What We Want to Happen Today 9/19

In yesterday’s action it was a mixed back of results for Sporting KC, but the biggest result of the weekend did go in Kansas City’s favor as Real Salt Lake defeated the Seattle Sounders 1-0, meaning Sporting will finish the weekend atop the Western Conference barring something unforeseen. There are four more games today, here’s a look at what we want to happen in those games.

Chicago at Montreal

What we want to happen: Chicago win

When two teams are in the opposite conference and both could still catch Kansas City in a single table, you go one of two ways, you go for the draw, or you go with the team with fewer points. In this instance with one team so much further down the table, you go with the points. That is the Chicago Fire who have 23 points in this instance, compared to CF Montreal’s 34.

Orlando at Philadelphia

What we want to happen: Draw

Here’s the other instance. Orlando City sits on 38 points, eight back of KC while the Philadelphia Union sit on 32 points, 14 behind KC. Easier to let them each get one than one of them get all three points.

LAFC at Portland

What we want to happen: Draw

The two teams are separated by just one point in the West on 34 (Portland Timbers) and 33 (LAFC) respectively. So to keep the gap between both teams as much as possible between them and KC, the draw is the result to go for here.

Vancouver at Colorado

What we want to happen: Vancouver win

The Vancouver Whitecaps are 17 points back of Kansas City with 11 games to play, them catching KC seems extremely unlikely. The Colorado Rapids on the other hand would move level with KC on points with a win (though KC would very likely have the tie breaker of goal difference per game as the Rapids would need to win by six to top KC in that category). So go for the team that is much less likely to catch KC.