Sounders FC moved up two spots in the Western Conference standings in the last week, jumping to fourth place thanks to its 2-1 win over Toronto FC. If the season ended today, Seattle would host Sporting Kansas City in the single-elimination Knockout Round.
The Rave Green are currently level with SKC and the Portland Timbers (41 points apiece), but the tiebreaker of total wins would be in favor of Sounders FC, as the club is tied for the second-most victories in MLS (13). For the second straight year, Seattle has the fewest draws in the league (two).
Goal differential is the second tiebreaker, giving SKC the upper hand for the fifth seed over Portland.
Elsewhere in MLS, the Montreal Impact took over the sixth and final postseason spot in the East via a 4-3 win over the Chicago Fire. Orlando City SC, which has won just one of its last nine matches, dropped below the red line after losing 3-0 to the New England Revolution. The Supporters’ Shield race is now headed by Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which surpassed the LA Galaxy by beating the Colorado Rapids 2-0 on Wednesday.
No team in MLS is even close to being eliminated from playoff contention, and no team has clinched a spot in the postseason. However, D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls are close to doing the latter: The Black and Red need just five points in their final six games to ensure a playoff berth, and the Red Bulls are seven points away from clinching a spot with nine games to go.
Here is a look at the current standings in both conferences and how the playoff bracket would appear if the season ended today.
Knockout Round: 3) FC Dallas vs. 6) Portland Timbers
Knockout Round: 4) Sounders FC vs. 5) Sporting Kansas City
Conference Semifinals: 1) Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. lowest ranked remaining seed
Conference Semifinals: 2) LA Galaxy vs. highest ranked remaining seed
Knockout Round: 3) Columbus Crew SC vs. 6) Montreal Impact
Knockout Round: 4) New England Revolution vs. 5) Toronto FC
Conference Semifinals: 1) D.C. United vs. lowest ranked remaining seed
Conference Semifinals: 2) New York Red Bulls vs. highest ranked remaining seed
