MLS Playoffs: Decision Day Looms As Standings Finalize
Nashville SC holds the Supporters' Shield while Miami, New England, and Chicago Fire secure their positions ahead of the final matchweek.
By Aiko Sato ·
Major League Soccer enters its final regular season weekend with playoff berths nearly settled.
Nashville SC maintained their top seed after forcing two own goals to defeat Red Bull New York 3-2 in Tennessee. Sam Surridge headed the stoppage-time winner, allowing the Supporters' Shield champions to match Inter Miami's points total. Nashville can reclaim the record with just one point in their closing match.
Inter Miami rose to second place in the Eastern Conference following a 2-1 victory over New England. Lionel Messi, who leads the Golden Boot race, assisted Germán Berterame's equalizer and scored his 26th goal of the year. The win ended a four-game winning streak for the New England Revolution, dropping them to third in the conference.
St. Louis City SC lost 1-0 to San Diego FC, surrendering home-field advantage despite locking in a playoff spot. Pablo Sisniega made six saves for the visitors, while Anders Dreyer scored the decisive goal for San Diego.
Chicago Fire ended a six-game goal drought in Colorado, winning 4-2. Robert Lewandowski entered as a substitute and scored the go-ahead goal ten minutes later. He also assisted Puso Dithejane in the second half. This result placed the Fire in a playoff position, though they remain in the middle of the pack.
Vancouver Whitecaps solidified their top Western Conference position with a 5-1 win over Seattle. Brian White scored twice, with his first goal arriving in the 56th minute. The Whitecaps now face a manageable schedule, including a match against Montreal, as they approach the postseason.
Philadelphia Union lost 1-0 to Cincinnati, marking their second defeat in three games. They remain in the playoffs but face potential challenges in the bracket. FC Dallas drew 1-1 with Cincinnati, missing a penalty in the 97th minute that could have secured second place in the West. Petar Musa scored 22 goals this season, and the draw leaves them needing a result in their final game.
LAFC lost 3-1 to Minnesota United, remaining winless in three matches. They are secure in the playoffs but will miss the top three Western Conference spots for the first time in four seasons. Charlotte FC won 4-0 against Orlando City, with goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina making eight saves. Orlando claimed a wild card spot despite the loss, while Seattle Sounders sit one spot below the wild card zone after a 5-1 defeat to Vancouver.
Real Salt Lake won 2-1 against San Jose, snapping a six-game winless streak. They currently hold the third-place spot in the West. Houston Dynamo lost 3-1 to Portland, dropping to fifth place in the West. They face St. Louis in their final match, with both teams tied on points and separated by goal difference.
Columbus Crew beat D.C. United 3-0 to finish the regular season on a five-game winning streak. They secured an Eastern Conference wild card berth. Portland Timbers defeated Houston 3-1, with Vincent Janssen contributing a goal and two assists. The win keeps them in a wild card spot with one game remaining.
Minnesota United defeated LAFC 3-1, with Joaquin Pereyra scoring twice in his first start since September. They remain two points short of a direct playoff spot. Real Salt Lake, despite their win, remains outside the wild card zone and needs favorable results to qualify.
Red Bull New York was eliminated from the playoffs for the second consecutive season after losing to Nashville. This is the first time in franchise history they have been out in back-to-back years. New York City FC also exited the race after drawing 1-1 with Montreal, a result that was not enough to reach the wild card spot with one game left to play.
