Four More Matches

There are only four more matches until MLS heads into its World Cup 2010 break. I will wait until those games are complete to update my MLS table and golden boot competition standings. In the meantime, here's the impact of those last four matches on the teams' playoff chances listed in W/D/L format. All data is from Sports Club Stats.

• Chicago Fire (9.4/-4.2/-10.7) at Colorado Rapids (3.9/0.5/-2.7)
• LA Galaxy (-0.05/0.05/0.01) at Real Salt Lake (1.7/0.1/-1.7)
• DC United (0.4/0/-0.1) at Seattle Sounders FC (5.7/-6.2/-11.4)
• Philadelphia Union (8.1/0.3/-2.9) at Kansas City Wizards (3.5/-3.0/-5.6)

My Seattle Sounders could really move up if they win their second game in a row. The quick six points they will have picked up if they beat DC United will have improved their playoff chances from 13.5% to 36.3% in just two matches. They will still have a long way to go in the second half of the season, but they will have moved up to fourth in the Western Conference with a win against DC.

What's also amazing is how little impact DC United and LA Galaxy's matches have on their likely chances of making the playoffs. DC is a truly dangerous team, having nothing left to play for except pride. Meanwhile, LA could be coasting without Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle, but they continue to outperform the whole rest of the league in their absence. Is this MLS's version of The Invincibles?