Second place and a knockout-round bye? Fifth place and another knockout-round road game? Or somewhere in between?
Sporting Kansas City will learn their playoff path for the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs when Decision Day draws to a close at approximately 5 p.m. CT Sunday evening. Their regular-season finale at Real Salt Lake is one of 11 MLS matches kicking off concurrently at 3 p.m. CT, with FOX Sports KC and FOX Sports Midwest airing the match live. Fans are also welcome to attend the official watch party for Sunday's contest at No Other Pub in the Kansas City Power & Light District.
With that in mind, here's a look at the Western Conference table and Sporting KC's seeding scenarios heading into Decision Day.
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.)
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
