The Starting Line: Three weeks left, three points back, three games that REALLY matter
Brandon Condra is back with everything that needs to happen to keep Racing in the playoff race
What needs to happen this week for Racing to stay in the playoffs? Guest writer and Racing capo Brandon Condra takes us through the scenarios!
Friday, October 11th
Match: Orlando Pride at Portland Thorns, 10 PM
The first game that matters. Orlando follows up their Shield winning victory against the Washington Spirit with a quick turnaround and a long plane ride to visit the struggling Portland Thorns. Portland hasn’t won a league game since July 5th and we really need that to continue. Portland is one of the two teams sitting just three meager points ahead of us on the table and they come and visit Racing next week. An Orlando win has us back to controlling our own playoff destiny, no matter what our result is this weekend.
Playoff implications: Orlando has already locked up the #1 seed. Portland is fighting for their lives. But this week won’t determine anything for them.
Saturday October 12th
Match: Gotham FC at Chicago Red Stars, 4 PM
The second game that matters. Chicago has quite possibly the toughest three-game closing stretch playing three of the top four teams in the league. Gotham is currently trying to break free from that pack to get a semifinal hosting spot if they advance that far. We can still catch Chicago in the standings so them losing is the best thing for us.
Playoff implications: Gotham is already in. Chicago can clinch with a win OR a Racing loss OR a draw and a Racing draw
Match: Angel City at North Carolina Courage, 7:30 PM
The Courage locked up a playoff spot last week and still have a long shot chance for a playoff home game. ACFC is still in the playoff conversation even after the league docked them three points for salary cap shenanigans last week. A Courage win keeps another potential playoff team behind us, and that’s what we want.
Playoff implications: A Courage loss or a draw eliminates them from a top four finish and a home playoff game. ACFC is eliminated from the playoffs with a loss and both Portland and Bay getting points OR a draw and both Portland and Bay winning.
Match: Kansas City Current at Bay FC, 10 PM
The third game that matters. Last week, I called upon the Utah Royals to follow up their win against Racing and beat Portland…AND IT WORKED. So this week I’m calling upon the Kansas City Current to do the same thing. BEAT BAY FC and keep them within reach of us for one of the final playoff spots.
Playoff implications: KC can lock up a first round home game with a win. Bay no matter the result still has work to do.
Sunday October 13th
Match: Seattle Reign at Utah Royals, 5 PM
Two of the bottom three teams in the league playing each other at the same time Racing plays at Washington. You can really just ignore this game. It doesn’t matter
Playoff implications: Seattle is eliminated with a draw or a loss. Utah is eliminated with a loss. Both teams are eliminated no matter what if Portland and Bay both win their matches.
Match: Houston Dash at San Diego Wave, 8 PM
Two more bottom-third-of-the-table teams playing each other. With the Wave directly behind us in 10th place, the Dash getting any points would be helpful. But at the very least keep it close so the Wave doesn’t creep closer to us on goal difference. (At the moment they are at -8 while Racing is at -2)
Playoff implications: Last week Houston was the first team officially eliminated from the playoffs. San Diego is eliminated with a loss and Portland and Bay draws/wins OR a draw and Portland and Bay winning.
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Nice work. Can always have hope until it isn’t possible