Houston/ LA Match Will Decide Playoff Matchups; Sporting KC to Play Home Playoff Match November 2nd or 3rd

The 2011 MLS Playoff picture cleared up quite a bit after last night's matches, including Sporting KC's 1-0 win over DC United that guaranteed Kansas City the top spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. But the entire picture isn't set just yet. The Houston Dynamo still have to take on the LA Galaxy later this evening (6PM CDT), and that result will decide exactly what position the Dynamo will find themselves in the East playoffs, as well as who everyone will be playing.

Houston Dynamo/ LA Galaxy Match Preview

The Dynamo, currently sitting on 46 points and in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, could move all the way up to second with a win against LA. Houston would leap frog New York, Columbus, and Philadelphia.

And it's very possible that particular scenario could come to fruition as the Galaxy may not play some of their key players, seeing as they basically have nothing to gain from a win over the Dynamo.

Also worth nothing is that it appears Sporting KC's first home playoff match will either take place on Wednesday November 2nd, or Thursday Novermber 3rd.

Via SportingKC.com

Sporting Kansas City will now await the highest seeded winner from this week's MLS Cup Playoffs wild card round, to be played on Wednesday and/or Thursday. Sporting Kansas City will travel for the first leg of the Eastern Conference semifinal on Saturday, October 29th or Sunday, October 30th before hosting the decisive second leg at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on Wednesday, November 2nd or Thursday, November 3rd.