Thanks to a resolute performance from the back five and a jaw-dropping goal from Krisztian Nemeth, Sporting Kansas City notched a pivotal win over the Portland Timbers on Saturday and significantly boosted their hopes of a fifth straight trip to the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Week 31 is in the books, and just seven points separate first place from seventh place in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. Sporting KC currently sits fourth in the logjam, four points behind leaders LA Galaxy albeit with a game in hand.
Magic Number
3 - If Sporting KC reaches 51 points, three more than their current total, they'll be guaranteed a top-six finish in the Western Conference standings. Why? Because the maximum point haul for the San Jose Earthquakes and Real Salt Lake is 50, while Houston's best possible total is 47. The Colorado Rapids have already been mathematically eliminated from postseason contention.
Western Conference (Top 6 advance to playoffs)
<strong>Team</strong> |
<strong>Points</strong> |
<strong>Record</strong> |
<strong>Games left</strong> |
<strong>Highest<br>
possible pts.</strong> |
<strong>Remaining<br>
schedule</strong> |
|
1 |
LA Galaxy |
51 |
14-9-9 |
2 |
57 |
vs. POR, at SKC |
2 |
FC Dallas |
50 |
15-10-5 |
4 |
62 |
at VAN, vs. VAN, at RSL, vs. SJ |
3 |
Vancouver |
49 |
15-12-4 |
3 |
58 |
vs. DAL, at DAL, vs. HOU |
4 |
Sporting KC |
48 |
13-9-9 |
3 |
57 |
at SJ, vs. COL, vs. LA |
5 |
Seattle |
47 |
14-3-5 |
2 |
53 |
at HOU, vs. RSL |
6 |
San Jose |
44 |
12-12-8 |
2 |
50 |
vs. SKC, at DAL |
7 |
Portland |
44 |
12-11-8 |
3 |
53 |
at RSL, at LA, vs. COL |
8 |
Houston |
41 |
11-13-8 |
2 |
47 |
vs. SEA, at VAN |
9 |
Real Salt Lake |
41 |
11-12-8 |
3 |
50 |
vs. POR, vs. DAL, at SEA |
10 |
Colorado |
34 |
8-13-10 |
3 |
43 |
vs. MTL, at SKC, at POR |
Sporting KC is sixth in the Supporters' Shield standings and retains a slim chance of finishing first if results go their way. The previous four Supporters' Shield winners have averaged 64 points, but that number forecasts to be smaller in 2015.
Supporters' Shield Standings
<strong>Team</strong> |
<strong>Points</strong> |
<strong>PPG</strong> |
<strong>Games left</strong> |
<strong>Highest <br>
possible pts.</strong> |
|
1 |
*New York |
51 |
1.70 |
4 |
63 |
2 |
*LA Galaxy |
51 |
1.59 |
2 |
57 |
3 |
*FC Dallas |
50 |
1.67 |
4 |
62 |
4 |
Vancouver |
49 |
1.58 |
3 |
58 |
5 |
*D.C. United |
48 |
1.50 |
2 |
54 |
6 |
Sporting KC |
48 |
1.55 |
3 |
57 |
7 |
Seattle |
47 |
1.47 |
2 |
53 |
8 |
New England |
47 |
1.47 |
2 |
53 |
9 |
Columbus |
47 |
1.47 |
2 |
53 |
10 |
Toronto FC |
46 |
1.48 |
3 |
55 |
*Asterisk indicates team has clinched playoff berth
