What We Want to Happen Today 10/6

Sporting Kansas City has another opportunity to clinch a playoff berth against the LA Galaxy tonight and can clinch a home playoff game with some help. There are eight other MLS games, three of which will have big implications on Sporting’s run in the Western Conference while two of the others can have implications on a hypothetical MLS Cup match up. Here’s a look at what KC fans want to happen in today’s other matches.

Columbus at Montreal

What we want to happen - Montreal win

The Impact can no longer equal Sporting’s point total, which means KC would host a potential MLS Cup between the two if both made it. Columbus meanwhile sits four points behind Kansas City in that race. So the Crew dropping points would be best for Sporting.

New England at Atlanta

What we want to happen - doesn’t matter

Yes, technically Kansas City could still win the Supporters’ Shield, they’d have to win out, Atlanta would need to pick up no more than one point, KC would need to make up the goal difference, which currently sits at nine, and the New York Red Bulls would need to pick up no more than two points in their final three games. If you think all of that is still possible, then go ahead and root for a New England win in this one.

Vancouver at Toronto

What we Want to happen - Toronto win

This result would mean that Vancouver can no longer catch Kansas City on points in the West. In the East it would still keep Toronto’s slim playoff hopes alive for a little while longer. Vancouver’s next game is against Kansas City so you could root for a red card for Vancouver as well.

Minnesota at Philadelphia

What we want to happen - Minnesota win

Similar to Columbus earlier, Philadelphia can still catch Kansas City on points for a potential MLS Cup match up. Them dropping points would be best for Kansas City here, it would also keep Minnesota’s slim playoff hopes alive for the moment.

Orlando at Dallas

What we want to happen - Orlando win

Dallas sits two points in front of Kansas City at the moment, a Sporting win combined with a Dallas loss would see KC go top of the West. A win by both would still see Kansas City keep just a two point gap between the two teams at the top of the West.

Los Angeles FC at Colorado

What we want to happen - Colorado win

Los Angeles FC is just two points behind KC in the West, two points is all that separates a bye from the wild card round right now. So LAFC dropping points on the road would be big for KC, especially if they can get a win and extend their lead to five points over LAFC.

Portland at Salt Lake

What we want to happen - draw

A draw in this game combined with a Kansas City win would clinch Kansas City a home playoff game for the first time since 2013. That combination of results would leave Portland’s max point total at 55, equal with Kansas City’s total, but with Portland having only two games left after today, their max wins would be 15 while a win tonight gives KC 16 wins on the season, so they’d win that tie breaker. For Salt Lake, it would leave them with a max point total of 53, below KC’s total of 55 if the results go that way.

New York Red Bulls at San Jose

What we want to happen - doesn’t matter

See above my explanation of the New England vs Atlanta game for why this game doesn’t really matter, unless you think New York will pick up fewer than three points the rest of the way and KC can win out to pass them. If you believe that New York will pick up two or fewer points the rest of the way, then go ahead and root for San Jose tonight.