save a few brain cells watching Colorado Rapids defeat Columbus Crew in the 2nd of two MLS Cup Playoff Wild Card games.  Now to the Conference Finals.  Now to recap how we got here, the lowest seeded remaining wild card team (New York Red Bulls) moves to the Western Conference bracket to face the Western Conference and Supporters' Shield winning Los Angeles Galaxy.  And the highest seeded remaining wild card team (Colorado Rapids) moves to the Eastern Conference bracket to face the Eastern Conference winning Sporting Kansas City.  Yes, MLS thinks this is a good way to conduct a playoff.

Now moving forward in the Conference Semifinals, where each fixture will contain two legs, with each team hosting a leg.  Aggregate scoring will be used, and the team with the highest aggregate score will advance to the Conference Finals.  If after two legs, the aggregate is tied, 30 minutes of extra time will be played, and if it is still tied after 30 minutes of extra time, penalty kicks will determine a winner.  It is important to note that unlike other, better known soccer competitions, there is no away goal rule here.  On one hand, this makes keeping track of the score much easier.  On the other hand, can't MLS just for once do something like other people!  Even when MLS makes things easy it's not easy.  Now that you are all thoroughly confused, here is the schedule for the Conference Semifinals! (wild card seeds have been designated a #4 seed for the sake of ease) (home team listed last) (all times ET) 

Eastern Conference Semifinals

#1 Sporting Kansas City vs. #4 Colorado Rapids

Leg 1:  October 30:  Sporting Kansas City vs. Colorado Rapids  7:00 (FSC - JP Dellacamera and Kyle Martino) (TSN2)
Leg 2:  November 2:  Colorado Rapids vs. Sporting Kansas City  8:00 (FSC - JP Dellacamera and Kyle Martino)

#2 Houston Dynamo vs. #3 Philadelphia Union

Leg 1:  October 30:  Houston Dynamo vs. Philadelphia Union  5:00 (ESPN2 - Rob Stone and Taylor Twellman)
Leg 2:  November 3:  Philadelphia Union vs. Houston Dynamo  8:30 (ESPN2 - Adrian Healey and Taylor Twellman) (TSN2)

Western Conference Semifinals

#1 Los Angeles Galaxy vs. #4 New York Red Bulls

Leg 1:  October 30:  Los Angeles Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls  3:00 (ESPN2 - Adrian Healey and John Harkes)
Leg 2:  November 3:  New York Red Bulls vs. Los Angeles Galaxy  11:00 (ESPN2 - Ian Darke and John Harkes, SR: Rob Stone) (TSN2)

#2 Seattle Sounders vs. #3 Real Salt Lake

Leg 1:  October 29:  Seattle Sounders vs. Real Salt Lake  10:00 (FSC - JP Dellacamera and Kyle Martino) (TSN2)
Leg 2:  November 2:  Real Salt Lake vs. Seattle Sounders  10:00 (ESPN2 - Adrian Healey and John Harkes) (TSN2)

October 26 MLS Cup Wild Card Live Blog

I am exhausted, have a class from 5 to 8, Game 6 of the World Series has been postponed, and this game is on a channel I do not get on TV so my only hope to watch is an online stream.  I don't feel like live blogging a pirated feed with minimal company (not sure how many of you want to watch a 1st round MLS cup game tonight).  Enjoy the game and leave comments!

Feeling better now, gonna give the live blog a whirl, even with the pirated feed.

 #4 New York Red Bulls vs. #1 FC Dallas 9:00 (FSC) (TSN2)

2011 MLS Cup Wild Card Schedule

This is the first year I am going to try this, but I will be live blogging the entire MLS Cup this year, although given I do not get FSC and will probably be relying on some pirated online streams, I can't guarantee how much success I will have.  Announcers will be added to the schedule once I receive confirmation official confirmation from somewhere (looking ahead, I can confirm that working Leg 1 of the Philadelphia Union-Houston Dynamo Conference semifinal series will be Rob Stone and Taylor Twellman).  The format for this unfamiliar is needlessly complex.  The below wild card teams are ranked 1-4 in the order they finished (1 being best, 4 the worst). The wild card round is one game single elimination.  The highest seeded winner will move to the Eastern Conference and face Sporting Kansas City in the Eastern Conference Semifinal (yes, Western Conference teams such as Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas can play in the Eastern Conference playoffs, same with Eastern Conference teams New York Red Bulls and Columbus Crew playing in the Western Conference playoffs; don't ask why).  The lowest seeded wild card winner will move to the Western Conference Semifinals and face Los Angeles Galaxy.  I think at this point, it is for the best to just leave you with the wild card schedule.  I will explain how the Conference Semifinals work once we get there.  This is MLS we are talking about.  Nothing can be simple.  (all times ET)

October 26
#4 New York Red Bulls vs. #1 FC Dallas  9:00 (FSC) (TSN2)

October 27
#3 Columbus Crew vs. #2 Colorado Rapids  10:00 (TSN2)

2011 World Series Game 2 Live Blog

I'm going to be starting this early for the big early season Capitals-Flyers game.  Also tonight, one of the most important games in the 2011 MLS Season on ESPN2 as the Philadelphia Union take on the New York Red Bulls.

Game 2: Rangers vs. Cardinals 7:30 (Fox - Joe Buck and Tim McCarver, SR: Ken Rosenthal)