2008 MLS Cup playoffs

Format

Main article: MLS Cup Playoffs

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.

Standings

Conference standings

Overall standings

Bracket

| RD1-group1=Eastern Conference | RD1-group2=Western Conference | team-width=200px | RD1-seed1=E1 | RD1-team1=Columbus | RD1-score1-1=1 | RD1-score1-2=2 | RD1-seed2=E4 | RD1-team2=Kansas City | RD1-score2-1=1 | RD1-score2-2=0 | RD1-seed3=E3 | RD1-team3=New England | RD1-score3-1=0 | RD1-score3-2=0 | RD1-seed4=E2 | RD1-team4=Chicago | RD1-score4-1=0 | RD1-score4-2=3 | RD1-seed5=W1 | RD1-team5=Houston | RD1-score5-1=1 | RD1-score5-2=0 | RD1-seed6=W4 | RD1-team6=New York | RD1-score6-1=1 | RD1-score6-2=3 | RD1-seed7=W3 | RD1-team7=Salt Lake | RD1-score7-1=1 | RD1-score7-2=2 | RD1-seed8=W2 | RD1-team8=Chivas USA | RD1-score8-1=0 | RD1-score8-2=2 | RD2-seed1=E1 | RD2-team1=Columbus | RD2-score1=2 | RD2-seed2=E2 | RD2-team2=Chicago | RD2-score2=1 | RD2-seed3=W4 | RD2-team3=New York | RD2-score3=1 | RD2-seed4=W3 | RD2-team4=Salt Lake | RD2-score4=0 | RD3-seed1=E1 | RD3-team1=Columbus | RD3-score1=3 | RD3-seed2=W4 | RD3-team2=New York | RD3-score2=1

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.

Conference semifinals

7:00 PM CDT Lenhart Carroll Arnaud Gomez

7:30 PM EST Wahl Rogers
Hejduk Ekpo

7:30 PM EDT Pause Blanco Castro

7:30 PM CST Igwe Joseph Rolfe Conde Busch Segares

4:00 PM EDT Kamara Angel

2:00 PM CST Richards Goldthwaite Angel Sassano Wolyniec Onstad Mullan

4:00 PM MDT Thomas Beckerman Movsisyan

7:30 PM PST Borchers Kovalenko
Morales Kljestan Bornstein Braun Razov Thomas

Conference finals

7:30PM EST McBride Segares Prideaux Gaven O'Rourke Hesmer

7:30PM MST Goldthwaite Rojas Leitch

MLS Cup

12:30 PM PST Wolyniec Marshall Padula Hejduk

Additional References

• MLS Cup 2008
• MLS Cup Playoffs
• 2008 Major League Soccer season