Playoff run: Do the math

Marco Di Vaio vs Sporting KC

Photo Credit: 

Charles William / impactmontreal.com

The 0-0 draw between the Montreal Impact and Sporting Kansas City last Saturday wasn’t the ideal result for a club chasing a playoff spot, despite ending a two-game losing streak against the leaders of the Eastern Conference.

However, some of the other results this past weekend have left the club mathematically in a position to qualify for a playoff spot.

The draw last Saturday in front of a sellout crowd earned the Impact a point, bringing its record to 12-15-4, for a total of 40 points in 31 games played – good for 7^th spot in the conference. With three games left on the season, 9 points are still up for grabs for les onze montrealais.

D.C. United squeaked out a 1-0 victory over Chivas USA on Sunday, on the road, which puts them in 4^th in the East at 50 points, a 10 point cushion that pushes them out of the Impact’s reach.

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Conversely, the Houston Dynamo fell 3-1 to the Philadelphia Union on Sunday, dropping the Orangemen into 5^th place, holding down the final playoff spot with 46 points in 30 games played. The Dynamo does hold a game in hand on the Impact, which will be made up next weekend as the team from la belle province has a bye week, but the two sides face off at BBVA Compass Stadium on October 6 -  a game which could potentially decide the Impact’s playoff fate for good.

The Columbus Crew also lost this past weekend, falling 2-1 to the Chicago Fire. That leaves the black and yellow with 45 points in 30 games played – good for 6^th spot in one game in hand on Montreal.

Both teams play at home next Saturday, with Columbus taking on the Philadelphia Union and Houston facing off against the New England Revolution. With all the pressure on the Dynamo and the Crew to win those games, their Eastern Conference rivals could play spoilers.

However, if Houston does win, the Impact could still mathematically tie the Dynamo in points, which would set the stage for a tiebreaker based on goals for – a statistic that the Impact is currently leading 44 to 42.

TEAM-STANDINGS TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURES

1. Goals For (See column labeled GF on www.MLSsoccer.com/standings page)
2. Goal Differential (GD)
3. Fewest Disciplinary Points (Posted here)
4. Road Goals
5. Road Goal Differential
6. Home Goals
7. Home Goal Differential
8. Coin Toss (2 teams) or Drawing of Lots (3 or more)