2012 Major League Soccer season

17th season of Major League Soccer September 2012 June 2017 Major League Soccer Major League Soccer MLS wordmark 2007.svg 2012 19 LA Galaxy (4th title) San Jose Earthquakes (2nd shield) Champions League (U.S.) San Jose EarthquakesLA GalaxyHouston DynamoSporting Kansas City (via U.S. Open Cup) Champions League (Canada) Toronto FC (via Canadian Championship) 323 854 Chris Wondolowski(27 goals) SJ 5–0 RSL(July 14)DAL 5–0 POR(July 21) CHV 0–4 LA(August 12)CHV 2–6 SEA(August 25)CHV 0-4 RSL(September 29) 8 goals:SJ 5–3 DC(May 2)POR 3–5 LA(July 14)CHV 2–6 SEA(August 25) 7 matches:http://pressbox.mlssoccer.com/sites/mlsdigitalpr.drupalgardens.com/files/10-29-12_StatsStandings_0.pdf 2012 MLS Standings & Leaders October 29, 2012 October 31, 2012 November 14, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121114184604/http://pressbox.mlssoccer.com/sites/mlsdigitalpr.drupalgardens.com/files/10-29-12_StatsStandings_0.pdf deadSporting KC(March 10 – April 18) 11 matches:Sporting KC(August 4 – October 24) 14 matches:Toronto FC(July 28 – October 28) 9 matches:Toronto FC(March 17 – May 19) 66,452POR @ SEA(October 7) 6,149COL @ NE(May 2) 18,807 2011 2013 United States 525 right Locations of teams for the 2012 Major League Soccer season8px Western Conference   8px Eastern Conference United States 38.889722 -76.971667 D.C. United bottom ButtonBlue.svg United States 40.737411 -74.153763 New York left ButtonBlue.svg United States 40.009444 -82.991111 Columbus left ButtonBlue.svg United States 42.090833 -71.264444 New England top ButtonBlue.svg United States 41.742432 -87.806789 Chicago top ButtonBlue.svg United States 39.1218 -94.8237 Kansas City bottom ButtonBlue.svg United States 43.632778 -79.418611 Toronto top ButtonBlue.svg United States 39.832222 -75.378889 Philadelphia right ButtonBlue.svg United States 45.563075 -73.552656 Montreal top ButtonBlue.svg United States 39.35 -104.8918 Colorado top ButtonRed.svg United States 33.154444 -96.835278 Dallas right ButtonRed.svg United States 33.864444 -118.261111 Chivas USA top ButtonRed.svg United States 33.864444 -118.261111 Galaxy bottom ButtonRed.svg United States 29.721944 -95.349167 Houston right ButtonBlue.svg United States 40.582923 -111.893156 Salt Lake bottom ButtonRed.svg United States 45.521389 -122.691667 Portland bottom ButtonRed.svg United States 37.350556 -121.936667 San Jose top ButtonRed.svg United States 47.595278 -122.331667 Seattle right ButtonRed.svg United States 49.27667 -123.11194 Vancouver right ButtonRed.svg The 2012 Major League Soccer season was the 17th season of Major League Soccer. It was also the 100th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 34th with a national first-division league. The Montreal Impact became the 19th MLS club, replacing a team of the same name that previously played in the NASL. The regular season began on March 10 and concluded on October 28. The MLS Cup Playoffs began on October 31 and ended on December 1, when the LA Galaxy claimed their fourth league title by defeating the Houston Dynamo, 3–1, in MLS Cup. It was the first rematch in the Cup final since Houston defeated the New England Revolution in the 2006 and 2007 editions. Overview Season format The season began on March 10 and concluded with MLS Cup on December 1. The 19 teams were split into two conferences, with 10 teams in the Eastern Conference and 9 teams in the Western Conference. Each team played 34 games that were evenly divided between home and away. Western Conference teams played each conference rival three times, and played each Eastern Conference team once. Eastern Conference teams played seven of their conference rivals three times, the remaining two conference rivals twice, and each Western Conference team once. The top three teams in each conference earned a bye to the conference semifinals, while the next two teams with the most points in each conference earned wild card berths. The wild card round included two single-elimination matches where the winners advanced to the conference semifinals. In all rounds, draws were broken with two 15-minute periods of extra time, followed by penalty kicks if necessary. The away goals rule was not used in any round. The team with the most points in the regular season was awarded the MLS Supporters' Shield and qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League. Additionally, the winner of MLS Cup, and the runner-up, also qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League. An additional berth in the Champions League was also awarded to the winner of the U.S. Open Cup. If a team qualified for multiple berths into the Champions League, then additional berths were awarded to the highest overall finishing MLS team(s) not already qualified. Also, Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and Montreal Impact, as Canadian-based teams, could not qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League through MLS, and had to instead qualify through the Canadian Championship. Stadiums and locations List of Major League Soccer stadiums Team Stadium Capacity Chicago Fire Toyota Park 20,000 Chivas USA Home Depot Center 27,000 Colorado Rapids Dick's Sporting Goods Park 18,061 Columbus Crew Columbus Crew Stadium 22,555 D.C. United RFK Stadium 45,596 FC Dallas FC Dallas Stadium 21,193 Houston Dynamo Robertson Stadium 32,000 LA Galaxy Home Depot Center 27,000 Montreal Impact Saputo Stadium 20,801 New England Revolution Gillette Stadium 68,756 New York Red Bulls Red Bull Arena 25,000 Philadelphia Union PPL Park 18,500 Portland Timbers Jeld-Wen Field 18,627 Real Salt Lake Rio Tinto Stadium 20,213 San Jose Earthquakes Buck Shaw Stadium 10,525 Seattle Sounders FC CenturyLink Field 68,740 Sporting Kansas City Livestrong Sporting Park 18,467 Toronto FC BMO Field 21,566 Vancouver Whitecaps FC BC Place 22,120 Personnel and sponsorships Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Team Head coach Captain Shirt sponsorChicago FireUSA Frank KlopasUSA Logan PauseQuakerChivas USAUSA Robin FraserVenezuela Alejandro MorenoCoronaColorado RapidsCOL Óscar ParejaUSA Pablo Mastroeni —Columbus CrewPOL Robert WarzychaUSA Chad MarshallBarbasolD.C. UnitedUSA Ben OlsenCAN Dwayne De RosarioVolkswagenFC DallasUSA Schellas HyndmanUSA Ugo IhemeluAdvoCareHouston DynamoUSA Dominic KinnearUSA Brian ChingGreenstar RecyclingLA GalaxyUSA Bruce ArenaUSA Landon DonovanHerbalifeMontreal ImpactUSA Jesse MarschUSA Davy ArnaudBank of MontrealNew England RevolutionUSA Jay HeapsUSA Matt ReisUnitedHealthcareNew York Red BullsSWE Hans BackeFRA 1974 Thierry HenryRed BullPhiladelphia UnionUSA John HackworthCOL Carlos Valdés Carlos Valdés (footballer)BimboPortland TimbersNZL Gavin WilkinsonUSA Jack JewsburyAlaska AirlinesReal Salt LakeUSA Jason KreisUSA Kyle BeckermanXanGoSan Jose EarthquakesCAN Frank YallopUSA Ramiro Corrales —Seattle Sounders FCUSA Sigi SchmidARG Mauro RosalesXboxSporting Kansas CityUSA Peter VermesDEN Jimmy Nielsen —Toronto FCENG Paul MarinerGER Torsten FringsBank of MontrealVancouver Whitecaps FCSCO Martin Rennie Martin Rennie (football manager)USA Jay DeMeritBell Canada Player transfers List of Major League Soccer transfers 2012 Major League Soccer employs no fewer than 12 methods to acquire players. These include: signing players on transfers/free transfers as is done in most of the world; via trades; drafting players through mechanisms such as the MLS SuperDraft, MLS Supplemental Draft, or MLS Re-Entry Draft; rarely used methods which cover extreme hardship and injury replacement; signing players as Designated Players or Homegrown Players; placing a discovery claim on players; waivers; and methods peculiar to MLS such as through allocation or a weighted lottery.http://www.mlssoccer.com/2012-mls-roster-rules 2012 MLS Roster Rules | Major League Soccer Mlssoccer.com February 21, 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120220005943/http://www.mlssoccer.com/2012-mls-roster-rules February 20, 2012 Allocation ranking The allocation ranking is the mechanism used to determine which MLS club has first priority to acquire a U.S. National Team player who signs with MLS after playing abroad, or a former MLS player who returns to the League after having gone to a club abroad for a transfer fee. The allocation rankings may also be used in the event two or more clubs file a request for the same player on the same day. The allocations will be ranked in reverse order of finish for the 2011 season, taking playoff performance into account. Once the club uses its allocation ranking to acquire a player, it drops to the bottom of the list. A ranking can be traded, provided that part of the compensation received in return is another club's ranking. At all times, each club is assigned one ranking. The rankings reset at the end of each MLS League season. Original rankingClubDate allocation usedPlayer signedPlayer nationPrevious clubClub nationRef 1 Montreal Impact February 17, 2012 Eddie Johnson USA Fulham ENG http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/02/17/montreal-send-johnson-seattle-neagle-fucito Montreal send Johnson to Seattle for Neagle, Fucito MLSsoccer.com February 17, 2012 February 21, 2012 February 21, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120221000159/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/02/17/montreal-send-johnson-seattle-neagle-fucito dead 2 Philadelphia Union June 26, 2012 Bakary Soumaré MLI US Boulogne FRA 1974 http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2012/06/union-sign-central-defender-bakary-soumare Union sign central defender Bakary Soumare philadelphiaunion.com June 26, 2012 June 26, 2012 July 13, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120713044019/http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2012/06/union-sign-central-defender-bakary-soumare dead 3 New England Revolution August 27, 2012 Juan Toja COL Aris GRE http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/08/27/revolution-acquire-former-all-star-juan-toja-allocation Revolution acquire former All-Star Juan Toja via allocation MLSsoccer.com August 27, 2012 August 27, 2012 August 30, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120830062626/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/08/27/revolution-acquire-former-all-star-juan-toja-allocation dead 4 Seattle Sounders FC∞ September 14, 2012 Marcus Hahnemann USA Everton ENG http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/09/14/hahneman-returns-mls-club-be-determined-friday Hahnemann returns to MLS, lands with hometown Seattle September 14, 2012 Freedman Jonah MLSsoccer.com September 15, 2012 September 16, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120916235039/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/09/14/hahneman-returns-mls-club-be-determined-friday dead 5 Chivas USA 6 San Jose Earthquakes 7 D.C. United 8 Portland Timbers 9 Chicago Fire 10 Columbus Crew 11 Colorado Rapids March 28, 2012 Kamani Hill USA Vitória POR http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2012/03/rapids-sign-forward-kamani-hill Rapids sign forward Kamani Hill coloradorapids.com March 28, 2012 June 26, 2012 February 3, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140203132351/http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2012/03/rapids-sign-forward-kamani-hill dead 12 FC Dallas 13 New York Red Bulls August 8, 2012 Luis Robles USA Karlsruher SC GER http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/2012/08/red-bulls-acquire-goalkeeper-luis-robles Red Bulls Acquire Goalkeeper Luis Robles newyorkredbulls.com August 8, 2012 August 12, 2012 December 2, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131202232104/http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/2012/08/red-bulls-acquire-goalkeeper-luis-robles dead Montreal immediately traded Johnson to Seattle in exchange for Mike Fucito and Lamar Neagle. Vancouver originally had the No. 2 ranking, but traded it to Philadelphia on June 26. ∞Toronto originally had the No. 4 ranking, but traded it to Seattle on September 14. The remaining order after FC Dallas is: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (from Philadelphia), Toronto FC (from Seattle), Sporting Kansas City, Real Salt Lake, Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy. In the unlikely event that all clubs use an allocation, the order begins anew with Montreal Impact, Colorado Rapids, Philadelphia Union, New York Red Bulls New England Revolution and Seattle Sounders FC. Weighted lottery Some players are assigned to MLS teams via a weighted lottery process. A team can only acquire one player per year through a weighted lottery. The players made available through lotteries include: (i) Generation adidas players signed after the MLS SuperDraft; and (ii) Draft eligible players to whom an MLS contract was offered but who failed to sign with the League prior to the SuperDraft. The team with the worst record over its last 30 regular season games (dating back to previous season if necessary and taking playoff performance into account) will have the greatest probability of winning the lottery. Teams are not required to participate in a lottery. Players are assigned via the lottery system in order to prevent a player from potentially influencing his destination club with a strategic holdout. The results of 2012 weighted lotteries thus far: Lottery datePlayerPlayer nationPositionWinning clubOther clubs participatingRef December 15, 2011 Lee Nguyen USA MF Vancouver Whitecaps FC Toronto FC, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Real Salt Lake, Los Angeles Galaxy http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/12/15/whitecaps-get-us-international-nguyen-weighted-lottery Whitecaps get US international Nguyen in weighted lottery MLSsoccer.com December 15, 2011 February 21, 2012 February 7, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120207194736/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/12/15/whitecaps-get-us-international-nguyen-weighted-lottery dead September 13, 2012 Marcus Tracy USA FW San Jose Earthquakes New England Revolution, FC Dallas, Philadelphia Union, Real Salt Lake, Chicago Fire, New York Red Bulls, Seattle Sounders FC Ownership changes Club New owner Previous owner Date DC United Erick Thohir and Jason Levien D.C. United Holdings mdy 2012 7 10 Standings Eastern Conference Western Conference Overall standings MLS Cup playoffs 2012 MLS Cup playoffs Bracket Bracket Player statistics Goals Rank Player Club Goals1USA Chris WondolowskiSan Jose Earthquakes272USA Kenny CooperNew York Red Bulls183CRC Álvaro SaboríoReal Salt Lake174IRL Robbie KeaneLA Galaxy165FRA Thierry HenryNew York Red Bulls156USA Eddie JohnsonSeattle Sounders FC147USA Alan GordonSan Jose Earthquakes13COL Fredy MonteroSeattle Sounders FC9USA Will BruinHouston Dynamo12USA Chris PontiusD.C. United Assists Rank Player Club Assists1USA Graham ZusiSporting Kansas City152USA Landon DonovanLA Galaxy143HON 1949 Marvin ChávezSan Jose Earthquakes13ARG Mauro RosalesSeattle Sounders FC5USA Brad DavisHouston Dynamo12CAN Dwayne De RosarioD.C. UnitedFRA Thierry HenryNew York Red Bulls8BRA Felipe MartinsMontreal Impact109ENG David BeckhamLA Galaxy9COL David FerreiraFC DallasIRE Robbie KeaneLA GalaxyARG Javier MoralesReal Salt Lake Clean sheets RankPlayerClubCleansheets1DEN Jimmy NielsenSporting Kansas City152USA Tally HallHouston Dynamo12USA Nick RimandoReal Salt Lake4PUR Josh SaundersLA Galaxy95USA Joe CannonVancouver Whitecaps FC8USA Andy GruenebaumColumbus CrewAUT Michael GspurningSeattle Sounders FCUSA Bill HamidD.C. UnitedUSA Zac MacMathPhiladelphia Union10USA Jon BuschSan Jose Earthquakes7USA Dan KennedyChivas USAUSA Matt PickensColorado Rapids Awards Individual awards AwardPlayerClubMost Valuable PlayerUSA Chris WondolowskiSan Jose EarthquakesDefender of the YearUSA Matt BeslerSporting Kansas CityGoalkeeper of the YearDEN Jimmy NielsenSporting Kansas CityCoach of the YearCAN Frank YallopSan Jose EarthquakesRookie of the YearUSA Austin BerryChicago FireNewcomer of the YearARG Federico HiguaínColumbus CrewComeback Player of the YearUSA Eddie JohnsonSeattle Sounders FCGolden BootUSA Chris WondolowskiSan Jose EarthquakesGoal of the YearUSA Patrick IanniSeattle Sounders FCSave of the YearUSA Nick RimandoReal Salt LakeFair Play AwardUSA Logan PauseChicago FireHumanitarian of the YearUSA Chris Seitz FC Dallas Best XI GoalkeeperDefendersMidfieldersForwardsDEN Jimmy Nielsen, Sporting KCHON Víctor Bernárdez, San JoseUSA Matt Besler, Sporting KCFRA Aurélien Collin, Sporting KCCUB Osvaldo Alonso, SeattleUSA Landon Donovan, LA Galaxy USA Chris Pontius, D.C. UnitedUSA Graham Zusi, Sporting KCFRA Thierry Henry, Red Bulls IRE Robbie Keane, LA GalaxyUSA Chris Wondolowski, San Jose Player of the Month MonthPlayerClubStatsMarchFRA 1974 Thierry HenryNew York Red Bulls5G, 3AAprilUSA Chris WondolowskiSan Jose Earthquakes3GMayCAN Dwayne De RosarioD.C. United4G, 3AJuneUSA Chris WondolowskiSan Jose Earthquakes3GJulyIRL Robbie KeaneLA Galaxy5G, 4AAugustCAN Patrice BernierMontreal Impact3G, 3ASeptemberUSA Chris WondolowskiSan Jose Earthquakes4G, 2AOctoberUSA Chris WondolowskiSan Jose Earthquakes5G Weekly awards WeekPlayer of the WeekAT&T Goal of the WeekMLS Save of the WeekPlayerNatClubPlayerNatClubPlayerNatClubWeek 1Kalif AlhassanGHA Portland TimbersKris BoydSCO Portland TimbersNick RimandoUSA Real Salt LakeWeek 2David EstradaUSASeattle Sounders FCRyan JohnsonJAMToronto FCJoe CannonUSA Vancouver Whitecaps FCWeek 3Thierry HenryFRA 1974New York Red BullsThierry HenryFRA 1974 New York Red BullsJoe CannonUSA Vancouver Whitecaps FCWeek 4Thierry HenryFRA 1974 New York Red BullsDarlington NagbeLBRPortland TimbersPaolo TornaghiITA Chicago FireWeek 5Thierry HenryFRA 1974 New York Red BullsÁlvaro SaboríoCRCReal Salt LakeDonovan RickettsJAMMontreal ImpactWeek 6Dan KennedyUSA Chivas USADavid BeckhamENGLos Angeles GalaxyNick RimandoUSA Real Salt LakeWeek 7Chris PontiusUSA D.C. UnitedKyle BeckermanUSA Real Salt LakeJimmy NielsenDENSporting Kansas CityWeek 8Steven LenhartUSA San Jose EarthquakesMarco PappaGUAChicago FireNick RimandoUSA Real Salt LakeWeek 9Chris WondolowskiUSASan Jose EarthquakesFredy MonteroCOLSeattle Sounders FCNick RimandoUSA Real Salt LakeWeek 10Lee NguyenUSANew England RevolutionDavid BeckhamENGLos Angeles GalaxySean JohnsonUSAChicago FireWeek 11Dwayne De RosarioCAND.C. UnitedFredy MonteroCOLSeattle Sounders FCAndy GruenebaumUSAColumbus CrewWeek 12Emilio RenteríaVENColumbus CrewC. J. SapongUSASporting Kansas CityTroy PerkinsUSAPortland TimbersWeek 13–15Patrice BernierCANMontreal ImpactJúlio CésarBRASporting Kansas CityJimmy NielsenDENSporting Kansas CityWeek 16Landon DonovanUSALos Angeles GalaxyPatrick IanniUSASeattle Sounders FCJason HernandezUSASan Jose EarthquakesWeek 17Danny KoevermansNEDToronto FCChris WondolowskiUSASan Jose EarthquakesJosh SaundersPURLos Angeles GalaxyWeek 18Álvaro SaboríoCRCReal Salt LakeJack McInerneyUSAPhiladelphia UnionJimmy NielsenDENSporting Kansas CityWeek 19Chris WondolowskiUSASan Jose EarthquakesDavid BeckhamENGLos Angeles GalaxyJimmy NielsenDENSporting Kansas CityWeek 20Calen CarrUSAHouston DynamoJose VillarrealUSALos Angeles GalaxyMatt ReisUSANew England RevolutionWeek 21Jairo ArrietaCRCColumbus CrewSaër SèneFRA 1974New England RevolutionSean JohnsonUSAChicago FireWeek 22Eddie JohnsonUSASeattle Sounders FCFelipe MartinsBRAMontreal ImpactKevin HartmanUSAFC DallasWeek 23Landon DonovanUSALos Angeles GalaxySanna NyassiGAMMontreal ImpactTroy PerkinsUSAMontreal ImpactWeek 24David FerreiraCOLFC DallasLamar NeagleUSAMontreal ImpactDonovan RickettsJAMPortland TimbersWeek 25Federico HiguaínARGColumbus CrewMarco Di VaioITAMontreal ImpactSteven SmithSCOPortland TimbersWeek 26Federico HiguaínARGColumbus CrewDavid BeckhamENGLos Angeles GalaxyMatt PickensUSAColorado RapidsWeek 27Eddie JohnsonUSASeattle Sounders FCEddie JohnsonUSASeattle Sounders FCNick RimandoUSAReal Salt LakeWeek 28Sean JohnsonUSAChicago FireFredy MonteroCOLSeattle Sounders FCMarcelo SarvasBRALos Angeles GalaxyWeek 29Thierry HenryFRA 1974New York Red Bulls Javier Morales ARG Real Salt Lake Nick Rimando USA Real Salt LakeWeek 30Chris WondolowskiUSASan Jose EarthquakesÁlvaro SaboríoCRCReal Salt LakeNick RimandoUSAReal Salt LakeWeek 31Thierry HenryFRA 1974New York Red BullsRobbie KeaneIRELos Angeles GalaxyJimmy NielsenDENSporting Kansas CityWeek 32Chris WondolowskiUSASan Jose EarthquakesJack JewsburyUSAPortland TimbersJimmy NielsenDENSporting Kansas CityWeek 33Brad EvansUSASeattle Sounders FCJacob PetersonUSASporting Kansas CityWeek 34Kenny CooperUSANew York Red Bulls Scoring First goal of the season: Sébastien Le Toux for Vancouver Whitecaps FC against Montreal Impact, 3 minutes 1 second (March 10, 2012) Hat-tricks of the season: David Estrada for Seattle Sounders FC against Toronto FC (March 17, 2012) Thierry Henry for New York Red Bulls against Montreal Impact (March 31, 2012) Chris Pontius for D.C. United against New York Red Bulls (April 22, 2012) Álvaro Saborío for Real Salt Lake against Portland Timbers (July 7, 2012) Chris Wondolowski for San Jose Earthquakes against Real Salt Lake (July 14, 2012) Fredy Montero for Seattle Sounders FC against Chivas USA (August 25, 2012) Álvaro Saborío for Real Salt Lake against Chivas USA (September 29, 2012) Chris Wondolowski for San Jose Earthquakes against Colorado Rapids (October 6, 2012) Fastest hat-trick of the season: Álvaro Saborío for Real Salt Lake against Portland Timbers, 16 minutes and 8 seconds (July 7, 2012) Discipline First yellow card of the season: Milovan Mirošević for Columbus Crew against Colorado Rapids, 40 minutes (March 10, 2012) First red card of the season: Stephen McCarthy for New England Revolution against Sporting Kansas City, 14 minutes (March 17, 2012) Related competitions International competitions and friendlies CONCACAF Champions League 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League 2012–13 CONCACAF Champions League Prior to the start of the MLS regular season, Toronto FC defeated Los Angeles Galaxy while Mexican side Santos Laguna defeated Seattle Sounders FC in two of the 2011–12 CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series. Toronto FC then lost 3–7 on aggregate in the semifinal with Santos Laguna.http://www.concacaf.com/page/CL/NewsDetail/0,,12813~2510266,00.html CONCACAF unveils 2011/12 Champions League quarterfinal schedule CONCACAF.com November 15, 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20111110094512/http://www.concacaf.com/page/CL/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C12813~2510266%2C00.html November 10, 2011 mdy-all In the 2012–13 CCL, Los Angeles Galaxy, Seattle Sounders, Houston Dynamo and Real Salt Lake earned group stage spots (the preliminary round has been eliminated). The Canadian representative, determined by the 2012 Canadian Championship, was Toronto FC. At the end of the groups stages, the Los Angeles Galaxy, Seattle Sounders, and Houston Dynamo qualified for the quarterfinals, which will be played in March 2013. MLS All-Star Game 2012 MLS All-Star Game The 2012 MLS All-Star Game was played on July 25 at PPL Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, home stadium of the Philadelphia Union. As has been the format every year since 2005, the MLS All-Stars played an international club; the 2012 opponent was England's Chelsea FC, 2012 champions of both the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League and visiting side in the 2006 MLS All-Star Game (when they lost to the All-Stars, 1–0, at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois)."All-Star Game: Chelsea return for grudge match at PPL," https://web.archive.org/web/20120624145816/http://www.mlssoccer.com/all-star/2012/news/article/2012/04/11/all-star-game-chelsea-return-grudge-match-ppl June 24, 2012 from MLSsoccer.com, 4/11/2012 The MLS All-Stars won the game 3–2. Domestic competitions Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualification For the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament, U.S. Soccer has increased the size of the main tournament from 40 to 64 clubs, assembling the competition so that all U.S.-based Major League Soccer clubs gain entry."Source: 2012 US Open Cup format proposal calls for 64 teams..." from TheCup.us, 11/9/2011April 2012 On August 8, 2012, Sporting Kansas City defeated the Seattle Sounders on penalties to win the franchise's second open cup title."Sporting Kansas City Claims 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup After Penalty Shootout Victory Against Three-Time Defending Champion Seattle Sounders FC " https://web.archive.org/web/20130127134633/http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Lamar-Hunt-U-S-Open-Cup/2012/08/Sporting-Kansas-City-Wins-2012-Lamar-Hunt-US-Open-Cup.aspx January 27, 2013 from ussoccer.com, 8/9/2012 Canadian Championship 2012 Canadian Championship The three Canadian-based MLS clubs, Toronto FC, Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, along with NASL club FC Edmonton, competed for the Voyageurs Cup, Canada's national championship trophy. The tournament is organized in a knockout format with two-legged ties in both the semifinals and final, with the away goals rule in place. Toronto defeated Vancouver in the finals, their fourth consecutive national championship, and qualified for the 2012–13 CONCACAF Champions League. League Competitions MLS Cup 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs The MLS Cup playoffs took place after the conclusion of the regular season. For 2012, the playoff structure underwent several changes: The playoffs will no longer feature wild cards and the possibility of "crossovers" (i.e. teams from opposite conferences playing in the early rounds). Instead, the top five clubs in each conference's standings will qualify for the playoffs and will play in the following manner: The 4th place team will host the 5th place team in a single "play-in" match, with the winner advancing to the conference semifinals. The Conference Semifinals will again be a two-game aggregate goal setup as before (with extra time and penalty kicks employed if the aggregate is level after 180 minutes). The 1st place team will play the winner of the 4th/5th game, while the 2nd and 3rd place teams play each other. The lower-seeded team will host the first leg of each semifinal. The semifinal winners will play each other in the Conference Finals, which will be altered to a two-game aggregate series patterned after the semifinal round (before this year, this round was a single-game format). The Conference Final winners will advance to the MLS Cup Championship Game, which for the first time will be played at the home stadium of the finalist with the better regular season point total; before this season, the game was played at a predetermined site. Coaches Eastern Conference Chicago Fire: Frank Klopas Columbus Crew: Robert Warzycha D.C. United: Ben Olsen Houston Dynamo: Dominic Kinnear Montreal Impact: Jesse Marsch New England Revolution: Jay Heaps New York Red Bulls: Hans Backe Philadelphia Union: Peter Nowak and John Hackworth Sporting Kansas City: Peter Vermes Toronto FC: Paul Mariner Western Conference Chivas USA: Robin Fraser Colorado Rapids: Óscar Pareja FC Dallas: Schellas Hyndman Los Angeles Galaxy: Bruce Arena Portland Timbers: John Spencer and Gavin Wilkinson Real Salt Lake: Jason Kreis San Jose Earthquakes: Frank Yallop Seattle Sounders FC: Sigi Schmid Vancouver Whitecaps FC: Martin Rennie Notes lower-alpha References 30em 2012 1