COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew SC earned a 3-2 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday and distanced itself from the sixth-place Red Bulls. The Black & Gold now have a chance to jump higher in terms of playoff seeding with its final four regular-season matches.
Columbus (14-12-5, 47 points) has a 97 percent chance to reach the Major League Soccer playoffs, according to ESPN’s FiveThirtyEight.
1. Toronto FC – qualified
The Reds (18-5-8, 62 points) may have suffered a 2-1 loss to the New England Revolution on Saturday afternoon, but Toronto still remains in line for the Supporter’s Shield after clinching a playoff berth weeks ago.
2. New York City FC – qualified
New York City (15-8-7, 52 points) tied with the Houston Dynamo on Saturday. NYCFC became the second team to clinch a playoff berth and owns a 47 percent chance of receiving a first-round bye.
3. Atlanta United FC
Atlanta (14-8-7, 49 points) earned two huge victories during week 29 of MLS play. The Five Stripes jumped from fifth to third on Sunday thanks to their 2-0 victory over the seventh-place Montreal Impact. Atlanta owns a near-certain chance of making the playoffs and a 49 percent chance at a first-round bye.
4. Chicago Fire
The fourth-place Fire (14-10-6, 48 points) suffered a 3-1 loss at the hands of the Philadelphia Union on Saturday and allowed themselves to be jumped by Atlanta. Chicago is also now in the sights of Crew SC, which trails in the standings by just one point. The Fire have a 99 percent chance of making the playoffs and a 10 percent chance at a first round bye.
6. New York Red Bulls
After their loss in Columbus, the Red Bulls (12-11-6, 42 points) put themselves on an island of sorts in terms of avoiding the seventh-place Montreal Impact. Sitting only three points ahead of Montreal, RBNY holds an 87 percent chance of making the playoffs.
7. Montreal Impact
The Montreal Impact (11-13-6, 39 points) may have sustained a tough 2-0 loss to Atlanta on Sunday, but their 5-3 victory over first-place Toronto on Wednesday gave the Impact new hope on the playoff chase. As it stands now, Montreal has an eight percent chance of overtaking the Red Bulls and making the playoffs.
The Black & Gold remain at home in the push for the playoffs when they play D.C. United on Saturday, September 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Columbus closes the regular season on the road at Orlando City SC on October 15 and at New York City FC on October 22.
The Black & Gold will remain at home in the push for the playoffs when they play D.C. United on Saturday, September 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Columbus closes the regular season on the road at Orlando City SC on October 15 and at New York City FC on October 22.
