Sporting Kansas City worked wonders in their bid for a home playoff game on Wednesday night, overturning a halftime deficit to record a wild 4-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place. Yohan Croizet provided the equalizer, Daniel Salloi bagged a brace, and 16-year-old Gianluca Busio became the second-youngest player in MLS history to find the back of the net.
With Wednesday's action in the books, every Western Conference club has played 32 matches with two more still to go. Now it's time to take stock of the fluctuating playoff picture going into Sunday, when a mouthwatering matchup beckons between the top two teams in the West.
Sporting KC is up to second place, but it's awfully tight
Sporting KC and LAFC are level on 56 points, but Manager Peter Vermes' side hold the tiebreaker with superior goal differential. One point ahead of them is FC Dallas, whom Sporting KC will visit at 4 p.m. CT Sunday on FOX Sports Kansas City and FOX Sports Midwest.
Seattle (53 points), Portland (51 points) and Real Salt Lake (46 points) round out the top six, with seventh-place LA Galaxy (45 points) on the outside looking in. Sporting KC can finish anywhere between first and fifth.
Sporting KC's magic number for a home playoff game is 2
Two points from Sporting KC's final two matches would guarantee that the MLS Cup Playoffs return to Children's Mercy Park for the first time since 2013. However, there are multiple scenarios in which Sporting KC can clinch a top-four finish and a home playoff game this Sunday. Keep in mind, all Western Conference matches will kick off simultaneously at 4 p.m. CT.
Sporting KC can clinch a top-four finish and a home playoff game on Sunday if...
- Sporting KC beats FC Dallas, OR
- Real Salt Lake beats or ties Portland, OR
- Sporting KC ties FC Dallas, AND
Houston beats Seattle
Sporting KC controls its own destiny for top spot in the West
Sporting KC cannot clinch a top-two finish (and the Knockout Round bye that goes with it) on Sunday. But Vermes' men continue to control their own destiny. Wins in their final two games would result in a first-place finish and home-field advantage through the Western Conference finals.
Reserve your seats for #SKCvLAFC on Decision Day
After facing FC Dallas, Sporting KC will return to Children's Mercy Park to host LAFC in their regular season finale on Sunday, Oct. 28, at 3:30 p.m. CT. Click here to get your tickets for the monumental Decision Day clash as Sporting KC holds its Fan Appreciation Match with an afternoon full of supporter-friendly festivities. Countless prizes will be up for grabs exclusively through the Sporting KC Uphoria app, including the following:
- A pair of 2019 Sporting KC season tickets
- Player-autographed merchandise
- VIP experiences
- 50 percent off authentic jerseys
- Discount offers at SportingStyle and concessions
Snap up those playoff tickets, too
A home playoff game isn't locked up just yet, but it's darn close. With that being said, tickets for Sporting KC’s first potential home playoff tilt at Children’s Mercy Park are now on sale via SeatGeek.com. Season Ticket Members will automatically retain their seats for all playoff matches, excluding the MLS Cup final, and can contact their Client Services Executive for questions and further information. If Sporting KC does not host a match in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs, all individuals who purchased tickets through SeatGeek will be automatically refunded.
Western Conference Standings (as of Oct. 18, 2018)
<strong>#</strong> |
<strong>Club</strong> |
<strong>PTS</strong> |
<strong>W</strong> |
<strong>L</strong> |
<strong>T</strong> |
<strong>GF</strong> |
<strong>GA</strong> |
<strong>GD</strong> |
<strong>10/21</strong> |
<strong>10/28</strong> |
1 |
x - FC Dallas |
57 |
16 |
7 |
9 |
51 |
39 |
12 |
SKC |
at COL |
<strong>2</strong> |
<strong>x - Sporting Kansas City</strong> |
<strong>56</strong> |
<strong>16</strong> |
<strong>8</strong> |
<strong>8</strong> |
<strong>60</strong> |
<strong>39</strong> |
<strong>21</strong> |
<strong>at DAL</strong> |
<strong>LAFC</strong> |
3 |
x - Los Angeles Football Club |
56 |
16 |
8 |
8 |
65 |
48 |
17 |
VAN |
at SKC |
4 |
Seattle Sounders FC |
53 |
16 |
11 |
5 |
47 |
34 |
13 |
at HOU |
SJ |
5 |
Portland Timbers |
51 |
14 |
9 |
9 |
50 |
46 |
4 |
RSL |
at VAN |
6 |
Real Salt Lake |
46 |
13 |
12 |
7 |
51 |
54 |
-3 |
at POR |
off <strong>**</strong> |
7 |
LA Galaxy |
45 |
12 |
11 |
9 |
61 |
60 |
1 |
at MIN |
HOU |
8 |
Vancouver Whitecaps FC |
43 |
12 |
13 |
7 |
50 |
64 |
-14 |
at LAFC |
POR |
9 |
e - Minnesota United FC |
36 |
11 |
18 |
3 |
46 |
65 |
-19 |
LA |
at CLB |
10 |
e - Houston Dynamo |
35 |
9 |
15 |
8 |
53 |
53 |
0 |
SEA |
at LA |
11 |
e - Colorado Rapids |
27 |
7 |
19 |
6 |
34 |
62 |
-28 |
at SJ |
DAL |
12 |
e - San Jose Earthquakes |
20 |
4 |
20 |
8 |
48 |
69 |
-21 |
COL |
at SEA |
** RSL hosts New England tonight in its penultimate match
"x" - Clinched playoff spot
"e" - Eliminated from playoff race
Tie-breaking procedures: Number of wins, then goal differential, then goals for, etc.
Competition Rules and Regulations
