Giants Stadium's clumsy run in MLS comes to a merciful conclusion Saturday

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Today will be one of the really memorable days in Major League Soccer’s 14 years. Never before have we seen such a jumble of sides still alive on the final day. At this point, counting the six clubs with post-season berths in pocket, 12 sides could still claim the MLS Cup championship.

So, in the spirit of the day, I’ll attempt something here that I usually don’t do. I’ll make predictions for Saturday’s five matches. (I feel about predictions the way Indiana Jones feels about snakes. Whenever someone suggests I give it a go, I think, "Predictions. Why did it have to be predictions?")

Anyway, here we go: click forth for my bold forecasts:

Red Bull New York 1, Toronto FC 1 – The Canadians have more motivation, able to move into a favorable position with a victory (although unable to secure a spot automatically with one). But interim manager Richie Williams has the Red Bulls better organized than Juan Carlos Osorio ever did.  Plus, the Red Bulls will want to close the book on Giants Stadium with a "W."   I mean, no one believes that big, lumbering beast out in the concrete and weed jungle of New Jersey was ever a great place for soccer. But the history there is undeniable, including 14 seasons of MLS soccer, World Cup action and the near-mythical Cosmos lore. The history isn’t lost on Red Bulls players.

Kansas City 2, D.C. United 1 – The Wizards needed a couple of games to get adjusted under interim manager Peter Vermes, but they haven’t been too bad lately.  Claudio Lopez looks lively and Josh Wolff remains an effective striker. Center back Jimmy Conrad has suddenly been given a new lease of international soccer life. And here we’ll see something that I’ve noted frequently through the years in MLS. There’s a tendency to believe that a team with superior motivation will trump a side just playing out the string. But it often doesn’t work out that way. In fact, I’ve often seen teams that play all loosey-goosey prevail over a team that comes in all twisted into a nervous knot.

And while I don’t typically worship at the altar of omens, shaman, signs, spirits and such, I will say this: I just don’t think it’s DC United’s year. The team wasn’t constructed well and Tom Soehn isn’t the guy to get it done, in my opinion. (And when they miss the playoffs once again this year, the Soehn era will definitely come to a conclusion at RFK.)

Real Salt Lake 2, Colorado 0 – I know Conor Casey can still catch Jeff Cunningham and capture the league’s scoring title. But I also know the Rapids’ striker hasn’t scored from the run of play in six games, as service from the wings has completely dried up. Jason Kreis’ side will find a couple of goals, but they’ll also fall short of their playoff goal. (Of all six teams still alive for two final spots, RSL needs the most help. It really does look like a bridge too far.) Further, Robbie Findley won’t start – strange, that a team’s leading scorer keeps coming off the bench, but whatever – but he’ll come in and score the insurance goal.

Dallas 3, Seattle 2 – This one is tough, because I really don’t know what kind of team Sigi Schmid will put out there. There’s a chance his side could still capture the top spot in the West, but it’s not a good chance, a little more along the lines of Dumb and Dumber: "So, you’re sayin’ there’s a chance!"  Either way, I think we’ll surely see a wide open match, as Seattle always wants to attack and Dallas has averaged 2.5 goals a game lately. Jeff Cunningham will get one and wrap up the most improbable of Golden Boot crowns.

Los Angeles 1, San Jose 1 – Bruce Arena’s side, like Chicago, is better on the road than at home. The way they play, stacking numbers behind the ball in a safety-first mode, just works better on the road.  For Frank Yallop’s side, a finale against the California rivals will have to serve as a playoff, since there will be no post-season action at Buck Shaw this year. L.A.’s Landon Donovan and San Jose’s far less heralded Ryan Johnson will trade tallies, and this will end in a draw, leaving the door open for Houston or Chivas USA to claim the West Crown on Sunday.

Finally, let me make one other prediction: some MLS referee will perform so poorly today he will affect the playoff fate for not only the two teams on his own field, but quite possibly for teams elsewhere.

It really is possible; the tangle of tiebreakers means that one match can change the dynamics for all the others. (It’s far too complicated to explain, but trust me on this one.) But believe me, the man in the middle will screw the pooch for someone. And when it happens, the suits of MLS will finally – finally! – acquiesce and pressure U.S. Soccer to take action and start getting this referee mess sorted out.