The home stretch is upon us. In 35 days, the book will close on the 2015 MLS Regular Season and we will know the 12 teams that have tickets to the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs. The only team to have currently clinched a playoff berth is the New York Red Bulls.
After going five straight matches without a win, Sporting KC rebounded emphatically on Friday with a 3-1 win over FC Dallas. Benny Feilhaber tallied twice and Dom Dwyer scored his team-best 15th goal in all competitions to keep Sporting KC in the thick of the Western Conference race. Peter Vermes' side is currently in fifth place in the Western Conference with 44 points, but sits only four points back of conference leaders Vancouver Whitecaps FC. As a reminder, the top six teams in each conference will make the playoffs with the top two in each conference earning a bye in the first round.
Magic Number
10 - The maximum number of points a team currently outside the top six can reach is 53 (Real Salt Lake). If Sporting KC reach 54 points (10 more than their current total), they'll be guaranteed a top-six finish in the Western Conference standings.
Western Conference (Top 6 advance to playoffs)
<u><strong>Team</strong></u> |
<u><strong>Points</strong></u> |
<u><strong>Record</strong></u> |
<u><strong>Matches Remaining</strong></u> |
<u><strong>Highest Possible Points</strong></u> |
<u><strong>Remaining Schedule</strong></u> |
|
1 |
Vancouver |
48 |
15-11-3 |
5 |
63 |
vs. NYC, at SJ, vs. FCD, at FCD, vs. HOU |
2 |
Dallas |
47 |
14-9-5 |
6 |
65 |
at LA, vs. HOU, at VAN, vs. VAN, at RSL, vs. SJ |
3 |
LA Galaxy |
47 |
13-9-8 |
4 |
59 |
vs. FCD, at SEA, vs. POR, at SKC |
4 |
Seattle |
45 |
14-13-3 |
4 |
57 |
at SKC, vs. LA, at HOU, vs. RSL |
5 |
Sporting KC |
44 |
12-8-8 |
6 |
62 |
at HOU, vs. SEA, at POR, at SJ, vs. COL, vs. LA |
6 |
Portland |
41 |
11-10-8 |
5 |
56 |
at CLB, vs. SKC, at RSL, at LA, vs. COL |
7 |
San Jose |
40 |
11-12-7 |
4 |
52 |
vs. RSL, vs. VAN, vs. SKC, at FCD |
8 |
Real Salt Lake |
38 |
10-11-8 |
5 |
53 |
at SJ, at COL, vs. POR, vs. FCD, at SEA |
9 |
Houston |
35 |
9-12-8 |
5 |
50 |
vs. SKC, vs. COL, at FCD, vs. SEA, at VAN |
10 |
Colorado |
34 |
8-11-10 |
5 |
49 |
at HOU, vs. RSL, vs. MTL, at SKC, at POR |
Sporting KC is also in ninth place in the Supporters' Shield standings but have the fourth highest points per game in MLS. The race for the Shield will likely come down to the last weekend of the year with the previous four winners averaging 64 points.
Supporters' Shield Standings
<u><strong>Team</strong></u> |
<u><strong>Points</strong></u> |
<u><strong>PPG</strong></u> |
<u><strong>Matches Remaining</strong></u> |
<u><strong>Highest Possible Points</strong></u> |
|
1 |
Vancouver |
48 |
1.66 |
5 |
63 |
2 |
New York |
48 |
1.71 |
6 |
66 |
3 |
FC Dallas |
47 |
1.68 |
6 |
65 |
4 |
LA Galaxy |
47 |
1.57 |
4 |
59 |
5 |
Columbus |
47 |
1.57 |
4 |
59 |
6 |
New England |
46 |
1.53 |
4 |
58 |
7 |
Seattle |
45 |
1.5 |
4 |
57 |
8 |
D.C. United |
45 |
1.5 |
4 |
57 |
9 |
Sporting KC |
44 |
1.57 |
6 |
62 |
10 |
Portland |
41 |
1.41 |
5 |
56 |
