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MLS wrap: Four sides secure playoff spots

SoccerNews in MLS 16 Oct 2011

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Sporting Kansas City secured a berth in the MLS playoffs with a 2-0 win over 10-man New York Red Bulls on Saturday.

Second-half strikes from Teal Bunbury and CJ Sapong sealed the result for Kansas, who went top of the Eastern Conference with the victory.

Kansas City were benefitted by the 28th-minute sending-off of French striker Thierry Henry, who charged into Roger Espinoza’s back well behind the play, leading referee Kevin Stott to immediately issue a straight red card.

Henry vehemently argued the accidental nature of the collision, but it was too late.

Without a goal on the day and now sitting out New York’s final regular season game, the card ended Henry’s chances at winning the Golden Boot.

Kansas now sit on 48 points in the conference, putting them in a good position to claim one of the three automatic berths.

New York remain in the wildcard berths for now, but Portland – three points behind with a game in hand – could draw level on points with a midweek win at DC United.

Philadelphia Union are level with Kansas on 48 points after their 1-1 draw at home to lowly Toronto.

Union led on 43 minutes through a Sebastien Le Toux goal, but Jamaica’s Ryan Johnson equalised for the Canadians to earn them a point in Pennsylvania.

Columbus Crew are a point shy of the equal-leaders in the East after their 3-0 thrashing away to bottom New England.

Andres Mendoza struck a brace for Crew, which sewed up their playoff spot with the victory.

Meanwhile, a late fightback from the Chicago Fire kept their slim hopes of MLS post-season action alive in a 2-1 win over DC United at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium.

The hosts took a 90th-minute lead when Dwayne De Rosario converted a penalty to seemingly break DC’s run of three losses.

However, late goals to Sebastian Grazzini and Diego Chaves in the third and fifth minute of injury time respectively saw the Fire complete a remarkable turnaround.

Dallas made it back-to-back wins with a 2-0 triumph over Vancouver in the Western Conference clash.

Brek Shea and Marvin Chavez scored to move Dallas level on points with third-place Real Salt Lake with one match remaining.

Should Dallas take more points from their season-ending clash than Salt Lake, they will skip the wildcard playoffs and earn a Championship playoff spot.

Dallas are away to the San Jose Earthquakes next Saturday, while Real host the Portland Timbers in an earlier kick-off that day.

The Seattle Sounders fought back from a deficit late to earn a 2-1 win over the Earthquakes – but San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski’s 15th goal of the season took him ahead in the golden boot race from DC’s De Rosario and New York’s Henry.

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