2008 MLS Cup Playoffs

The 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs were the postseason to Major League Soccer's 2008 season, and culminated with MLS Cup 2008 on November 23, 2008 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

2008 MLS Cup Playoffs

Country	United States
Teams	8
Defending champions	Houston Dynamo
Champions	Columbus Crew (1st title)
Runners-up	New York Red Bulls
Semi-finalists	Chicago Fire Real Salt Lake
Matches played	11
Goals scored	25 (2.27 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)	Juan Pablo Ángel Chad Marshall John Wolyniec (2 goals each)
← 2007 2009 →

Format

At the 2008 season's end, the top three teams of each conference made the playoffs; in addition the clubs with the next two highest point totals, regardless of conference, were added to the playoffs. In the first round of this knockout tournament, aggregate goals over two matches determined the winners; the Conference Championships were one match each, with the winner of each conference advancing to MLS Cup. In all rounds, the tie-breaking method was two 15-minute periods of extra time, followed by penalty kicks if necessary. The away goals rule was not used.

Standings

Conference standings

Pos	Club	Pts	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD
Eastern Conference v t e
1	Columbus Crew	57	30	17	7	6	50	36	+14
2	Chicago Fire	46	30	13	10	7	44	33	+11
3	New England Revolution	43	30	12	11	7	40	43	–3
4	Kansas City Wizards	42	30	11	10	9	37	39	–2
5	New York Red Bulls	39	30	10	11	9	42	48	–6
6	D.C. United	37	30	11	15	4	43	51	–8
7	Toronto FC	35	30	9	13	8	34	43	–9


	2008 MLS Cup Playoffs
	2008 MLS Cup Playoffs (Wild Card)

Pos	Club	Pts	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD
Western Conference v t e
1	Houston Dynamo	51	30	13	5	12	45	32	+13
2	Chivas USA	43	30	12	11	7	40	41	–1
3	Real Salt Lake	40	30	10	10	10	40	39	+1
4	Colorado Rapids	38	30	11	14	5	44	45	–1
5	FC Dallas	36	30	8	10	12	45	41	+4
6	LA Galaxy	33	30	8	13	9	55	62	–7
7	San Jose Earthquakes	33	30	8	13	9	32	38	–6


	2008 MLS Cup Playoffs
	2008 MLS Cup Playoffs (Wild Card)

Overall standings

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Columbus Crew (SS, E1)	30	17	7	6	50	36	+14	57	2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage ²
2	Houston Dynamo (W1)	30	13	5	12	45	32	+13	51	2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage ²
3	Chicago Fire	30	13	10	7	44	33	+11	46	2009 North American SuperLiga ⁴
4	Chivas USA	30	12	11	7	40	41	−1	43
5	New England Revolution	30	12	11	7	40	43	−3	43
6	Kansas City Wizards	30	11	10	9	37	39	−2	42
7	Real Salt Lake	30	10	10	10	40	39	+1	40	2008 MLS Cup Playoffs
8	New York Red Bulls	30	10	11	9	42	48	−6	39	2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round ³
9	Colorado Rapids	30	11	14	5	44	45	−1	38
10	D.C. United	30	11	15	4	43	51	−8	37	2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round ³
11	FC Dallas	30	8	10	12	45	41	+4	36
12	Toronto FC	30	9	13	8	34	43	−9	35
13	LA Galaxy	30	8	13	9	55	62	−7	33
14	San Jose Earthquakes	30	8	13	9	32	38	−6	33

Source:^{[citation needed]}

(SS) = Supporters Shield winner; (E1) = Eastern Conference champion; (W1) = Western Conference champion

^Note 1 - Toronto FC cannot qualify for the U.S. Open Cup, as it is a Canadian-based team.
If they had qualified for an automatic berth into the U.S. Open Cup, the next highest placed team not already qualified would have qualified.
^Note 2 - Toronto FC cannot qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League through MLS. Rather, they can qualify through the Canadian Soccer Championship.
If they had qualified for the Champions League through MLS, then the highest placed team not already qualified would have qualified.
^Note 3 - The winner of the 2008 MLS Supporters' Shield (Columbus Crew) qualified for the 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage. As they also won MLS 2008, the 2008 MLS Supporters' Shield runner-up (Houston Dynamo) also entered the Group Stage. The runner-up of MLS Cup 2008 (New York Red Bulls) and the winner of the 2008 U.S. Open Cup (D.C. United) qualified for the 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round.
^Note 4 - SuperLiga 2009 berths are awarded to the top 4 finishing teams from MLS who do not qualify for Champions League (Chicago, New England, Chivas USA and Kansas City).

Bracket

Conference Semifinals				Conference Finals			MLS Cup 2008

E1	Columbus	1	2

E4	Kansas City	1	0
				E1	Columbus	2
Eastern Conference
				E2	Chicago	1
E3	New England	0	0

E2	Chicago	0	3
							E1	Columbus	3

							W4	New York	1
W1	Houston	1	0

W4	New York	1	3
				W4	New York	1
Western Conference
				W3	Salt Lake	0
W3	Salt Lake	1	2

W2	Chivas USA	0	2

¹ The New York Red Bulls earned the eighth and final playoff berth, despite finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference. They represent the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoff bracket, as only three teams in the Western Conference qualified for the playoffs.