A belated MLS weekend roundup

AP Photo/Mark Avery

Many apologies for the late wrap-up of the MLS weekend, which definitely proved to be an entertaining few days thanks in no small part to the rebirth of the L.A. Galaxy. Bruce Arena’s squad employed the offense-is-our-best-defense philosophy (which is so true with this team that it’s scary) to good effect against D.C. United and punched in five goals to keep their playoff hopes alive and finally break a 12-game winless streak.

Go to the MLS website and check out the highlights from this game so you can see Landon Donovan’s hat trick. Take a look at his facial expressions on the celebrations, too...think he wanted this game just a teeny little bit?

That shoots the Galaxy up to 29 points – just two out of the third-place spot they’re likely going to need for a berth in the playoffs.

The West is such a mess it’s almost inconceivable. FC Dallas’ huge 4-1 road win on Sunday against Chicago puts them at 30 points, and only TWO points separate the conference’s third-seventh place teams. Just insane.

What will be interesting this Saturday is how San Jose comes back after missing their scheduled weekend game because of Hurricane Ike’s effect on Houston. Will the extended rest mess up a team that is on such a roll with the nine-game unbeaten string?

Another important result from the weekend was Kansas City’s 2-0 win against Toronto FC, which means the sneaky Wizards have now edged within one point of D.C. United and that 5th place slot in the East. Chivas USA’s victory on the road at Real Salt Lake might have been even bigger, as it pushed them into solo second in the West.

While we can debate all day the merits of the MLS postseason system, you have to say that it’s making for a tense end to the regular season this year.

So, did L.A.’s performance convince you that they’re ready to make the run for the playoffs, or is the defense still too shaky to let it happen? Who do you see nabbing the 5th spot in the East?