Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy added their names to the teams clinched in the playoffs. Toronto FC could catch either team, but they will lose head-to-head against either team with any combination of multiple team ties.
One game is by far the most important game of the weekend, Columbus at New England. Columbus could clinch the top spot in the East, while New England could mathematically eliminate 3 clubs this weekend (FC Dallas, Kansas City and San Jose).
CLINCHERS
Columbus Crew - Clinched top two spots in East.
46 pts, 27 games (1.70 pts/gm)
at NE (Sat 10/10)
Clinch Top spot in East:
Win
Houston Dynamo - Clinched Playoffs
44 pts, 28 games (1.57 pts/gm)
Nothing
Los Angeles Galaxy - Clinched Playoffs
44 pts, 28 games (1.57 pts/gm)
Nothing
Chivas cannot clinch with a win, Toronto could pass them in tiebreakers.
NOT CLINCHED OR MATHEMATICALLY OUT MIDDLE
| CHV | 41 pts | 26 games | 1.58 pts/gm |
| SEA | 41 pts | 28 games | 1.46 pts/gm |
| CHI | 41 pts | 28 games | 1.46 pts/gm |
| COL | 40 pts | 28 games | 1.43 pts/gm |
| NE | 38 pts | 27 games | 1.41 pts/gm |
| DC | 36 pts | 28 games | 1.29 pts/gm |
| TFC | 35 pts | 27 games | 1.30 pts/gm |
| RSL | 34 pts | 27 games | 1.26 pts/gm |
ELIMINATEDS
FC Dallas
33 pts, 27 games (1.22 pts/gm)
at SJ (Wed 10/07)
Mathematically eliminate from Playoffs:
Loss or Draw - NE win
Kansas City
32 pts, 27 games (1.19 pts/gm)
at CHV (Sat 10/10)
Mathematically eliminate from Playoffs:
Loss - NE draw
Draw - NE win
San Jose
28 pts, 26 games (1.08 pts/gm)
vs FCD (Wed 10/07)
at TFC (Sat 10/10)
Mathematically eliminate from Playoffs:
< 4 Points
Win + Draw - NE draw or win
Win + Win and NE win still gives them the chance to catch Colorado.
New York Red Bulls - Mathematically Eliminated
Once again, Real Salt Lake cannot be mathematically eliminated this weekend. Obviously, 2 games next week for RSL could clear things up. Leave your comments below for any possible problems.
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.
