Major League Standings: The final approach

Well that didn't go how I expected or wanted it to go, but it isn't the worst case scenario. The Sounders will need the final weekend in order to qualify for the playoffs, but they will still get in, barring a collapse of historic proportions (and a few other clubs would need to ruin our fun too). That being said, the Sounders are still in a pretty good position, controlling their own destiny. A draw does not guarantee a playoff spot, but does ensure that SJ needs to win against FC Dallas to get to the show, an unlikely scenario. Due to the owning of the tie-breaker, if the Sounders lose, they'll still make the playoffs as long as SJ doesn't win. Let's look at what happened this weekend.

Friday 10/16

Orlando City SC 2 - NYCFC 1: NYC has had a disappointing season and this is just another notch in it, while the Purple Lions secured themselves at least a chance to get to the playoffs. A win against the Union next week gives OCSC the ability to make it, if the Revs lose to NYCFC, getting the expansion side into the playoffs. Cyle Larin locked down Rookie of the Year as well with a goal.

San Jose 1 - Sporting Kansas City 0: The result we didn't see coming. It helped the Sounders be able to achieve a higher playoff seed but at the expense of locking up our spot without us playing. SJ kept themselves alive and sit at 47 points in 7th with a chance to get in next week, but they require a lot of help and need to beat FCD (highly unlikely). SKC has to blow it against COL and LA to miss the big dance, and have SJ win theirs. So, very unlikely that Peter Vermes misses in his first year in the West, but it is possible.

Saturday 10/17

Toronto FC 0 - Columbus Crew 2: This one means nothing overall, but you should go watch the Federico Higuain goal, like now. It was pretty awesome.

New England 0 - Montreal Impact 1: I've insulted the French-Canadian side a lot this season, but they have really used their games in hand well as of late. While their defense has been pretty good, it has been all Drogba. Even when he isn't doing anything, the confidence he gave the side when he arrived is a true revelation. No one should want to play Montreal, home or away, in the playoffs. The Revs, meanwhile, blew a chance to lock up their playoff spot, needing just a home draw. Instead they will have to get some result against an NYCFC squad that are playing for their jobs.

Real Salt Lake 0 - FC Dallas 1: No one is shocked by this result, I mean come on. RSL has played poor at best this season. Dallas was playing for the top seed in the West and they did it. FCD is top of the West and will be playing for the Shield this weekend, tied with RBNY on points and wins. It'll go to goal differential where they are losing big time right now. They need the Red Bulls to drop points, something they'll learn minutes before their own kickoff next weekend.

Sunday 10/18

DC United 4 - Chicago Fire 0: Another Fire loss, are you shocked? Exactly. DC did what you expect from a team getting a 1st round bye.

Red Bulls 4 - Philadelphia Union 1: Blowout win by the Shield leaders against the other east bottom feeder. The big win gives them a great GD and ensures that there is no one to catch them on that.

Houston Dynamo 1 - Sounders FC 1: Disappointing result but encouraging last 15 minutes. At least we didn't lose.

LA Galaxy 2 - Portland Timbers 5: I have no words. I mean this shouldn't happen. On paper, Portland can't score well. Galaxy scores a ton. Galaxy can't defend that well but they just don't bleed five goals, they score five. Not encouraging defensively, but as goal scoring goes, PDX is happy. It's sadly safe to say that they'll finish ahead of us in the table now, with only a match against Colorado left. A win puts them at 53, where we can't catch them but a draw against the Rapids and a Sounders win does push the Rave Green over the Forest Green. Meanwhile LA will look to come back against SKC next week, in Kansas.

Sounders control their own destiny, and a win against an RSL squad that is playing for their jobs and that is really it. Though, most of them likely have their job next year so...not too worried about playing for their lives. They'll be without Kyle Beckerman due to yellow card accumulation and it wouldn't be shocking to see Javier Morales benched to ensure he isn't hurt, and they can test out another young player or two. I doubt Rimando gets benched but it is a possibility with nothing to play for. Sounders can finish anywhere between sixth and second, though the latter is much more unlikely.

MLS Standings