Portland Timbers playoff scenarios

Published 11:14 pm Saturday, October 21, 2017

The Portland Timbers head into the final game of the regular season in second place in the Western Conference, two points behind their opponents Sunday at Providence Park, the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Timbers are tied with Seattle and a point ahead of Sporting Kansas City but hold tiebreakers over both teams (no matter Sunday’s results) by virtue of having more wins.

Portland will also play for the Cascadia Cup, the supporters’ trophy presented to the winner of the annual series between the Timbers, Whitecaps and Seattle Sounders. The Timbers will get the cup for the first time since 2012 with a win; the Sounders will win the cup if the Timbers lose or tie.

The Timbers will host at least one MLS playoff game but can finish anywhere from first and fourth in the Western Conference.

The Timbers win the WESTern conference with

• a win

The Timbers get the No. 2 seed with

• a tie AND a Seattle loss or tie AND a Kansas City loss or tie

• a loss AND a Seattle loss AND a Kansas City loss or tie

The Timbers get the No. 3 seed with

• a tie AND 1) Seattle win AND a Kansas City loss or tie OR 2) a Seattle loss or tie AND a Kansas City win

• a loss AND 1) a Seattle loss AND a Kansas City win OR 2) a Seattle win or tie AND a Kansas City loss or tie

The Timbers get the No. 4 seed with

• a tie or loss AND a Seattle win AND a Kansas City win

• a loss AND a Seattle win or tie AND a Kansas City win

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