Major League Soccer announced the new-look MLS playoff schedule on Tuesday, with the wildcard round taking place over a Wednesday and Thursday night on Oct. 26-27.
The first leg of the conference semifinals will take place over the weekend a couple of days later, followed by the second leg of those ties and the conference finals the following week.
There will be a two week break between the conference championship games and MLS Cup, though, as FIFA fixture dates fall on Nov. 11 and 15.
MLS Cup will be held at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles on Nov. 20.
Here are a few more items from around MLS:
Eddie Gaven has been a big part of the Columbus Crew's resurgence this season, but the club will have to find a way to cope without him for the time being.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, Crew coach Robert Warzycha said that Gaven might miss two weeks or more while dealing with a bruised Achilles.
Gaven had to be subbed off in Friday's game against Colorado after just seven minutes. He had scored in his last two games prior to Friday and has four goals on the season.
DYNAMO ADD CAMARGO
After bringing in Carlos Costly on a loan deal last week, the Houston Dynamo struck on the transfer market again by adding Brazilian central midfielder Luiz Camargo on loan from Clube Parana in Brazil's second division.
Camargo, 24, is a hard-tackling, skilled central midfielder that adds depth at the position for coach Dom Kinnear, who spotted Camargo during an offseason scouting trip in Brazil.
SKC'S CYRUS OUT FOR SEASON
Sporting Kansas City's depth problem at central midfield has resurfaced. With Aurelien Collin still nursing a back injury, the club lost recent signing Daneil Cyrus for the remainder of the season.
Cyrus suffered a broken fifth metatarsal in his left foot during SKC's reserve match against the Colorado Rapids on Monday. He had played in two league matches since signing last month.
RSL TOPS FCD IN RESERVE PLAY
Chris Agorsor scored off a rebound from his own shot, and Arturo Alvarez added a 75th-minute penalty kick to lift Real Salt Lake to a 2-0 victory over FC Dallas in an MLS Reserve League match on Tuesday.
Agorsor went the distance for RSL (2-3-0), and he was partnered with Cody Arnoux for the final 57 minutes of the match. Paulo Jr. started before being taken off in the 33rd minute.
FC Dallas (3-2-0) Homegrown player and goalkeeper of the World champion U-17 Mexican side, Richard Sanchez, played the final 21 minutes.
-------------------------
How do you feel about a two-week break between the conference final and MLS Cup? Do you think the Crew will be able to get results without Gaven? How do you think Camargo will impact the Dynamo? How do you see SKC's back line faring without Cyrus? Do you see Agorsor and Arnoux as the strike tandem of the future in Salt Lake?
Share your thoughts below.
