Playoffs · 2006

The 2006playoffs.

Houston Dynamo beat New England Revolution in MLS Cup 2006. Twelve clubs; the top four in each conference qualified, seeded 1–4.

Final

Western Conference

Conference semifinalsTwo legs, aggregate

Conference finalsSingle match

One matchNov 5

2Houston3

4Colorado1

HOU won 3–1

Two legsOct 22 · Oct 29

2Houston123

3Chivas USA202

HOU won 3–2 on aggregate

Two legsOct 21 · Oct 28

1Dallas22(4)4

4Colorado13(5)4

COL won 5–4 on penalties (4–4 agg.)

Eastern Conference

Conference semifinalsTwo legs, aggregate

Conference finalsSingle match

One matchNov 5

1D.C.0

2New England1

NE won 1–0

Two legsOct 21 · Oct 29

1D.C.112

4Red Bulls011

DC won 2–1 on aggregate

Two legsOct 22 · Oct 28

2New England02(4)2

3Chicago11(2)2

NE won 4–2 on penalties (2–2 agg.)

MLS Cup

Nov 12

One matchNov 12

E2New England1(3)

W2Houston1(4)

HOU won 4–3 on penalties after 1–1

2006 championHouston Dynamo

MLS Cup 2006

Houston Dynamo over New England Revolution.

1–1(3–4 neutral venue; home/away designation is nominal (finalist with the better regular-season record listed as home).)

Venue: Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, Texas
Attendance: 22,427
MVP: Brian Ching
Field: 8 of 12 clubs

The format

How 2006 worked.

Twelve clubs; the top four in each conference qualified, seeded 1–4. Conference semifinals were two-legged aggregate series with the higher seed hosting the second leg, conference finals were single matches at the higher seed, and MLS Cup was a single match at a predetermined neutral venue (Pizza Hut Park, Frisco). Ties were settled by two 15-minute extra-time periods and then penalties; the away-goals rule was not used.

Eight-club bracket unchanged in size; Houston Dynamo (the relocated San Jose organization) qualified in their first season and won the Cup.

01Conference semifinalsTwo legs, aggregateOct 21 – Oct 29
02Conference finalsSingle matchNov 5
03MLS CupSingle matchNov 12

Seeding: Top four per conference by points, seeded 1–4 within the conference (1 v 4, 2 v 3); no wild cards.
Hosting: Higher seed hosted the second leg of the semifinal and the single-match conference final; MLS Cup at a predetermined neutral venue (Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, Texas).
Ties: Aggregate goals over two legs with no away-goals rule; if level after the second leg, two 15-minute extra-time periods then penalty kicks. Single matches likewise went to extra time then penalties.

Open the 2006 season · Wikipedia — 2006 Major League Soccer season (MLS Cup Playoff bracket and match reports; the 2006 MLS Cup Playoffs title redirects here) · Wikipedia — MLS Cup 2006