MLS Playoffs 2014: Bradley Wright-Phillips scores twice as champs bow out

Despite struggling to get anything going, Sporting never seemed to panic. They continued to press and keep the Red Bulls from working through the center of the pitch despite rarely having the ball. They weren’t going to create much as part of a build up, but they planned on doing it in transition from their press and in the 53rd minute, it worked.

The match looked bound for extra time, but Wright-Phillips made sure it wouldn’t happen in the 89th minute. The man who led the league in scoring was somehow left completely unmarked on a high, floated cross that he was able to head perfectly off the inside of the post and in to seal a dramatic win for New York.

New York Red Bulls: Robles, Eckersley, Olave, Sekagya, Miller, Alexander, McCarty, Sam, Cahill, Henry, Wright-Phillips.

Sporting KC: Kronberg, Ellis, Collin, Besler, Sinovic, Feilhaber, Claros, Nagamura, Sapong, Dwyer, Zusi.

When the New York Red Bulls and Sporting Kansas City met last week, they had both already clinched playoff spots, but they didn’t know they’d be playing a rematch a week later. New York had to get a win in Kansas City to ensure that this knockout stage match would be at home, and they got that win, setting up a match at Red Bull Arena on Thursday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2).

Thierry Henry sat out last week’s game, but he’s expected to start on Thursday night. If the Red Bulls lose, it’ll be his last game with the team, and possibly his last game in professional soccer. Andy Gruenebaum, Benny Feilhaber and Juliao are all listed as questionable, but should be available for KC.

Neither team was really in much danger of missing the playoffs, but neither is likely happy with the fact that they are playing in this game.

Sporting KC’s struggles, though, have been more pronounced. The last time they won two straight games was back in late July and the most points they’ve claimed in any four games since then is four. In their last 10 games of the regular season, KC went 2-7-1, by far the worst close of any playoff team. During that time, they were outscored 18-12.

Diaz ran into the open space, basically on a two-on-one with Jordan Harvey, who was left to choose between stopping the ball and minding the weak side. He went to the ball. That left Akindele all alone on the right flank and he blasted his shot past David Ousted for a 1-0 lead.

Dallas retook the lead in the 83rd minute on a penalty by Michel. Again, it was a throw-in that cause the problems for Vancouver. This time Koffie missed a header and the ball bounced into Waston’s arm. Although it looked incidental and Waston seemed to be trying to get his arm out of the way, Geiger pointed to the spot. Michel easily finished the spot kick.

FC Dallas: Seitz, Loyd, Hedges, Zimmerman, Watson, Castillo, Michel, Ulloa, Diaz, Akindele, Perez.

Vancouver Whitecaps: Ousted, Sampson, Watson, O’Brien, Harvey, Laba, Koffie, Rosales, Morales, Fernandez, Hurtado.

The knockout round match is brutal. It matches two teams that were battling for a playoff spot or a seed until the final week in one match for their lives. They only have a few days to prepare for it, and even if they win it, they have to go straight to the conference semifinal on the weekend against a team that has been resting all week.

The result was a run to the top of the West early on and comfortable playoff position even after a slide. By the last weekend, they had a chance to get to the third seed and avoid the knockout round altogether.