With four league matches remaining, Hooligan Soccer will be focusing on which ones matter with regards to the MLS post-season. Here we examine the Eastern Conference.
Nashville Can Clinch the Supporters Shield
After last Saturday’s draw against San Jose Earthquakes, Nashville was forced to wait another week before they can claim the Supporters Shield. The trophy had been flown in and was under lock and key at PayPal Stadium, but Preston Judd’s second half goal denied the Boys in Gold their celebration.
Which means that if Nashville can get a point while visiting CF Montréal, they will have locked down the best record in MLS. It’s hard to see how Nashville could NOT… Montréal are dead last in the conference with a -24 goal differential. The only hiccup to their hoisting the silverware would be if the trophy somehow failed to clear customs….
Playing for Home Field Advantage
Six teams are in contention to earn a top four finish, which can be a real difference maker in the playoffs’ best-of-three opening round format.
Inter Miami, currently 2nd with 55 points, is in the best spot to claim one of them. My projections show that 58 points is enough, so they only need one win and that job is done. They travel to Red Bull New York, who are in a fight for a playoff spot. RBNY are tied on 36 points with Toronto FC and FC Cincinnati, and sit below the cutoff on goal differential.
New England Revolution (3rd) head south to Chester, PA to take on the red-hot Philadelphia Union. Philly are on a twelve-game unbeaten streak, have scored at least one goal in every one of those ties, and average three per game. Their current position of 6th was unthinkable back before the World Cup break, when they were in last place. The Revs are no slouches either. Since Matchweek 8 they have not finished lower than 5th in the table. Philadelphia will need a win to give their hopes of a top 4 finish continued hope.
Charlotte FC (4th) head west to play Portland Timbers.
Fighting for a Spot
Orlando City (7th) would need to win out all their remaining games to even have a chance at a top 4 finish, not to mention require a LOT of help from the teams above them. Their 41 points should be enough to get them into the post-season. Their opponent this week, New York City FC (12th on 34 pts.), almost certainly needs a win to stay in the hunt.
While CF Montréal is the only eastern team mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, Atlanta United’s chances are so infinitesimal all their players are already booking early November flights home. The visiting Chicago Fire (4th on 48 pts.) have much more to play for, and are a better team to boot.
Columbus Crew (11th on 35 pts.) will have to quickly push aside their disappointing penalty kick loss to St. Louis CITY in the U.S. Open Cup final. Not so easy to ignore will be the fatigue after playing a full 120 minutes. This should give Toronto FC (8th on 36pts.) a slight edge.
D.C. United has been somewhat hapless this season. But despite being in 13th place on 33 points they can still pull off a miracle if they win out. They’ll have to topple FC Cincinnati (9th on 36pts.) to do it.
Hooligan Recommends
Red Bull New York vs. Inter Miami
This match has a 5:30pm ET / 2:30pm kickoff and is the only game option at that time. You could do worse than watch the always exciting Messi & Co. go up against the bright and shiny young stars of Red Bull New York (Julian Hall, Adri Mehmeti) before they get traded overseas.
Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution
There are plenty of 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT matches playing concurrently. But for the neutral fan of soccer, watch this one. Both teams are explosive on attack and positively electric in form. You should not be disappointed.
