MLS: What to Watch in the Final Weekend of the Season
By Zac Wassink
Plenty will be decided on the final weekend of the 2014 Major League Soccer season. Here is where and why to watch.
Unlike leagues that have promotion-relegation systems that don’t include postseason tournaments in order to determine a champion, Major League Soccer does not have a yearly “Survival Sunday.” One shouldn’t assume that the final weekend of MLS campaigns is meaningless, however, and that is especially true this time around.
The winner of the Supporters’ Shield — the trophy awarded to the team that finishes the regular season atop the overall MLS table — will be determined in a 1-versus-2 Western Conference showdown. Playoff seeds and one playoff spot will also be on the line.
The weekend does unfortunately kick off with what is a missable affair.
MLS schedule for Friday, October 24
Chicago Fire vs. Houston Dynamo: NBC Sports Network/TSN, 8:00 pm ET
Both sides have been eliminated from the MLS Playoffs. Enjoy your Friday night doing something else.
MLS schedule for Saturday, October 25
Seattle Sounders vs. LA Galaxy: NBC/TSN2, 2:30 pm ET
It’s the biggest MLS regular season game of the year and arguably the most massive fixture in league history. The Sounders will win their first ever Supporters’ Shield crown with a win OR a draw. LA must earn the positive result at CenturyLink Field if they are to be regular season champs.
There aren’t a plethora of tasty afternoon college football games this coming Saturday. The World Series won’t begin until the evening. MLS is responsible for the must-watch sporting event of the daytime, and this one should be worth going out of your way to follow.
Montreal Impact vs. DC United: MLS Live/TVA Sports, 4:oo pm ET
Montreal have guaranteed themselves a last-place finish in the Eastern Conference. DC are at the opposite end of the conference table, and United cannot be caught on the final Saturday of the season. Go run some errands or maybe hit up the gym in anticipation of matches that will air later on in the evening.
New England Revolution vs. Toronto FC: TSN2/MLS Live/CSN-NE, 7:30 pm ET
The Revolution locked up a second-place finish in the standings last weekend due to results that occurred around MLS. They cannot be caught, nor can they catch DC. The absolute disaster that has been Toronto FC in 2014 comes to a merciful conclusion on Saturday evening.
Pour one out for any TFC fans you know who have, for whatever reasons, decided to remain loyal to a club that has done nothing but let them down year after year. They are likely in for yet another tumultuous offseason filled with promises of brighter days ahead and blah, blah, blah.
Oct 19, 2014; Carson, CA, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy forward Landon Donovan (10) acknowledges the cheers of the crowd during pre-game warmups before the Los Angeles Galaxy match against the Seattle Sounders FC at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
FC Dallas vs. Portland Timbers: MLS Live/Root Sports/TWCSN-TX, 8:30 pm ET
The importance of this game first stems from a MLS match that was played on Wednesday evening. Real Salt Lake defeated Chivas USA 2-0, and that victory moved RSL up to third in the Western Conference standings and on 56 points.
Not so fast, say Dallas. Dallas are on 54 points, and a home win to close the season out would relegate Salt Lake to the Wild Card Playoff match that will take place next week. FC would have to play in that contest, however, if they are unable to defeat the Timbers on Saturday.
Portland will not be interested in doing Dallas any favors this time around. The Timbers are on the outside looking in, in sixth place and one point behind Vancouver Whitecaps. Portland would back into the playoffs if they earn a win AND Vancouver fail to win their match (more on that later) OR if Portland tie AND Vancouver lose their final home fixture of the season.
Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Colorado Rapids: TSN2/MLS Live/RDS2/Altitude, 10:00 pm ET
Vancouver will know exactly what they need to do in order to advance into the postseason by the time their showdown with Colorado hits halftime. The Whitecaps can finish no higher than fifth in the conference standings, and they would be able to enjoy a kickabout versus the Rapids if Portland do not earn a point at Dallas. Vancouver are safe if they match Portland draw for draw, and the ‘Caps will be in so long as they win.
So just win, Vancouver.
Colorado experienced quite the collapse over the summer months. Their playoff hopes died a painful death some time ago.
MLS schedule for Sunday, October 26
Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union: UniMas/MLS Live, 4:00 pm ET
Columbus will need help if they are to avoid the Wild Card game. The Crew and Sporting Kansas City are both on 49 points, and Columbus would need New York Red Bulls to beat KC by SIX goals to finish third if Columbus and KC are level on points come late Sunday night.
Philadelphia are out of the playoffs, and thus the Crew need to take care of business at home to put pressure on KC.
Chivas USA vs. San Jose: MLS Live/CSN-CAL, 4:30 pm ET
The loser of this game finishes dead last in the conference table and perhaps in all of MLS. San Jose will remain loss if the game ends in a draw.
Sporting Kansas City vs. New York Red Bulls: ESPN2/Watch ESPN/ESPN Deportes/TSN2, 8:30 pm ET
New York cannot avoid the Wild Card game if Columbus win earlier in the day. They are guaranteed to be the road team for that contest if they don’t earn a win on the road.
Third place will be up for grabs, however, if Columbus are upset at home. The winner of this game would, in such a scenario, jump to third in the standings (KC are technically third entering the weekend).
SKC win third place with a victory over RBNY regardless of what happens in Columbus. KC remain in third place if they and Columbus earn draws. The Red Bulls would have to blow the doors of of Kansas City to the tune of a six-goal difference to avoid the Wild Card if Columbus and Philly play to a tie.