Friday, October 26, 2012

MLS News- Final Games of the 2012 Season

2012 MLS Season Concludes this Weekend

Major League Soccer wraps up it's 34 game season this weekend with no teams unsure about their playoff positions.

For some, such as the Philadelphia Union, their playoff hopes were shattered weeks ago. All 10 playoff spots are already secured with five teams from each conference. 

While it may seem like an anticlimactic ending to the season, I see it more as a calm before the playoff storm.

2012 MLS Playoff Standings

Here are the standings from each conference:

Western Conference
  • San Jose
  • Seattle
  • Salt Lake
  • LA
  • Vancouver

Eastern Conference
  • Kansas City
  • D.C.
  • Chicago
  • New York
  • Houston 
While some jostling of playoff positions could take place this weekend, for teams like the Union it is more about pride, and building for next season.

The MLS Playoffs will come quickly once the season ends, so keep an eye out for many exciting games before the MLS takes it's winter break.

Friday, October 12, 2012

International Break - World Cup Qualification

This weekend, October 12th-16th, is an International Break for club soccer teams in order for national teams to play two games in World Cup Qualification for Rio 2014.

Club Soccer, including the English Premier League and Major League Soccer will return next week.

While the European World Cup Qualification games usually get most of the press, the USA in CONCACAF qualifying are trying to make some good news for themselves.

They are currently in a three way tie with Guatemala and Jamaica, each with 7 points.

Only the winner will advance, with the 2nd place in the group going into a playoff with the second place teams from the other groups.

The USMNT plays Antigua and Barbuda on October 12th away from home, and will then play at home in Kansas, against Guatemala on Tuesday the 16th. (USA v Guatemala will be live on ESPN2, and ESPN3.com)

The US will be hoping, and expecting to win both games, but as the last Olympic qualification process showed us, nothing is secure, with the US failing to qualify for London 2012.

There are quite a few European Qualification Games going on. These usually consist of huge mismatches between soccer sharks and minnows. But the games can have surprises, and almost always present an entertaining game.

ESPN3.com offers many of these games streamed live online for free. Visit espn.go.com/watchespn to view all available games.

Coming up on Tuesday, October 16th at 2:55 ET, France will play Spain in an unusual match up of two fantastic national soccer teams challenging for top spot in their qualification group.

More to come soon on the USMNT World Cup Qualification results.