2008 MLS Cup playoffs

2008 MLS Cup Playoffs
Tournament details
Country	United States
Teams	8
Defending champions	Houston Dynamo
Final positions
Champions	Columbus Crew (1st title)
Runner-up	New York Red Bulls
Semifinalists	Chicago Fire; Real Salt Lake;
Tournament statistics
Matches played	11
Goals scored	25 (2.27 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)	Juan Pablo Ángel; Chad Marshall; John Wolyniec; (2 goals each)
	← 2007 2009 →

The 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs were the postseason to Major League Soccer's 2008 season, and culminated with MLS Cup 2008 on November 23, 2008 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

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At the 2008 season's end, the top three teams of each conference made the playoffs; in addition the clubs with the next two highest point totals, regardless of conference, were added to the playoffs. In the first round of this knockout tournament, aggregate goals over two matches determined the winners; the Conference Championships were one match each, with the winner of each conference advancing to MLS Cup. In all rounds, the tie-breaking method was two 15-minute periods of extra time, followed by penalty kicks if necessary. The away goals rule was not used.

Conference standings

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Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Columbus Crew	30	17	7	6	50	36	+14	57	MLS Cup Playoffs
2	Chicago Fire	30	13	10	7	44	33	+11	46
3	New England Revolution	30	12	11	7	40	43	−3	43
4	Kansas City Wizards	30	11	10	9	37	39	−2	42
5	New York Red Bulls	30	10	11	9	42	48	−6	39
6	D.C. United	30	11	15	4	43	51	−8	37
7	Toronto FC	30	9	13	8	34	43	−9	35

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Source: MLS

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Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Houston Dynamo	30	13	5	12	45	32	+13	51	MLS Cup Playoffs
2	Chivas USA	30	12	11	7	40	41	−1	43
3	Real Salt Lake	30	10	10	10	40	39	+1	40
4	Colorado Rapids	30	11	14	5	44	45	−1	38
5	FC Dallas	30	8	10	12	45	41	+4	36
6	LA Galaxy	30	8	13	9	55	62	−7	33
7	San Jose Earthquakes	30	8	13	9	32	38	−6	33

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Source: MLS

Overall standings

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Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	L	T	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Columbus Crew (C, S)	30	17	7	6	50	36	+14	57	CONCACAF Champions League
2	Houston Dynamo	30	13	5	12	45	32	+13	51	CONCACAF Champions League
3	Chicago Fire	30	13	10	7	44	33	+11	46	North American SuperLiga
4	Chivas USA	30	12	11	7	40	41	−1	43
5	New England Revolution	30	12	11	7	40	43	−3	43
6	Kansas City Wizards	30	11	10	9	37	39	−2	42
7	Real Salt Lake	30	10	10	10	40	39	+1	40
8	New York Red Bulls	30	10	11	9	42	48	−6	39	CONCACAF Champions League
9	Colorado Rapids	30	11	14	5	44	45	−1	38
10	D.C. United	30	11	15	4	43	51	−8	37	CONCACAF Champions League
11	FC Dallas	30	8	10	12	45	41	+4	36
12	Toronto FC	30	9	13	8	34	43	−9	35	CONCACAF Champions League^[a]
13	LA Galaxy	30	8	13	9	55	62	−7	33
14	San Jose Earthquakes	30	8	13	9	32	38	−6	33

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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
Notes:

As winners of the 2009 Canadian Championship

Conference semifinals				Conference finals			MLS Cup

E1	Columbus	1	2

E4	Kansas City	1	0
				E1	Columbus	2
Eastern Conference
				E2	Chicago	1
E3	New England	0	0

E2	Chicago	0	3
							E1	Columbus	3

							W4	New York	1
W1	Houston	1	0

W4	New York	1	3
				W4	New York	1
Western Conference
				W3	Salt Lake	0
W3	Salt Lake	1	2

W2	Chivas USA	0	2

¹ The New York Red Bulls earned the eighth and final playoff berth, despite finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference. They represent the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoff bracket, as only three teams in the Western Conference qualified for the playoffs.

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