With only one week left, the race for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in down to five teams in the Eastern Conference.
Ahead of Decision Day presented by AT&T, these five clubs will be fighting for two remaining playoff spots. This season, the top 10 teams from the Eastern Conference qualify for the playoffs. With FC Cincinnati mathematically eliminated from contention, there are only two points separating the Montreal Impact in ninth place from D.C. United in 13th place. Teams finishing in positions seven through 10 will need to face each other in play-in matches to make it to Round 1 of the playoffs.
Fans across North America will have a lot of win-or-bust soccer to expect this coming week. Here's where each playoff hopeful teams stand following Sunday's action.
The Play-in Places
9) Montreal Impact
23 points, 1.05 points per game, one match to play: at DC (11/8)
Thanks to favorable results, the Montreal Impact were able to hang on to the ninth spot despite their 1-0 loss to Orlando City SC Sunday night. The Impact weren't able to spark any momentum heading into a crucial Decision Day game against D.C. United, as the club have now lost their last three games.
"It will be really difficult against D.C., they valiantly lost 4-3 against New England so it won't be easy at all," said Impact head coach Thierry Henry after Sunday's match.
10) Chicago Fire FC
22 points, 1.05 points per game, two matches to play: at MIN (11/4), vs NYC (11/8)
Away to Nashville SC, Chicago Fire FC were able to secure a 1-1 draw on Halloween night after giving up the opening goal. Boris Sekulic scored minutes before halftime and the crucial away draw kept the Fire's heads above the playoff line. Raphael Wicky's squad have two games against top four contenders in their respective conferences to play in order to secure their play in the playoffs. First, the team will head out to play Minnesota United FC midweek and then end their regular season at home against a New York City FC.
The Playoff Chasers
11) Atlanta United FC
22 points, 1 point per game, one match to play: at CLB (11/8)
Atlanta United were the only team of the bunch to win their game this weekend, a 2-0 victory to eliminate FC Cinciy. However, the Five Stripes may have the toughest Decision Day challenge of all the playoff chasers ahead of them. Atlanta will travel to Ohio to take on Columbus Crew SC at MAPFRE Stadium who have an 8-1-0 home record this season.
“I think all of the results went our way, so we are happy about that. It gives us a good chance Sunday to give us a win against Columbus," said striker Adam Jahn after the win over FC Cincy. "That’s all we can ask for at this point and we’ll be ready for it.”
12) Inter Miami CF
21 points, 0.95 points per game, one match to play: vs CIN (11/8)
Inter Miami CF did not get the result they wanted on Sunday on the road against Toronto FC, losing 2-1 after scoring the opener. The expansion side were looking to grab at least a point against the 2019 MLS Cup finalists to gain momentum ahead of Decision Day. Diego Alonso's squad will have the luxury of facing Cincinnati, who are already eliminated, at home to potentially clinch a spot in the playoffs.
"There’s a lot of frustration, we’re disappointed but we know that it is still manageable," said Blaise Matuidi in a postgame presser on Sunday. "We’re already thinking about the next game, we still think that it’s possible and we’ll need to do what we can to win and hope that the other results are favorable. We know that other teams have difficult matches to play and I knew that it would come to the last game of the season. We will focus on preparation during the week.
"We’ll sit in our frustration tonight but we need to start focusing on the next game starting tomorrow for this do-or-die game that awaits us. That’s what it is for us and we’ll do whatever it takes to win for our fans and then hope that other results play in our favor."
13) D.C. United
21 points, 0.95 points per game, one match to play: vs MTL (11/8)
D.C. United led the New England Revolution 2-0 in the first half but the Revs came back to win a crazy 4-3 match at Gillette Stadium. A win would have bumped them up to ninth heading into the home stretch of the 2020 MLS season. Instead, interim head coach Chad Ashton's squad will host a win-or-bust Decision Day game against direct playoff opponents Montreal Impact.
"We got to go take care of our business and then hope we get some help so it's pretty simple for us," said Ashton after the loss to the Revs. "We need to win the game and then hope things go our way. We'll control what we can control and go out there and get the full three points against Montreal and see what happens."
