FC Dallas could become the first club to punch a ticket to the 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs this weekend.
FCD will clinch a berth in the postseason on Saturday if they beat the Colorado Rapids at home on Saturday night (9 pm ET; MLS LIVE).
The last-place Houston Dynamo are already out of contention to catch Dallas and, no matter what happens in their matches this weekend, the sixth-place Portland Timbers and ninth-place Vancouver Whitecaps would be unable to catch FCD should the Texas club beat Colorado at Toyota Stadium.
Additionally, a loser of the San Jose Earthquakes-Seattle Sounders match at Avaya Stadium on Saturday (10:30 pm ET; MLS LIVE) would not be able to catch Dallas if FCD beat the Rapids. If Seattle and San Jose draw, neither team would be able to catch a victorious FCD.
In more concise terms, all of this means that there will be at least four teams incapable of catching Dallas if they beat Colorado on Saturday. That would assure Oscar Pareja and Co. of a top-six place in the West and a third-straight postseason berth.
Dallas, who hold a seven point lead atop the MLS standings, are the runaway favorites to win the Supporters’ Shield, with ESPN’s Soccer Power Index giving the club a 72 percent chance of winning the league’s regular season title. The Rapids are Dallas’ main threat for the Shield, with the Soccer Power Index giving Colorado – who trail Dallas by eight points but hold two games in hand on FCD – a 10 percent shot at the trophy.
Following their match against Colorado on Saturday, Dallas will host the New England Revolution in the US Open Cup Final at Toyota Stadium on Tuesday night (10 pm ET; ESPN2).
