A trio of MLS games took place on Wednesday, and the postseason picture became a bit clearer heading into the final two weekends of the season.
One day after helping set up both goals in Italy’s 2-1 win over Norway in Rome, Sebastian Giovinco scored maybe the most significant goal in Toronto FC history, a second-half stunner against the New York Red Bulls that sealed the club’s first-ever trip to the MLS Cup Playoffs. The Reds jumped all the way from fifth place to second in the Eastern Conference with their victory.
In the West, FC Dallas beat Vancouver 2-0 to draw level with the Red Bulls in the Supporters’ Shield race, while the Portland Timbers picked up three crucial points in a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake. ESPN’s Paul Carr figures the Western Conference playoff berths are just about settled, with both Sounders FC and Portland having better than a 90 percent chance of reaching the postseason.
Relating to the Sounders, here are a few things to know heading into Sunday’s clash with the Houston Dynamo:
- There are three different ways the Rave Green can clinch a playoff spot this weekend: 1) The San Jose Earthquakes lose to Sporting Kansas City on Friday; or 2) Seattle and San Jose both earn draws in their games; or 3) Sounders FC defeats Houston.
- The Sounders still have a chance to get the No. 2 seed in the West. They trail the LA Galaxy by four points and would need lots of help around the league to earn a first-round bye.
- Houston needs a victory to have a chance to keep its postseason hopes alive. But even if they beat the Sounders, the Dynamo can be eliminated with a Portland draw or win against the LA Galaxy on Sunday.
- Sunday’s match has been changed from ESPN to ESPN2. Kickoff is at 2:00 p.m. PT.
