27 Playoff Scenarios for Real Salt Lake and the West

The MLS regular season has come down to the final weekend and Real Salt Lake is among four teams vying for three playoff spots on Decision Day this Sunday – RSL, the Seattle Sounders, Sporting Kansas City and the Portland Timbers.

With RSL traveling to Seattle to face the Sounders, Sporting Kansas City hosting the San Jose Earthquakes and the Timbers playing against the Vancouver Whitecaps on the road, there are 27 possible outcomes from the weekends matches.

Of those 27 scenarios, 13 have RSL as the No. 4 seed and hosting a Knockout Round match while only one has RSL eliminated and missing the postseason altogether.

If Real Salt Lake wins:

RSL will have the four seed.  RSL will host SKC if SKC wins (3).  RSL will host Seattle if SKC draws or loses and Portland draws or loses (4).  RSL will host Portland if Portland wins and SKC draws or loses (2).

If Real Salt Lake draws:

SKC will have the four seed if SKC wins.  Portland will have the four seed if Portland wins and SKC draws or loses.  RSL will have the four seed in all other scenarios.  SKC would host Portland if SKC and Portland (1).  SKC would host RSL if Portland loses or draws (2).  RSL would host Seattle if SKC draws or loses and Portland draws or loses (4).  RSL would host Portland if Portland wins and SKC draws or loses (2).

If Real Salt Lake loses:

Seattle will have the four seed.  Seattle will host SKC if SKC wins (3).  Seattle will host Portland if Portland wins and SKC loses or draws (2).  Seattle will host RSL if SKC loses or draws and Portland loses or draws (4).