Let the Games Begin
by Bill Fetty, Columnist, a-league.com

5.September.2000
First of all I want to say thanks to everyone who checked out the article on the A-League point system and voted in the poll. Thanks to all of you for reading my lengthy rant against the system. Now, though, points hardly mean anything as we roll into the post-season and I must give credit where credit is due. So, A-League management, good job on being the first to step up and deliver the traditional two-legged play-off system used throughout the rest of the world even though we won't see it until the Conference semis. Also congratulations to all the clubs who got into the playoffs (whether or not I like how you got there, eh Indiana?). Now let's take a closer look at this season's run for the championship.

[Prediction] Raleigh 2 - Charleston 1 OT
Let's look first at the East where it appears to be a dogfight from top to bottom. In the 1 v. 8 match-up we'll see Charleston take on their nemesis from the Atlantic Division Raleigh. The Express should be riding high after taking the Southern Derby right out from under the Battery's nose 2-1 this past weekend. Raleigh had better not get too high from that success, though, or Temoc Suarez and company will make them pay. The key to this showdown will be whether or not Raleigh can produce the same kind of defensive efforts that they came up with against the Battery earlier this year. My gut says they will. I look for the Express to frustrate the Battery for one last time this season taking the victory from Blackbaud 2-1 in extra time.

[Prediction] Rochester 3 - Hershey 1
This brings us to the 4 v. 5 match-up in the East with Rochester facing Hershey. Hershey have been a handful all season long but the perennial Eastern favorite Rhinos won't be in a playful mood coming into their match with the Wildcats. Look for a solid all-around performance to lead the Rhinos into the quarterfinals as they prove once again that the road to the A-League championship passes through Rochester. A 3-1 victory in Rochester will see the Rhinos through as one of the perennial favorites makes a statement in the first round.

[Prediction] Long Island 3 - Toronto 1
Next up we make an appearance on Long Island where the Riders will leave the Lynx feeling as punch drunk as sailors on shore leave after a few pitchers worth of their famous "tea" in the 2 v. 7 match-up. Toronto has been tough all over this season whether at home or on the road and I expect they'll give Long Island a run for their money. The Riders' attack should open things up, though, in the first leg with a 3-1 win at their place giving Long Island the victory and a place in the next round.

[Prediction] Hampton Roads 3 - Richmond 2
In the battle of Virginia we'll get to see if Richmond and Hampton Roads were flukes this season or if they really are that good. The 3 v. 6 match-up promises to be an explosive affair and on the Kickers' current form the fans down on the coast of Virginia have to feel good about their chances. Richmond were extremely unlucky to get piped at the end by the Battery for the number one seed in the East and it looks unlucky for both of those squads that it turned out that way as I see another minor upset occurring in this one. Hampton Roads looks poised to steal this one in Richmond 3-2 with their flank play and explosive counter-attack. Look out for inclement weather to possibly wreak havoc on this match if it's as bad as it tends to get amid the Atlantic states in September.

[Prediction] Minnesota 5 - Indiana 1
Now we get to head out West where the 1 v. 8 match-up is just…. well, let me put it this way, if this tie isn't concluded after the first half in Minnesota then there is something seriously wrong. Indiana goes into this tie against Minnesota as decided underdogs. The Blast have been known to turn on the flair a couple of times this season, albeit the kind of flair that one might see on the suspenders of waitresses at T.G.I.Friday's but flair none-the-less, unfortunately they won't be able to do it against the Thunder when the spotlight of the post-season is upon them. Look for Minnesota to win comfortably 5-1 at home. The Thunder should cruise through to the next round but a steady diet of cupcakes won't help them the later into the playoffs they go.

[Prediction] San Diego 3 - Vancouver 2 OT
The next match-up on our plate sees San Diego taking on Vancouver in the 4 v. 5 tie which promises to produce a far more enthralling match than we'll see Minnesota and Indiana engage in. The 86ers will get eighty-sixed in this one but it will be another match decided with a golden goal. Unfortunately for the 86ers they will not be able to duplicate the beauty of their home city on the field and will succumb to the Flash in the second overtime period 3-2. San Diego's strike force just has a bit too much up top for Vancouver as we say goodbye to another Canadian squad.

[Prediction] Seattle 2 - Bay Area 0
We'll see another tough match-up in the 2 v. 7 out in the West where Seattle will take on Bay Area. The battle to see which is better, a Bay or a Sound, we'll eventually get to see some good soccer with the Sounders going through. I look for Seattle to win 2-0 at home with a solid defensive effort but they'll need to stay away from getting caught sitting on the dock of the bay wasting time in an effort to hang on.

[Prediction] Milwaukee 3 - El Paso 1
In the final first round tie we'll see Milwaukee face off against El Paso in the 3 v. 6 match-up. Now that the Rampage have to face someone outside of the Central in a real pressure situation we should find out if they're for real. I think Takiwara and company are good enough to handle El Paso but I don't think it will be as easy as some Milwaukee fans would like to believe. Watch for Digital to run like clockwork against El Paso at home and lead the Rampage to a sound 3-1 shellacking of El Paso in the heart of beer country. The 3 goals they'll use to stun El Paso in the second half will prove to be more than enough to see them through to the next round as they try to go deep into the playoffs and earn a showdown with their Central nemesis, Minnesota.

With any luck the quarterfinals will look something like this:

East:
Raleigh (8) v. Rochester (4)
Long Island (2) v. Hampton Roads (6)

West:
Minnesota (1) v. San Diego (4)
Seattle (2) v. Milwaukee (3)

Good luck to all the teams in the post-season, and Indiana, the horseshoes and clover leafs are in the mail.