MLS Decision Day: Red Bulls Snag Supporters Shield; Crew, RSL Clinch Playoff Berths; Galaxy Blow Two-Goal Lead And Playoff Berth In Home Loss To Dynamo

Major League Soccer closed out its' 23rd regular season on Sunday with 11 games.

At Bridgeview, Illinois:

The Chicago Fire and visiting DC United battled to a 0-0 stalemate, still good enough for the playoff-bound guests to assure themselves of hosting an opening-round playoff game.

At Commerce City, Colorado:

Cole Bassett (80') and Tommy Smith (84') each scored a goal in the waning minutes as the Colorado Rapids came from behind to upend visiting FC Dallas 2-1, costing the Hoops a shot at a first-round playoff bye.

At Columbus, Ohio:

In a match that was interrupted for 67 minute to due stormy weather, Gyasi Zardes produced a hat trick (11', 49', 83') as the Columbus Crew held off visiting Minnesota United 3-2 to secure a playoff spot.

At Kansas City, Kansas:

Daniel Salloi scored the game winner in the 72nd minute as Sporting Kansas City locked up the Western Conference regular-season title by defeating the visiting Los Angeles Football Club 2-1.

At Carson, California:

Romell Quioto (57') and Mauro Manotas (PK-73', 79') came up with critical second-half goals as the Houston Dynamo erased a 2-0 halftime deficit and upended the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-2 to knock the hosts out of playoff contention.

As a result, Real Salt Lake, who were idol on Sunday, secured the final Western Conference playoff berth.

At Foxborough, Massachusetts:

Diego Fagundez scored the only goal of the match in the 74th minute as the New England Revolution downed the visiting Montreal Impact 1-0, knocking the visitors from playoff contention.

With Toronto FC and Vancouver having already been eliminated, Montreal's defeat means that for the first time since 2011, there will be no Canadian teams in this year's MLS Cup Playoffs.

At New York:

Maxime Chanot (8'), Auston Trusty (OG-10'), and David Villa (34') each scored a first-half goal as New York City defeated the visiting Philadelphia Union 3-1 in a matchup of clubs that had already clinched playoff berths.

At Harrison, New Jersey:

Derrick Etienne, Jr. scored the only goal of the match in the 53rd minute as the New York Red Bulls defeated visiting Orlando City 1-0.

The win, coupled with Atlanta United's defeat in Toronto, enabled the Red Bulls to jump the Five Stripes and win the Supporters' Shield.

New York also set new MLS single-season record for points with 71.

At Seattle:

Raul Ruidiaz scored twice (79', 90'+3) as the Seattle Sounders upended the visiting San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 and assured themselves of a first-round playoff bye.

At Toronto:

Lucas Janson scored twice (9', 83') as Toronto FC dominated visiting Atlanta United 4-1, preventing the Five Stripes from winning the Supporters' Shield.

At Vancouver, British Columbia:

In his final game before moving on to Germany's Bayern Munich in the offseason, Alphonso Davies scored twice (28', 31') as the Vancouver Whitecaps upended the visiting Portland Timbers 2-1 in a Cascadia Cup clash.



FINAL MLS STANDINGS:

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

1.     New York Red Bulls (GP: 34; GD: +29; PTS: 71)
2.     Atlanta United FC (GP: 34; GD: +26; PTS: 69)
3.     New York City (GP: 34; GD: +14; PTS: 56)
4.     DC United (GP: 34; GD: +10; PTS: 51)
5.     Columbus (GP: 34; GD: -2; PTS: 51)
6.     Philadelphia (GP: 34; GD: -1; PTS: 50)
7.     Montreal (GP: 23; GD: -6; PTS: 46)
8.     New England (GP: 23; GD: -6; PTS: 41)
9.     Toronto FC (GP: 34; GD: -5; PTS: 36)
10.   Chicago (GP: 34; GD: -13; PTS: 32)
11.   Orlando City SC (GP: 34; GD: -31; PTS: 28)

NOTE: With DC United and Columbus level on points (51) and wins (14), DC had the superior goal differential (+10, compared to the Crew's -2).



WESTERN CONFERENCE:

1.     Kansas City (GP: 34; GD: +25; PTS: 62)
2.     Seattle (GP: 34; GD: +15; PTS: 59)
3.     Los Angeles Football Club (GP: 34; GD: +16; PTS: 57)
4.     FC Dallas (GP: 34; GD: +8; PTS: 57)
5.     Portland (GP: 34; GD: +6; PTS: 54)
6.     Real Salt Lake (GP: 34; GD: -3; PTS: 49)
7.     Los Angeles Galaxy (GP: 34; GD: +2; PTS: 48)
8.     Vancouver (GP: 34; GD: -13; PTS: 47)
9.     Houston (GP: 34; GD: 0; PTS: 38)
10.   Minnesota United FC (GP: 34; GD: -22; PTS: 36)
11.   Colorado (GP: 34; GD: -27; PTS: 31)
12.   San Jose (GP: 34; GD: -22; PTS: 21)

NOTE:  With the Los Angeles Football Club and FC Dallas level on points (57) and wins (16), LAFC had the superior goal differential (+16, compared to the Hoops' +8).



2018 MLS CUP PLAYOFFS:

KNOCKOUT ROUND:

Eastern Conference:

Wednesday:

At New York:

New York City vs. Philadelphia Union @ 4:00 PM Pacific Time (Fox Sports One)

Thursday:

At Washington:

DC United vs. Columbus Crew SC, @ 5:00 PM Pacific Time (Fox Sports One)



Western Conference:

Wednesday:

At Frisco, Texas:

FC Dallas vs. Portland Timbers @ 6:30 PM Pacific Time (UniMas)

Thursday

At Los Angeles:

Los Angeles Football Club vs. Real Salt Lake @ 7:30 PM Pacific Time (ESPN 2)



CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS:

Eastern Conference:

New York City FC and Atlanta United have qualified for the Eastern Conference semifinals, with both opening their two-match series on the road on Sunday, November 11.

Western Conference:

Sporting Kansas City and the Seattle Sounders will play in the Western Conference semifinals.  The Sounders will open their two-match series on Thursday, November 8, while Sporting KC will open theirs away from home on November 11.