Photo Ron Soliman
Here are the Philadelphia Union’s few remaining paths to the playoffs as best we can discern them.
The playoff qualifier is points won (P). The first tiebreaker is wins (W). The second is goal difference (D). We append a chart below.
With one game left to play there is a three-way tie on 37 points for 10th, 11th, and 12th places among Toronto, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. But Toronto’s season is complete and they are therefore eliminated because they cannot reach the 40 points needed to tie 8th place D. C. and 9th place Montreal on points.
The Union — and Atlanta — can only tie D. C. or Montreal on points.
There are only three combination of results that would allow Philadelphia to make the playoffs, by tying on points and wins and qualifying on goal difference.
- D. C. must lose to Charlotte, AND Montreal must lose to NYC, AND Philadelphia must beat Cincinnati. Philly would tie both D. C. and Montreal on points and wins and would win out for 8th place on goal difference.
- EITHER D. C. OR Montreal must earn zero points from Charlotte or NYC, AND Philadelphia must earn all three points from Cincinnati. Philadelphia and the other 9th place team would then be tied on points and wins, and the Union would claim 9th on goal difference.
Atlanta could mirror Philadelphia but would lose out on goal difference.
Appendix
| Playoffs Chances Analysis Chart | ||||||||
| Updated 9:22 AM ET, Mo 7-Oct | ||||||||
| Club | L | P | M | W | D | Home | Away | |
| 1 | sMiami | 1 | 71 | 74 | 21 | 26 | NEng; | — |
| 2 | xColumbus | 2 | 60 | 66 | 17 | 27 | NEng; | NYRB; |
| 3 | xCincinnati | 1 | 56 | 59 | 17 | 9 | — | Phl; |
| 4 | xOrlando | 1 | 52 | 55 | 15 | 10 | Atl; | — |
| 5 | xNYC FC | 1 | 50 | 53 | 14 | 7 | — | Mntl; |
| 6 | xCharlotte | 1 | 48 | 51 | 13 | 6 | — | DC; |
| 7 | xNY Red Bull | 1 | 47 | 50 | 11 | 6 | Clmb; | — |
| 8 | D. C. | 1 | 40 | 43 | 10 | -15 | Char; | — |
| 9 | Montreal | 1 | 40 | 43 | 10 | -16 | NYC; | — |
| Playoff line | ||||||||
| 10 | eToronto | 0 | 37 | 37 | 11 | -21 | — | — |
| 11 | Philadelphia | 1 | 37 | 40 | 9 | 8 | Cin | — |
| 12 | Atlanta | 1 | 37 | 40 | 9 | -4 | — | Orl; |
| 13 | eNashville | 1 | 33 | 36 | 8 | -19 | — | Chi; |
| 14 | eNewEngland | 2 | 31 | 40 | 9 | -29 | — | Clmb; Mia; |
| 15 | eChicago | 1 | 30 | 33 | 7 | -19 | Nsh; | — |
Columbus must play New England during the international break. The game will have no effect on the Union’s remaining playoff aspirations.
Comments