Who is going to win in the semifinals of the MLS?
Remember: This year there will be the best of two. The "aggregate" or team with the most goals wins in the event of a tie. Poll ends Saturday, October 23, 2004 @ 7.29 p.m. (EST)

Even at 2s in the Metros-DC playoff. This should be one of the best playoff series in MLS history. DC has the momentum and home field advantage, the Metros have Amado Guevara, who changes games with one pass, and Bob Bradley, the coach who hasn't missed the MLS playoffs ever (96-97 DC United assistant, 98-02 Chicago Fire, 03-present Metros).

I know, but the scheduling kind of sucks. If the game would have been in DC this weekend, I would have gone to the game at RFK. Unfortunately, DC United will be playing game one in New Jersey when I am here, and the Metrostars will be playing game two here in DC when I am up in New Jersey.

Well, if the DC United didn't win last weekend, the scheduling would have been right.

Or some things (or particular persons) are even more important than soccer wink .

Don't worry, Pat125, not too many people read the soccer threads, so I probably won't be accused of making most of OutSports nauseous .

One never knows who's lurking about, however....

Was there no way to flip the trips? Be in NJ for game one and in DC for game two?

And while I'm here, what is this crap? "This year there will be the best of two. The 'aggregate' or team with the most goals wins in the event of a tie." This is even worse than the idea of a shootout.

You're correct, you're probably not making MOST of Outsports nauseous, but you have still made some of us....quick, where is the barf bag???? wink Maybe you should start a Pat/Cattledog thread for just the 2 of you wink

[ October 22, 2004, 01:24 PM: Message edited by: scottie ]

Actually, it's interesting you would say that. I'm kinda glad MLS finally went to this system. This is the same system used in Europe, and throughout most of the world.

Well... Since you guys were here, you could have at least voted in our little poll. wink

The aggregate system is widely used in European qualifying tournaments. If one team beats another 5-0 and then loses the next game 3-2 in a close match, why should they have to play a third? I know it sounds a bit bizarre, but it is kind of a football (the real one) thing. Incidentally, if the ALCS was played in a best of 6 aggregate system, my Yankees would be getting ready to play in the World Series right now.

Joe, we have plans both weekends that really cannot be changed. As for you, Scottie... I wrote that mushy posting knowing that your perusing little eye would take you here to soccerland and make you completely nauseous for the weekend . Now, vote in our soccer poll, damn it!

LET'S GO DC UNITED!

[ October 22, 2004, 02:35 PM: Message edited by: Cattledog ]

Shit! Cattledog, some of us are so far past being nauseous, we're on The Road to Bulimia, which I think was one of the better Bob Hope & Bing Crosby road movies. mmmmmmmmmmm Dorothy Lamour...... :cool:

but back on topic.... GO METROSTARS!

That's what I like to hear!

DC United 2, Metrostars 0 in New Jersey. My man, Ryan Nelsen, completely clogged up the middle and stifled just about any attempts for the Metros to break through the defense. Great game! I think there were more DC United fans there than Metros fans. :cool:

...and the Revs upset the Crew 1-0 in New England. If the Revolution can repeat another upset in Columbus next weekend, and DC United can win, tie, or only lose by one, they are in very good shape for the Eastern Conference Championship.

Yes, DC United outplayed the MetroStars in the 2nd half, but that first goal looked like it was a result of an offsides that wasn't called. And I'm still trying to figure out that aggregate thing. wink

Jaime Moreno was onsides when he broke for the pass. New Jersey-ites just like to whine.

Earnie Stewart, the old man, was a good 10-15 YARDS offside when he got the ball.

And the only reason DC was even in the game was Nick Rimando. He spectacularly saved Amado Guevara's first half free kick, pushed a Jeff Parke header wide, stopped a John Wolyniec volley attempt, and saved second half free kicks from Pablo Brenes and Guevara. Had Troy Perkins been in the net, the scoreline would've been completely different.

Dema Kovalenko is a hack- he should've gotten at least two yellow cards. BTW, Cattledog, Cornell Glen certainly gave your man a challenge at least...

Peter Nowak was a genius for NOT putting Freddy out there. I think he would've lasted about 2 seconds before someone took him out. I loved Shep Messing's commentary on MSG, which basically compared Freddy to a whiny little girl.

Overall, it was a disgusting loss typical of the last third of the season for the Metros.

Don't you just love how bitter I am about the loss?

[ October 24, 2004, 08:12 AM: Message edited by: metromathis13 ]

Yeah, I figured you would be pissed off about that goal. I watched the game with Pat125 (who is not even a soccer guy like we are), and he grumbled about Earnie Stewart being offsides. Strangely, none of my fellow DC United fans here at work thought Stewart was offsides . However, you must admit that Alecko Eskandarian's goal was an awesome shot. The Metros goalkeeper Jonny Walker was furious with his defense on that second goal.

On a very, very big tangent here... Shep Messing (whom you mentioned in your previous post) posed in Playgirl when he was a goalkeeper for the indoor team, New York Arrows, in the old MISL in the 1980's. I suppose that shows my age a little bit, but it was quite a controversy back then.

[ October 27, 2004, 02:25 PM: Message edited by: Cattledog ]

Great job by DC United to put away the Metrostars and advance to their first Eastern Conference Final in several years! They will find out if they play at Columbus or at home against New England after tonight's game between those two.

Wow...

This is an absolutely amazing game on ESPN2 right now. Matt Reis stoned a Ross Paule PK and a Dante Washington breakaway to keep the Revolution on top on aggregate, 1-0.

As for the Metros, it's the 9th straight year of disappointment. I have no words.

Matt Reis just stopped a SECOND PK! Reis reads Tony Sanneh and the Crew is suddenly staring elimination in the face. As Rob Stone just said, the Crew came in to the match having made 20 straight PKs, but tonight, they are 0 for 2.

Final Semifinal Results:

*New England Revolution advances over Columbus Crew on aggregate 2-1 (MAJOR UPSET!)
*DC United advances over New York/New Jersey Metrostars on aggregate 4-0 ( :cool: )
*Kansas City Wizards advances over San Jose Earthquakes on aggregate 3-2
*Los Angeles Galaxy advances over Colorado Rapids on aggregate 2-1 (Western Conference top seeds advance!)

So if I understand this correctly, only one of the four series featured a team that actually won twice? Hmmmph.

Oh, Joe, go watch your Eagles or something !
But before you go, don't forget to vote in our Conference Championships Poll .

I did, but what's the point of choosing one team over the other, seeing as how I know less about the teams than I do about, say, quantum physics? wink

Gerald Ford was a model who posed for the cover of Cosmopilotan and was inside Look magazine in the 1940's, and no, that doesn't say a damn thing about my age, just how much time I had on my hands watching the election returns. Tried to find a pic but couldn't :mad: