[Jasonma]

Here's where we stand on tiebreakers, both for playoff spots and seeding. Head-to-head is the first tiebreaker, season-long goal differential is the second. I've eliminated Dallas, SJ, NY, and KC since ending up tied with them probably means we're out of the playoffs already.

Current tiebreaker standing:
Chicago - Lost
Chivas - Push, winning GD currently
Columbus - Lost
DC - Push, winning GD currently
Houston - Push, losing GD currently
LA - Won
New England - Pushing, game at the Dick will decide it, winning GD currently
FSL - Winning, can push with a loss in the season finale in Sandy, even on GD right now with FSL currently playing
Seattle - Lost
Toronto - Push, winning on GD

When it comes to claiming a playoff spot, as long as we keep our GD up we only have to worry about tying with Seattle. When we look at seeding Houston has the upper edge on us right now on GD by one but if we were to somehow end up in a tie with them it would probably be in a way that would swing GD towards us.

We've lost the tiebreakers with Columbus and Chicago, but they're likely to claim the two automatic spots in the East so we shouldn't have to break a tie with them anyway.

[Quinn 33]

Dallas just did us a big favor last night by keeping LA in reach. I think ideally we want to take 2nd seed in the West with LA in 3rd.

[deron]

Is it overall goal differential or head-to-head?

Do away goals count at all?

[Jasonma]

Originally Posted by deron

Is it overall goal differential or head-to-head?

Do away goals count at all?

Originally Posted by Jasonma

Head-to-head is the first tiebreaker, season-long goal differential is the second.

Head-to-head based only on the game result is first. Away goals do not matter. Season-long goal differential is the second.

http://web.mlsnet.com/about/league.j...ntent=playoffs

TEAM-STANDINGS TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURES
The team awarded the highest position in the MLS standings will be the team with the greatest number of points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss). In the event that two teams finish the regular season with an equal number of points, the following system will be used to break the tie:

1) The highest position shall be awarded to the team with the better win/loss record in current regular season games against all other teams equal in points. (head-to-head competition)

2) If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team with the greater goal difference against all other teams during the regular season. (goal differential)

3) If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team scoring the greatest number of total goals against all other teams during the regular season. (total goals)

4) If the teams are still equal in the standings, the procedures described in this section shall be applied only to games played on the road by each team against all other teams during the regular season. (road 1-3)

5) If the teams are still equal in the standings, the procedures described in this section shall be applied only to games played at home by each team against all other teams during the regular season. (home 1-3)

6) If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team with the fewest team disciplinary points in the League Fair Play table during the regular season.

7) If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position in the standings shall be determined by the toss of a coin.

8) The first tiebreaker in a three-way tie is also head-to-head, but it is determined via points-per-game versus the other two teams. If two teams are tied in points-per-game head-to-head, the next tie breaker is goal difference.

NOTE: If two clubs remain tied after another club with the same number of points advances during any step, the tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format.

[Dom. FC]

Originally Posted by deron

Do away goals count at all?

Yes, +1 or -1 depending on who scores them. ;>)

Originally Posted by Jasonma

... Away goals do not matter. Season-long goal differential is the second.

Please see my reply above, they do matter just as much as but no more than home goals. Even own goals count as do away goals by guys that hardly ever see the pitch (re. Toronto away result).