Portland Timbers were eliminated, FC Dallas claimed the Supporters' Shield and Seattle Sounders' late-season revival continued on an eventful final day of Major League Soccer on Sunday before the play-offs.
In the Western Conference there were four teams vying for the final three play-off spots beneath Dallas, Colorado and Los Angeles.
Seattle, who fired coach Sigi Schmid after a disappointing first half of the season, beat Real Salt Lake 2-1 and will face Sporting Kansas City in a knockout match. Sporting beat San Jose 2-0.
In the other knockout match, Salt Lake will face LA Galaxy, who played out a goalless draw with Dallas.
Defending MLS Cup champions Portland Timbers were eliminated from the play-offs with a 4-1 loss at Vancouver.
With Columbus already eliminated going into the final day, it marked the first time in league history that the finalists from the prior season did not make the play-offs.
Dallas claimed their first Supporters' Shield and are assured home advantage throughout the playoffs and for the MLS Cup match if they make it that far.
Colorado, who finished bottom of the league last season, missed out on the Shield with a 1-1 draw against Houston, but the Rapids did earn the first-round bye with Dallas.
New York Red Bulls' Bradley Wright-Phillips won the league's Golden Boot award with 24 regular season goals, and is the third player to win the award twice, joining Chris Wondolowski and Jeff Cunningham.
The Red Bulls finished in the top spot in the Eastern Conference, three points up on rival New York City, who beat Columbus 4-1. Both get opening-round byes in the play-offs.
Toronto, who had already claimed a play-off spot, broke a five-game winless streak with a 3-2 victory over Chicago, who were already eliminated. Toronto will play Philadelphia in a knockout game.
The Union lost 2-0 to the Red Bulls but claimed the sixth and final spot in the East because of New England's 3-0 victory over Montreal, with the Revolution falling out of play-off contention despite the win because of goal difference.
Montreal will play D.C. United, who fell to a 4-2 defeat by Orlando, in the other knockout match.