The 2005playoffs.

The format

How 2005 worked.

Twelve clubs after expansion, but still eight playoff places: the top four in each conference, with no wild cards. Conference semifinals were two-legged aggregate ties, conference finals single matches at the higher seed, and MLS Cup a single match at a predetermined venue. Level ties and matches went to two 15-minute extra-time periods and then penalties.

• Expansion to 12 clubs (Chivas USA, Real Salt Lake); still top four per conference, no wild cards.
• MLS Cup at Pizza Hut Park; Los Angeles, the lowest-seeded qualifier (W4), won it.

1. 01Conference semifinalsTwo legs, aggregate · Aggregate goals over two legs, no away-goals rule; a level tie went to two 15-minute extra-time periods and then penalties.Oct 21 – 30
2. 02Conference finalsSingle match · Single match hosted by the higher seed; two 15-minute extra-time periods, then penalties.Nov 5 – 6
3. 03MLS CupSingle matchNov 13

Seeding

Seeded 1–4 within each conference on regular-season points; no wild cards (both expansion clubs, Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake, finished last in the West). Los Angeles took W4 on a tiebreaker over Kansas City (both 45 points). Pairings E1 v E4, E2 v E3, W1 v W4, W2 v W3.

Hosting

Conference semifinals: the lower seed hosted the first leg and the higher seed the second. Conference finals: hosted by the higher seed (Colorado, W3, hosted Los Angeles, W4). MLS Cup at Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, as the predetermined venue.

Ties

Aggregate goals over two legs, no away-goals rule; a level aggregate went to two 15-minute extra-time periods and then penalties — Colorado beat Dallas 5–4 on penalties after 2–2 on aggregate. Single matches: extra time, then penalties; MLS Cup was won in extra time.