The Seattle Sounders have yet to secure a spot in the 2016 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. Heading into Decision Day on Sunday, here is how they can clinch their eighth consecutive postseason berth as well as all their potential first-round scenarios.
How the Sounders clinch a playoff spot:
- Win over Real Salt Lake
- Draw with RSL AND either Portland or Sporting KC draw or lose
- Loss to RSL AND either Portland or Sporting KC draw or lose
How the Sounders miss the playoffs:
- Draw with RSL AND both Portland and Sporting KC win
- Loss to RSL AND both Portland and Sporting KC win
How the Sounders finish in fourth:
- Win over RSL
How the Sounders finish in fifth:
- Draw with RSL AND neither Portland nor Sporting KC win
- Loss to RSL AND both Portland and Sporting KC lose
- Loss to RSL AND both Portland and Sporting KC draw (SEA holds total wins tiebreaker over both)
- Loss to RSL AND Portland loses AND Sporting KC draws (SEA holds total wins tiebreaker)
- Loss to RSL AND Sporting KC loses AND Portland draws (SEA holds total wins tiebreaker)
How the Sounders finish in sixth:
- Draw with RSL AND Portland wins AND Sporting KC draws/loses
- Draw with RSL AND Sporting KC wins AND Portland draws/loses
- Loss to RSL AND Portland wins AND Sporting KC loses
- Loss to RSL AND Sporting KC wins AND Portland loses
- Loss to RSL AND Portland wins AND Sporting KC draws (SEA holds total wins tiebreaker)
- Loss to RSL AND Sporting KC wins AND Portland draws (SEA holds total wins tiebreaker)
How the Sounders host RSL:
- Win over RSL AND neither Portland nor Sporting KC win
How the Sounders host Sporting KC:
- Win over RSL AND Sporting KC wins AND Portland draws/loses
- Win over RSL AND Sporting KC wins AND Portland wins IF SKC has better goal differential (SKC +1 over POR)
How the Sounders host Portland:
- Win over RSL AND Portland wins AND Sporting KC draws/loses
- Win over RSL AND Portland wins AND Sporting KC wins IF POR has better goal differential (SKC +1 over POR)
How the Sounders visit RSL:
- Draw with RSL AND neither Portland nor Sporting KC win
- Loss to RSL AND both Portland and Sporting KC lose
- Loss to RSL AND Sporting KC and Portland draw (SEA holds total wins tiebreaker over both)
- Loss to RSL AND Portland loses AND Sporting KC draws (SEA holds total wins tiebreaker)
- Loss to RSL AND Sporting KC loses AND Portland draws (SEA holds total wins tiebreaker)
How the Sounders visit LA Galaxy:
- Draw with RSL AND Portland wins AND Sporting KC draws/loses
- Draw with RSL AND Sporting KC wins AND Portland draws/loses
- Loss to RSL AND Portland wins AND Sporting KC loses
- Loss to RSL AND Sporting KC wins AND Portland loses
- Loss to RSL AND Portland wins AND Sporting KC draws (SEA holds total wins tiebreaker)
- Loss to RSL AND Sporting KC wins AND Portland draws (SEA holds total wins tiebreaker)
Here’s a visual of all the playoff scenarios from Jackson Felts, a producer, board op and Sounders reporter for Sports Radio 950 KJR:
