The MLS Cup playoffs head back to the pitch on Thursday with the second leg of the Western Conference semifinals.  

Holding a 2-1 lead, the Portland Timbers will host the Seattle Sounders. Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake will host the Los Angeles Galaxy facing a 1-0 deficit.

With just a one-goal difference in both matchups, it sets up an exciting Thursday.

Check out the full schedule below, and then I'll offer up predictions for Thursday's games. 

Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders

The Sounders found great success with the 4-4-2 lineup in the previous round against the Colorado Rapids. However, that wasn't quite as effective against the Timbers.

Portland's width and ball control spread out and frustrated that formation, and if it wasn't for a late goal by Osvaldo Alonso, Seattle would be facing an even more dire position.

So, what do the Sounders do now?

Seattle has to aggressively look for goals to try and steal this series while on the road, but with Portland's ability to maintain possession and launch counters, that is not going to work out well.

Portland only lost one game at home all season and that was back in March. I don't see that streak ending on Thursday. 

Prediction: Portland 2, Seattle 0

Real Salt Lake vs. Los Angeles Galaxy

Real Salt Lake is lucky to be trailing only 1-0.

The Galaxy had no problem creating chances against Salt Lake's conservative 4-2-3-1 in the first leg. They only had problems converting those chances.

Robbie Keane alone had a couple of breakaway chances that he typically would never miss. 

Salt Lake manager Jason Kreis was forced to abandon his conservative approach and move back to the favored 4-4-2. I would expect Kreis to forgo the conservative approach in this one as they try to find some home goals to steal the series.

Salt Lake has the firepower to pull it off. They were the highest-scoring team in the Western Conference this season. This sets up a thrilling contest.

In the end, I expect Salt Lake to nearly force extra time, but look for a late goal from Landon Donovan, the MLS all-time leading playoff goalscorer, to force the draw and a series win for the Galaxy. 

Prediction: Real Salt Lake 1, Los Angeles Galaxy 1

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With the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs just getting under way, it's worth examining three key teams that each have a legitimate chance to make a run at the title.

The field is full of talented teams. The Los Angeles Galaxy are looking to win their third-straight MLS Cup, while the New York Red Bulls enter the playoffs having scored the most regular season points in the league. A matchup between the two in the MLS Cup would certainly make for the best match of the season, though anything can happen from now until December 7—the day the final match is scheduled for.

The teams contending for the cup obviously aren't limited to the following clubs, but putting your money on one of these three teams to win it all would appear to be a safe bet. Each club is talented enough to take it home.

New York Red Bulls

It's hard to pick against a team looking to win their third-straight MLS title (the Galaxy), but the Red Bulls are the best team in position to claim the title this season.

The Red Bulls haven't played for the Cup since 2008, and that should be motivation enough for this team to play with a fire that opponents likely won't be able to match. Plus, veterans like Tim Cahill and Thierry Henry won't let the younger players on the club get consumed by the atmosphere of the playoffs. They'll keep everyone focused and poised to play their best for the Cup.

Outside of Cahill and Henry, look for Fabian Espindola to have an important impact on the playoffs. He scored nine times on 26 shots on goal this season, and he's a strong third option to have behind the team's two top scorers. Should they be contained by opposing defenses, Espindola will make his presence felt.

He may miss their match against the Houston Dynamo, but a healthy Espindola would be the difference maker for New York.

New York also hasn't lost a match since August 25, having gone 6-0-2 in eight matches since. They have all the momentum heading into the playoffs and will make a serious run at the title.

Los Angeles Galaxy

L.A. finished second in the West with 53 points—the Portland Timbers finished first with 57 points—but they are a dangerous team with MLS Cup experience that goes unmatched by the rest of the field.

The Galaxy have the advantage over other teams because of the immense pressure they put on goaltenders. Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan are two of the top goal scorers in MLS play, but as a team, they rack up a ton of shots. This puts constant pressure on an opponent's defense and goaltender to make plays.

Four players—Gyasi Zardes (78), Keane (65), Marcelo Sarvas (53) and Donovan (50)—all have over 50 shots on the season. Even if not all of them are shots on goal, this still puts pressure on the defense.

The key player for the Galaxy will be Zardes. He scored just four times on 23 shots on goal, and his ability to be efficient at putting the ball in the net will go a long way for L.A.

Going for three straight isn't easy, but this team is just as talented as it has been in years past. They're a serious contender for the Cup.

Portland Timbers

In the team's debut to the MLS Cup playoffs, the Portland Timbers enter as the top team from the West and arguably the top team in the league. No team has won in their debut to the playoffs since Real Salt Lake in 2008, but Portland has a good shot at doing so.

Their road to the finals match could be made easier when considering the fact that the team hasn't allowed a goal at home since August 21. That's right. They've gone 450 minutes without allowing the opposition to score against them at home.

Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts is obviously a huge reason for that success, as he's been stellar in the latter portion of the season.

Diego Valeri will be the force that carries this team through the playoffs. He finished the season with a team-high 10 goals and team-high 13 assists, and his ability to both take advantage of defenses and set up his teammates is what makes him so valuable.

This team is strong on both ends of the ball and will give some of the other top teams a run for their money in the playoffs.

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The Major League Soccer playoffs are just getting started, and the upcoming action is certain to excite with some of the most memorable games of the entire season.

While the New York Red Bulls stroll into the postseason sporting the most points from the regular season, there are plenty of other contenders threatening to become champions and take home the MLS Cup.

Let's take a look at the schedule and predictions for the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Up-to-date TV schedule here courtesy of MLS Soccer 

Eastern Conference Finals: New York Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution

Neither the Red Bulls nor the Revolution have secured their spot in the finals, but I expect both to do so on Wednesday night and eventually compete for the right to go to the MLS Cup. 

It's no secret how the Red Bulls have emerged as the league's top club throughout the season, as they boast two players in Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill who have excelled at the Premier League level. They combined for 22 goals during the season.

The Revolution have enjoyed their own offensive success under Diego Fagundez, who put up 13 goals during the regular season, and midfielder Kelyn Rowe. But they won't be any match for the most dominant team in the MLS right now.

Expect the experience of New York and the allure of winning their first championship to outweigh New England's promising campaign. 

Prediction: Red Bulls advance

Western Conference Finals: LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers

As of Wednesday, both of these clubs were entering the second leg of the conference semifinals up one goal, and they should both advance and take care of business in those second legs.

It's usually the case that the Galaxy come into any matchup as the favorite—or at least the most talked about team—but that may not be the case this time around. Portland finished atop the West with 57 points to L.A.'s 53. 

Despite the Timbers' lead in the standings, the Galaxy are able to boast arguably the MVP of the league this season in Robbie Keane alongside the face of the league in Landon Donovan. When those two get going, it's typically game over. 

Keane has been able to keep his Premier League form and prove why he's captain of the Ireland national team this season with 16 goals, and I expect him to strike at least once against Portland in a would-be Western Conference Final showdown.

Prediction: Galaxy advance

MLS Cup

It's no secret which two clubs in the MLS boast the most internationally relevant talent, and it's not a coincidence that they would face off in the MLS Cup.

How tough is it to split hairs between this matchup?

New York has been the best team this season, but there's no doubting that the Galaxy are the best MLS team in the last decade. 

It could go either way, but I think the leadership of Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill motivating the Red Bulls to take advantage of their first Cup appearance since 2008 will bring them through. Playing for the Cup is nothing new to the Galaxy, but for New York, it'll only add more of a spark.

Prediction: Red Bulls win the title

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The New England Revolution travel to Kansas City Wednesday with a spot in the Eastern Conference Final on the line.

This is the second leg of the two-legged Eastern semifinal. The Revolution carry a 2-1 advantage into the match after a win at home Saturday.

Unlike European knockout competitions, that away goal for Sporting Kansas City will count just the same as a home goal, so they're not coming into this match with any sort of edge in that regard.

It should be a lively affair, as Sporting KC look to take control early in front of their home fans and get the crucial equalizer. They've got a talented side, and getting bounced this early in the playoffs would be considered a major disappointment after earning the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

When: Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 9 p.m. ET

Where: Sporting Park, Kansas City, Kan.

TV: KSMO (Kansas City); CSN-NE (New England)

Live Stream: MLS Live

Top Storylines

Will Sporting KC's Season End at Home, Again?

By virtue of having the lower seed, Sporting Kansas City are supposed to be at an advantage playing at home in the second leg. It's the more pivotal of the two matches, so the team with the better regular-season record should get to play in front of their home fans.

At least that's the thought process behind it.

Kansas City has one of the best home atmospheres in all of MLS. It's no coincidence that the organization's fortunes have changed since moving into Sporting Park. The club has created the blueprint for others to follow regarding where and how to build a new stadium.

That's why it's a bit surprising that Sporting KC's last two seasons have ended at home. In 2011, they were bounced, 2-0, by the Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Final. Then a year later, it was the Dynamo again, prevailing on aggregate despite a 1-0 loss in Kansas City in the second leg.

Is it really possible Kansas City could be knocked out at this stage three years in a row?

Can New England Snatch an Early Goal?

More than likely, the Revolution will have to score at least one goal in order to advance. The earlier that goal comes, the better.

Although the away-goal rule doesn't come into play, it will be huge for New England to come out and get an early goal to silence the crowd.

Heaping that early pressure on Sporting KC will only serve to make them more desperate. They wouldn't have any chance to settle into the match. As a result, they wouldn't try stringing as many moves together, instead launching low-percentage long shots at goal.

Playing in front of a home crowd could turn into more of a hindrance than it is a help.

There's also the benefit of getting a two-goal lead, enabling you to drop deeper and defend more. That would be playing right into the hands of New England.

The Revolution won't kill off the game by controlling the ball. According to WhoScored, they only had 39 percent of possession during Saturday's match. Don't expect that to drastically change in the second leg.

Head coach Jay Heaps' modus operandi the entire season has been letting his team sit back and hit on the counter, using long balls up the pitch and risky through balls to create chances.

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The New York Red Bulls are in the midst of an important Eastern Conference Semifinal showdown in the 2013 MLS Playoffs with the Houston Dynamo, and it's all coming down to a second-leg match on Wednesday night.

The two sides finished Saturday's opening leg with a 2-2 draw in Houston, where goals by Tim Cahill and Eric Alexander helped the Red Bulls cancel out a red card and come back to Red Bull Arena playing for an appearance in the MLS semifinals.

Here's everything you need to know for the upcoming match. 

Date: Wednesday, November 6

Start Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: Univision Deportes

Live Stream: MLS Live

Red Bulls Player to Watch: Thierry Henry

The international star was quiet in the first leg on Saturday, but don't expect that to be the case at home in this crucial match.

Henry finished the season with 10 goals, second on the club behind Tim Cahill—who scored in Houston Saturday. His last appearance of the regular season produced a goal in a 5-2 rout over Chicago.

The Dynamo kept New York's offensive attack to just two shots on goal, both of which were scores. But that won't be the case on Wednesday with everything on the line, as Henry will show why he was one of the world's best in his prime and come up big in the clutch. 

Henry came to the MLS to win championships, and he hasn't done so just yet. There's no doubting that he's hungry to stake his claim this season, after winning the Supporters' Shield for the league's best regular season record. 

The Red Bulls are on a mission this season, and it's being led by experienced veterans Cahill and Henry. Look for the Frenchman to make his presence felt in this showdown. 

Dynamo Player to Watch: Will Bruin

After taking care of business against Montreal, the Dynamo face quite a bit tougher of a test against New York and they found that out on Saturday. It took a 90th-minute goal to secure a draw against the Red Bulls, who were playing with just 10 men. 

Despite the comeback, usual star Will Bruin was not one of the scorers even though he took three shots on the contest—none of which were on goal.

Bruin was scorching in the regular season, posting 10 goals, and the Dynamo will need more of the same if they want any chance at advancing to the conference finals and keeping their MLS Cup bid alive. 

The 24-year-old continues to dazzle and evolve into a MLS star, and he has his biggest chance yet at building his legend on Wednesday. 

Prediction

Even in a draw to open the playoffs, the MLS' best team in 2013 still found a way to look good on Saturday by drawing on the road with 10 men.

Returning home, it's hard to see the Red Bulls' offensive attack do anything other than improve. You can't count on Henry not impacting the game in two straight appearances.

Red Bulls 3, Dynamo 1

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The best action from the first leg of the MLS Cup playoffs conference semifinal was highlighted by the Portland Timbers and Sean Franklin, but what about the worst?

Plenty of candidates met the criteria this weekend. Referees improperly officiated. Defenders took the football lines a bit too literal when making their challenges. MLS' perception took a hit.

Each of the four scheduled matches from the weekend will be featured in this playoff edition of MLS' best and worst.

Read on to find out why.

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The New York Red Bulls may be the Supporters’ Shield winners and riding high with a current eight-game unbeaten streak, but anything can happen come playoff time.

The Red Bulls will face off against the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday in the Eastern Conference semifinals. As with any postseason showdown, there are plenty of intriguing storylines to keep an eye on.

Let’s dig into a few.

New York’s Head-to-Head Dominance

New York ran rampant through much of the MLS this season—hence the Supporters’ Shield—but it was particularly strong against Houston.

The Red Bulls knocked off the Dynamo all three times they met by a combined score of 9-1. What’s more, two of those games took place in Houston. That’s the type of dominance that could come into play mentally for both squads if New York gets off to a quick start on Sunday afternoon.

It is worth noting that the Red Bulls also won in Houston in their lone postseason meeting there five years ago, but that won’t have as much of an impact as this season’s head-to-head matchups.

It will be important for Houston to get off to a quick start so potential self-doubt doesn’t creep into its players’ minds as the game wears on.

Will Bruin’s Postseason Goal Scoring

Houston had the tendency to go into scoring droughts this season—especially at home—but Will Bruin will look to continue his goal-scoring momentum and find the back of the net against New York.

Bruin scored twice when the Dynamo defeated the Montreal Impact in the knockout round. It was the second time in his career that he scored multiple times in a playoff game (he did so previously against the Chicago Fire).

Bruin has six goals in 11 career postseason matches and will look to add to that impressive total against the Red Bulls. If he can't, though, the Dynamo will have issues keeping up with New York.

Dynamo’s Makeshift Defense

Injuries are always a concern in the postseason and Houston will certainly feel their effects on the back end.

Jermaine Taylor is out for the remainder of the playoffs after fracturing his left foot, meaning Eric Brunner will be asked to play central defense. Fortunately for Houston fans, he did so in the last game against Montreal and the defense kept a clean sheet.

In an interview with MLSsoccer.com, teammate Bobby Boswell expressed his confidence in Brunner’s ability:

He knows what he's got to do, and as a unit we know what we have to do. I've played with him in CONCACAF games, Open Cup games, things like that, so it's not like this is going to be our first test.

Luis Robles’ Injury

Luis Robles’ injury is nowhere near as severe as Taylor’s, but when such an important player is anything but 100 percent, it is worth keeping an eye on.

Robles appeared in all 34 league matches as goalkeeper for New York, but suffered an injury to his left knee in the season’s final game. According to the MLSsoccer.com article above, the injury is not something particularly serious, but his lateral movement could be of concern.

If the Red Bulls do have to look elsewhere, they have Ryan Meara waiting in the wings. He is talented in his own right, but Robles is still one of the best in the league and critical to New York’s title hopes.

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The Houston Dynamo and Seattle Sounders survived the knockout round to complete the eight-team field for the MLS Cup Playoffs. It should be a terrific postseason considering the playoff teams were separated by no more than eight points in the table.

While it's a wide-open battle for the title, the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Galaxy will take center stage as they seek a three-peat. The veteran attacking tandem of Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan give them a good opportunity to go the distance again.

Without further ado, let's check out the complete schedule for the conference semifinals and make predictions for which clubs will advance to the next round.

Conference Semifinal Schedule

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Round Predictions

New York Red Bulls vs. Houston Dynamo

The Red Bulls led the league with 58 goals during the regular season. It wasn't because they had one dominant force atop the formation, though. Instead, the team used its terrific depth to get production from numerous sources.

Tim Cahill and Thierry Henry combined for 21 goals to lead the way. They will continue to headline the attack, but having such a deep group is going to come in handy during tight playoff games. It's usually when unsung heroes emerge, and New York has no shortage of candidates.

Houston was impressive in its 3-0 knockout-round win over the Montreal Impact. The Dynamo need somebody to step up beyond Will Bruin, however, because the Red Bulls are going to focus most of their defensive effort into slowing him down. And if he can't produce, Houston faces an uphill battle.

Prediction to Advance: New York Red Bulls

Sporting Kansas City vs. New England Revolution

The key player in this matchup is Sporting KC midfielder Graham Zusi. He provided streaky production throughout the league campaign, often performing better in his stints with the United States national team than with his club.

That said, he ended the regular season on a high note with a strong showing against Philadelphia. When he's attacking with pace, it makes life much easier on players like C.J. Sapong and Claudio Bieler. The entire offensive group is more dangerous when Zusi is playing well.

New England enters the playoffs in good form. The Revolution went unbeaten over their final six matches of the regular season, thanks in large part to tremendous play from Diego Fagundez. But considering the entire body of work, Sporting KC still holds the slight edge.

Prediction to Advance: Sporting Kansas City

Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders

The Timbers were able to secure the top seed in the West courtesy of a league-low five losses, four fewer than any other team. They also played a lot of close matches and led the league in draws, however. How that defensive style will translate to the postseason is a question mark.

Seattle is an intriguing side. Based purely on talent alone, the Sounders would probably be among the top two or three contenders to win the title. But they had a limited amount of time to get all the pieces working together after the arrival of Clint Dempsey.

It makes them a boom-or-bust playoff club. They will either find top form and make a deep run, or Portland will take advantage of their lack of chemistry to eliminate them right away. Given Seattle's performance in the knockout round, an upset could very well be in the cards.

Prediction to Advance: Seattle Sounders

Real Salt Lake vs. Los Angeles Galaxy

The reigning champions enter the MLS Cup Playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. Although the regular season had its fair share of ups and downs, the Galaxy still have a lot of things working in their advantage.

First and foremost, the championship experience. They understand what it takes to survive in these types of pressure-packed situations. They were the No. 4 seed last year and still won the title, thanks in large part to veterans like Donovan and Keane.

Los Angeles was also very strong at home with a 32-8 goal differential. The question is whether Real Salt Lake has enough firepower to overcome the Galaxy's talent and experience. Alvaro Saborio and Javier Morales give the Royals a chance, but it's tough to pick against L.A. given their recent success.

Prediction to Advance: Los Angeles Galaxy

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Head coaches in search of playoff victory No. 1 will be the story to watch in the conference semifinals of the MLS Cup playoffs. But an additional four storylines will complete your preview.

Each of the four ties scheduled for this round will be dissected from a unique angle to intensify your viewing pleasure. So, what exactly warrants your attention in the coming days?

Read on to find out.

Note: Unless otherwise mentioned, credit all statistics to the official MLS Press Box Stats and Standings.

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When the Western Conference playoff matchup between No. 2 Real Salt Lake and the third-seeded Los Angeles Galaxy was announced, the initial thought of American fans was that they would see plenty of their brightest national team stars on display. 

While it is true that Nick Rimando, Kyle Beckerman, Tony Beltran, Landon Donovan and Omar Gonzalez should all be playing in Sunday's first leg at the StubHub Center, there are some underrated players from other nations that could be the key contributors in the playoff matchup. 

Perhaps the biggest cog in the Galaxy machine this season has been their Panamanian goalkeeper Jaime Penedo, who was the final piece to the team's puzzle after being added following the CONCACAF Gold Cup. 

Penedo replaced former Tottenham Hotspur keeper Carlo Cudicini, who put together a miserable debut season in Major League Soccer before the Panama international took over. 

Another massive part of the Galaxy's success is due to the play of Brazilian midfielders Marcelo Sarvas and Juninho, who as a duo have provided the two-time defending MLS Cup champions with stability and class in the middle of the pitch all season. 

Lest we forget the stellar play of Irishman Robbie Keane, who is an international superstar in his own right. 

In his second season as a designated player, Keane scored 16 goals and recorded 11 assists as he powered the Galaxy attack while Donovan was off representing the Yanks at the Gold Cup. 

In the last game between the two sides, it was Keane who led the Galaxy to a 4-2 victory with a hat-trick back on August 17.

Los Angeles manager Bruce Arena also has some young Americans, who have not yet broken the surface of the national team, to rely on in Gyasi Zardes, Jose Villarreal and Jack McBean—all three of whom are homegrown players. 

Jason Kreis' Real Salt Lake team also features a diverse international contingent that begins with Costa Rican forward Alvaro Saborio. 

Also roaming the pitch on a regular basis for the Claret and Cobalt are Ecuadorian forward Joao Plata and Cuban midfielder Yordany Alvarez. 

Of the three players, Saborio is clearly the marquee name as he has been one of the best goalscorers in North America over the last few years. He netted a team-high 12 goals in the regular season.

While Saborio may receive all of the attention, Plata has also been a vital part of the attack as he has scored four goals and recorded eight assists in 29 games played; he started in 19 of those games. 

Another international star that is a major part of RSL's success is Javier Morales. The Argentinian midfielder was second on the team's scoring list with eight goals this season.

If you thought that RSL did not have any American talent other than Rimando, Beckerman and Beltran, well you thought wrong. 

The Claret and Cobalt have a burgeoning star in 19-year-old midfielder Luis Gil, who scored against Spain at the U-20 FIFA World Cup last summer in Turkey. 

The Utah club also have a forward in Robbie Findley, who before his excursion to England for three years, was a constant in the national team discussion. 

With all that being said, when you tune into Sunday's first leg and the return leg at Rio Tinto Stadium on Thursday, there will be quality at every position on the pitch.

Compared to the other three semifinal matchups in MLS, the quality in this Western Conference showdown is not comparable; it is by far the best, and both teams should not leave fans wanting more when the true winner is decided on Thursday night. 

Follow me on Twitter, @JTansey90. 

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