Football Americana: Playoffs begin with wild card clashes

It's the post-season in Major League Soccer and it began in Texas with the first of two wild card games, contested between the best four sides to finish outside the top three in their respective conferences.

FC Dallas were dealt something of a harsh hand. Despite finishing as the fourth best team overall their season is now over thanks to a wild card game defeat by New York Red Bulls, who occupied the final playoff spot.

The Red Bulls took the lead through Joel Lindpere's prod home on the hour from Mehdi Ballouchy's pass across the six yard line. New York's Jan Gunnar Solli was sent off for a bad tackle on Daniel Hernandez but it was Red Bull who got the second goal to set up a two-legged Western Conference semi-final with LA Galaxy. Thierry Henry scored it from all of three inches in the 98th minute with Dallas desperately hunting an equaliser.

It took just one goal to settle the other wild card match, with Colorado Rapids defeating Columbus Crew with a goal from Omar Cummings, who drilled home a cut-back from just inside the box on the stroke of half time. The Rapids had chances to double their lead after the break but the former Villa trialist's goal was enough to take them through to the Eastern Conference semi-finals, where they will face Sporting Kansas City.

All the latest details and highlights can be found here.