MLS playoffs: Who can clinch a spot or be eliminated today Wednesday?
There are two games scheduled in MLS today ahead of Sunday’s Decision Day with post-season implications for many teams.
The 2022 regular MLS season comes to an end next Sunday with Decision Day with the postseason MLS Cup Playoffs getting underway on 15 October. The MLS Cup final is due to take place on 5 November, just sixteen days before the 2022 World Cup starts in Qatar.
Ahead of Sunday’s round of games, Wednesday evening sees two rescheduled games with both matches having something at stake.
Play-off picture in the East
There are three playoffs spots still available in the Eastern Conference as four clubs still in the mix – 5th-placed FC Cincinnati (46 points), Orlando City (currently 6th, 45 points), Inter Miami (7th, 45 points), Columbus Crew (8th, 45 points) and Charlotte FC (9th, 41 points).
Tonight’s games see Charlotte facing Columbus Crew with the home side desperate for the win to have any chance of keeping their hopes alive, a draw/loss would end their playoff dreams. Seventh Inter Miami face sixth placed Orlando in another vital contest for both sides’ postseason interests with the game possibly the second last ever for Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain.
A home win for Inter Miami would see them in the playoffs, with Orlando advancing should they win and Columbus slip up in Charlotte.
Wednesday night MLS games
- Charlotte FC-Columbus Crew
- Inter Miami-Orlando SC
Those midweek encounters will go a long way to helping clear up the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference as we wait to see who joins Philadelphia Union, Montreal and the New York clubs in postseason phase.