UPDATE (Sun., Sept. 18): The Swope Park Rangers will clinch a playoff berth with a victory on Sunday at OKC Energy FC. Watch live at 6 p.m. CT on SportingKC.com/Rangers.
With two weeks remaining in the United Soccer League regular season, the Western Conference playoff race is poised for a mad dash at the finish line. Three points, the swing of a single game, separates the top three teams; five points then separate the next five playoff contenders. Find out where the Swope Park Rangers stack up in SportingKC.com's weekly "USL Playoff Math" series.
PLAYOFFS 101
For starters, there are 15 teams in the USL's Western Conference. The top eight make the playoffs and positioning is pivotal for home field advantage. In each round, the higher seed hosts the lower seed in a single-game elimination match. Win and advance.
TABLE AS OF TODAY
<strong>TEAM</strong> |
<strong>GP</strong> |
<strong>W</strong> |
<strong>L</strong> |
<strong>T</strong> |
<strong>PTS</strong> |
<strong>RESULT</strong> |
1. Sacramento Republic FC* |
28 |
13 |
6 |
9 |
48 |
1-1 T |
2. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC* |
28 |
13 |
8 |
7 |
46 |
2-0 W |
3. Rio Grande Valley FC* |
27 |
12 |
6 |
9 |
45 |
1-0 L |
4. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 |
28 |
11 |
8 |
9 |
42 |
2-0 L |
5. OKC Energy FC |
27 |
10 |
5 |
12 |
42 |
2-2 T |
6. LA Galaxy II |
27 |
10 |
7 |
10 |
40 |
1-1 T |
7. Swope Park Rangers |
27 |
11 |
10 |
6 |
39 |
3-0 W |
8. Orange County Blues FC |
28 |
11 |
13 |
4 |
37 |
2-0 W |
9. San Antonio FC |
27 |
9 |
10 |
8 |
35 |
3-1 L |
10. Seattle Sounders FC 2 |
28 |
9 |
11 |
8 |
35 |
2-2 T |
11. Real Monarchs SLC |
27 |
9 |
12 |
6 |
33 |
2-0 L |
12. Saint Louis FC |
28 |
8 |
11 |
9 |
33 |
3-1 W |
13. Portland Timbers 2 |
27 |
9 |
14 |
4 |
31 |
1-0 W |
14. Arizona United SC |
27 |
8 |
12 |
7 |
31 |
BYE |
15. Tulsa Roughnecks FC** |
27 |
5 |
18 |
4 |
19 |
3-0 L |
Playoff berth clinched
*Eliminated from playoff contention
SPR GAINING GROUND
Thanks to a 3-0 win over the Tulsa Roughnecks FC at Swope Soccer Village, Week 25 saw the Swope Park Rangers gain ground on five of the six teams above SPR in the Western Conference standings. The Rangers were the only team in the West to win at home and now rank second in the league with 28 home points and 24 home goals.
SPR CLOSE TO CLINCHING
A playoff berth could be within reach when the Swope Park Rangers take the field on Sunday. The Rangers will secure a playoff berth with a victory at OKC Energy FC on Sunday if two of the following three teams drop points in Week 26:
- Real Monarchs SLC (vs SA on Wednesday; at ARI on Saturday)
- San Antonio FC (at SLC on Wednesday; vs TUL on Saturday)
- Orange County Blues FC (vs RGV on Saturday)
Check back here after the matches play out on Wednesday and Saturday for updated scenarios.
WHO'S IN? WHO'S OUT?
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC booked their postseason ticket with a 2-0 road win at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 and moved into second place. Rio Grande Valley FC had a five-game winning streak snapped in a 1-0 home loss to Portland Timbers 2, but are officially playoff bound due to results elsewhere. Those two teams join Sacramento Republic FC, who extended their unbeaten run to nine games, as the only three clubs in the West to have locked up their playoff status. OKC and Vancouver could join that field with home wins on Sunday.
Orange County Blues FC moved into the final playoff position with a 2-0 road win and bumped San Antonio FC outside the playoff picture. San Antonio will play two opponents in the bottom half of the table in Week 26 as the expansion side aims to bounce back above the red line.
Portland and Saint Louis each staved off elimination with impressive road wins in the past week, while Arizona was surely scoreboard watching during a bye week that kept their postseason chances alive. Frank Yallop's side hosts Portland tonight knowing a loss would be the final dagger.
