Photo by ISIphotos.com
by TRAVIS CLARK
September is right around the corner, and this translates into the most important part of the season for MLS clubs fighting for their playoff lives. At this point, only Columbus, Chicago, and Houston can be considered locks to qualify for the postseason, barring a collapse of epic proportions. The remaining five spots will be hotly contested by just about every club except New York.
With three teams tied for the last spot, it's becoming clear that the race will come down to the final day of the regular season. A quick survey of these contenders and their schedules tell a great deal. Clubs like Colorado, New England and Chivas USA have to be encouraged by their remaining fixtures, while a congested and busy stretch could spell doom for D.C. United and a tough closing schedule could doom struggling Seattle.
Here is a look at how the schedules shape up for all the team's contending for playoff spots:
New England turned a few heads with their six point performance during a four day stretch last week. They control their playoff destiny, having played just 20 games and sitting in a tie for eighth. Five games remain at home and five on the road — though home matches are far from easy, with Chicago, Columbus, and Seattle all make the trip to Gillette. Still, building on this recent momentum is vital if Steve Nicol plans on making the playoffs.
Joining the Revolution with a few games in hand is Chivas— who have played four less games than West-leading Houston and right their sinking ship with an important win against Toronto. They essentially have six home games remaining, counting the SuperClasico this weekend. It's not an easy stretch to say that least, with visits to Chicago, Seattle, and D.C., but thanks to the hot start things are still look good for Preki's side.
Speaking of cake walks, Colorado has a very decent chance of qualifying for the postseason. After a visit from Houston on the weekend, they'll get Toronto twice, home and away, then San Jose. Throw in winnable trips to Kansas City and Dallas, and things aren't look too bad for Rapids fans.
As previously mentioned, D.C. United is one of the clubs with a murder's row of a schedule. Their CONCACAF Champions League will either be a blessing or a curse come the end of the season, and they are currently on the outside looking in. The good news is that they have more home games left than away trips, but the bad is that they are on a four game win-less streak in the league. Visits from Seattle, and Columbus will be tricky. The draws must turn to wins for this club to fulfill its postseason dreams.
Things are really in the Galaxy's favor this year. Gone are the days of the Beckham tour, and the result is five home games out of the remaining seven. These includes visits from San Jose, Dallas and Toronto — though they face more difficult match-ups on the road, traveling to Columbus and Houston. Still, chances are that L.A. qualifies for the postseason for the first time since 2005.
For Toronto FC, they'll have to make things happen away from BMO Field, wrapping up the season with five of their last eight games on the road. While one of those includes a trip to Giants Stadium to take on the Red Bulls, their 2-5-3 away record can't inspire much confidence. Nine points from the three home games against Colorado, San Jose and Real Salt Lake should be good enough to qualify — assuming they can grab an extra point or two on their travels.
If Real Salt Lake plans on making the playoffs for the second season in a row, they've got to start tonight with a win against Chivas. A win tonight puts them right in the mix of things — a loss could spell doom. The remaining schedule is a bit of a mixed bag, with a visit from New York and a trip to Dallas, but also must head to Houston and host the Fire, the league's best team on the road.
The playoffs are in sight for the Seattle Sounders, but the schedule doesn't do them any favors. Three road games in three weeks at the end of September into October means that Seattle will likely need a win in either New England, Columbus or Kansas City to ensure that their dream season continues.
It's too little too late for San Jose, Kansas City and Dallas who barring a miraculous run will fail to keep up with the rest of the league. All three have struggled to win consistently, though it's worth noting that the Wizards have played just 20 games.
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Who has the easiest schedule of the remaining playoff teams? Who is going to make the playoffs come October? Think KC, Dallas or San Jose can make a unlikely run? Share your thoughts below.
don’t know if Cbus hates Revs as much as the Fire do, if at all. But Seattle must now have at least some hatred for the Revs after being treated to bunker-ball and the juvenile antics of Matt “As Many Follicles as Brain Cells” Reis, Paul “They Made My Glasses Thick Enough to Have X-Ray Vision and See Every Call Better than the Refs” Mariner and cuddly Stevie “Let’s Make Obscene Gestures at People Who Pay Big Bucks for MLS Skyboxes” Nicol. Poor Stevie got even redder than usual last week.
My point exactly SonicDeathMonkey
@Shmenge
While Columbus and Chicago will likely have qualified before facing the Revs, the historic wieght of homefield advantage will prevent these games from being treated as meaningless. Add in the Chicago / NE rivarly and it is pretty obvious nobody is going to make life easy for NE.
And as a Fire fan, that makes me smile inside.
c’mon Seattle! i’d luv to see SFC make it to the playoffs, an expansion team in its first year no less! it would make for some exciting playoff games, as if the ambiance in Seattle wasn’t wild enough. then i could fly out there and check out another game! suuh-weet
Chris, I bet Dietrich is more upset about Saltzburg not qualifying for the UEFA CL group stages than he is about his toy in New York. He lost out on millions of Euros on that deal.
Tick tock tick tock….only a matter of time until Checketts realizes that Kreis/Lagerway is a waste of time of the Isiah Thomas variety….
To theRick,
Philly has already won the first pick. So NYRB can’t even win that
Murderers’ Row … (grammar police citation)
Where is taylor twellman?
Top goal scorer this year?
Conor Casey or Landon Donovan?
The Revs final 3 games of the season are against Columbus (twice) and Chicago, both of whom will have already qualified by that point.
DIETRICH MATESCHITZ IS IN A UPROAR RIGHT NOW THAT THE RED BULLS HAVENT MADE THE PLAYOFFS
oh wait, he doesnt give a rats ass about us. just as long as his soda billboard is out there every saturday night
Nate, The reality here is it is a question of time and getting the playoffs done before everyone freezes to death. With the MLS Cup already in November adding another fixture, although I agree with you that it would be fairer and bring in more revenue, just pushes everything back too far. The only real way around this is if the Cup is always held in LA or Houston, the only really warm-weather venues, which won’t be accepted.
DC United also has the Open Cup final next week, along with their already brutal schedule.
NY wins it all as long as “all” consists only of the first draft pick in January.
Playoff question- Why is the second round not a home/away tie? It makes absolutely no sense to me. More games equals more revenue as well as a fair result.
NY wins it all!
It would be nice to stick a copy of the current standings with an article like this. I was just looking at the standings in terms of points per game (PPG) and the only real difference it makes is that NE is ahead of TFC and Chivas would be ahead of LA. Based on PPG the standings are: Columbus, Houston, Chicago, Chivas, LA, NE, Seattle, and Colorado.
Good to finally see someone considering games in hand in an analysis.
You mean columbus and Houston, who have practically already qualified?
I told this site back in June to stop laughing at the Galaxy for “kissing their sisters” after all those ties and look now… A solid 2nd place and 5 of 7 games left at home. I liked Arena when he was the USMNT coach supporting him till the end and being bummed out at his dismissal (ok, after the fact I was ok with it) and extremely happy when he became the Galaxy skipper.
Go LA… Win #3…
DC United will have a hard way to go but so will the other MLS clubs in CCL competition. Managers will have to manage and some players that were not getting any minutes will have a chance to shine…