Following Seattle's 2-1 victory against Chivas USA on Saturday, the San Jose Earthquakes have clinched the first berth in the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs. Four clubs out of the nine-team Western Conference will be unable to match or overtake San Jose in regular-season points, thus assuring the Earthquakes’ position as one of five teams from their conference to make the playoffs.

By securing their playoff spot seven weeks from the end of the regular season, the Earthquakes equaled the performance of the LA Galaxy last year and D.C. United in 2006 – tied for the earliest since MLS expanded beyond 12 teams.

Their qualification in 2012 marks the second postseason berth for the Quakes since their return to the league in 2008. In 2010, the team reached the Eastern Conference Championship.

The Quakes are also in pursuit of the second Supporters' Shield in club history as they lead Sporting Kansas City by three points with seven games remaining for both teams.

ABOUT THE 2012 MLS CUP PLAYOFFS

The top five teams in points from each conference at the end of the regular season (10 total) will qualify for the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs.

The fourth- and fifth-place teams in each conference will play a single knockout game, the winner of which will advance to the Conference Semifinals and face the first-place team in the conference.

The four Conference Semifinals will be decided by two-game aggregate series, with the lower seed hosting the first leg and the higher seed hosting the second leg. If the aggregate score is tied after 180 minutes of play, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary.

The two Conference Championships will be decided by a two-game aggregate series, with the lower seed hosting the first leg and the higher seed hosting the second leg. If the aggregate score is tied after 180 minutes of play, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary.

MLS Cup will be a single championship match hosted by the higher seed. If the score is tied after 90 minutes of play, two 15-minute extra-time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary.