Decision Day scenarios: Study up ahead of MLS’s final day

  

The 2015 Major League Soccer regular season is currently 97.1 percent complete. By 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, it’ll be all over. Bring on#DecisionDay.

At 5 p.m. ET, five games featuring the 10 teams from the Eastern Conference will kick off and finish simultaneously. At 7 p.m. ET, five games featuring the 10 teams from the Western Conference will kick off and finish simultaneously.

By 9 p.m. ET, our hair will be standing straight up like we just stuck our soaking wet fingers in a light socket (at least mine and PST’s Kyle Lynch‘s will — we’ll have you covered all afternoon and evening, right here) and the playoff field will be set. But first, the scenarios facing the six teams vying for four places in the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs.

First up, the Eastern Conference, because let’s be honest, it’s infinitely more simple…

New England Revolution will clinch a berth in the 2015 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs IF

• New England Revolution win or tie vs. New York City FC on Sunday

OR

• Orlando City SC lose or tie vs. Philadelphia Union on Sunday

Orlando City SC will clinch a berth in the 2015 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs IF

• Orlando City SC win vs. Philadelphia Union on Sunday

AND

• New England Revolution lose vs. New York City FC on Sunday

AND

• The goal differential between the Orlando City SC win and New England Revolution loss is eight goals AND
  • Orlando City SC outscores New England Revolution
• OR the goal differential between the Orlando City SC win and New England Revolution loss is nine goals

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And now, the crazy, jumbled, nonsensical Western Conference, where absolutely nothing could surprise us on Sunday…

Sporting Kansas City will clinch a berth in the 2015 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs IF

• Sporting Kansas City win vs. Colorado Rapids on Wednesday

OR

• Sporting Kansas City win vs. LA Galaxy on Sunday

OR

• Sporting Kansas City tie vs. Colorado Rapids on Wednesday AND/OR tie vs. LA Galaxy on Sunday

AND EITHER

• Seattle Sounders FC lose vs. Real Salt Lake on Sunday

OR

• San Jose Earthquakes lose or tie vs. FC Dallas on Sunday

Portland Timbers will clinch a berth in the 2015 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs IF

• Portland Timbers win or tie vs. Colorado Rapids on Sunday

Seattle Sounders FC will clinch a berth in the 2015 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs IF

• Seattle Sounders FC win vs. Real Salt Lake on Sunday

OR

• Seattle Sounders FC tie vs. Real Salt Lake on Sunday

AND EITHER

• San Jose Earthquakes lose or tie vs. FC Dallas on Sunday

OR

• Sporting Kansas City lose/tie vs. Colorado Rapids on Wednesday AND Sporting Kansas City lose/tie vs. LA Galaxy on Sunday (lose vs. one, tie vs. one)

San Jose Earthquakes will clinch a berth in the 2015 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs IF

• San Jose Earthquakes win vs. FC Dallas on Sunday

AND ONE OF

• Portland Timbers lose vs. Colorado Rapids on Sunday

OR

• Seattle Sounders FC lose or tie vs. Real Salt Lake on Sunday

OR

• Sporting Kansas City lose or tie vs. Colorado Rapids on Wednesday AND Sporting Kansas City lose or tie vs. LA Galaxy on Sunday

OR

• San Jose Earthquakes tie vs. FC Dallas on Sunday

AND

• Sporting Kansas City lose vs. Colorado Rapids on Wednesday AND lose vs. LA Galaxy on Sunday