Tonight on ESPN2 (and ESPND), it's a double-header (of sorts) in the MLS Playoffs.
At 8:30p EDT, Philly (#8) tries to come back against Houston Dynamo (#6) after dropping the Union's home leg, with a 1-2 deficit to make up (note: unlike many leagues abroad, MLS home-home playoffs are pure aggregate; there is no "away goal bonus," so the Union can tie with a 1-0 result and take it overtime and shoot-out).
The winner takes on rebranded Sporting KC (#5) (the club formerly known as the Wizards, and the State of Kansas's only professional major league sports team).
At 11p EDT, Supporter Shield's winner and star-studded L.A. Galaxy (#1) defends their 1-0 lead at home over also-star-studded N.Y. Red Bulls (# 10). The Home Depot Center in Carson City, CA is as impenetrable this year as Real Salt Lake's Rio Tinto Stadium was last season; like RSL in 2010, the Galaxy have not lost a game at HDC in 2011. To continue their MLS Cup quest this year, the Red Bulls will have to break that streak. Good news for them is that no other team is better suited for the task; the Red Bulls have the league-best record against the Galaxy (1-0-1), with a tie at their last visit to HDC. A tie won't cut it this time, though. Only a one-goal win will take it into overtime and possible shootout.
The winner takes on perennial power-house Real Salt Lake, the overall #3 seed in the playoffs, who managed to just hold on to a big lead and eke out a win over other-perennial-power-house Seattle Sounders (#2).
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