It’s Decision Day’s eve-eve. It most definitely should be a national holiday. Ok, definitely an over-exaggeration. But it’s still really big. As Donald Trump might say, these games will impact the playoff picture bigly. Ok I’m done. Sporting KC will be looking to consolidate their playoff position on Sunday against San Jose Earthquakes.
Sporting KC Playoff Scenarios
Here are the current standings:
| Teams | Points | Wins | GD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Salt Lake | 46 | 12 | -1 |
| Seattle Sounders | 45 | 13 | 0 |
| Sporting KC | 44 | 12 | -1 |
| Portland | 44 | 12 | -2 |
Here are the games that matter on Sunday for playoff positioning:
Sporting KC vs. San Jose Earthquakes; Seattle Sounders vs. Real Salt Lake; Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Portland Timbers.
To get at least 6th: (Road Knockout Round Match)
If Sporting KC wins, they make the playoffs, it’s as simple as that. No other results matter, as far as a postseason place. Because Seattle and RSL play each other, somebody is going to drop points, meaning if both Portland and SKC pull out a win, then one of Seattle and RSL will miss the postseason. There is no scenario possible in which they would win and not make the playoffs
With a draw: Would need a Portland/loss or tie. Seattle holds the tiebreakers regardless of their result.
With a loss: Portland would have to lose as well by a scoreline at least one goal better than Portland’s. If they lose, and Portland draws or wins, they’re out.
For Sporting KC to Finish Fifth (Road Knockout Round Match)
For Sporting to finish fifth, they’d have to win. They can do so by a few results. They would need an RSL win, coupled with a win of their own to get fifth. That’s rather simple. The other way this can work is if RSL and Seattle tie, and Portland wins by a scoreline a goal greater than Sporting’s.
For Sporting KC to Finish Fourth (Home Knockout Round Match)
The best possible scenario for Sporting on Sunday is to end up in fourth. That would result in hosting the one game Knockout Round playoff. They can’t finish any higher than that since LA is completely locked into the third spot. If Sporting KC win, they can host the Knockout Round Match through one certain scenario. A win, coupled with an RSL/SEA draw, AND they maintain the advantage on Portland via the Timbers’ failure to win or by virtue of keeping the higher goal-differential. In this case, Sporting KC would finish fourth and a knockout round would come to Children’s Mercy Park next week.
Sporting KC vs. San Jose Earthquakes kicks off at 3pm local, 4pm eastern. You can watch on MLS Live or the local broadcasts if you get them. You can find all of the MLS Postseason scenarios here.
