With the Earthquakes 2-2 tie against the LA Galaxy as well as Sporting Kansas City’s 0-0 draw with the New York Red Bulls over the weekend, the Earthquakes have earned their second Supporters’ Shield.
The Earthquakes have also sealed home-field advantage for the second-leg in the Western Conference Semifinals. They will play the winner of fourth place LA Galaxy and fifth place Vancouver.
If the season ended today, the second place Seattle Sounders would host the second-leg of their playoff matchup against Real Salt Lake. Both teams sit with 56 points after 33 games and have reserved a playoff berth, placing Seattle and Salt Lake five points ahead of the fourth place LA Galaxy. Seattle, however, concludes their season against Cascadia Cup opponent Portland on Oct. 27. Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake will play the Vancouver Whitecaps on Oct. 27. The results of these two matches will determine who will host the coveted second-leg of their playoff fixture.
Although the Western Conference has four teams with confirmed playoff spots, the verdict is still out in the East. Sporting Kansas City sits atop the Eastern Conference with 60 points after tying the New York Red Bulls 0-0 on Oct. 20. Second place D.C. United has 57 points, just ahead of third place Chicago Fire who has 56 points. The New York Red Bulls arrive in fourth place with 54 points to their name. The Houston Dynamo, with 53 points, is still in pursuit of a securing the fourth playoff spot and is set to play the Red Bulls in the play-in game.
With so few points separating each Eastern Conference team, the final regular season weekend will determine the playoff seeds. Headlining these matchups will be Chicago Fire playing host to D.C. United. A D.C. United draw or win will give the nation’s capitol second place in the Eastern Conference. Playoff hopefuls, Houston Dynamo, will travel to Colorado in pursuit of a fourth place finish while the Red Bulls will conclude their season at eighth place Philadelphia. A Dynamo win and a Red Bull tie or loss, however, would see the Dynamo leapfrog into the fourth seed.
Remaining schedules
SAN JOSE
10/27 at Portland (NBC Sports)
SALT LAKE
10/27 vs. Vancouver
LA GALAXY
10/28 vs. Seattle (ESPN)
SEATTLE
10/28 at LA Galaxy (ESPN)
VANCOUVER
10/27 at Salt Lake
SPORTING KANSAS CITY
10/24 vs. Philadelphia
NEW YORK
10/27 at Philadelphia
CHICAGO
10/27 vs. D.C. United
D.C. UNITED
10/27 at Chicago
HOUSTON
10/27 at Colorado
