Matt Besler scored in the 54th minute as Sporting Kansas City beat D.C. United 1-0 in Major League Soccer on Saturday, earning the top seed in the Eastern Conference going into the playoffs.
Sporting, which closed the season with a five-match unbeaten streak, will play a two-leg conference semifinal against the highest remaining seed from next week's wild card round.
United, winless in its last six games, was eliminated from playoff contention with a draw against Portland last week.
Besler converted the rebound after Kei Kamara's header hit the post.
Also Saturday, the Colorado Rapids beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 and Toronto FC and the New England Revolution drew 2-2.
Wells Thompson scored in the 84th minute as the Rapids rallied from an early 1-0 deficit. Defending-champion Colorado improved its chances of hosting a playoff game with the win, pending other results this weekend.
Danny Koevermans scored in the 83rd minute to help Toronto FC salvage the draw in the final game of the season for both teams. The Dutch striker scored his eighth goal in 10 games this season.
Nick Soolsma also scored for Toronto, while Monsef Zerka and Milton Caraglio got New England's goals.
