MLSsoccer.com's Matt Doyle called Wednesday a "night of reckoning" across the league and it was a great one for FC Dallas as they pulled even with the New York Red Bulls in the race for the Supporters' Shield with just two games remaining in the season. Before we get into a look at the standings, let's first talk a little bit about what the Supporters' Shield is.
Launched in 1999, the Supporters' Shield is awarded to the MLS team at the top of the standings at the end of the regular season and is one of what are considered the three major trophies in Major League soccer: MLS Cup, Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and Supporters' Shield.
The trophy has been awarded to Los Angeles and DC United four times each and New York Red Bulls took home the hardware in 2013. FC Dallas has been runner up on one occasion back in 2006, but has never won before.
Heading into Wednesday, the New York Red Bulls held a three point lead over FC Dallas, but they lost to some greatness from Giovinco and Toronto leaving them on 54 points from 32 matches, opening the door for FC Dallas. With the 2-0 win over Vancouver, FCD pulled even with the Red Bulls on 54 points from 32 matches setting up a wild final 10 days of the MLS regular season.
New York remains in front of FC Dallas as the first tiebreaker is wins, which both teams are equal on 16, while the second tiebreaker is goal differential which New York leads Dallas by four goals at +15 to +11.
New York finishes the season with matches at home on Sunday against the Philadelphia Union and then on Decision Day Sunday away to Chicago while FC Dallas can at least temporarily take over the Supporters' Shield lead with a result at Real Salt Lake on Saturday before finishing the season at home against San Jose in what could be a dramatic final day.
Seeing as a four-goal difference is unlikely to be made up in two matches, FC Dallas will be hoping to put the pressure back on New York with a win in Salt Lake as they will need New York to slip up in one of their two matches to take over the top spot, but there is certainly a chance.
