Home Advantage In The Playoffs?
Current Standings:
- CLB – 38 from 22 (1.73 PPG)
- NYC – 36 from 22 (1.64)
‘Decision Day’ Fixtures: CLB v Atlanta United, NYC @ Chicago Fire
Orlando City SC have already secured a home tie in the Eastern Conference playoffs following a first-round bye, and need just a point to assure themselves of 3rd spot in the East. The real battle comes below them between Columbus Crew and New York City FC.
Two teams will battle it out for the final home tie in the Eastern Conference first round, as the Crew and New York City FC both have their chance to lay claim on that No.4 seed. The former could even move up to the No.3 seed with a win.
Columbus Crew knows that a win against Atlanta United on Sunday afternoon will assure them of a home tie in the first round of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, but anything less than that and the door opens for the Sky Blues. As the two sides have played the same amount of games, PPG does not come into play in this battle.
On the other side of this battle, New York City have to win their clash on Sunday, which comes against the struggling Chicago Fire. The Fire are still in the hunt for one of the last two playoff berths in the Conference, and they will be bringing everything they can to their final clash of the regular season.
Even if the Sky Blues do take victory on Sunday, it might not be enough, as they have to hope that Columbus Crew fails to do the same. If the Crew doesn’t win and NYCFC does, the side from the Big Apple will leapfrog them and into the No.4 seed.
- CLB need: Win OR NYC fail to win
- NYC need: Win & CLB fail to win