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MLS: All the possible Decision Day permutations and predictions

By Matt Coles

PORTLAND, OR - SEPTEMBER 07: Portland Timbers celebrate Brian Fernández goal in injury time during the last seconds of the dramatic Portland Timbers win over Sporting Kansas City on September 7, 2019, at Providence Park in Portland, OR. (Photo by Diego Diaz/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).
PORTLAND, OR - SEPTEMBER 07: Portland Timbers celebrate Brian Fernández goal in injury time during the last seconds of the dramatic Portland Timbers win over Sporting Kansas City on September 7, 2019, at Providence Park in Portland, OR. (Photo by Diego Diaz/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images). /
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WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 29: Toronto FC midfielder Marco Delgado (8) chases after D.C. United midfielder Luciano Acosta (10) during a MLS match between D.C United and Toronto FC on June 29, 2019, at Audi Field, in Washington D.C.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 29: Toronto FC midfielder Marco Delgado (8) chases after D.C. United midfielder Luciano Acosta (10) during a MLS match between D.C United and Toronto FC on June 29, 2019, at Audi Field, in Washington D.C.(Photo by Tony Quinn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Battle for 4th-7th in the East

Now (4th-7th): D.C. 49 – RBNY 48 – TOR 47 – NE 45

Below Atlanta and Philadelphia, there is also a good battle for the remaining four playoff spots. All four sides know that they will be playing in the first round of the postseason later this month, but who they will play depends on their results on Decision Day.

Coming into Sunday’s action, D.C. United hold the fourth spot, and if it stayed that way, they would take home-field advantage in the first round. They play FC Cincinnati, who have struggled throughout their rookie season in MLS. The New York Red Bulls currently sit in fifth, just one point behind. They face a trip to Montreal for their final game of the campaign, while Toronto FC, who are sixth as it stands, another point behind, host the Columbus Crew.

The only team out of the four that definitely cannot grab home-field advantage are the New England Revolution, but with a win, they could move up to 6th, thus gaining an ‘easier’ tie in the first round of the playoffs.

Everyone is expecting D.C. to grab all three points against FC Cincinnati, the only team in the league to average less than a point a game through the 2019 term. That would seal them fourth place and a home tie in the first round.

They would face either the New York Red Bulls or Toronto depending on results elsewhere. Toronto should grab a home win at BMO Field against the Crew, but the Red Bulls could slip up against Montreal. Meanwhile, New England will likely stay where they are in this race as not many teams come away from Mercedes-Benz Stadium with anything more than a point, if that.

Matches with Playoff Permutations:

D.C. UNITED v FC Cincinnati

Montreal Impact v NEW YORK RED BULLS

TORONTO FC v Columbus Crew SC

Atlanta United v NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION

What Each Team Needs for 4th:

D.C. – Win or match NYRB & TOR

NYRB – Win & D.C. tie/loss, or Tie & D.C. loss & TOR tie/loss

TOR – Win & D.C. loss & NYRB tie/loss

NE – 6th with Win and TOR loss

Prediction:

DC win, NYRB tie, TOR win, NE lose

(4) DC 52 – (5) TOR 50 – (6) NYRB 49 – (7) NE 45

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