Just days after millions of Americans cast their votes in the midterm elections, we will soon arrive at the second-most meaningful decider in US society: Major League Soccer’s Decision Day. With eight 4pm ET kickoffs on the east coast and another seven games kicking off hours later out west on Saturday, there’s still plenty to play for at the end of the regular season. Nashville SC sewed up the Supporters’ Shield with a couple games to spare, so let’s turn our attention to the bleaker part of the table.
Sporting KC have been absolutely dreadful this year and very nearly clinched the Wooden Spoon – the honorary, fan-created award given to the league’s worst club – last week. A stoppage-time penalty save, though, preserved the club’s draw with FC Dallas and handed them a route to escape the bottom of the table. Entering Decision Day, Sporting KC remain within striking distance of second-to-last-place Montréal, who sits three points ahead of them.
A Sporting KC win over San Diego along with a Montréal loss to Vancouver would see the two teams level on 26 points. In any other global league, we’d go to goal difference to declare a winner. But MLS – much like your favorite overpriced artisanal burger establishment – “does things a little differently”.
The league relies on wins, and SKC would finish with seven to Montréal’s six. It’s been a long season for KC, but at least the club’s fans have this tiny, single glimmer of hope entering the final week of the regular season. Pablo Iglesias Maurer Miami has long been out of the Shield race but they’d very much like to hang on to the No 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
A win against Charlotte would ensure that. A draw or loss forces them to rely on a New England defeat. Thankfully for the Herons, they have already clinched qualification for the Concacaf Champions Cup, giving them a chance to redeem themselves after crashing out in the last 16 of this year’s edition.
Perhaps more intriguing than any battle for seeding is Lionel Messi’s quest for the Golden Boot, which seems all but assured. His 26 goals put him four clear of his nearest competitor, seemingly guaranteeing he’ll become the first player in league history to win the award in consecutive seasons. PIM The East’s nine postseason qualifiers have been determined thanks to a shock last-minute equalizer from lowly Montréal last Saturday.
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