USL D1 playoff scenarios [R]

[DJT]

This is the last week of the USL D1 regular season and there is one playoff spot up for grabs. The direct Canadian angle here is that whoever claims this spot will face Vancouver in the first round.

Portland and Atlanta are in direct competition for this spot and are playing each other at the time of this post. If Portland win then Atlanta will be out, though Portland would not yet be in.

Puerto Rico (with two matches against Toronto remaining) and Minnesota (barely) are also in contention. Richmond have already qualified for the playoffs but could still drop down to this spot. The scenarios will be clearer when this match is done.

At halftime the score is Portland 1 Atlanta 0.

[DJT]

Final: Portland 6 Atlanta 1

The situation is now much clearer: the last playoff spot will be claimed by either Portland or Puerto Rico. If it's Puerto Rico then they will play Vancouver in the first round, otherwise either Portland or Richmond will play Vancouver.

                 P    Pts   1st Round     2nd Round

                            of Playoffs   of Playoffs

------------------------------------------------------

1. Montreal      26   58    Bye           vs. 4th or 5th

2. Rochester     27   48    Bye           vs. 3rd or 6th

3. Vancouver     27   45    vs 6th

4. Seattle       27   41    vs 5th

5. Richmond      27   39    vs 4th   

6. Portland      27   36    vs 3rd

---------------------------------------------------

8. Puerto Rico   26   32[/code]
Friday, September 9- Puerto Rico vs. [b]Toronto[/b] (live on FSWC at 8:00 PM EDT)

Saturday, September 10 - Portland vs. Richmond

Sunday, September 11- Puerto Rico vs. [b]Toronto[/b]


Puerto Rico would win a tiebreaker over Portland, and Portland would win a tiebreaker over Richmond.


(Note that Vancouver can't catch Rochester as the latter would win a tiebreaker between the two, and Richmond can finish ahead of Seattle on points but it wouldn't make a difference for the playoffs as Richmond would begin at home either way by agreement between the two clubs.)

[Daniel]

Go PR!

[DJT]

Friday, September 9:

Puerto Rico 2 Toronto 0

Seattle 1 Montreal 0

Updated standings:

                 P    Pts   1st Round     2nd Round

                            of Playoffs   of Playoffs

--------------------------------------------------------

1. [b]Montreal[/b]      27   58    Bye           vs. 4th or 5th

2. Rochester     27   48    Bye           vs. 3rd or 6th

3. [b]Vancouver[/b]     27   45    vs 6th

4. Seattle       28   44    vs 5th

5. Richmond      27   39    vs 4th   

6. Portland      27   36    vs 3rd

--------------------------------------------------------

7. Puerto Rico   27   35[/code]
Saturday, September 10 - Portland vs. Richmond

Sunday, September 11   - Puerto Rico vs. [b]Toronto[/b]


If Portland defeat Richmond then Portland are in and Vancouver will face Richmond.


If Portland draw Richmond then Puerto Rico need to defeat Toronto. If Portland lose to Richmond then Puerto Rico need only to draw Toronto. In either case, Vancouver will face Portland or Puerto Rico.


Who would the Whitecaps rather face? Probably Puerto Rico on paper, but the travel is horrendous compared to Portland.

[DJT]

Saturday, September 10 - Portland 3 Richmond 0

So Puerto Rico are out and Portland are in. Apparently Richmond did not use all of their regulars — I guess they wanted to face Vancouver in the first round of the playoffs, or didn't care either way.

Match-ups in the first round of the playoffs (September 16 & 18, first legs at teams mentioned first):

Richmond vs. Vancouver (winner vs. Rochester)

Portland vs. Seattle (winner vs. Montreal)

(BTW, even though Minnesota were eliminated from the USL D1 playoffs on Friday, they are still alive in the US Open Cup semifinals (at LA Galaxy on September 14) after defeating three MLS teams in a row.)