The Major League Soccer season is past the halfway point and heading into the final months. In the Eastern Conference reigning MLS Cup Champions Columbus have a 4 point lead atop the standings while the Houston Dynamo now have a 7 point lead in the Western Conference. Here’s a recap of this week’s matches, video highlights, and the latest standings.
Houston and Columbus remain on top
The Houston Dynamo had to score a late goal against Chicago but now is 7 points clear of 2nd place LA in the Western Conference. In the Eastern Confernce, the Columbus Crew continue their strong play as they won 3-0 at San Jose and now lead by 4 points. Both teams have been in great form the last month and right now appear the favorites to meet in the MLS Cup Final.
Tha LA Galaxy continue to climb
New head coach Bruce Arena and the Galaxy are now 2nd place in the Western Confernce as this team is finally living up to its potential. They have not lost since June 20th and in great position to make the playoffs. They are playing as a balanced team not relying solely on Beckham or Donovan but getting contributions from several players. Donovan has to be at the top of the MVP list so far as he’s been in great form and arguably the most dangerous attacking player in the league. How long before he goes to Europe (not Germany)?
The playoff races are very close
Each conference is very close in the race for the last playoff spots. It’s still many games left in the season but as always the standings are close. Can Toronto FC earn their first playoff berth ever? Will Seattle make the playoffs in their first season? Only time will tell but this season’s last few months should be very entertaining to see what times make the postseason.
Video Highlights – Click on match score and video icon to view highlights
| Wednesday, August 5 | ||||
| FC Barcelona ** | at Seattle Sounders FC ** | FCB 4, SEA 0 |  | 66,848 |
| Thursday, August 6 | ||||
| Houston Dynamo | at FC Dallas | DAL 1, HOU 0 | | 7,442 |
| Friday, August 7 | ||||
| Real Madrid *** | at Toronto FC *** | RMD 5, TOR 1 | | 22,089 |
| Saturday, August 8 | ||||
| Los Angeles Galaxy | at New England Revolution | LA 2, NE 1 | | 26,623 |
| Columbus Crew | at San Jose Earthquakes | CLB 3, SJ 0 | | |
| Seattle Sounders FC | at Real Salt Lake | RSL 1, SEA 0 | | 14,193 |
| Chivas USA | at Colorado Rapids | COL 4, CHV 0 | | 13,364 |
| Sunday, August 9 | ||||
| Real Madrid *** | at D.C. United *** | RMD 3, DC 0 | | 72,368 |
| Chicago Fire | at Houston Dynamo | HOU 3, CHI 2 | | 18,809 |
Conference Standings through Sunday August 9, 2009
| 2009 – Eastern Conference Table | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||||
| RK | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | GS | GA | W | D | L | GS | GA | W | D | L | GS | GA | GD | P | ||||
| 1 |  | Columbus | 21 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 32 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 19 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 36 | |||
| 2 | | Chicago | 20 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 28 | 23 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 32 | |||
| 3 | | DC United | 20 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 34 | 32 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 19 | 24 | 2 | 28 | |||
| 4 | | Toronto FC | 20 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 28 | 31 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 20 | -3 | 27 | |||
| 5 | | New England | 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 20 | 24 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 16 | -4 | 24 | |||
| 6 | | Kansas City | 18 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 20 | 25 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 15 | -5 | 21 | |||
| 7 | | New York Red Bulls | 21 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 16 | 37 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 23 | -21 | 10 | |||
| 2009 – Western Conference Table | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||||
| RK | TEAM | GP | W | D | L | GS | GA | W | D | L | GS | GA | W | D | L | GS | GA | GD | P | ||||
| 1 | | Houston | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 30 | 20 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 38 | |||
| 2 | | Los Angeles | 20 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 25 | 21 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 31 | |||
| 3 | | Colorado | 20 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 32 | 24 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 16 | 8 | 30 | |||
| 4 | | Seattle Sounders FC | 20 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 26 | 21 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 19 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 5 | 29 | |||
| 5 | | Chivas USA | 18 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 19 | 19 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 27 | |||
| 6 | | Real Salt Lake | 20 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 29 | 24 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 24 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 5 | 26 | |||
| 7 | | Dallas | 20 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 29 | 30 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 14 | -1 | 23 | |||
| 8 | | San Jose | 20 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 25 | 38 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 20 | -13 | 17 | |||
| Key | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| RK: Rank, GP: Games Played, W: Wins, D: Draws, L: Losses, GS: Goals Scored, GA: Goals Against, GD: Goal Difference, P: Points | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Moved Up  Moved Down Remained |
