MLS Week 29: Playoff impacting matchups, Western Conference

It’s win or go home this weekend for several different teams, while many others are nowhere near out of the woods just yet. Here’s who to look out for.

The Western Conference could still see plenty of change over the next few weeks. There are plenty of matches this weekend that could shape the postseason outlook. Three teams are tied with 44 points, then San Jose has 39, then three more teams are tied with 38 points. Here’s who we will be watching.

Real Salt Lake vs Seattle Sounders

Seattle heads to Salt Lake City just ahead of RSL in the standings. Real Salt Lake have been one of the hottest teams in the league, but have played more games than the teams around them. They need to win to ensure they not only stay in the hunt, but that teams ahead of them, like Seattle, drop points in the games they have.

NYCFC vs Houston Dynamo

Houston have dropped down the standings and now find themselves on the outside look in. Playing against an Eastern Conference foe puts them at a slight disadvantage in the sense that a win doesn’t take points away from another team in the playoff chase. It doesn’t make it any easier that they have to go on the road (to Connecticut) to play the second best team in the east.

DC United vs San Jose Earthquakes

The Earthquakes have made quite the jump over the past few weeks. They have a good chance to earn three more points on the road against the bottom dwellers of the Eastern Conference.

Next: Playoff Impacting Matches, Eastern Conference

Minnesota United FC vs FC Dallas

Dallas has been caught in a full collapse over the month of September. The club will have to head on the road to TCF Bank Stadium to take on Minnesota, who have caught a few teams off guard at home this season. Dallas is at risk at missing the playoffs entirely, despite being picked by many as the MLS Cup favorites going into the year. If they can’t pick up points against MNUFC, they are in serious trouble.