A few weeks ago, it was almost a formality that the Fire would make the playoffs. Then the team hit a skid, going 0-2-4 in its last six games. Now, it must get a result (a win or a tie) against Chivas USA on Thursday night at Toyota Park (7 p.m.) for a guaranteed spot.
In the MLS, eight teams make the playoffs: the top two teams in each conference, and the four next best teams from either conference. As it stands, seven teams — four from the East, three from the West — are fighting for three spots in the Eastern Conference. Whew … this is worse than getting a seat at Schwa.
Here are the possibilities.
– If the Fire beats or ties Chivas USA: Chicago is in as the second-place team.
– If the Fire (42 points) loses to Chivas USA, and the New England Revolution (39 points) and D.C. United (39 points) both lose: The Fire gets in as the second-place team.
– If the Fire loses and Toronto FC (39 points) wins: The Fire still takes second place because it won the season series.
– If the Fire loses, and New England wins: Because they tied the season series, the teams go to the second tiebreaker: goal differential over the season. The Fire probably gets in, as it has a differential of +4, vs. New England’s -5.
– If the Fire loses and D.C. United wins: The Fire drops into the wild-card race because D.C. won the season series.
Don’t even try to speculate on the wild-card race. It figures to have a dizzying number of scenarios, and we’d need to bring in some statisticians from the University of Chicago to figure the thing out.
Hey, Fire, save us a headache and just win.
