What We Want to Happen Today 10/14

A busy Wednesday tonight with three games in MLS as we head into the final few games of the regular season, all three games tonight have playoff implications and all three have at least MLS Cup hosting possibilities available for Sporting Kansas City. So here's a look at what we want to happen in the three games tonight.

New York at Toronto
What we want to happen - New York win

I know some people haven't given up the very slim hopes of Kansas City grabbing the Supporters' Shield, but I'm not one of those people, KC isn't catching the Red Bulls, so it comes down to teams below KC in the Eastern Conference dropped points in terms of hosting MLS Cup. That includes Toronto who currently sit two points behind Kansas City. The good news for KC in these terms is that all three of Toronto's designated players, Sebastian Giovinco, Michael Bradley, and Jozy Altidore all played for their country during the international break and don't look set to at least start, if play at all tonight.

Vancouver at Dallas
What we want to happen - Vancouver win

Stick with me on this one because this goes against what I'd said about this same game last week when the teams played in Vancouver. This game is Vancouver's 33rd game of the year. After tonight they'll only have one game left in the season. Meanwhile Dallas still has two games left. Vancouver sits just two points above KC while Dallas is three. A win by Vancouver would put them five points ahead of KC, but give KC two games in hand on the Whitecaps. Yes it's better to have the points than the games in hand but a Vancouver win means that everything is still in KC's hands to tie or pass both teams on points (right now KC loses the wins tie breaker to Dallas though). A win by Dallas or draw means that KC would need Dallas to drop points in their final two games for KC even to tie them.

Portland at Salt Lake
What we want to happen - draw

While a loss for Salt Lake would see them unable to catch KC on points, that would also see Portland move to within one point of Kansas City. A Salt Lake win would see the log jam in the West become even tighter as Salt Lake would tie Portland and San Jose on points at 44 with all having two games left. Here it becomes about points being split and one still being left on the table leaving breathing room between KC and both teams.