MLS Playoff Race: Three teams are fighting for one remaining spot
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Oct 16, 2017
Photo
courtesy of Seattle Sounders FC
Western Conference: sixth place. San Jose moved into sixth place thanks to its 1-1 tie at Vancouver while FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake both lost. All three teams
are at home on Sunday.
Clinching scenarios:
-- San Jose will clinch if ...
It beats Minnesota United;
It
ties Minnesota United and both FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake don't win;
It loses to Minnesota United and both FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake lose.
-- FC Dallas will clinch if ...
It beats the LA Galaxy and San Jose doesn't win;
It ties the LA Galaxy and San Jose loses and Real Salt Lake doesn't win.
-- Real Salt will clinch if ...
It beats Sporting KC
and both San Jose and FC Dallas don't win;
It ties Sporting KC and both San Jose and FC Dallas lose.
Eastern
Conference: second place (bye). Despite its 2-1 loss to New England, New
York City FC remains in second place and in the driver's seat for the second bye in the Eastern Conference. But three other teams -- Chicago, Atlanta United and Columbus -- all have a shot at
leapfrogging NYCFC, which has to play the Crew at Citi Field in Queens because of another conflict at Yankee Stadium.
Western
Conference: first and second place (byes). Vancouver could have clinched
first place in the Western Conference with a win over San Jose. The Caps are still one of three teams along with Portland and Seattle that can take first place. Sporting KC can't over Vancouver for
first place but still has an outside shot at second place.
MLS results:
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15
Chicago-Philadelphia (3-2)
New England-New York City FC (2-1)
Toronto FC-Montreal (1-0)
NY Red Bulls-Atlanta United (0-0)
Orlando City-Columbus (0-1)
Portland-D.C. United (4-0)
Seattle-FC Dallas (4-0)
Sporting KC-Houston (0-0)
Colorado-Real Salt Lake (1-0)
LA Galaxy-Minn. United (3-0)
Vancouver-San Jose (1-1)
Note: All MLS games not on national television air on MLS Live.
MLS schedule:
SUNDAY, OCTOBER
22
D.C. United vs. NY Red Bulls 4 pm
FC Dallas vs. LA Galaxy 4 pm
Portland vs. Vancouver 4 pm
Atlanta United vs. Toronto FC 4 pm
Houston vs. Chicago 4 pm
Real
Salt Lake vs. Sporting KC 4 pm
Montreal vs. New England 4 pm
Seattle vs. Colorado 4 pm
Philadelphia vs. Orlando City 4 pm
San Jose vs. Minn. United 4 pm
NYCFC vs.
Columbus 4 pm
Eastern Conference:
PTS (GP) TEAM W-L-T GF/GA
68 (33) *Toronto FC 20-5-8 72/35
56 (33)
*NYCFC 16-9-8 54/41
55 (33) *Chicago 16-10-7 61/44
54 (33) *Atlanta United 15-9-9 68/38
53 (33) *Columbus 16-12-5 51/47
47 (33) *NY Red Bulls 13-12-8 51/46
------------------------------------------
42 (33) ^New England 12-15-6 50/59
39 (33) ^Montreal 11-16-6 50/55
39
(33) ^Philadelphia 10-14-9 44/46
39 (33) ^Orlando City 10-14-9 38/52
32 (33) ^D.C. United 9-19-5 30/58
*Clinched playoff berth.
^Eliminated from playoffs.
Western Conference:
PTS (GP) TEAM W-L-T GF/GA
52 (33) *Vancouver 15-11-7 49/47
50 (33) *Portland 14-11-8 58/49
50 (33) *Seattle 13-9-11 45/39
49 (33) *Sporting KC 12-8-13 39/27
47 (33) *Houston 12-10-11 54/45
43 (33) San Jose 12-14-7 36/58
------------------------------------------
43 (33) FC Dallas 10-10-13 43/47
42 (33) Real Salt Lake 12-15-6 47/54
36 (33) ^Minn. United 10-17-6 45/67
33
(33) ^Colorado 9-18-6 31/48
32 (33) ^LA Galaxy 8-17-8 44/62
*Clinched playoff berth.
^Eliminated from playoffs.
Huzzah--we're finishing 6th in our conference! We're winners! Yay! Our season DIDN'T go down in flames. I love parity!
I thought you were one of the few who supported the NASL team in SF?
/S
Huzzah--we finished 17th and didn't get relegated so our season didn't go down in flames. I LOVE pro/rel. Just being sarcastic.It's all a matter of perspective.
One man's opinion only
Actually, Seattle cannot finish first. The two teams they are chasing play each other, and there is no way they will both lose, and Vancouver takes 1st with a draw or win, and Portland with a win. Seattle is guaranteed second and a bye if they win, since Portland and Vancouver can't both win.
If Seattle wins they have 53 points. If Vancouver ties they also have 53. Seattle finishes first based on goal differential. Timbers get third.