And then there was Decision Day.
With a pivotal slate of regular season finales set for 3 p.m. CT Sunday, Sporting Kansas City has already secured its spot in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs.
But with seeding — not to mention a sixth and final postseason berth — up for grabs in the West, it’s still very unclear where Manager Peter Vermes’ men will end up in the logjam. Anywhere between second place (and a knockout-round bye) and fifth place (starting on the road in the knockout round — again) is still a possibility.
Western Conference Standings (as of Oct. 16, 2017)
<strong>#</strong> |
<strong>Club</strong> |
<strong>Points</strong> |
<strong>Last<br>
game</strong> |
<strong><a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/standings?sort=gp">GP</a></strong> |
<strong><a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/standings?sort=w">W</a></strong> |
<strong><a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/standings?sort=l">L</a></strong> |
<strong><a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/standings?sort=t">T</a></strong> |
<strong><a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/standings?sort=gf">GF</a></strong> |
<strong><a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/standings?sort=ga">GA</a></strong> |
<strong><a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/standings?sort=gd">GD</a></strong> |
1 |
x - <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/meta/club/vancouver">Vancouver Whitecaps FC</a> |
52 |
at POR |
33 |
15 |
11 |
7 |
49 |
47 |
2 |
2 |
x - <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/meta/club/portland">Portland Timbers</a> |
50 |
vs VAN |
33 |
14 |
11 |
8 |
58 |
49 |
9 |
3 |
x - <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/meta/club/seattle">Seattle Sounders FC</a> |
50 |
vs COL |
33 |
13 |
9 |
11 |
49 |
39 |
10 |
4 |
x - <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/meta/club/sporting-kc">Sporting Kansas City</a> |
49 |
at RSL |
33 |
12 |
8 |
13 |
39 |
27 |
12 |
5 |
x - <a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/meta/club/houston">Houston Dynamo</a> |
47 |
vs CHI |
33 |
12 |
10 |
11 |
54 |
45 |
9 |
6 |
<a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/meta/club/san-jose">San Jose Earthquakes</a> |
43 |
vs MIN |
33 |
12 |
14 |
7 |
36 |
58 |
-22 |
7 |
<a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/meta/club/fc-dallas">FC Dallas</a> |
43 |
vs LA |
33 |
10 |
10 |
13 |
43 |
47 |
-4 |
8 |
<a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/meta/club/real-salt-lake">Real Salt Lake</a> |
42 |
vs SKC |
33 |
12 |
15 |
6 |
47 |
54 |
-7 |
9 |
<a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/meta/club/minnesota">Minnesota United FC</a> |
36 |
at SJ |
33 |
10 |
17 |
6 |
45 |
67 |
-22 |
10 |
<a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/meta/club/colorado">Colorado Rapids</a> |
33 |
at SEA |
33 |
9 |
18 |
6 |
31 |
48 |
-17 |
11 |
<a href="https://www.mlssoccer.com/meta/club/la-galaxy">LA Galaxy</a> |
32 |
at FCD |
33 |
8 |
17 |
8 |
44 |
62 |
-18 |
- x - Clinched playoff spot
- Tie-breaking procedures (Number of wins, then Goal Differential, then Goals For, etc.)
Below are Sporting KC’s seeding scenarios heading into Decision Day, when the club will visit Real Salt Lake in one of 11 matches played simultaneously across Major League Soccer. The pivotal showdown will air live at 3 p.m. on FOX Sports KC and FOX Sports Midwest.
How Sporting KC can finish second in the West (knockout round bye)
- Win at Real Salt Lake, AND
- Portland loses or ties vs. Vancouver, AND
- Seattle loses or ties vs. Colorado
How Sporting KC can finish third in the West (host SJ, FCD or RSL in knockout round)
- Win at Real Salt Lake, AND
- Only one of Portland or Seattle drops points to Vancouver or Colorado, respectively
How Sporting KC can finish fourth in the West (host Houston in knockout round)
- Win at Real Salt Lake, AND Portland and Seattle both win vs. Vancouver and Colorado, respectively, OR
- Tie at Real Salt Lake, AND Houston Dynamo loses or ties vs. Chicago Fire, OR
- Lose at Real Salt Lake, AND Houston Dynamo loses or ties vs. Chicago Fire
How Sporting KC can finish fifth in the West (visit Houston or Seattle in knockout round)
- Tie at Real Salt Lake, AND Houston wins vs. Chicago, OR
- Lose at Real Salt Lake, AND Houston wins vs. Chicago
