DC United set the pace in the Eastern Conference during the first half of the MLS season thanks to some very strong play at the back. However, with an injury to one of its key players, things could get a lot tighter at the top, especially once a couple of the contending teams play their many games in hand.
Before the start of the second half of the MLS season, let’s take a closer look at the leaders, along with the rest of the Eastern Conference’s potential playoff teams, and determine the important details for each of them after the break. We’ll also preview the team currently outside the top six with the best chance of making the playoffs.
Don’t forget to also check our our comprehensive preview of the MLS’s Western Conference.
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MLS Mid-Season Eastern Conference Preview
1. DC United
Pre-All-Star Break Record: 11-7-5 (38 points)
[sc:Soccer240banner ]Despite a rocky end to the first half of its season, DC United still enters the All-Star break with a big seven-point lead atop the Eastern Conference. DCU has the best defense in the East with just 22 goals conceded, and has a very good home record (7-1-3). However, it suffered a big blow with the loss of its terrific goalkeeper Bill Hamid for 4-6 weeks.
That injury will put even more pressure on its unconvincing attack (27 goals in 23 games) to finally perform. Last year’s leading goal scoring duo of Fabian Espindola and Luis Silva (22 goals last season) has just three between them thus far. Those two must find their scoring boots in the second half for DCU to survive Hamid’s absence and maintain its lead in the East.
2. Columbus Crew SC
Pre-All-Star Break Record: 8-7-7 (31 points)
The biggest reason Columbus has been able to keep pace atop the Eastern Conference standings is because Kei Kamara has been playing like a legitimate MVP candidate. The 30-year old striker currently tops the MLS goal scoring charts with 15 goals (already a new career-high) in 22 games, with five assists to boot.
The biggest question mark surrounding the Crew for the second half, though, is whether Kamara can be able to sustain this blistering form for an entire season. Because if he can’t, the Crew’s leaky defense (33 goals in 22 games in the first half) will likely sink them lower in the playoff picture.
3. New York Red Bulls
Pre-All-Star Break Record: 8-6-5 (29 points)
Bradley Wright-Phillips hasn’t quite been scoring at the goal-a-game pace from a season ago, but the Red Bulls have still been scoring just fine with 29 goals in 19 games this season. And they could soon be featuring another Wright-Phillips, with Bradley’s brother Shaun ready to add even more offensive firepower in the second half.
If their much-improved defense can hold up – it’s currently the second-best defense in the East behind DC United with just 23 goals conceded in 19 games – the Red Bulls will be real contenders to reach the top of the East standings.
4. Toronto FC
Pre-All-Star Break Record: 8-7-4 (28 points)
Where would Toronto be without Sebastian Giovinco? The Atomic Ant has been simply ant-like in his ability to do so much heavy lifting for the team. Apart from being the only ever-present player this season, he’s also the team’s leading scorer (13 goals) and playmaker (10 assists), which are also both second in the MLS charts.
TFC will need Giovinco, as well as American stars Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore, to play at a high level offensively in the second half because the Reds are bound to concede their share of goals. They allowed 1.63 goals per game in the first half, the worst defensive record of any current playoff contender.
5. New England Revolution
Pre-All-Star Break Record: 7-9-7 (28 points)
To say the Revs had a rocky first half would be an understatement. They conceded a whopping 35 goals, trailing only the Philadelphia Union for the most goals allowed in the league. They were also incredibly wretched on the road, with a 2-8-2 record and a league-worst -14 goal difference.
Despite their obvious struggles, the Revs are still very much in the playoff picture. This is still basically the team that went all the way to the MLS Cup Finals just last year, so the talent and ability are definitely there. At this point, there’s nowhere to go but up for the Revs in the second half.
Montreal has played just 18 games thus far – the fewest in MLS – five games fewer than first-place DC United. If the Impact wins all five of those games in hand, it’ll top the conference. But that’ll be easier said than done, because the Impact just hasn’t been consistent enough this season. The longest winning streak it’s had all season is two – twice back in May and June.
Montreal landed quite a coup by acquiring Didier Drogba’s MLS rights, and if the Ivorian does feature, he’ll be a welcome addition to a side that doesn’t have any notable star power. But with a superstar-laden expansion club breathing down its neck, it’ll be very tough for the Impact to retain that final playoff spot in the East.
Biggest Playoff Threat Outside the Top 6 – New York City FC
Pre-All-Star Break Record: 6-9-6 (24 points)
That expansion club stacked with superstars is, of course, New York City FC. After a rocky start to its debut season, City has been steadily climbing the East standings thanks to the inspired play of captain David Villa. Villa is the league’s third-leading scorer with 12 goals this season.
Villa has been joined by another European legend in Andrea Pirlo, who made his an immediate impact in his debut just before the All-Star break. And with Frank Lampard also set to share the field with the two World Cup winners, NYCFC will have all the world-class talent it needs to challenge for a playoff spot in its debut season.
Writer’s Prediction
The Eastern Conference playoff teams will be as follows:
