Major League Soccer announces dates for MLS Cup playoffs

Major League Soccer has announced the dates for the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs. The playoffs start Oct. 29, and the MLS Cup final will be played on Dec. 7. The top

Major League Soccer has announced the dates for the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs. The playoffs start Oct. 29, and the MLS Cup final will be played on Dec. 7.

The top five teams from each conference make the playoffs.

Entering Tuesday, the five teams in the Eastern Conference are D.C. United, Sporting Kansas City, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls and Columbus Crew. In the Western Conference, the top five teams are Seattle Sounders, LA Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, FC Dallas and Portland Timbers.

The fourth and fifth place teams in each conference will play in a knockout game. The winner of the match will advance to the conference semifinals, and play the conference's first place team.

Both the semifinals and championships will be decided by a two-game, aggregate-goal format. The MLS Cup will be hosted by the team that finished the regular season with the most points in the standings

• BIRD: Hat-trick hero Wright-Phillips inches toward record

The dates for the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs:

Conference Knockout Round

Wed-Thurs, Oct. 29-30

Conference Semifinals

Leg 1, Sat-Sun, Nov. 1-2

Leg 2, Sat-Sun, Nov. 8-9

Conference Championships

Leg 1, Sat-Sun, Nov. 22-23

Leg 2, Sat-Sun., Nov. 29-30

MLS Cup Final

Sunday, Dec. 7, 3 p.m., ET

• SANCHEZ: Liga MX Tres Puntos: Ronaldinho's still got it

- Sarah Barshop