MONTREAL -- No matter how they got there, the Montreal Impact are relieved just to be part of the Major League Soccer playoffs. Tony Gonzalez Falcons Jersey . After losing their regular season finale in Toronto on Saturday, the Impact could only sit and watch as other teams decided their playoff fate. Finally, a 5-2 win by the New York Red Bulls over the Chicago Fire gave them fifth place and the final Eastern Conference post-season berth. Montreal (14-13-7) will face the fourth-place Dynamo (14-11-9) in Houston on Thursday night in a one-game playoff. "In the end, were still alive. Thats very positive," coach Marco Schallibaum said Monday. "We were on life support. "We were very frustrated on Saturday. But were still alive and we have another chance." If the Impact win, they will play host to the first-place Red Bulls in the first leg of their semifinal at Saputo Stadium on Sunday, with the second leg later in the week in New York. It was a shocking way to end the season for Montreal, which dominated the first four months while building a 9-3-2 record but went flat with a 5-10-5 record after that. They were 1-6-1 in their final eight games. Even Impact defender Matteo Ferrari wonders if they deserved to make it. "I was sure that New York was going to win the game but still, even if they won, we dont merit (it)," the Italian centreback said. "I want to be honest because everyone knows, we dont merit right now. "We merit before, for sure, because we played almost perfect at the beginning of the season. Now we have to get back to where we were." Captain Davy Arnaud was having none of that. He was hosting his daughters birthday party on Sunday, but couldnt resist putting MLS games on the television to see what his teams fate would be. Depending on the results, they could have ended the day anywhere from third to sixth place. He said that even if the team played badly down the stretch, they did enough to continue for at least another day. "We got into the playoffs off our performance over a 34-game season," he said. "Our form hasnt been the best of late and our results at the end of the season werent what we wanted, but everyone plays 34 games and you finish where you deserve, regardless of what other people do. "We needed some help after our result in Toronto, but I look at what weve done (all season)." The club made progress by reaching the playoffs in only its second season in MLS. They finished seventh with a 12-16-6 record as an expansion team in 2012. They also won the Amway Canadian Championship and set a record for a Canadian MLS club with 49 points. If they beat Houston, the Impact will be the first Canadian team to reach a conference semifinal. Vancouver was beaten in a playoff knockout game last year. "Its a big step," said Arnaud. "We should be proud of the fact that, in the second season of this group being together, we got into the playoffs because its not easy. "To be honest, with the way we started the season, we were a little disappointed that were finishing fifth because we know we can be a good team. But we still have a chance to be playing on the last day, and thats important." They should have some help against Houston. While centreback Alessandro Nesta wont be able to return from a calf injury, midfielder Patrice Bernier said he will be back from a hip injury and Schallibaum said central defender Nelson Rivas, who hasnt played this season due to chronic bad knees, should be able to play at least the final 20 minutes. Left back Jeb Brovsky, who has been out two weeks with a broken toe, is back training at full speed as well. Montreal beat the Dynamo twice at home this season by 2-0 and 5-0, but lost 1-0 in Houston on Oct. 4. They are 0-2-1 in Houston over two seasons. The Dynamo are tough at home. The orange-clad side led by Giles Barnes and Will Bruin reached the final last season. "Theyre very good and experienced," said Arnaud. "They had to win on the last day to get in, but if theres one team in the league that knows how to get the job done in the playoffs its Houston. "They find a way to step up and play at a different level and we have to be prepared for that." Houston may not want any part of the Red Bulls. New York went 3-0 against the Dynamo and outscored them 9-1 this season. Montreal beat the Red Bulls at home 1-0 early in the season, then lost by 2-1 and 4-0 in New York. They havent met since July 13. The Seattle Sounders play host to the Colorado Rapids in a Western Conference playoff game on Thursday, with the winner advancing to a semifinal against the Portland Timbers. Custom Atlanta Falcons Jerseys . Gustafsson controlled the first round after getting top position on a throw, and came out much more forcefully in the second, buckling Manuwa with a Muay Thai knee, and finishing him off with strikes on the ground. Kendall Sheffield Youth Jersey .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks take aim at their longest winning streak of the season on Sunday when they host the Calgary Flames in a battle at the United Center. http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/Falcons-John-Cominsky-Jersey/ . Next years tournament is also within sight for Bosnia-Herzegovina, which has never played in a World Cup, but Cristiano Ronaldo looks destined for the playoffs with Portugal after a night when the qualifying picture in the nine groups became much clearer.CLEVELAND -- Corey Kluber stayed stone-faced, maintaining the same stoic look in the clubhouse that he had for nine innings on the mound. Only when prodded by an Indians teammate did Kluber crack. "Did you smile after the game?" pitcher Justin Masterson yelled to Kluber. "I did," he said. "Only when I saw you." Kluber had everyone in Clevelands clubhouse smiling after he struck out a career-high 11 and pitched a four-hitter for his first complete game, leading the Indians to a 5-1 win over the Royals on Thursday. Kluber (2-2) didnt walk a batter, and his rare outing allowed Cleveland manager Terry Francona to give some needed rest to his bullpen. "That was really fun to watch," Francona said. "He had everything working. His fastball was going both ways, change-up, location. He worked ahead and he threw a ton of strikes. That was really impressive." Kluber is the first Cleveland pitcher to throw a complete game while recording 11 strikeouts, no walks or earned runs since Len Barkers perfect game in 1981. "It was nice," said Kluber, who couldnt remember the last time he pitched nine innings. "I really wasnt trying to make a bigger deal out of it than going out there and getting three more outs. Maybe thats why it worked out." David Murphy and Asdrubal Cabrera drove in two runs apiece in the Indians five-run fifth off Bruce Chen (1-2), who controlled Clevelands lineup for four innings. The Indians have won four of five to get back to .500. The Royals scored an unearned run off Kluber in the seventh when Omar Infante singled and scored when Indians first baseman Nick Swisher made a half-hearted attempt at Mike Moustakas grounder, which got by him for an error and rolled all the way into the right-field corner. Other than that, Kansas Citys hitters were unable to do much against Kluber, whose previous long outing was 8 2-3 innings last July against the White Sox. Hes 3-0 in four career starts against the Royals. "He put it to us," said Alex Gordon, who went 0-for-4 and struck out to thee end the game. Deion Sanders Jersey. . "Give him credit. You look at our offence today and say we stunk. Thats how it was." Chen coasted through four innings, dominating the Indians with a mix of off-speed pitches before they touched him for five runs and chased him in the fifth. The left-hander retired 11 straight before Carlos Santana led off with a double, snapping an 0-for-16 slide with just his third hit in 48 at-bats. Michael Brantley followed with a single to centre for his team-leading 19th RBI, giving Cleveland a 1-0 lead. The Indians didnt stop there as Murphy slapped a two-run single to left, and Cabrera made it 5-0 with his double down the left-field line to end Chens outing. The 28-year-old Kluber doesnt come across as fiery, but Francona said his low-key demeanour is deceiving. "Hes not the loudest guy in the clubhouse, but theres a fire there, man," Francona said. "He competes. He wants to be really good. He goes at it the right way. For a kid that doesnt have a ton of time in the major leagues, hes a good pro." Kansas City managed just one hit off Kluber in the first four innings, and then the Royals ran their way out of a scoring chance in the fifth when Alcides Escobar hesitated rounding second on Jarrod Dysons base hit, and Brantley threw him out from centre. The Royals turned a nifty double play to end the first. With a Cabrera at third, first baseman Eric Hosmer fielded Jason Kipnis hard grounder, stepped on first and threw home. Catcher Brett Hayes made a sweeping tag on Cabrera, who was called out. Crew chief Bill Miller called for a review to see if Hayes had blocked the plate, but the call was confirmed. NOTES: Kluber threw 101 pitches, 75 for strikes. ... Klubers complete game was the first for the Indians since Justin Mastersons on June 30 last season. ... The Indians and Cincinnati Reds entered the day as the only teams yet to play in an extra-inning game this season. ... The Indians will open a three-game interleague series in San Francisco on Friday. ... Brantley is 11 for 22 in his career against Chen. ' ' '