With Week 30 of the MLS regular season in the books, Sporting KC's playoff math is as simple as it's been all year.
Win, and they're in.
A frustrating 1-0 loss to Vancouver Whitecaps FC prevented Sporting KC from clinching a club-record seventh straight playoff appearance this weekend. Fortunately for Manager Peter Vermes' men, another opportunity will come this Saturday when the team visits Minnesota United FC for a 7 p.m. CT kickoff on FOX Sports Kansas City.
Sporting KC's magic number is 2
Two points from Sporting KC's final four matches would guarantee another trip to the MLS Cup Playoffs. That's why a win on Saturday would secure a postseason berth with three games to spare.
Sporting KC's magic number for a knockout round bye is 7
Currently tied with the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders FC for second place in the West, Sporting KC is in a dogfight for a top-two spot and the knockout round bye that comes with it. However, Vermes' side has two games in hand on both Pacific Northwest rivals, as Portland and Seattle can only finish with a maximum of 53 points. That means an additional seven points from Sporting KC's last four games would guarantee a top-two spot in the West.
Sporting KC's magic number for a home playoff game is 6
Should a top-two finish elude Sporting KC, a home playoff game in the knockout round — going to the third and fourth seeds — would be a welcome consolation. After all, the club hasn't hosted a postseason match since the 2013 MLS Cup. Six points over Sporting KC's last four fixtures would see the MLS Cup Playoffs return to Children's Mercy Park.
WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS (THROUGH OCT. 1, 2017)
<strong>#</strong> |
<strong>Club</strong> |
<strong>Points</strong> |
<strong>Games<br>
Remaining</strong> |
<strong>Potential<br>
Points</strong> |
<strong>Record</strong> |
<strong>Goal<br>
Diff.</strong> |
1 |
Vancouver Whitecaps FC <strong>(X)</strong> |
51 |
3 |
60 |
15-10-6 |
+5 |
2 |
Portland Timbers |
47 |
2 |
53 |
13-11-8 |
+5 |
3 |
Sporting Kansas City |
47 |
4 |
59 |
12-7-11 |
+13 |
4 |
Seattle Sounders FC |
47 |
2 |
53 |
12-9-11 |
+6 |
5 |
Houston Dynamo |
43 |
3 |
52 |
11-10-10 |
+8 |
6 |
Real Salt Lake |
42 |
2 |
48 |
12-14-6 |
-6 |
7 |
San Jose Earthquakes |
42 |
2 |
48 |
12-14-6 |
-22 |
8 |
FC Dallas |
42 |
3 |
51 |
10-9-12 |
0 |
9 |
Minnesota United FC |
32 |
4 |
44 |
9-16-5 |
-20 |
10 |
Colorado Rapids |
29 |
3 |
38 |
8-18-5 |
-18 |
11 |
LA Galaxy |
29 |
2 |
35 |
7-17-8 |
-21 |
(X) - Clinched playoff spot
Tie-breaking procedures: (Number of wins, then goal differential, then goals scored, etc.)
