This is the start of the 2009 Major League Soccer Playoff Clinchers and Eliminateds. The following is the rundown of what each team needs to do or needs to hope for to make the playoffs or at least keep their chances alive.
CLINCHERS
Columbus Crew
43 pts, 25 games (1.72 pts/gm)
vs LA (Sat 9/26)
Cannot clinch top 2 East spots (NE and CHI could pass).
Clinch a playoff spot with:
Win - DC loss AND TOR draw or loss AND RSL draw or loss
NO CLINCH/NOT MATHEMATICALLY OUT MIDDLE:
| HOU | 43 pts | 27 games | (1.59pts/gm) |
| LA | 41 pts | 26 games | (1.58pts/gm) |
| CHI | 40 pts | 26 games | (1.54pts/gm) |
| SEA | 38 pts | 26 games | (1.46pts/gm) |
| CHV | 37 pts | 24 games | (1.54pts/gm) |
| COL | 37 pts | 25 games | (1.48pts/gm) |
| DC | 36 pts | 26 games | (1.38pts/gm) |
| NE | 34 pts | 24 games | (1.42pts/gm) |
| RSL | 34 pts | 26 games | (1.31pts/gm) |
| TOR | 34 pts | 26 games | (1.31pts/gm) |
| KC | 30 pts | 25 games | (1.20pts/gm) |
| FCD | 27 pts | 25 games | (1.08pts/gm) |
Although an FCD loss and several perfect results could lead to FCD with only the ability to tie DC with 39 points for the last playoff spot which they lose the head-to-head against, TOR could join the ties at 39 points. This would make 5 pts for the three teams in head-to-head. The next tiebreaker is goal differential, which is probable for FCD if they got to the tiebreaker.
ELIMINATED
San Jose Earthquakes
21 pts, 23 games (0.91 pts/gm)
at COL (Wed 9/23)
at DC (Sun 9/27)
Mathematically eliminate from playoffs:
SJ has the same scenario available with a win and loss as FCD. RSL would need to join the tiebreaker instead.
SJ also seems to still have a chance with two draws.
Draw COL Lose DC - CHV win or draw OR (RSL win and TOR win)
Lose COL Draw DC - NE win OR TOR win OR (RSL win and TOR draw or loss)
TOR win is because RSL would need to beat TOR later and they would own the tiebreaker with DC, RSL, SJ, TOR
Lose both - Out
New York Red Bulls - Mathematically Eliminated
So, this week only comes down to Columbus possibly clinching and San Jose keeping their last hopes alive. Please feel free to leave comments about any missed possibilities.
This article was composed and written by Craig Jackson (AKA TapocoL). He is the developer for The Fans Scorecard, the place for Major League Soccer player ratings.
