FRISCO - It's going to be a break-neck final two weekends atop the Western Conference.
After Sporting KC rattled off four unanswered second-half goals to take a 4-1 win in Vancouver, the top three teams are separated by just a single point, while the fourth place team, Seattle, looks to pounce on any glimmer of opportunity.
ON THE LINE
Dallas is the lone team in control of its own destiny. To do so, though, there cannot be a misstep.
First and foremost, Sunday's match against SKC is a six-point swing that could guarantee a top-two spot with a victory. An FCD win guarantees a first-round bye, while a win coupled with an LAFC loss would clinch the top spot in the conference with a week to play.
A draw in Frisco and and LAFC win puts the Californians in the driver's seat heading to Decision Day. A Dallas loss and an LAFC win could see FCD needing to win by six goals in Colorado to clinch a bye (if SKC and LAFC were to draw in the final game).
If all of the top three all falter this weekend and next, Seattle seems poised to pull six points from its trip to Houston and finale vs. San Jose and could squeak into the top two.
CLINCHING SCENARIOS
There are only two games of importance when it comes to Sunday: #FCDvSKC and #LAFCvVAN
| RESULT | FCD Win | FCD Draw | FCD Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAFC Win | FCD first-round bye | Decision Day | Decision Day |
| LAFC Draw | FCD first-round bye | Decision Day | Decision Day |
| LAFC Loss | FCD No. 1 seed | FCD first-round bye (if SEA doesn't win) | Decision Day |
GAMES TO WATCH
- Oct. 21: LAFC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC - Go Whitecaps.
- Oct. 21: Seattle Sounders FC at Houston Dynamo - Go Dyna...let's call it a draw.
IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY
