Minnesota United clinched a MLS Cup playoff spot for the second consecutive season when MLS announced Thursday that its standings — and therefore its playoff qualifiers — will be based on points per game earned rather than its standard total points.
That's because of scheduling imbalances caused by COVID-19 disruptions.
Multiple teams will finish the regular season on "Decision Day" Nov. 8 without playing all of the reconfigured 23 games. The Loons, for example, will play 22 games now that their postponed Oct. 11 game at FC Dallas won't be rescheduled. They have three remaining games: Sunday at Sporting Kansas City and home games next week against Chicago and FC Dallas.
The Loons' 2-1 victory earned Wednesday on a Colorado own goal in the 89th minute gives them an 8-5-6 record, or 30 points. Do the math and their points per game are 1.58.
On Thursday, that placed them fourth in a Western Conference where eight teams make the playoffs and the top four get a first-round home playoff game.
Under the straight points system, they'd be fifth, one point behind fourth-place Los Angeles FC after its 2-1 victory over Houston on Wednesday.
Tiebreaking procedures will start with total victories, goal differential per game, goals for per game, fewest disciplinary points and many others.
The Loons qualified for the MLS playoffs for the first time a season ago, finishing fourth in the West before losing their postseason opener 2-1 to the Los Angeles Galaxy at Allianz Field.
