Posted by Heath Harshman

By Heath Harshman- WFD Fan Correspondent

They are finally here. The 2010 MLS playoffs are set to go and get under way Thursday night and will end with the MLS Cup at BMO Field in Toronto on November 21st. I, for one, am just happy that the MLS staff was able to figure out their playoff format and get the schedule set by Christmas. Regardless, Don Garber and company have set the first round and here is how it shapes up.



Columbus v. Colorado



The Rapids and Crew faced each other twice this season, each team winning their home match. Colorado took the first one in Denver after defender Drew Moor scored late on for a 1-0 victory. The match in Columbus went a decidedly different direction with the Crew taking the three points with a 3-1 win. The ability of the Crew to shutout arguably the most dynamic strike partnership in the league, Colorado's Omar Cummings and Conor Casey, over two matches could be the key to who advances in this series. Cummings and Casey have combined for 27 goals this season, 61% of the Rapids goal total.

The late season injury to starting Crew keeper William Hesmer will add another twist to this home-and-home two legged tie, which begins Thursday at 6pm in Denver. After starting 10 games in which he allowed 12 goals, Crew keeper Andy Gruenebaum will get his first start of the season in place of Hesmer. Gruenebaum has been a member of the Crew since 2006 and has made 23 starts and recorded four shutouts. The match will also be televised on ESPN2, one of four first round MLS playoff matches televised by the sports media giant.

Pick: Rapids move through in a close one as Cummings and Casey finally click, 3-2 on aggregate.



Real Salt Lake v. Dallas



The defending MLS Cup champions start their road to the repeat in Dallas on Saturday night (2pm PT on FSC), a place in which they have yet to record a victory, ever. These two teams split their two match season series, each team winning 2-0 at home. The latest match on October 16th in Utah was a matchup of two of the most in form teams in the league. Dallas was on a 19 match unbeaten streak while Salt Lake were unbeaten in 24 consecutive home matches. On that night it was Dallas' streak that ended, but with the first leg at Pizza Hut Park, head coach Schellas Hyndman and company have more than a puncher's chance at knocking out RSL.

Salt Lake and Dallas combined have just two players who tallied double-digit goals on the year, Alvaro Saborio and Jeff Cunningham respectively, as quality defense has been the key to their success this season. Both teams are in the top three in goals against average with Dallas at .93 and Salt Lake at .67 goals allowed per game. Whichever team that can steal a goal on the road will gain a huge advantage in what is sure to be one of the closest and tightly contested playoff matchups in recent memory.

Pick: Real Salt Lake get an away goal and make it stick at home, 2-1 on aggregate.



New York v. San Jose



In an "Eastern Conference" matchup between teams 2,500+ miles apart, the number one team in the East takes on the last team to secure a spot in the MLS playoffs. They each split their two match season series with each team shutting the other out at home. The Earthquakes took the Red Bulls behind the woodshed and won 4-0 earlier this season in May with four different goal scorers. After the acquisitions of Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez, New York defeated San Jose 2-0 in the friendly confines, evening the season series.

The much heralded Henry, according to RBNY head coach Hans Backe, will likely miss the first leg in San Jose. The French striker has been hampered by a knee injury that has kept him out of the Red Bulls last two matches. A guy who will definitely be on the pitch at Buck Shaw stadium on Saturday night (7pm PT, Telefutura) is MLS Golden Boot award winner and San Jose striker Chris Wondolowski. The 27-year old Danville, CA native smashed home 18 goals on the year, nearly five times his career total before the 2010 MLS season. In his last four games Wondolowski, also in strong contention for MLS MVP, has tallied six goals, including a hat-trick in 61 minutes on October 20th against Chivas USA. He'll need to do much of the same if the Earthquakes are going to upset New York.

Pick: New York in a matchup that is closer than the score shows, 3-1 on aggregate.



Seattle v. Los Angeles



The Supporter's Shield winning Galaxy take on one of the hottest teams in the league in the Seattle Sounders, with the first leg on Halloween (5pm PT, ESPN2). You can thank the "brilliant" MLS playoff structure for this matchup. Los Angeles dominated the season series between the two west coast teams, winning both matches by a 7-1 aggregate. Since a July 4th 3-1 home loss to the Galaxy, the Sounders have gone on a great stretch, earning a 10-2-3 record with five of those ten wins coming on the road.

The Sounders defense will be sure to keep tabs on Edson Buddle, who came second to Wondolowski in the Golden Boot race, tallying 17 goals this season. Buddle, as well as 2010 MLS assist champion Landon Donovan and on fire David Beckham will give the back-to-back US Open Cup champion Sounders all they can handle. Seattle's talisman and leader in goals and assists, Fredy Montero, will need to be clicking with fellow striker and Swiss international Blaise Nkfuo for the Sounders to have a chance at progressing.

Pick: Sounders head to the conference finals after beating L.A. 3-1 on penalties as the teams tie 1-1 on aggregate.





In addition to being a weekly blogger for WFD, I write for the Washington State University student newspaper, The Daily Evergreen, where I have a weekly sports column. I am also a WSU Men's basketball correspondent for Jim Basnight and mynorthwest.com. You can find past pieces and follow my work not only for WFD but for The Daily Evergreen and mynorthwest.com by following me on twitter @heathharshman or adding me on facebook. Any feedback is welcome at heath_harshman@yahoo.com.