While the Eastern Conference was largely settled heading into the final day of the regular season, the Western Conference was anything but.
[ EAST: Red Bulls snatch Shield; Crew SC grab last spot (video) ]
Spots 1-6 were up for grabs, and four teams were mathematically alive in the race for first place and home-field advantage in the playoffs. Things started wildly, and only got more wild…
First-place race: FC Dallas take an early lead on Colorado Rapids, pushing themselves into second place for the time being.
https://twitter.com/MLS/status/1056653716420317184
Sixth-place race: LA Galaxy score twice in 10 minutes — both courtesy of Ola Kamara — to move into sixth place, two points ahead of Real Salt Lake.
First-place race: First-place Sporting KC lead second- (now fourth-) place Los Angeles FC, via Roger Espinoza‘s strike from 25 yards out.
Sixth-place race: The Galaxy wouldn’t, would they? They couldn’t, could they?
First-place race: Carlos Vela pulls LAFC level in KC. The home side would still finish top of the West after a draw.
Second-place race: Danny Hoesen puts San Jose Earthquakes ahead against the run of play, putting Seattle Sounders in a bit of trouble.
First-place race: 22-year-old Daniel Salloi restores the lead for Sporting KC, who have been down a man since Seth Sinovic’s handball which led to the penalty kick.
Sixth-place race: Mauro Manotas makes it 2-2 at StubHub Center, and it’s happening. It’s really happening.
Second-place race: Raul Ruidiaz has proven to be worth his weight in gold since signing this summer, and his late equalizer sends Seattle second.
Sixth-place race: There could be no more fitting end to the Galaxy’s season. What a stunningly uncontrollable disaster.
Second-place race: Dallas were unable to grab a second in Colorado and left the door wide open for Seattle.
Second-place race: Colorado get a second shortly thereafter, and Dallas tumble from second, to third, to fourth on the final day.
Second-place race: Ruidiaz does it again and locks up second place for Seattle.
