Fotoalbum » Levine of WSCR AM 670 reported that Cabrera had reached a

A quartet of dramatic MLS conference semi-finals resulted in upsets, outstanding individual performances and possibly the end for some of footballs most iconic names. Colorado Rapids have reached their second ever MLS Conference final where they will face Seattle Sounders, who will make their third appearance at this stage. In the Eastern Conference, Canada rules as Toronto FC and Montreal Impact face off against each other for the first time ever in a post-season with neither side reaching this phase of the competition before.Ahead of the season-defining games, live on Sky Sports, we dissect some of the subplots to have come out of the play-off semi-finals, with a look ahead to what seems set to be one of the most exciting climaxes to an MLS campaign in its 20-year history. Highlights as Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard suffer defeats in the MLS semi-finals with their contracts up at the end of the season Is Steven Gerrards playing career over?Gerrard has hinted that he might end his playing career at LA Galaxy, with his contract at the club expiring at the end of the season. Media reports have linked the 36-year-old with a return to Liverpool to take up a coaching role under Jurgen Klopp.Should Gerrard retire or opt to leave Galaxy, he will depart America without an MLS Cup to his name.Considering the Galaxy are the most decorated club in American soccer history, the 1-1 aggregate defeat on penalties at the conference semi-final stage was as a real upset. Ashley Cole was among the players to miss a penalty as LA Galaxy crashed out of the MLS playoffs against Tim Howards Colorado Rapids side Will Didier Drogba start in MLS again?Montreals 3-1 aggregate victory over New York Red Bulls would have been an important statement to Didier Drogba. The 38-year-old is no longer the clubs star, Ignacio Piatti is.The former Chelsea striker refused to feature for the Impact last month after learning he would not be starting. He has not played since with reports of an apparent back problem, missing Impacts final regular season game and then their first two play-off matches.Drogba came off the bench for the final ten minutes on Sunday with Montreal already 2-1 up on aggregate, playing a cameo role reminiscent of his second spell at Chelsea. Piattis double in the second leg against the Red Bulls means he has three goals and an assist in the play-offs after three matches, while Drogbas striker replacement Matteo Mancosu has also scored three.If a fully fit Drogba does not start against Toronto on November 27, the end of his MLS career may be in sight.Sebastian Giovinco shiningToronto will have thought they would be up against it when they were drawn to face a New York City team consisting of Frank Lampard, Andrea Pirlo and David Villa, but Sebastian Giovinco had other plans. Sebastian Giovinco scored a hat-trick to help Toronto through Having already dispatched Philadelphia Union 3-1 in a one-game knockout round, the first leg of their Eastern Conference semi-final clash with NYC came just four days later. That did not faze coach Greg Vanneys side, though. Jozy Altidore and Tosaint Ricketts gave the Reds a two-goal cushion going into the away leg before Giovinco scored a hat-trick at Yankee Stadium in the 5-0 victory. The tie finished 7-0 to Toronto on aggregate, the largest play-off scoreline in league history.In their first MLS season, New York City were competing in their first ever play-off. An achievement in itself, but questions will now be raised over the longevity of Pirlo, 37, and Lampard, 38, in Major League Soccer. Resurgence in SeattleThe majority of Seattles season had been difficult, only winning six league matches in the first five months of the season. But the tough decision to replace long-standing coach Sigi Schmid for his assistant Brian Schmetzer looks to have paid off. How the MLS play-offs work Our guide to the MLS post-season Seattle have won their last ten home matches in a row and has been greatly spurred on by Osvaldo Alonso and forwards Jordan Morris and Nicolas Lodeiro.So despite Clint Dempsey being ruled out for the season in August with health issues relating to an irregular heartbeat, the Sounders have stayed strong.FC Dallas were on the hunt for the treble this season having already won the Supporters Shield and U.S Open Cup, but Seattle have ended any chance of further success earlier than expected with a 3-0 win in the first leg carrying them over the line in the end as they lost 2-1 in the return fixture.The Sounders have never gone past the conference championship final, but they have also never lost at home in the penultimate round before MLS Cup so plenty of reason to suggest theyre a significant threat. LA Galaxy were knocked out of the MLS Cup after a penalty shoot-out defeat to the Colorado Rapids on Sunday Underdogs Colorado out for second MLS CupThe only team out of the four to have lifted an MLS Cup, Colorado Rapids have been this seasons MLS surprise packages.Last year, the Rapids finished bottom of the West on 37 points and have now gone on to reach the Conference finals after seeing off a star-studded LA Galaxy team on penalties.A 40-yard strike from former Basel forward Shkelzen Gashi to send the tie to extra-time will go down as one of the great goals in MLS play-off history while Tim Howard pulled off the necessary heroics with two saves in the shoot-out.The resilience seen in the Rapids post-season campaign so far could see the Rapids lift their first MLS Cup since 2010. Colorado have not reached the same stage of the play-offs in the last six years, and would surely make for one of the leagues great success stories should they overcome an expensively assembled Seattle side.What are the dates and times? MLS play-offs schedule Date Knockout round Time October 27 Toronto 3-1 Philadelphia LA Galaxy 3-1 Real Salt Lake October 28 DC United 2-4 Montreal Seattle 1-0 Kansas Conference semi-finals First leg October 30 East: Toronto 2-0 NYC (2) West: LA Galaxy 1-0 Colorado (2) East: Montreal 1-0 NY Red Bulls October 31 West: Seattle 3-0 Dallas (1) Second leg November 6 East: NY Red Bulls (1) 1-2 Montreal West: Colorado (2) p1-0 LA Galaxy November 7 East: NYC (2) 0-5 Toronto West: Dallas (1) 2-1 Seattle Conference finals November 21 Seattle v Colorado Midnight November 23 Montreal v Toronto Midnight November 27 Colorado v Seattle 8pm November 30 Toronto v Montreal 11pm MLS Cup Final December 10 West winner v East winner Midnight Also See: Toronto and Impact advance WATCH: Gerrards final kick? Custom Chicago Blackhawks Jerseys . Neither player was available Saturday for the Knicks 107-98 loss in Atlanta. "Were going in a different direction and weve got to figure out another spot or two for our ballclub," coach Mike Woodson said before the game. Patrick Kane Jersey . On Wednesday night, they showed that stellar defence and a little small ball can get the job done too. With pinch-runner Kevin Pillar aboard after Dioner Navarro opened the bottom of the ninth with a single, Anthony Gose dropped down an excellent bunt along the first-base line. http://www.authenticblackhawkspro.com/Tony-esposito-blackhawks-jersey/ . Unfortunately for the Cleveland Cavaliers, James Harden was in the building. Denis Savard Jersey . Justine finished first with a score of 22.44 while Chloe was second with 21.66 points. Defending champion Hannah Kearney of the U.S., was third at 21.49. A third Dufour-Lapointe sister, Maxime, failed to make the final group and finished 12th while Audrey Robichaud of Quebec City was 10th. Alex DeBrincat Jersey . Tyrell appeared in seven games with the Lightning this year, he had no points in those appearances. The 24-year-old has seven goals and 17 assists in 132 career NHL games, all coming with the Lightning. He was selected in the second round, 47th overall, of the 2007 draft.Melky Cabrera appears to be headed to Chicago. Chicago radio reporter Bruce Levine of WSCR AM 670 reported that Cabrera had reached a deal with the White Sox early Sunday morning. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported the two sides reached a three-year deal worth $42 million. While neither Cabreras representatives nor the White Sox immediately confirmed the deal, Cabrera himself may have provided legitimacy to the report. White Sox centre fielder Adam Eaton took to Twitter to celebrate the news, writing: The Melk Man!!! Welcome fella!! @TheMelkman53 #NewTeammates #SouthSide. The 30-year-old Cabrera re-tweeted EEatons message shortly thereafter.dddddddddddd Coming off a two-year, $16 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, Cabrera enjoyed a solid 2014 campaign, hitting .301 with 16 home runs and 71 runs batted-in. The Blue Jays signed Cabrera on a relatively discounted deal after he had his 2012 campaign cut short due to a 50-game performance-enhancing drugs suspension. Cabrera was an All-Star in 2012, hitting .346 over 113 games with the San Francisco Giants. He has appeared in 1211 career games over 10 MLB seasons with the Giants, Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves and Kansas City Royals. ' ' '