MLS Week 31 - game previews, playoff scenarios

Week 31 Game Previews

Wednesday, Oct. 8

Toronto FC vs. Houston Dynamo, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto FC suffered their first loss in three games – after back-to-back wins – in a 3-0 defeat at the LA Galaxy on Saturday evening. The Dynamo had their five-game undefeated streak – their longest of the season – put to an end in a 1-0 loss at the New York Red Bulls on Saturday.

The teams are meeting for the third time this season, after playing in a home-and-home series over two weekends July 12-19. Jermain Defoe scored twice in the second half as TFC came back from a 2-goal deficit for a 4-2 victory at BMO Field in the first match; Brad Davis scored twice for the Dynamo in the return match, but the teams settled for a 2-2 draw at BBVA Compass Stadium.

The teams have played to draws in four of their last five meetings, including the first encounter this year at BMO Field. TFC has come away from Houston with points on each of their last four visits, though they have not won there since 2010.

Portland Timbers vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 10:30 p.m.
The teams are meeting for the third time this season, the back end of a home-and-home series over five days and the third encounter in a 31-day period.

On Saturday, Rodney Wallace was credited with a pair of goals three minutes apart as the Timbers came back for a 2-1 victory at Buck Shaw Stadium, officially eliminating the Earthquakes from playoff contention. It was the first career two-goal game for Wallace in his six MLS seasons.

The Earthquakes had their winless streak extended to 11 games, the second-longest in the club’s history (after 13 games, in 2011).
The Timbers victory was the first by a visiting team in the all-time league series. The Timbers have won two of five matches in Portland, with three draws, including a 2-2 result in the first meeting this season, Sept. 7 at Providence Park.

Friday, Oct. 10

Sporting Kansas City vs. Chicago Fire, 8:30 p.m.
The Fire were officially eliminated from contention for the MLS Cup Playoffs as they played to a league-record 18th draw this season in a scoreless result with the Montréal Impact on Sunday.

Sporting Kansas City have come away with a win in just one of their last seven league matches following their scoreless draw at D.C. United on Friday evening.

The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Mike Magee scored a pair of goals in the opening 15 minutes, both on penalty kicks, to send the Fire on their way to a 2-1 win May 18 at Toyota Park; Magee scored again as the teams ended in a 1-1 draw July 6 at Sporting Park.

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 10 p.m.
Obafemi Martins scored a pair of goals for a second consecutive match to lead Sounders FC to a 4-1 win against the Colorado Rapids on Sunday, the second four-goal game in a row for the club. Martins has 17 goals this season, sitting in fourth place in the MLS Golden Boot standings; it was also his league-leading fifth multiple-goal game of the year.

Sebastian Fernández scored a pair of goals in a game for the first time in MLS, leading Whitecaps FC to a 2-0 win against FC Dallas on Saturday, their second consecutive victory. Mauro Rosales assisted on both goals; he has three assists in eight games since arriving in a trade from Chivas USA.

The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Sebastian Fernández scored the game’s lone goal to give Whitecaps FC the victory July 5 at BC Place; Gonzalo Pineda converted a late penalty kick to bring Sounders FC back for a 2-2 draw when the teams met May 24 at BC Place.

After going the first six meetings between the clubs in MLS play winless, Whitecaps FC are undefeated in the last four meetings vs. their Cascadia rivals, with victories in three of those contests.

Saturday, Oct. 11

Montreal Impact vs. New England Revolution, 4 p.m.
The Impact saw their scoreless run stretched to 182 minutes in a second consecutive shutout, reaching a goalless draw with the Chicago Fire on Sunday afternoon.

Jermaine Jones scored his second goal in as many games, netting the game-winner midway through the second half to lead the Revolution to the verge of playoff clinching with a 2-1 win against the Columbus Crew on Saturday, their seventh win in the last eight games.

The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Kelyn Rowe and Lee Nguyen scored two minutes apart to send the Revolution on their way to a 2-1 victory Sept. 13 at Gillette Stadium; on May 31, Andrés Romero and Jack McInerney scored first-half goals to lead the Impact to a 2-0 win at Stade Saputo.

The first meeting was Montréal’s second home win vs. New England; the Revolution had won on their two previous trips to Stade Saputo, both coming by 1-0 scorelines. The last meeting was the Revolution’s first-ever home win against the Impact.

New York Red Bulls vs. Toronto FC, 7 p.m.
The Red Bulls extended their home undefeated streak to nine games – matching the sixth-longest in club history – with a 1-0 victory against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday evening at Red Bull Arena. Thierry Henry scored the game’s lone goal, his 10th of the year, the fourth consecutive season he’s reached double figures in goals in MLS.

The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Bradley Wright-Phillips scored deep into second-half stoppage time to bring the Red Bulls back for a 2-2 draw June 27 at Red Bull Arena. Jermain Defoe and Luke Moore netted goals early and late as Toronto FC claimed a 2-0 win May 17 at BMO Field.

Toronto FC’s win in May snapped a 10-game winless streak against the Red Bulls, their first victory in the series since 2009.

The Red Bulls are undefeated at Red Bull Arena all-time vs. Toronto FC, with four wins and a draw (and a 14-3 goal differential). TFC’s only away win vs. New York came in 2008, a 3-1 win at Giants Stadium.

Philadelphia Union vs. Columbus Crew, 7 p.m.
Union had their winless run extended to four matches in cruel fashion in their last match, the Chicago Fire scoring a late equalizer to leave the teams in a 1-1 draw Oct. 2 at PPL Park. Amobi Okugo had scored his second goal of the season just minutes before to give Union the lead.

The Crew had their two-game winning streak put to an end in a 2-1 loss at the New England Revolution on Saturday. Ethan Finlay scored for a second consecutive game, his third goal in the last four.

The teams are meeting for the second time this season, the first of two meetings over the final three weeks of the campaign. Bernardo Anor scored a pair of first-half goals to lead the Crew to a 2-1 victory March 22 at Crew Stadium.

Philadelphia won 3-0 at PPL Park a year ago, after losing at home the season before. The Crew have won twice on their five trips to Chester. The Crew have never lost at home to Union, with four victories and a draw in five meetings all-time in Columbus.

Real Salt Lake vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 9:30 p.m.
Real Salt Lake were unable to claim a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs officially after their four-game home winning streak came to an end in a 1-0 loss to Chivas USA on Sunday afternoon.

Chris Wondolowski scored his 14th goal of the season for the Quakes in their 2-1 home loss to Portland on Saturday, sitting a tie for seventh in the MLS Golden Boot standings following the weekend.

The teams are meeting for the third time this season. San Jose’s Sam Cronin and RSL’s Javier Morales traded first-half goals to leave the teams in a 1-1 draw Aug. 30 at Buck Shaw Stadium; Quakes center back Victor Bernardez scored two goals – including a dramatic equalizer five minutes into second-half stoppage time – to leave the teams in a 3-3 draw March 15 in Santa Clara.

The Quakes have won at Rio Tinto Stadium each of the last two seasons, including a 2-1 victory last Sept. 21. All-time at Rio Tinto Stadium, each team has won twice in the all-time series, with three draws.

Chivas USA vs. Colorado Rapids, 10:30 p.m.
Chivas USA put an end to their winless streak after 12 games, the third-longest in club history, and ended their losing slide at a club-record tying seven games, with a 1-0 win at Real Salt Lake on Sunday afternoon at Felix Borja scored his first MLS goal.

The Rapids were officially eliminated from playoff contention with their 4-1 loss at Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday, setting a club record in extending their winless streak to 11 games. They have allowed four goals or more in five of their last eight games.

The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Nick LaBrocca, Drew Moor and Gabriel Torres all scored as the Rapids took a 3-0 win July 25 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; Marvín Chávez scored twice and Erick Torres also netted as Chivas USA roared back for a 3-1 victory May 11 in Commerce City.

The Rapids have taken points from each of their last five visits to take on Chivas in Carson (4-0-1), over the past four seasons. The Chivas USA victory in the first meeting this season ended an 11-game Chivas USA winless streak vs. Colorado, their first win since March 21, 2009, going 0-8-3 in between.

Sunday, Oct. 12

Houston Dynamo vs. D.C. United, 3 p.m.
United officially claimed their berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs after reaching a scoreless draw with Sporting Kansas City on Friday evening at RFK Stadium, just the second time in the last seven seasons they’ve made it to the postseason.

The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Will Bruin scored the game’s lone goal in second-half stoppage time to hand the Dynamo the victory Aug. 3 at BBVA Compass Stadium; Chris Rolfe and Fabian Espíndola scored on either side of halftime to pace United to a 2-0 victory May 21 at RFK Stadium.

The Dynamo have never lost to D.C. United in Houston, winning 10 of 11 meetings there all-time in league and cup play (with one draw). The United victory in the first meeting snapped a five-game Dynamo winning streak in the series in league play.

FC Dallas vs. LA Galaxy, 7 p.m.
Robbie Keane scored his 18th and 19th goals of the season – now sitting in third place in the MLS Golden Boot standings – to lead the Galaxy to a 3-0 win against Toronto FC, a third consecutive victory that extended their undefeated streak to 10 games.

Landon Donovan recorded an assist on the second Keane goal to become the all-time leader with 136 career league assists, surpassing the mark set by Steve Ralston. Donovan has 19 assists this season, leading MLS and matching the second-highest single-season total in MLS history.

The teams are meeting for the third time this season. Robbie Keane scored the equalizer then set up Gyasi Zardes for the game-winner to lead the Galaxy to a 2-1 win Sept. 20 at StubHub Center; Keane and Zardes scored first-half goals to send the Galaxy on their way to a 2-1 win May 21 at Carson.

FC Dallas have won just once in their last three home meetings vs. the Galaxy, a 1-0 victory April 13, 2013. The Galaxy are undefeated in Carson over the last seven meetings vs. FC Dallas in league play, dating back to the start of the 2010 season, going 6-0-1 in that time.

PLAYOFF SCENARIOS

New England Revolution will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs
IF
New England Revolution win vs. Montreal Impact on Saturday
OR
New England Revolution tie vs. Montreal Impact on Saturday AND Columbus Crew lose to Philadelphia Union on Saturday
OR
Toronto FC lose to Houston Dynamo on Wednesday OR New York Red Bulls on Saturday
OR
Toronto FC tie BOTH Houston Dynamo on Wednesday AND New York Red Bulls on Saturday
OR
Toronto FC lose to one and tie with other: Houston Dynamo on Wednesday OR New York Red Bulls on Saturday


Sporting Kansas City will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs
IF
Sporting Kansas City win vs. Chicago Fire on Friday
AND
Columbus Crew lose to Philadelphia Union on Saturday


Real Salt Lake will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs
IF
Real Salt Lake win vs San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday
OR
Real Salt Lake tie vs San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday AND Vancouver Whitecaps FC tie or lose vs. Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday
OR
Portland Timbers tie or lose vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday
OR
Vancouver Whitecaps FC lose vs. Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday
OR
Portland Timbers lose vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday


FC Dallas will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs
IF
FC Dallas win vs. LA Galaxy on Sunday
OR
FC Dallas tie vs. LA Galaxy on Sunday AND Vancouver Whitecaps FC lose vs. Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday
OR
Portland Timbers tie or lose vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday
OR
Portland Timbers lose vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday


Philadelphia Union will be eliminated from playoff contention
IF
Philadelphia Union lose to Columbus Crew on Saturday AND New York Red Bulls win vs. Toronto FC on Saturday


Houston Dynamo will be eliminated from playoff contention
IF
Houston Dynamo lose to either Toronto FC on Wednesday or D.C. United on Saturday AND New York Red Bulls win vs. Toronto FC on Saturday AND Columbus Crew win vs. Philadelphia Union on Saturday
OR
Houston Dynamo tie with both: Toronto FC on Wednesday AND D.C. United on Saturday AND Columbus Crew tie or win vs. Philadelphia Union on Saturday
OR
Houston Dynamo lose to one and tie with other: Toronto FC on Wednesday OR D.C. United on Saturday (OR lose to both)


Seattle Sounders FC have clinched a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs
LA Galaxy have clinched a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs
D.C. United have clinched a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs
Montréal Impact have been eliminated from playoff contention
Chivas USA have been eliminated from playoff contention
Chicago Fire have been eliminated from playoff contention
Colorado Rapids have been eliminated from playoff contention
San Jose Earthquakes have been eliminated from playoff contention

-MLSsoccer.com