With the MLS season winding down, playoff hopes remain for all 12 teams, but Columbus' chances look dim and if it fails to catapult itself into the top four of the East Conference it will miss the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Also in danger of repeat failure are Kansas City, Real Salt Lake and Chivas USA. Kansas City meets the New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake faces Los Angeles on Wednesday. (Click here for national TV broadcasts)

Teams that missed the playoffs in successive seasons:
San Jose
Season (Coach)
1997 Laurie Calloway (15 games); Brian Quinn (17).
1998 Brian Quinn.
1999 Brian Quinn (27), Jorge Espinoza (2), Lothar Osiander (3).
2000 Lothar Osiander.

D.C. United
Season (Coach)
2000 Thomas Rongen.
2001 Thomas Rongen.
2002 Ray Hudson.

Dallas
2003 Mike Jeffries (24 games); Colin Clarke (6).
2004 Colin Clarke.

Kansas City
Season (Coach)
1998 Ron Newman.
1999 Ron Newman (4 games), Ken Fogarty (3), Bob Gansler (25).

New England
Season (Coach)
1998 Thomas Rongen (26 games), Walter Zenga (6).
1999 Walter Zenga (30), Steve Nicol (2).

YEAR-BY-YEAR: Teams that missed the playoffs
2005: Chivas USA, Real Salt Lake, Kansas City, Columbus
2004: Chicago, Dallas
2003: Columbus, Dallas
2002: D.C. United, MetroStars
2001: D.C. United, Tampa Bay, New England, Colorado
2000: D.C. United, San Jose, Columbus, Miami
1999: San Jose, New England, Kansas City, MetroStars
1998: San Jose, New England, Kansas City, Tampa Bay
1997: San Jose, MetroStars
1996: New England, Colorado