Toronto FC’s playoff hopes are looking slim.
Toronto (11-13-7, 40 points) remains in sixth place in Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference, three points behind the Columbus Crew who hold down the fifth and final post-season berth.
The New York Red Bulls are in fourth, leading TFC by four points. The Philadelphia Union and Houston Dynamo are hot on TFC’s tail, with 39 points.
With only three games remaining in the season, it’s going to go down to the wire for the last two playoff spots in the East. To see the updated league standings, CLICK HERE.
Toronto’s remaining games are away to New York (Oct. 11), home to the Montreal Impact (Oct. 25) and away to the New England Revolution (Oct. 25). Realistically, you’d have to think that TFC would need to take seven out of a possible nine points from their final three games to have a shot at a playoff berth.
Still, even if the Reds lose this weekend to New York, they wouldn’t be officially eliminated from post-season contention.
The only things that could happen this weekend are that New York could clinch a playoff berth, and both Philadelphia and Houston could be eliminated.
Here are the scenarios:
New York will clinch a berth IF
The Red Bulls win vs Toronto FC on Saturday AND
Houston ties or loses to D.C. United on Saturday
Philadelphia will be eliminated from playoff contention IF
The Union lose to Columbus Crew on Saturday AND
New York wins vs Toronto on Saturday
Houston will be eliminated from playoff contention IF
The Dynamo lose to D.C. United on Saturday AND
New York Red wins vs Toronto on Saturday AND
Columbus wins vs Philadelphia on Saturday
All of which raises the question: Will Toronto FC qualify for the 2014 MLS playoffs?
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