FRISCO – FC Dallas became the first team in the Western Conference to clinch a spot in the playoffs after a scoreless draw in Portland. FCD remains two points ahead of Sporting KC at the top of the conference with just four games remaining. Portland stayed at fourth in the table after the draw and will go on the road to face Real Salt Lake this week.
Sporting KC had a chance to pass FCD on Sunday, but ended up tying Real Salt Lake 1-1. Ike Opara scored the lone goal for SKC, his second goal in three matches. Sporting hosts the seventh-place LA Galaxy on Saturday. It leads LAFC by two points for the second spot, and a first-round bye. RSL dropped one spot to sixth after the draw.
With both Portland and RSL not recording wins, LAFC had a chance to widen its third-place lead, but it did not do that. Instead, it lost 3-1 to the Chicago Fire, a team that came into the match with only one win since July 1. LAFC will now play another team that has struggled to find wins, heading to Colorado. The Rapids have lost six straight matches, being outscored 19-1 in that span.
Seattle leaped RSL and moved into fifth place after a dominating home victory. It defeated Colorado 4-0, with Raul Ruidiaz scoring two goals. It was his second brace in four matches. Seattle doesn't play until Monday, when it will host the Houston Dynamo.
The LA Galaxy are currently on the outside looking in for the final playoff spot. It is only two points short from RSL and will have a tough match in Sporting this weekend. The Galaxy are coming into the match off of two consecutive 3-0 home wins.
