The perfect Real Salt Lake storm weakens but could gain strength this weekend

OK, my scenario of prefect events has gone a bit off the radar but could regain some strength this weekend

While I thought that Philly would pull out the 1-1 draw with LA, they dropped the ball or more accurately hit the post and LA ended up with all 3 points.  RSL went to New York but failed to get the win, again the post played a role as did the official but in the end a 0-0 draw was a fair result given the match.  I did hit the FC Dallas vs. Colorado match on the head with my call of a 2-2 draw, so that means after 28 matches the race for the Supporters shield (and secondary story the final playoff spot) looks like this:

Supporters' Shield
Los Angeles Galaxy - 56 points
Real Salt Lake - 52 points
FC Dallas - 50 points

The fight for the final playoff spot took an interesting turn on Tuesday night as the Kansas City Wizards grabbed a 2-0 win over the Chicago Fire to move within 6 points of the final playoff spot.  If KC and Colorado end with the same number of points, KC holds the tiebreaker as the season series favors KC with a 1-0 win and a 1-1 draw.

Final Playoff spot
Colorado Rapids - 42 points
Kansas City Wizards - 42 points

the scenarios for week 29 after the jump:

So the 4 of the 5 teams involved in the races will see action against each other this weekend, while Kansas City who must win out will head to New England for a 6pm MT start, I am picking KC to get a 2-1 win.  At 7pm MT Real Salt Lake will kick off their final regular season match at home as FC Dallas comes to town and the 19 match unbeaten streak of Dallas will face off against the 24 match home unbeaten streak of Real Salt Lake. I have to pick RSL to win the match, to avenge their last loss of the season and look for it to be a 2-0 win for RSL.  

As RSL is wrapping up their match Colorado will take the pitch at the Home Depot Center to face off against the Los Angeles Galaxy (8:30pm MT), and while LA hasn't been as dominating as they were in the early part of the season, Colorado hasn't taken advantage of their opportunities to secure their spot and knowing that a result would lock up a playoff spot for them is a lot of pressure.  Colorado responds with a 2-1 win to secure their spot in the playoffs

Week 29

Supporters' Shield
Los Angeles Galaxy - 56 points
Real Salt Lake - 55 points
FC Dallas - 50 points

Final Playoff spot
Colorado Rapids - 45 points
Kansas City Wizards 39 points

Now this scenario holds some pain for me as I would love nothing better for Colorado's playoff hopes to still be up in the air after week 29, but for RSL's Supporters' Shield hopes to live on, something had to give.

There are of course other scenarios, say LA and Colorado end up in a draw, this would be enough for the Rapids to secure their playoffs pot and would give the Galaxy 57 points, which wouldn't eliminate RSL's chances, but a LA win and RSL can kiss the Shield goodbye.  So it is clear that the storm will need two things to happen, LA can't win and RSL can't lose.

This would lead to Supporters' Shield race coming down to the final weekend when again the fate would hang in the hands of the same 4 teams as the previous weekend.  On Saturday the 23rd Real Salt Lake will head to Colorado for the second leg of the Rocky Mountain Cup (the first match was a 1-1 draw), and on Sunday the 24th, FC Dallas will head to the Home Depot Center to face the Los Angeles Galaxy.  Remember that this year the Supporters' Shield winner will not only claim the trophy, but they would be the top team in the Western Conference and gain home field advantage in the playoffs.

Oh so much left for the final two weeks of the Major League Soccer season.

OFF MY SOAPBOX