The final week of the season is upon us and the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoff field is almost set. Five teams in the Eastern Conference have punched their playoff ticket, while another three in the Western Conference are guaranteed to play meaningful soccer past Sunday.
Sporting KC has two games left in the season in its Drive to the Playoffs, presented by Shawnee Mission Kia, and the picture has never been more clear. With a win on either Wednesday or Sunday, Sporting KC will clinch a fifth consecutive playoff appearance. With two wins this week, Sporting KC has the opportunity to not only clinch a playoff spot, but secure the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference and a bye into the Western Conference Semifinals.
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 - the team in seventh place in the Western Conference - is 50. The Colorado Rapids, Real Salt Lake and Houston Dynamo 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 |
*FC Dallas |
57 |
17-10-6 |
1 |
60 |
vs. SJ |
2 |
*LA Galaxy |
51 |
14-10-9 |
1 |
54 |
at SKC |
3 |
*Vancouver |
50 |
15-13-5 |
1 |
53 |
vs. HOU |
4 |
Portland |
50 |
14-11-8 |
1 |
53 |
vs. COL |
5 |
Seattle |
48 |
14-13-6 |
1 |
51 |
vs. RSL |
6 |
Sporting KC |
48 |
13-10-9 |
2 |
54 |
vs. COL, vs. LA |
7 |
San Jose |
47 |
13-12-8 |
1 |
50 |
at FCD |
8 |
Houston |
42 |
11-13-9 |
1 |
45 |
at VAN |
9 |
Real Salt Lake |
41 |
11-14-8 |
1 |
44 |
at SEA |
10 |
Colorado |
34 |
8-14-10 |
2 |
40 |
at SKC, at POR |
*Asterisk indicates team has clinched playoff berth
The race for the Supporters Shield is down to two teams: New York Red Bulls and FC Dallas. Although Sporting KC cannot finish first overall, it is still competing with Eastern Conference teams for the potential right to host MLS Cup. Here are the overall standings:
Supporters' Shield Standings
<strong>Team</strong> |
<strong>Points</strong> |
<strong>Games left</strong> |
<strong>Highest <br>
possible pts.</strong> |
|
1 |
*New York |
57 |
1 |
60 |
2 |
*FC Dallas |
57 |
1 |
60 |
3 |
*D.C. United |
51 |
1 |
54 |
4 |
*LA Galaxy |
51 |
1 |
54 |
5 |
*Vancouver Whitecaps |
50 |
1 |
53 |
6 |
*Columbus Crew |
50 |
1 |
53 |
7 |
Portland Timbers |
50 |
1 |
53 |
8 |
*Toronto FC |
49 |
1 |
52 |
9 |
Seattle Sounders |
48 |
1 |
51 |
10 |
*Montreal Impact |
48 |
1 |
51 |
11 |
Sporting KC |
48 |
2 |
54 |
12 |
San Jose |
47 |
1 |
50 |
13 |
New England |
47 |
1 |
50 |
14 |
Orlando City |
44 |
1 |
57 |
*Asterisk indicates team has clinched playoff berth
