One game changes everything. A week ago, the Dynamo were sitting just outside the playoff picture. After a 1-0 in Philadelphia over the Union, they're now alone in fourth place with 40 points. Of course, there's no time to relax with six games left, as everything can get jumbled up again just as fast. With that, let's look around the conference to see how the rest of the playoff contenders ended up.
Columbus Crew 2, Montreal Impact 1
Just when you're ready to write the Crew off, they go and do something like this. Go on the road and get a comeback win over one of the top three teams in the East. Their playoff hopes still look to be dependent on other results, but they do have games three games remaining against two teams—Chicago and New England—that are also fighting for one of those final playoff spots. Columbus has played 29 games though, whereas most of their competition have only played 28.
Montreal, on the other hand, stays put with 45 points and in second place. They hold two games in hand over first-place New York and thus have a small edge in terms of points per game.
New York Red Bulls 2, Toronto FC 0
New York broke the three-way tie at the top of the table with a road win over Toronto FC, leaving Montreal and Sporting Kansas City behind for the moment. New York is one of three teams in the top eight of the conference that have played 29 games, while Montreal and Kansas City have only played 27 and 28, respectively. Expect plenty more jostling in those spots as teams make up those games.
Chicago Fire 3, New England Revolution 2
New England and Philadelphia started the weekend in playoff spots, but flipped positions with their opponents after Saturday night. Chicago took all three points after an 86th minute game-winner from Alex, and jumped into the fifth playoff spot, just one point behind the Dynamo. New England is now two points outside of playoff group. Chicago is tied on points with Philadelphia (with a game in hand), but is rated ahead by virtue of having more wins than the Union.
A Revolution win would have placed them level with the Dynamo on points, pushing the Dynamo down to fifth place on the 'goals for' tiebreaker.
Speaking of tiebreakers, here's the order for a quick refresher:
- Most wins
- Goals For
- Goal Differential
- Fewest Disciplinary Points
- Road Goals
- Road Goal Differential
- Home Goals
- Home Goal Differential
- Coin Toss (2 teams) or Drawing of Lots (3 or more)
The Dynamo currently have 11 wins; one more than Philadelphia, New England and Columbus, equal with Chicago, two less than Kansas City and Montreal, and three less than New York. Houston has scored the least amount of goals out of the top eight, however.
Now that the Dynamo are in playoff position, it's time to create some separation and possibly make a move into the top three spots—which would avoid a one-game playoff to start the postseason. The mission starts this Saturday against Chivas USA at BBVA Compass Stadium, get your tickets here to catch the action!
