Is there a series of results this weekend that would see the last play-off spot decided if a goal were scored in the 90+ minute of the Chicago/Crew match? That would make for a kicker, wouldn't it? To take it a step further, I'm thinking of a possible additional situation where both teams are tied, and only a winner would produce the 8th seed. Can you imagine the attacking soccer in that one? I don't think that's possible, though, because of the point standings... Even earlier, before D.C.'s elimination yesterday, I was wondering if there was a way that NO team could be eliminated until Saturday (Sunday is impossible, because no result on Sunday could advance both teams past one other team, which would be required to create such a situation). Damn D.C., damn you to HELL! Where are the math majors/statisticians?
Dude. Take a freakin' look at the standings. It takes a pair of eyes, not a math degree. Now stay with me here Chicago is 9th. If they lose, they stay ninth. New England and Metro are one point ahead of Chicago, and they play eachother. MLS gives 3 points for a win and 1 point for a tie. If New England/Metro is a tie, then Chicago is two points behind them. Since a win would give them 3 points, they'd jump ahead into the playoffs, and someone else would be out. If either New England or Metro loses to the other, then Chicago's 3 points for a win would pass the losing Revs/Metro by 2. There are scenarios where a mere tie by Chicago would get them out of 9th place. It's not very hard to figure out, and these scenarios are not complete.
Well, if the final spot is to be determined in the 90th minute in the Chicago/Crew game, and if recent history is an indicator of the future, then it won't be the Fire that advance! But I'm an optimist--and I'll be at the game, so I'm sure that they will advance.
Easy, big boy... What I was getting at was tweaking the results a bit to keep the drama going. For example, is there any way before Thursday's game that NO-ONE would have been eliminated until possibly the late game Saturday? That would have to be some sort of record for the latest point in the regular season before ANY team was eliminated from playoff contention.