There will be a new MLS Cup champion in 2014.

The New York Red Bulls' thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over defending champion Sporting Kansas City wrapped up the knockout round and trimmed the remaining field down to eight clubs.

If the conference semifinals produce similar drama, we are in store for a special tournament. Let's take a look at when to catch all the action.

Schedule

Note: Schedule courtesy of MLSSoccer.com

Western Conference Predictions: Seattle Sounders and L.A. Galaxy

The Seattle Sounders and L.A. Galaxy have not only been the class of the West, but the class of the entire MLS.

En route to their first Supporters' Shield in a very brief-yet-successful MLS history, Sigi Schmid's squad lost two in a row just twice all season and finished with 64 points. Only the 2011 Galaxy and 2012 San Jose Earthquakes have scored more since the move to 34 games in a campaign.

While the Sounders' defense—especially at the start of matches—has been shaky, it's difficult to bet against the multitude of attacking options.

The combination of Clint Dempsey and MVP candidate Obafemi Martins is especially dangerous. With Dempsey's mesmerizing dribbling and Martins strength and speed off the ball, they are a terror to stop when working well together.

DeAndre Yedlin, via Fox Sports' Kyle McCarthy, put it simply:

Yedlin himself is quite video-game-esque, himself. Possessing some of the fastest wheels in the world, the future Tottenham right back has the propensity to embarrass defenders down the sideline.

Those are the three big names, but the Sounders have depth, too. Chad Marshall is a rock in the central defense. Brad Evans is an experienced Team USA contributor. Osvaldo Alonso is the engine in the middle, distributing passes. Marco Pappa has improved as the season has worn on, evidenced by this goal (there's that Dempsey magic on the ball):

Then you have the Galaxy, a constant fixture at the top of MLS. While they came up short against Seattle for the Supporters' Shield, they had, in terms of goal differential (plus-32), the best season in 16 years, per Alex Olshansky:

American legend Landon Donovan, in his last MLS season, has tallied 10 goals and 19 assists, while Robbie Keane is another legitimate MVP candidate after bagging 19 goals and 14 assists in just 29 appearances.

"They’re a scary team," Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando said, via The Salt Lake Tribune's Christopher Kamrani. "They’re a good, dynamic team that scores goals from every angle. Every week, you’re going to see a Goal of the Week candidate from L.A."

Real Salt Lake has been tremendous defensively this season, giving up just 39 goals. But Donovan, Keane and emerging star striker Gyasi Zardes will be too much to handle.

Eastern Conference Predictions: New England Revolution and DC United

The New England Revolution acquired World Cup star Jermaine Jones on August 24. In the 10 matches he has appeared in since that date, they are 8-1-1.

A physical box-to-box midfielder, Jones has tallied two goals and two assists to go with 2.1 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per match, via WhoScored.com. But while he has made his impact all over the pitch, Columbus Crew midfielder Tony Tchani directed the respect elsewhere, via MLSSoccer.com:

I don’t know why people talk about Jermaine Jones like he’s the main guy. The main guy is Lee Nguyen. If you shut that guy down, I think we can win the game.

I didn’t know Jermaine Jones until the World Cup. He was a guy I had heard of, but I knew Michael Bradley and I didn’t know Jermaine Jones.

Lee Nguyen has been one of the best players in MLS this season, so it's easy to see where Tchani is coming from. But either way, there's arguably no better midfield in the league than New England's. That advantage will propel the Revs to the next round.

The other matchup is incredibly tantalizing: an unstoppable force against an immovable object.

Latter of those is DC United, who finished at the top of the East on the strength of their defense. Despite facing the eighth-most shots per match in the league, United are tied with L.A. for fewest number of goals allowed.

For that, they can thank 23-year-old Bill Hamid, who won't likely surpass Rimando for Goalkeeper of the Year but is certainly deserving to be in the conversation.

He and his back four will have their hands full against the Red Bulls. Fueled by legend Thierry Henry and record-setting goal-scorer Bradley Wright-Phillips, New York scored 55 goals in the regular season, most in the East.

That was on display Thursday night, as Wright-Phillips scored a brace in 13 minutes to shock Kansas City:

DC United was able to hold New York to just one goal in three matches during the regular season, though, and they'll be able to do it again in November.

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Source: Click Here