The 2010 MLS Cup Playoffs was the postseason tournament subsequent to Major League Soccer's 2010 season.

2010 MLS Cup Playoffs
Tournament details
CountryUnited States
Canada
Teams8
Defending championsReal Salt Lake
Final positions
ChampionsColorado Rapids (1st title)
Runner-upFC Dallas
Semifinalists
Tournament statistics
Matches played11
Goals scored25 (2.27 per match)
Attendance214,885 (19,535 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)United States Edson Buddle
United States Conor Casey

United States Bobby Convey
Colombia David Ferreira
(2 goals each)
← 2009
2011 →

The playoffs began on October 30, with the Los Angeles Galaxy defeating the Seattle Sounders FC in the quarterfinal-round. Three weeks later, the Colorado Rapids defeated FC Dallas 2-1 in the Cup final at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario. It was Colorado's first title and second MLS Cup final appearance, and it was FC Dallas's first appearance in an MLS Cup final.

Of the eight MLS clubs to earn qualification into the tournament, only four of them qualified the season before; Columbus Crew, Los Angeles Galaxy, Seattle Sounders FC, and the defending-champions, Real Salt Lake. The San Jose Earthquakes were making their first playoff appearance since 2005, Dallas' since 2007. It was Colorado's and New York Red Bulls's first time since 2008.

Format

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At the 2010 season's end, the top two teams of each conference advanced to the playoffs; in addition the clubs with the next four highest point totals, regardless of conference, were also added to the playoffs for a total of eight clubs. In the first round of the knockout tournament, aggregate (total) goals over two matches would determine the winners; the Conference Championships was one match each, with the winner of each conference advancing to MLS Cup. In all rounds, the tie-breaking method would be two 15-minute periods of extra time, followed by penalty kicks if necessary. The away goals rule was not used.[1]

Standings

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Conference standings

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Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 New York Red Bulls 30 15 9 6 38 29 +9 51 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 Columbus Crew 30 14 8 8 40 34 +6 50
3 Kansas City Wizards 30 11 13 6 36 35 +1 39
4 Chicago Fire 30 9 12 9 37 38 −1 36
5 Toronto FC 30 9 13 8 33 41 −8 35
6 New England Revolution 30 9 16 5 32 50 −18 32
7 Philadelphia Union 30 8 15 7 35 49 −14 31
8 D.C. United 30 6 20 4 21 47 −26 22
Source: MLS

Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 LA Galaxy 30 18 7 5 44 26 +18 59 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 Real Salt Lake 30 15 4 11 45 20 +25 56
3 FC Dallas 30 12 4 14 42 28 +14 50
4 Seattle Sounders FC 30 14 10 6 39 35 +4 48
5 Colorado Rapids 30 12 8 10 44 32 +12 46
6 San Jose Earthquakes 30 13 10 7 34 33 +1 46
7 Houston Dynamo 30 9 15 6 40 49 −9 33
8 Chivas USA 30 8 18 4 31 45 −14 28
Source: MLS

Overall standings

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Pos Team Pld W L T GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 LA Galaxy (S) 30 18 7 5 44 26 +18 59 CONCACAF Champions League
2 Real Salt Lake 30 15 4 11 45 20 +25 56
3 New York Red Bulls 30 15 9 6 38 29 +9 51
4 FC Dallas 30 12 4 14 42 28 +14 50 CONCACAF Champions League
5 Columbus Crew 30 14 8 8 40 34 +6 50
6 Seattle Sounders FC 30 14 10 6 39 35 +4 48 CONCACAF Champions League
7 Colorado Rapids (C) 30 12 8 10 44 32 +12 46
8 San Jose Earthquakes 30 13 10 7 34 33 +1 46
9 Kansas City Wizards 30 11 13 6 36 35 +1 39
10 Chicago Fire 30 9 12 9 37 38 −1 36
11 Toronto FC 30 9 13 8 33 41 −8 35 CONCACAF Champions League
12 Houston Dynamo 30 9 15 6 40 49 −9 33
13 New England Revolution 30 9 16 5 32 50 −18 32
14 Philadelphia Union 30 8 15 7 35 49 −14 31
15 Chivas USA 30 8 18 4 31 45 −14 28
16 D.C. United 30 6 20 4 21 47 −26 22
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head record; 3) goal difference; 4) number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (S) Supporters' Shield

Bracket

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Conference semifinals Conference finals MLS Cup
          
E1 New York 1 1
E4 San Jose 0 3
E4 San Jose 0
Eastern Conference
E3 Colorado 1
E2 Columbus 0 2
E3 Colorado (5–4, PSO) 1 1
E3 Colorado 2
W3 Dallas 1
W1 Los Angeles 1 2
W4 Seattle 0 1
W1 Los Angeles 0
Western Conference
W3 Dallas 3
W2 Salt Lake 1 1
W3 Dallas 2 1

Conference semifinals

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New York Red Bulls1–0San Jose Earthquakes
Ballouchy   46'
Lindpere   56'
Miller   71'
Coundoul   83'
Report Wondolowski   65'
Attendance: 10,525
Referee: Paul Ward
San Jose Earthquakes3–1New York Red Bulls
Corrales   32'
Convey   8', 76'
Wondolowski   81'
Busch   81'
Report Ángel   78'
Attendance: 22,839
Referee: Mark Geiger

San Jose Earthquakes advance 3–2 on aggregate


Columbus Crew0–1Colorado Rapids
Carroll   57' Report Mastroeni   23'
Mastroeni   90+2'
Colorado Rapids1–2Columbus Crew
Mullan   38'
Casey   48'
Casey   84'
Report Gaven   22'
Schelotto   31'
Ekpo   52'
Carroll   56'
Francis   64'
Rogers  70'
Rogers   70'
Penalties
Casey  
Kandji  
Larentowicz  
Lopez  
Baudet  
5–4   Schelotto
  Garey
  Gaven
  Brunner
  Carroll
Attendance: 10,322
Referee: Michael Kennedy

Colorado Rapids advance 5–4 on penalties


Real Salt Lake1–2FC Dallas
Espindola   5'
Williams   46'
Morales   49'   69'
Report Benitez   25'
Cunningham   44'
Hernandez   49'
Harris   75'
Avila   88'
Attendance: 11,003
Referee: Kevin Stott
FC Dallas1–1Real Salt Lake
McCarty   17'
Chavez   27'
Loyd   84'
Report Olave   25'
Grabavoy   29'
Borchers   34'
Findley   79'
Attendance: 19,324
Referee: Jorge González

FC Dallas advance 3–2 on aggregate


Los Angeles Galaxy1–0Seattle Sounders FC
Buddle   38'
Juninho   48'
Kovalenko   65'
Kirovski   82'
Report Montero   49'
Nkufo   90+4'
Attendance: 35,521
Referee: Alex Prus
Seattle Sounders FC1–2Los Angeles Galaxy
Ianni   65'
Zakuani   86'
Report Beckham   8'
Buddle   19'
Gonzalez   27'
Attendance: 27,000
Referee: Baldomero Toledo

Los Angeles Galaxy advance 3–1 on aggregate

Conference finals

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San Jose Earthquakes0–1Colorado Rapids
Report Kimura   42'
Attendance: 17,779
Referee: Jorge González

FC Dallas3–0Los Angeles Galaxy
Ferreira   26'
John   54'
Chavez   73'
Loyd   85'
Report Kovalenko   31'
Beckham   73'
Birchall   82'
Cazumba   84'
Attendance: 27,000
Referee: Jair Marrufo

MLS Cup 2010

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FC Dallas1 – 2 (a.e.t.)Colorado Rapids
Ferreira   35'
Benitez   84'
Report Wallace   41'
Smith   51'
Casey   57'
Casey   84'
John   106' (o.g.)
Attendance: 21,700
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
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References

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  1. ^ "Playoff Format & Tiebreakers | Major League Soccer". Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2010.