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| MLS Decision Day: race for the playoffs and Supporters' Shield – live! | MLS Decision Day: race for the playoffs and Supporters' Shield – live! |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.39am GMT00:39 | |
| As it now stands Portland will host Sporting KC this week, while LA, who faced a trip to Seattle earlier on, are currently set to host the Sounders in the other one-0ff game. | |
| 12.38am GMT00:38 | |
| Vancouver take the lead over Houston | |
| Was about to write that after 12 goals in the first half, there’d been none in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. But then Vancouver made the breakthrough via a Kekuta Manneh goal. They’ve been quietly working away all evening, and now they’ve jumped into second place in the West if these scores hold. | |
| 12.34am GMT00:34 | |
| Sporting living a little dangerously as they try to force the issue at Sporting Park. They’re being stretched on the counter at times, and LA looking more comfortable as the game goes on. In Chicago, New York looking very comfortable against a forlorn looking Fire side. Dallas having to deal with some pressure from San Jose, who still have playoff hopes as things stand, but also threatening with their own speed as they try to make a race of it with New York. | |
| 12.30am GMT00:30 | |
| Feilhaber’s got his chance for redemption in Sporting, and is on for the second half. He just drove a low free kick from a shallow angle that forced Gerrard into a lunging clearance at LA’s near post. | |
| 12.27am GMT00:27 | |
| LA are making the better chances at Sporting Park, but can’t get a second goal — Sebastian Lletget just fired a shot wide from the edge of the box after some neat set up play from Keane. | |
| 12.23am GMT00:23 | |
| Sporting have come out on the front foot against LA. Mind you, they’ve just had to deal with another Gerrard shot from the edge of the box. It’s another one straight at Melia though. | |
| Updated at 12.24am GMT | |
| 12.21am GMT00:21 | |
| Second half kicks off | |
| More standing around while TV staffers count down with their fingers on the sidelines...and we’re off again! 45 more minutes left in the regular MLS season. | |
| 12.20am GMT00:20 | |
| Here’s Robbie Keane’s potentially vital equalizer for LA: | |
| Who dat?! Goal King for #LAGalaxy. 1-1 SKC v Robbie Keane #SKCvLA pic.twitter.com/1SpAFee9a9 | |
| 12.18am GMT00:18 | |
| Dallas have been scintillating for much of the year though, and few players more so than Mauro Diaz, who drew Dallas level after San Jose took the lead. | |
| MLS: Diaz goal -- FC Dallas (38'): MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER: Mauro Diaz (38') FC Dallas 1-1 San Jose https://t.co/vh4HfYjBio #FIFA #WorldCup | |
| 12.15am GMT00:15 | |
| Jesse Marsch is on course to land New York their second trophy in three years, if his New York team can wrap up a first ever victory in Chicago. After the upheaval of his arrival with the team following the controversial sacking of Mike Petke, and the departures of Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill in the off-season, it’s been a remarkable run for Marsch to potentially emulate what Petke did as a first year coach with the team. Still 45 minutes to go though. | |
| .@NewYorkRedBulls 13-2-0 when leading at halftime and 14-4-0 when scoring first. #RBNY leads 2-0 at the half. #CHIvNY #DecisionDay | |
| Updated at 12.16am GMT | |
| 12.12am GMT00:12 | |
| We’ve not talked a lot about the Vancouver game so far. They’ve been such a solid side all year that you can’t imagine Seattle will be too thrilled at the prospect of facing them in a single game, no matter the weight of home advantage. They’ve hit the bar so far against Houston, but it’s still 0-0 at BC Place. | |
| 12.10am GMT00:10 | |
| Half-time | |
| Vancouver 0-0 HoustonSeattle 3-0 RSLDallas 1-1 San JosePortland 2-1 ColoradoSporting KC 1-1 LA GalaxyChicago 0-2 New York Red Bulls | |
| Current standings:New York on course to win Supporters Shield by two points over Dallas.Western Conference standings: | |
| DallasPortlandLASeattleVancouverSporting KCSan JoseAs it stands, the single play-in games will be LA vs Sporting and Seattle vs Vancouver | |
| 12.06am GMT00:06 | |
| ...Robbie Keane levels the game in Kansas City! | |
| In fairness to Gerrard he’s making the forward runs to open up space and LA get their reward as he and Keane burst through, with the latter just dinking the ball over Melia from near the edge of the six yard box. | |
| 12.04am GMT00:04 | 12.04am GMT00:04 |
| Terrible miss by Steven Gerrard — LA break and Dos Santos squares the ball to his team mate on the edge of the box. Gerrard has lots of space, but pauses before driving a low shot too close to Tim Melia. Since a fantastic debut for LA, Gerrard’s not done a lot for the champions. You know who has though...? | Terrible miss by Steven Gerrard — LA break and Dos Santos squares the ball to his team mate on the edge of the box. Gerrard has lots of space, but pauses before driving a low shot too close to Tim Melia. Since a fantastic debut for LA, Gerrard’s not done a lot for the champions. You know who has though...? |
| 12.01am GMT00:01 | 12.01am GMT00:01 |
| Dallas level against San Jose | Dallas level against San Jose |
| And some even better news for Sporting KC as Mauro Diaz has pulled Dallas level against San Jose. So as it stands the playoff spots are: | And some even better news for Sporting KC as Mauro Diaz has pulled Dallas level against San Jose. So as it stands the playoff spots are: |
| DallasPortlandSeattleVancouverLASporting | DallasPortlandSeattleVancouverLASporting |
| San Jose below the red line again, while LA currently facing a single game road trip to Seattle if they want to defend their title. | San Jose below the red line again, while LA currently facing a single game road trip to Seattle if they want to defend their title. |
| 11.58pm GMT23:58 | 11.58pm GMT23:58 |
| Sporting KC take the lead over LA | Sporting KC take the lead over LA |
| And it looks a dodgy one. A little pinball in the LA box from a set piece, then Chance Myers shoots against the legs of his own player, Kevin Ellis, standing in a clear offside position as he puts the ricocheting ball into the net. That is a huge break for Sporting. | And it looks a dodgy one. A little pinball in the LA box from a set piece, then Chance Myers shoots against the legs of his own player, Kevin Ellis, standing in a clear offside position as he puts the ricocheting ball into the net. That is a huge break for Sporting. |
| 11.56pm GMT23:56 | 11.56pm GMT23:56 |
| New York double their lead... | New York double their lead... |
| Mike Grella is fouled in the box and Sacha Kljestan converts the penalty. The Shield in touching distance now... | Mike Grella is fouled in the box and Sacha Kljestan converts the penalty. The Shield in touching distance now... |
| 11.55pm GMT23:55 | 11.55pm GMT23:55 |
| Portland go 2-1 up... | Portland go 2-1 up... |
| Of course, spirited resistance is no match for a liveblogger tempting fate, and Portland have just gone 2-1 up over Colorado. Nagbe with another goal... | Of course, spirited resistance is no match for a liveblogger tempting fate, and Portland have just gone 2-1 up over Colorado. Nagbe with another goal... |
| 11.52pm GMT23:52 | 11.52pm GMT23:52 |
| Portland encountering spirited resistance from Colorado, whose playoff hopes may be long over, but not their say in how the playoff places look — in fact their counterpunching victory in Kansas City this week, has currently left Sporting on the outside looking in.Portland meanwhile, are yet to look like the side who swept aside the Galaxy last week, but then again they didn’t score the first of those five goals until well into the second half. | Portland encountering spirited resistance from Colorado, whose playoff hopes may be long over, but not their say in how the playoff places look — in fact their counterpunching victory in Kansas City this week, has currently left Sporting on the outside looking in.Portland meanwhile, are yet to look like the side who swept aside the Galaxy last week, but then again they didn’t score the first of those five goals until well into the second half. |
| 11.48pm GMT23:48 | 11.48pm GMT23:48 |
| In Shield news, Dallas still losing to San Jose at home and New York winning 1-0 against Chicago at a stadium they’ve never won in. Dallas would now need to score 9 goals to take the Shield if the New York result holds. If it does New York will be grateful for a great save by Luis Robles a few minutes ago — getting down to push away a shot from Gilberto, who was free on a ball over the top. | In Shield news, Dallas still losing to San Jose at home and New York winning 1-0 against Chicago at a stadium they’ve never won in. Dallas would now need to score 9 goals to take the Shield if the New York result holds. If it does New York will be grateful for a great save by Luis Robles a few minutes ago — getting down to push away a shot from Gilberto, who was free on a ball over the top. |
| Updated at 11.49pm GMT | Updated at 11.49pm GMT |
| 11.46pm GMT23:46 | 11.46pm GMT23:46 |
| Big miss by Dom Dwyer! Nemeth whipped a perfect cross to the edge of the LA six yard box and Donovan Ricketts was just able to get out far enough in time to block Dwyer from turning the ball home. That was close to opening the scoring. | Big miss by Dom Dwyer! Nemeth whipped a perfect cross to the edge of the LA six yard box and Donovan Ricketts was just able to get out far enough in time to block Dwyer from turning the ball home. That was close to opening the scoring. |
| 11.43pm GMT23:43 | 11.43pm GMT23:43 |
| Seattle 3-0 Real Salt Lake | Seattle 3-0 Real Salt Lake |
| Seems that talk of missing the playoffs has stuck in the Sounders’ collective craw — Dempsey just got his second. LA Galaxy’s AJ DeLaGarza just got booked for a foul in Kansas City by the way, but Sporting couldn’t make anything of the resulting free kick. | Seems that talk of missing the playoffs has stuck in the Sounders’ collective craw — Dempsey just got his second. LA Galaxy’s AJ DeLaGarza just got booked for a foul in Kansas City by the way, but Sporting couldn’t make anything of the resulting free kick. |
| 11.40pm GMT23:40 | 11.40pm GMT23:40 |
| Bit of a goalmouth scramble in the Sporting box right now, but LA can’t find a decisive touch. Now Dos Santos has blazed over from a narrow angle, but it’s still very muted in that game compared to what’s going on elsewhere. Speaking of which... | Bit of a goalmouth scramble in the Sporting box right now, but LA can’t find a decisive touch. Now Dos Santos has blazed over from a narrow angle, but it’s still very muted in that game compared to what’s going on elsewhere. Speaking of which... |
| 11.38pm GMT23:38 | 11.38pm GMT23:38 |
| Colorado equalize in Portland | Colorado equalize in Portland |
| It’s 1-1 in Portland. Dominique Badji sends Portland from a bye to the semis to a road game in the wild card round as it stands. They’re back down to 5th in the live table:DallasLASeattleVancouverPortlandSan Jose | It’s 1-1 in Portland. Dominique Badji sends Portland from a bye to the semis to a road game in the wild card round as it stands. They’re back down to 5th in the live table:DallasLASeattleVancouverPortlandSan Jose |
| Sporting out of the playoffs as it stands... | Sporting out of the playoffs as it stands... |
| 11.35pm GMT23:35 | 11.35pm GMT23:35 |
| Seattle double their lead | Seattle double their lead |
| Marco Pappa has made it 2-0 for Seattle | Marco Pappa has made it 2-0 for Seattle |
| 11.33pm GMT23:33 | 11.33pm GMT23:33 |
| ...and San Jose lead in Dallas | ...and San Jose lead in Dallas |
| The Red Bulls firmly in command in the Shield race right now, as San Jose have taken the lead against Dallas in Texas. Quincy Amarikwa got the goal. | The Red Bulls firmly in command in the Shield race right now, as San Jose have taken the lead against Dallas in Texas. Quincy Amarikwa got the goal. |
| Updated at 11.38pm GMT | Updated at 11.38pm GMT |
| 11.32pm GMT23:32 | 11.32pm GMT23:32 |
| New York lead in Chicago... | New York lead in Chicago... |
| Bradley Wright-Phillips has put New York into the lead in Chicago — he was terribly marked on a corner and scored from point blank range... | Bradley Wright-Phillips has put New York into the lead in Chicago — he was terribly marked on a corner and scored from point blank range... |
| 11.31pm GMT23:31 | 11.31pm GMT23:31 |
| Nagbegol™ | Nagbegol™ |
| That was a lovely free kick from Nagbe to put Portland ahead. He looks in a good mood these days — possibly due to encountering the relentless positivity of Jurgen Klinsmann “enquiring” about him for the US team. | That was a lovely free kick from Nagbe to put Portland ahead. He looks in a good mood these days — possibly due to encountering the relentless positivity of Jurgen Klinsmann “enquiring” about him for the US team. |
| 11.29pm GMT23:29 | 11.29pm GMT23:29 |
| Goals in Portland and Seattle | Goals in Portland and Seattle |
| Darlington Nagbe has given Portland the lead over Colorado after five minutes, while almost simultaneously Clint Dempsey was putting Seattle 1-0 up over RSL. As it stands, Portland would nudge LA out of second place. | Darlington Nagbe has given Portland the lead over Colorado after five minutes, while almost simultaneously Clint Dempsey was putting Seattle 1-0 up over RSL. As it stands, Portland would nudge LA out of second place. |
| 11.26pm GMT23:26 | 11.26pm GMT23:26 |
| Feilhabercam™ | Feilhabercam™ |
| First inevitable shots of a brooding Benny Feilhaber sitting on the Sporting bench — Sporting KC have not looked the same since Roger Espinoza got injured, and Feilhaber in particular looks to have missed Espinoza’s industry, and the time it bought him on the ball. | First inevitable shots of a brooding Benny Feilhaber sitting on the Sporting bench — Sporting KC have not looked the same since Roger Espinoza got injured, and Feilhaber in particular looks to have missed Espinoza’s industry, and the time it bought him on the ball. |
| 11.24pm GMT23:24 | 11.24pm GMT23:24 |
| Cagey start in Kansas City | Cagey start in Kansas City |
| Zardes just hoofed one over from 40 yards, but it’s been a little cautious to start this game from both sides. Still 0-0 everywhere... | Zardes just hoofed one over from 40 yards, but it’s been a little cautious to start this game from both sides. Still 0-0 everywhere... |
| 11.21pm GMT23:21 | 11.21pm GMT23:21 |
| Red Bulls slumping... | Red Bulls slumping... |
| Many seconds have passed since kick off and they haven’t scored. They were 1-0 up against Philadelphia after 7 seconds last week. They have had the ball in the net already, but it was one of those kick-it-lazily-into-the-net-after-the-offside-flag-has-gone-up jobs, so it doesn’t count. | Many seconds have passed since kick off and they haven’t scored. They were 1-0 up against Philadelphia after 7 seconds last week. They have had the ball in the net already, but it was one of those kick-it-lazily-into-the-net-after-the-offside-flag-has-gone-up jobs, so it doesn’t count. |
| 11.19pm GMT23:19 | 11.19pm GMT23:19 |
| Kick off in every game | Kick off in every game |
| Stopwatch buttons are pressed, and we’re off... | Stopwatch buttons are pressed, and we’re off... |
| 11.19pm GMT23:19 | 11.19pm GMT23:19 |
| Columbus day... | Columbus day... |
| Whatever happens tonight, that Columbus result was a big marker for the East — they’ve been dangerous up front all season, and as we’ve noted (we being me and highly trained team of expert stat minions, and definitely not me, some cut and paste and an affectation), they did the job without Kamara and Higuain. They’ve not been the most reliable defensively at times, but Steve Clark was fantastic in goal tonight when called upon, and they may be achieving that crucial playoff status of “Getting hot at the right time™” — and hopefully not the less desired state of “Peaking too early™” | Whatever happens tonight, that Columbus result was a big marker for the East — they’ve been dangerous up front all season, and as we’ve noted (we being me and highly trained team of expert stat minions, and definitely not me, some cut and paste and an affectation), they did the job without Kamara and Higuain. They’ve not been the most reliable defensively at times, but Steve Clark was fantastic in goal tonight when called upon, and they may be achieving that crucial playoff status of “Getting hot at the right time™” — and hopefully not the less desired state of “Peaking too early™” |
| 11.13pm GMT23:13 | 11.13pm GMT23:13 |
| Some interesting selections tonight | Some interesting selections tonight |
| No Benny Feilhaber for Sporting KC, which might make things marginally easier for an LA Galaxy team who’ve struggled to balance their midfield in recent weeks. And for New York, Matt Miazga returns to the defense after his absences for international duty and suspension — he may be a necessary stabilizing influence given the way the Red Bulls have struggled against speedy counters from Chicago twice already this season. | No Benny Feilhaber for Sporting KC, which might make things marginally easier for an LA Galaxy team who’ve struggled to balance their midfield in recent weeks. And for New York, Matt Miazga returns to the defense after his absences for international duty and suspension — he may be a necessary stabilizing influence given the way the Red Bulls have struggled against speedy counters from Chicago twice already this season. |
| 11.10pm GMT23:10 | 11.10pm GMT23:10 |
| The Eastern Conference playoff slots are finalized | The Eastern Conference playoff slots are finalized |
| Here are the final scores: | Here are the final scores: |
| NYCFC 1-3 New EnglandColumbus 5-0 D.C. UnitedPhiladelphia 1-0 OrlandoMontreal 2-1 TorontoThe tightest of the relevant games was the All-Canadian affair between Montreal and D.C. where the visitors took a 1-0 lead into half-time, only for a Didier Drogba brace to turn that game on its head — that means both teams will be back at Stade Saputo in a few days. Meanwhile D.C. slip behind Columbus and Montreal after that hammering in Ohio, and may take scant consolation in having a home playoff game against New England coming off their equal worst ever loss. Here are the Eastern Conference wild card line ups: | NYCFC 1-3 New EnglandColumbus 5-0 D.C. UnitedPhiladelphia 1-0 OrlandoMontreal 2-1 TorontoThe tightest of the relevant games was the All-Canadian affair between Montreal and D.C. where the visitors took a 1-0 lead into half-time, only for a Didier Drogba brace to turn that game on its head — that means both teams will be back at Stade Saputo in a few days. Meanwhile D.C. slip behind Columbus and Montreal after that hammering in Ohio, and may take scant consolation in having a home playoff game against New England coming off their equal worst ever loss. Here are the Eastern Conference wild card line ups: |
| Montreal vs TorontoD.C. United vs New England | Montreal vs TorontoD.C. United vs New England |
| New York, Columbus— byes to Conference semi-finals | New York, Columbus— byes to Conference semi-finals |
| 11.02pm GMT23:02 | 11.02pm GMT23:02 |
| Seattle vs Real Salt Lake team news | Seattle vs Real Salt Lake team news |
| Lineup time: your @SoundersFC XI for #DecisionDay: Frei Mears Evans Marshall Gonzalez Pappa Alonso Friberg Ivanschitz Dempsey Martins | Lineup time: your @SoundersFC XI for #DecisionDay: Frei Mears Evans Marshall Gonzalez Pappa Alonso Friberg Ivanschitz Dempsey Martins |
| #RSL XI: Attinella; Beltran Maund Olave Mansally; Stertzer Gil Morales; Martinez Sandoval… https://t.co/I1iAZdNasK | #RSL XI: Attinella; Beltran Maund Olave Mansally; Stertzer Gil Morales; Martinez Sandoval… https://t.co/I1iAZdNasK |
| 10.59pm GMT22:59 | 10.59pm GMT22:59 |
| Vancouver vs Houston team news | Vancouver vs Houston team news |
| #VWFC Starting XI: Ousted; Beitashour, Waston, Parker, Harvey; Laba, Teibert; Techera, Koffie, Manneh; Rivero https://t.co/wgHyT9u7cC | #VWFC Starting XI: Ousted; Beitashour, Waston, Parker, Harvey; Laba, Teibert; Techera, Koffie, Manneh; Rivero https://t.co/wgHyT9u7cC |
| Tonight's @GEICO starting XI and bench for #VANvHOU. Catch the final Dynamo match of 2015 on @ROOTSPORTSSW at 6pm! pic.twitter.com/RuUEPO8NHm | Tonight's @GEICO starting XI and bench for #VANvHOU. Catch the final Dynamo match of 2015 on @ROOTSPORTSSW at 6pm! pic.twitter.com/RuUEPO8NHm |
| 10.58pm GMT22:58 | 10.58pm GMT22:58 |
| Chicago Fire vs New York Red Bulls team news | Chicago Fire vs New York Red Bulls team news |
| Here's your #cf97 Starting XI and bench presented by @UIHealth for #CHIvNY. Kickoff in one hour on @CSNChicago. pic.twitter.com/ylSGyN9HSo | Here's your #cf97 Starting XI and bench presented by @UIHealth for #CHIvNY. Kickoff in one hour on @CSNChicago. pic.twitter.com/ylSGyN9HSo |
| STARTING XI vs @ChicagoFire: Robles, Zizzo, Perrinelle, Miazga, Lawrence, Sam, Felipe, Kljestan, McCarty, Grella, Wright-Phillips #CHIvNY | STARTING XI vs @ChicagoFire: Robles, Zizzo, Perrinelle, Miazga, Lawrence, Sam, Felipe, Kljestan, McCarty, Grella, Wright-Phillips #CHIvNY |
| 10.56pm GMT22:56 | 10.56pm GMT22:56 |
| Portland Timbers vs Colorado Rapids team news | Portland Timbers vs Colorado Rapids team news |
| Timbers XI vs. COL: Kwarasey, Powell, Borchers, Ridgewell ©, Villafaña, Chara, Fochive, Wallace, Nagbe, Melano, Adi #RCTID #DecisionDay | Timbers XI vs. COL: Kwarasey, Powell, Borchers, Ridgewell ©, Villafaña, Chara, Fochive, Wallace, Nagbe, Melano, Adi #RCTID #DecisionDay |
| Your #Rapids96 Starting XI for #PORvCOL #COYR #DecisionDay pic.twitter.com/uJaWAQo6A4 | Your #Rapids96 Starting XI for #PORvCOL #COYR #DecisionDay pic.twitter.com/uJaWAQo6A4 |
| In Montreal, Didier Drogba just went close to grabbing a hat trick. He’s quite important for Montreal... | In Montreal, Didier Drogba just went close to grabbing a hat trick. He’s quite important for Montreal... |
| 10.54pm GMT22:54 | 10.54pm GMT22:54 |
| FC Dallas vs San Jose team news | FC Dallas vs San Jose team news |
| Your final 2015 regular season @FCDallas Starting XI and bench, powered by @txuenergy! #FCDvSJ #DecisionDay pic.twitter.com/iAdKgiOvwU | Your final 2015 regular season @FCDallas Starting XI and bench, powered by @txuenergy! #FCDvSJ #DecisionDay pic.twitter.com/iAdKgiOvwU |
| Starting XI: Bingham, Wynne, Bernardez, Goodson, Francis, P. Garcia, Alashe, Pelosi, Salinas, Wondolowski, Amarikwa pic.twitter.com/2Ub2zE98wv | Starting XI: Bingham, Wynne, Bernardez, Goodson, Francis, P. Garcia, Alashe, Pelosi, Salinas, Wondolowski, Amarikwa pic.twitter.com/2Ub2zE98wv |
| 10.51pm GMT22:51 | 10.51pm GMT22:51 |
| Sporting KC vs LA Galaxy team news | Sporting KC vs LA Galaxy team news |
| #SportingKC starting XI vs #LAGalaxy. Coverage begins at 6pm on @ESPN! #SKCvLA pic.twitter.com/JTBNZgra3o | #SportingKC starting XI vs #LAGalaxy. Coverage begins at 6pm on @ESPN! #SKCvLA pic.twitter.com/JTBNZgra3o |
| #LAGalaxy XI: Ricketts; DLG, Gonzalez, Leonardo, Rogers; Zardes, Juninho, Gerrard, Lletget; Keane, Dos Santos pic.twitter.com/xr3A9V1tRq | #LAGalaxy XI: Ricketts; DLG, Gonzalez, Leonardo, Rogers; Zardes, Juninho, Gerrard, Lletget; Keane, Dos Santos pic.twitter.com/xr3A9V1tRq |
| 10.50pm GMT22:50 | 10.50pm GMT22:50 |
| Twitter stirs: | Twitter stirs: |
| Champagne football in Columbus. @KidWeil | Champagne football in Columbus. @KidWeil |
| It looks pretty good. Bear in mind also that Higuain and Kamara aren’t playing for Columbus tonight... | It looks pretty good. Bear in mind also that Higuain and Kamara aren’t playing for Columbus tonight... |
| 10.48pm GMT22:48 | 10.48pm GMT22:48 |
| What's at stake tonight? | What's at stake tonight? |
| Here are the standings at the start of this evening’s play — with Dallas confirmed as Conference winners, but needing to at least match New York to take the Shield. As it stands San Jose are outside the playoff spots. | Here are the standings at the start of this evening’s play — with Dallas confirmed as Conference winners, but needing to at least match New York to take the Shield. As it stands San Jose are outside the playoff spots. |
| FC Dallas 57pts GD +12LA Galaxy 51pts GD +11Vancouver 50pts GD +6Portland 50pts GD -1Seattle 48pts GD +6Sporting KC 48pts GD +2San Jose 47pts GD +3 | FC Dallas 57pts GD +12LA Galaxy 51pts GD +11Vancouver 50pts GD +6Portland 50pts GD -1Seattle 48pts GD +6Sporting KC 48pts GD +2San Jose 47pts GD +3 |
| Here are tonight’s games: | Here are tonight’s games: |
| East:Chicago Fire vs New York Red Bulls | East:Chicago Fire vs New York Red Bulls |
| West:Sporting KC vs LA GalaxyVancouver vs HoustonSeattle vs Real Salt LakeFC Dallas vs San JosePortland vs Colorado | West:Sporting KC vs LA GalaxyVancouver vs HoustonSeattle vs Real Salt LakeFC Dallas vs San JosePortland vs Colorado |
| The top two teams in the Conference (Dallas and A.N. Other) will have a first round bye. The next four teams will play a single game elimination this week: 3rd vs 6th, 4th vs 5th | The top two teams in the Conference (Dallas and A.N. Other) will have a first round bye. The next four teams will play a single game elimination this week: 3rd vs 6th, 4th vs 5th |
| Columbus are still putting an absolute tormenting onto D.C. by the way. Aaron Schoenfeld has just made it 5-0... | Columbus are still putting an absolute tormenting onto D.C. by the way. Aaron Schoenfeld has just made it 5-0... |
| 10.45pm GMT22:45 | 10.45pm GMT22:45 |
| The East | The East |
| Here’s how the Eastern playoff spots stood stood before kick off this afternoon: | Here’s how the Eastern playoff spots stood stood before kick off this afternoon: |
| New York Red Bulls 57 pts GD +18D.C. United 51pts GD +3Columbus 50pts GD 0Toronto 49pts GD +1Montreal 48pts GD +3New England 47pts GD -1All those teams have qualified for the playoffs barring a big goal swing for Orlando in Philadelphia combined with a New England loss — Orlando have 44 pts but -9 GD | New York Red Bulls 57 pts GD +18D.C. United 51pts GD +3Columbus 50pts GD 0Toronto 49pts GD +1Montreal 48pts GD +3New England 47pts GD -1All those teams have qualified for the playoffs barring a big goal swing for Orlando in Philadelphia combined with a New England loss — Orlando have 44 pts but -9 GD |
| That’s not going to happen though. Here’s how the scores stand right now with around 15 minutes left:Columbus 4-0 D.CPhiladelphia 1-0 OrlandoMontreal 2-1 TorontoNYCFC 0-3 New England | That’s not going to happen though. Here’s how the scores stand right now with around 15 minutes left:Columbus 4-0 D.CPhiladelphia 1-0 OrlandoMontreal 2-1 TorontoNYCFC 0-3 New England |
| So as it stands, D.C. will be hosting New England and Montreal hosting Toronto in the single game play-in round, while Columbus will have a first round bye for finishing second in the Conference. And that’s a pretty emphatic way to seal their spot — handing D.C. their biggest defeat since their terrible 2013 season. And if Montreal hold on they’ll have a two minute / two goal second half burst from Didier Drogba to thank, having fallen behind in their game just before half-time. | So as it stands, D.C. will be hosting New England and Montreal hosting Toronto in the single game play-in round, while Columbus will have a first round bye for finishing second in the Conference. And that’s a pretty emphatic way to seal their spot — handing D.C. their biggest defeat since their terrible 2013 season. And if Montreal hold on they’ll have a two minute / two goal second half burst from Didier Drogba to thank, having fallen behind in their game just before half-time. |
| 10.41pm GMT22:41 | 10.41pm GMT22:41 |
| Preamble | Preamble |
| Evening all, and welcome to our coverage of MLS Decision Day — we hope you’ll stay with us for the rest of the evening. But it’s your choice. You decide. Make a decision. | Evening all, and welcome to our coverage of MLS Decision Day — we hope you’ll stay with us for the rest of the evening. But it’s your choice. You decide. Make a decision. |
| We’re already nearly through one round of “Choose your own adventure” games this afternoon, which kicked off at 5pm ET to determine the Eastern Conference playoff places (more on those in a moment). And now we’re going to the West to try and settle the wide open array of playoff places still up for grabs beneath Conference winners FC Dallas. | We’re already nearly through one round of “Choose your own adventure” games this afternoon, which kicked off at 5pm ET to determine the Eastern Conference playoff places (more on those in a moment). And now we’re going to the West to try and settle the wide open array of playoff places still up for grabs beneath Conference winners FC Dallas. |
| Dallas are at home this evening against the team currently just below the red line, San Jose, but even though they’ve won the Conference, Dallas are still playing for more in that game. Currently behind New York Red Bulls in the Supporters Shield race, a Dallas win tonight coupled with New York drawing or losing in Chicago, would hand Dallas the regular season title. That Chicago v Red Bulls game has been moved to the evening to coincide with the Dallas kick off, and we’ll keep you informed of what’s going on there as well. | Dallas are at home this evening against the team currently just below the red line, San Jose, but even though they’ve won the Conference, Dallas are still playing for more in that game. Currently behind New York Red Bulls in the Supporters Shield race, a Dallas win tonight coupled with New York drawing or losing in Chicago, would hand Dallas the regular season title. That Chicago v Red Bulls game has been moved to the evening to coincide with the Dallas kick off, and we’ll keep you informed of what’s going on there as well. |
| Some tense games beckoning in the playoff race — especially the one at Sporting Park, where Sporting KC inexplicably slipped up in midweek against Colorado Rapids, and must now face LA Galaxy, themselves humiliated last week in a 5-2 home loss to Portland Timbers. As it stand Sporting could finish anywhere from second, avoiding a one game play-in round, to out of the playoffs altogether, depending on results. | Some tense games beckoning in the playoff race — especially the one at Sporting Park, where Sporting KC inexplicably slipped up in midweek against Colorado Rapids, and must now face LA Galaxy, themselves humiliated last week in a 5-2 home loss to Portland Timbers. As it stand Sporting could finish anywhere from second, avoiding a one game play-in round, to out of the playoffs altogether, depending on results. |
| Dallas, Vancouver (home to the eliminated Houston Dynamo) and LA have already clinched playoff spots, but Seattle (home to eliminated RSL), Portland (home to very eliminated Colorado), and Sporting, will all be very wary of leaving the door open for San Jose, should they somehow get a result in Dallas. | Dallas, Vancouver (home to the eliminated Houston Dynamo) and LA have already clinched playoff spots, but Seattle (home to eliminated RSL), Portland (home to very eliminated Colorado), and Sporting, will all be very wary of leaving the door open for San Jose, should they somehow get a result in Dallas. |
| More on the current standings and results so far in a minute. For now, get your tweets and emails coming in to @KidWeil or graham.parker@theguardian.com and I’ll be back shortly with more DECISIONS. It’s that kind of DAY. | More on the current standings and results so far in a minute. For now, get your tweets and emails coming in to @KidWeil or graham.parker@theguardian.com and I’ll be back shortly with more DECISIONS. It’s that kind of DAY. |
| 4.59pm BST16:59 | 4.59pm BST16:59 |
| Graham will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Richard Whittall on the permutations for the playoffs and the Supporters’ Shield: | Graham will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Richard Whittall on the permutations for the playoffs and the Supporters’ Shield: |
| Related: MLS previews: 'Decision Day' for Seattle, Sporting and San Jose | Related: MLS previews: 'Decision Day' for Seattle, Sporting and San Jose |