The starter gun for the chase to the playoffs fired this week as clubs around the Western Conference jockey for position and vie for the final postseason positions. With precious few games left on the slate, each one becomes important than the last.
Here is a look at who to watch this weekend, when it kids off and why it’s important for Real Salt Lake’s playoff hopes.
First: The standings
Seattle Sounders FC - 11-7-9, 42 points
Portland Timbers – 11-9-8, 41 points
Sporting Kansas City – 10-6-10, 40 points
Vancouver Whitecaps FC – 11-9-5, 38 points
Houston Dynamo – 10-8-8, 38 points
FC Dallas – 9-7-10, 37 points
San Jose Earthquakes – 10-11-6, 36 points
Real Salt Lake – 10-13-5, 35 points
Saturday
3:00 p.m. San Jose Earthquakes at Toronto FC
The Earthquakes hold a one-point lead over RSL in the standings and with Toronto boasting a 10-0-3 home record, it doesn’t appear likely that lead will grow.
3:30 p.m. Portland Timbers at New York City FC
Like Toronto, NYCFC has a tremendous home mark at 10-1-3, leaving another likely opportunity for RSL to gain ground on a Western Conference foe.
6:30 p.m. Colorado Rapids at Houston Dynamo
The Dynamo is unbeaten at 9-0-3 at home and Colorado has yet to win on the road … with Houston making a dramatic return to its home stadium, it’s hard to imagine the Dynamos suffering its first home loss this week.
Sunday
11:00 a.m. Sporting Kansas City at Columbus Crew SC (ESPN)
Another Eastern Conference team with 10 wins hosts a Western Conference opponent trying to find its way. Columbus is 10-3-1 at MAPFRE Stadium and fighting for home-field advantage, so it’s another chance for RSL to gain ground.
1:30 p.m. FC Dallas at Atlanta United FC (FS1)
Atlanta is opening its new stadium on national television on Sunday against a Dallas team that has gone without a win in its last seven matches. Once a conference favorite, Dallas is now clinging to the finally postseason berth.
7:00 p.m. LA Galaxy at Seattle Sounders FC (FS1)
Keeping the Galaxy out of the playoff hunt will only be good for Real Salt Lake – who will visit the StubHub Center later this month. Sigi Schmid may be returning to CenturyLink Field, but Seattle is unbeaten in its last 11 matches (6-0-5) while LA has just one win in the same stretch (1-9-1).
