A hotly contested 0-0 draw between Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake leaves it all to play for on Decision Day when 10 MLS matches kick off simultaneously next Sunday at 3 p.m. CT to close out the 2016 MLS regular season.
For Sporting Kansas City, the underlying message is simple: Win, and we're in.
Manager Peter Vermes' men hold the sixth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference heading into next weekend's all-important finale against the already-eliminated San Jose Earthquakes. While the LA Galaxy have the No. 3 seed wrapped up, Sporting Kansas City, Seattle Sounders FC, Real Salt Lake and Portland Timbers could all finish anywhere between fourth (and a home playoff game) and seventh (and an unwelcome end to the year).
While they share identical records with 44 points apiece, Sporting KC holds a tiebreaker over Portland by virtue of goal differential: Sporting KC is at minus-1, Portland at minus-2. Interestingly enough, both Sporting KC and Portland will make the playoffs if they win their final matches. That's because Real Salt Lake (46 points) and Seattle (45 points) square off next Sunday, meaning one of the two will finish with 46 points or fewer.
Without further ado, here are Sporting KC's playoff scenarios as we close in on #DecisionDay.
How can Sporting KC clinch a playoff spot on Sunday?
- With a win over San Jose, OR
- With a tie vs. San Jose AND and Portland loss or tie at Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- With a loss to San Jose AND a Portland loss at Vancouver Whitecaps FC, as long as Sporting KC has a better goal differential than Portland.
How can Sporting KC clinch the No. 4 seed and a home playoff game on Sunday?
- With a win over San Jose AND a draw between Seattle Sounders FC and Real Salt Lake, as long as Sporting KC has a better goal differential than Portland, OR
- With a win over San Jose AND a draw between Seattle Sounders FC and Real Salt Lake AND a Portland loss or draw at Vancouver
Sporting Kansas City's quest for a sixth straight appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs will extend to the final day of the 2016 regular season. A limited number of tickets for the club's biggest game of the year at Children's Mercy Park are still available at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 888-4KC-GOAL.
Should Sporting KC qualify for the playoffs, the Western Conference Knockout Round match would be held either Wednesday, Oct. 26 or Thursday, Oct. 27. A victory in that game would propel Sporting KC to the Western Conference semifinals, where the club would host the first leg on Sunday, Oct. 30.
Click here for a full schedule of the 2016 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
MLS Western Conference standings heading into #DecisionDay
<strong>TEAM</strong> |
<strong>PTS</strong> |
<strong>W</strong> |
<strong>L</strong> |
<strong>T</strong> |
<strong>GD</strong> |
<b>LAST<br>
GAME</b> |
1. FC Dallas <strong>- xy</strong> |
59 |
17 |
8 |
8 |
10 |
at LA |
2. Colorado Rapids <strong>- xy</strong> |
57 |
15 |
6 |
12 |
7 |
vs. HOU |
3. LA Galaxy <strong>- x</strong> |
51 |
12 |
6 |
15 |
15 |
vs. FCD |
4. Real Salt Lake |
46 |
12 |
11 |
10 |
-1 |
at SEA |
5. Seattle Sounders FC |
45 |
13 |
14 |
6 |
0 |
vs. RSL |
<strong>6. Sporting KC</strong> |
<strong>44</strong> |
<strong>12</strong> |
<strong>13</strong> |
<strong>8</strong> |
<b>-1</b> |
<b>vs. SJ</b> |
7. Portland Timbers |
44 |
12 |
13 |
8 |
-2 |
at VAN |
8. San Jose Earthquakes <strong>- z</strong> |
38 |
8 |
11 |
14 |
-6 |
at SKC |
9. Vancouver Whitecaps FC <strong>- z</strong> |
36 |
9 |
15 |
9 |
-10 |
vs. POR |
10. Houston Dynamo <strong>- z</strong> |
33 |
7 |
14 |
12 |
-6 |
at COL |
x - Clinched playoff spot
y - Clinched first round bye
z - Eliminated from playoff contention
Tie-breaking procedures
In the event that two teams finish the regular season with an equal number of points, the following system will be used to break the tie:
- Total number of wins
- Goal Differential (GD)
- Goals For (GF)
- Fewest Disciplinary Points
- Away Goals Differential
- Away Goal For
- Home Goals Differential
- Home Goal For
- Coin Toss (tie of 2 clubs) or Drawing of Lots (tie of 3 or more clubs)
