FanPost

Race for the MLS Playoffs - Week 34

Well now. When we last looked at D.C. United’s playoff chances and how the rest of the league fared, there was still some doubt as to whether United could overtake a red-hot Montreal club in the standings over the final four games of the season.

It took them three.

Now, instead of worrying about a tricky trip to Chicago to close out the regular season, the club (and its fans, obviously) have their sights set on a home game in the Knockout Round.

Club Pts PPG GP (Home)
Atlanta* 69 2.09 33 (17)
Metros* 68 2.06 33 (16)
NYCFC* 53 1.61 33 (16)
Philadelphia* 50 1.52 33 (17)
D.C. United* 50 1.52 33 (17)
Columbus 48 1.45 33 (16)
Montreal 46 1.39 33 (17)
New England 38 1.15 33 (16)
Toronto 33 1 33 (16)
Chicago 31 0.94 33 (16)
Orlando 28 0.85 33 (17)

Other than D.C. United rocketing up the standings, not much else has changed in the East over the past couple weeks. Atlanta and the Metros are still locked in a battle for the Supporter’s Shield, and have long since clinched first round byes in the playoffs. NYCFC is still in the driver’s seat for third, but could fall as low as fifth if they lose next weekend. Philadelphia and D.C. are both jockeying for fourth place, with Philly currently holding the ever-important wins tiebreaker. Montreal is still in the hunt, but only thanks to Columbus’ shocking defeat down in Orlando.

Atlanta United

This week: W, 2-1 vs. CHI
Last five: W-W-L-W-W
Next match: @ TOR

The Five Stripes took care of business at home this weekend, beating Chicago 2-1 in a sluggish match similar to the one that D.C. United played against the Fire earlier this month. Atlanta pulled ahead early and rebounded quickly after Chicago equalized in the 24th minute, but couldn’t put away at home against a Fire squad with little to play for. Sure, they were without all-everything playmaker Miguel Almiron, but this still feels like a fairly lackluster performance for a team that just tied the MLB all-time points record. Next up: one of the better budding rivalry matchups in the league against Toronto.

New York Red Bulls

This week: W, 1-0 @ PHI
Last five: W-W-W-W-D
Next match: vs. ORL

They are behind by a point heading into the last week of the year, but one could argue the Metros are in a better position to win their third Supporter’s Shield in the past six years than Atlanta is to clinch their first trophy. New York took care of business in Philadelphia last weekend, winning a 1-0 matchup that hasn’t gone their way very often in years past. They should win going away at home against Orlando next weekend.

NYCFC

This week: L, 1-3 @ DC
Last five: L-L-W-D-D
Next match: vs. PHI

NYC looked like a team that hadn’t played in nearly a full month early on against D.C. United, and it ultimately cost them a chance to clinch the No. 3 seed in the East. With just one win since mid-August, the Cityzens look like the Eastern Conference’s weakest link. However, lynchpin Yangel Herrera played the final 20 minutes on Sunday, and should be in line for a return to full-time duty as the playoffs get underway. They are a different club with him on the field, and a different team at Yankee Stadium as well. Even with their sluggish form of late, they are still favorites to clinch a top-four playoff seed.

Philadelphia Union

This week: L, 0-1 vs. NYRB
Last five: L-W-D-W-W
Next match: @ NYCFC

The Union could have clinched a home playoff game with a win on Sunday, but couldn’t figure out a way to solve the Red Bulls defense in a 1-0 loss. They still have a chance to seal their fate next weekend, but the task is just as tough as they travel up to face NYCFC on the road. While the Union have been downright puzzling at times, they have won far more than they have lost recently, and are easily the best road team in the East’s Knockout Round contingent.

D.C United

This week: W, 3-1 vs. NYCFC; W, 1-0 vs. TOR (Wed.)
Last five: W-W-W-W-D
Next match: @ CHI

It wasn’t always pretty, but D.C. United found a way to win three straight games over the past eight days and clinch a playoff berth with a game to spare. While this alone is cause for celebration, there is more work to be done. D.C. can move as high as fourth if they win on Sunday, and are all but guaranteed to host a Knockout Round game if they are able to beat Chicago on the road. It’s tough to know how the team will respond to their first road trip in almost two months -- yeah, it has been that long -- but it sounds like United will go all out to extend their unbeaten streak to double digits before the playoffs begin.

Columbus Crew

This week: L, 1-2 @ ORL
Last five: L-L-D-W-L
Next match: vs. MIN

While Columbus arguably scored the biggest win of all since our last update -- keeping your team is pretty awesome, I’d say -- they squandered a big chance to move back above Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference playoff race, and lost to an Orlando team that had not won a game since July 14. Not only are Columbus’ playoff chances still in doubt, but their lackluster offense has me (and many others) questioning whether we should be so happy about Gregg Berhalter taking over as the U.S. Men’s National Team coach. I’ll let people smarter than me handle the second part of that, but a home matchup against Minnesota should be enough to push the Crew back into the postseason.

Montreal Impact

This week: W, 2-0 vs. TOR
Last five: W-W-L-D-W
Next match: @ NE

If we’re going on entertainment value alone, I think I would rather see the Impact in the playoffs than Columbus at this point. They are a fun team to watch when they get out on the break, and are a tough out at home. Their road record is a problem, though, which doesn’t bode well going forward. Even if they are able to grind out a result at New England and jump into the postseason, they will likely face a tough road matchup against New York, Philadelphia, or D.C. in the opening round of the playoffs.

New England Revolution

This week: L, 1-4 @ RSL (Thu.)
Last five: L-W-L-L-D
Next match: vs. MTL

The Revs’ weird schedule -- they didn’t play on Sunday after losing on Thursday in Salt Lake -- is a product of a league with an odd number of teams, but the results themselves were actually fairly predictable. New England took care of business against Orlando last weekend in a game nobody watched, then were run off the field by a Salt Lake side desperate for points. The Revs were down 3-0 after 29 minutes, and conceded a fourth goal just a few minutes into the second half. Their matchup against Montreal next weekend will be worth watching, but only to see how the Impact fare with their playoff lives at stake.

Toronto FC

This week: L,0-2 @ MTL; L, 0-1 @ DC (Wed.)
Last five: L-L-L-W-L
Next match: vs. ATL

If there’s a game to watch next weekend (besides D.C., of course) it’s Toronto hosting Atlanta. Not only are the Five Stripes playing for the Supporter’s Shield, they are looking to break the all-time MLS points record -- set last year by this Toronto side. Atlanta and Toronto have also developed something of a rivalry over the past couple years; it started with Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore getting booed vociferously in Atlanta last year, and continued with Chris Mavinga being sent off after a chippy 2-2 draw in August. Here’s hoping we see more fireworks on Sunday.

Chicago Fire

This week: L, 1-2 @ ATL
Last five: L-L-W-L-D
Next match: vs. DC

The Fire once again showed some late season fight, holding Atlanta to just two goals in a close 2-1 loss at Mercedes Benz Stadium last weekend. Chicago held MVP-to-be Josef Martinez scoreless, but weren’t able to capitalize on any chances over the final 60-odd minutes of play. They should make for a tough matchup with D.C. next weekend, even if we would rather see them mail it in.

Orlando City SC

This week: W, 2-1 vs. CREW; L, 1-2 vs. SEA
Last five: W-L-L-L-D
Next match: @ NYRB

The Lions snapped a three-game losing streak with their first win in over three months on Sunday. While the result sent shockwaves throughout the rest of the East, this is still a bad Orlando team playing out the string.

And the West standings.

Club Pts PPG GP (Home)
Kansas City* 59 1.79 33 (16)
LAFC* 57 1.73 33 (17)
Dallas* 57 1.73 33 (17)
Seattle* 56 1.7 33 (16)
Portland* 54 1.64 33 (17)
Real Salt Lake 49 1.44 34 (17)
LA Galaxy 48 1.45 33 (16)
Vancouver 44 1.33 33 (16)
Minnesota 36 1.09 33 (17)
Houston 35 1.06 33 (17)
Colorado 28 0.85 33 (16)
San Jose 21 0.64 33 (17)

Here's how they did last week.

Kansas City: W, 3-0 @ DAL; W, 4-1 @ VAN (Wed.)
LAFC: D, 2-2 vs. VAN
Dallas: L, 0-3 vs. SKC
Seattle: W, 3-2 @ HOU
Portland: W, 3-0 vs. RSL
Real Salt Lake: L, 0-3 @ POR; W, 4-1 vs. NE
LA Galaxy: W, 3-1 @ MIN
Vancouver: D, 2-2 @ LAFC; L, 1-4 vs. SKC
Minnesota: L, 1-3 vs. LAG
Houston: L, 2-3 vs. SEA
Colorado: D, 0-0 @ SJ
San Jose: D, 0-0 vs. COL

In This FanPost

Teams

Trending Discussions