2014 NWSL Playoff Picture: Spirit, Red Stars, Thorns FC and SBFC Battle for the Final Two Playoff Sp
Published on August 14, 2014 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) News Release
CHICAGO (Aug. 14, 2014) - Four teams are battling for the final two playoff spots as they enter the final weekend of the 2014 NWSL regular season.
Washington Spirit control their own destiny heading into Saturday's match. While a win would definitely punch Washington's ticket to the playoffs, a draw may also be enough dependent upon other results. The Spirit have an intriguing matchup with sixth-place Sky Blue FC, who have seen a resurgence over the past two weeks to put themselves in the thick of the playoff hunt. SBFC will be desperate for a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Chicago Red Stars also have their fate in their own hands. A win against the recently-eliminated Western New York Flash would put the Red Stars in the playoffs. Chicago, like Washington, can also clinch postseason soccer if other results in the league go their way.
Portland Thorns FC will be in do-or-die mode when they face off against NWSL Shield winners Seattle Reign FC this weekend. The Thorns will not only need a win to have a shot at the postseason, but will also need favorable outcomes in other matches.
It should be noted that in the event of a Red Stars loss against the Flash, Thorns FC tie against Reign FC and Sky Blue FC win at the Spirit, Washington would clinch the third playoff spot and Wednesday's rescheduled match between SBFC and the Dash would determine who gets the fourth and final playoff spot. If SBFC wins against Houston, then Sky Blue would win the three-team tiebreaker (points per game against other two teams) with Chicago and Portland.
Additionally, any scenario in which the Red Stars lose against the Flash, Thorns FC lose against Reign FC, and Sky Blue FC win at the Spirit, Portland would be eliminated and Chicago and Sky Blue would be tied for fourth. The head-to-head tiebreaker between the Red Stars and SBFC is owned by the Red Stars (1-0-2).
Neither tiebreaker including Sky Blue FC is represented in any of the below scenarios.
Week 19 Scenarios
The Washington Spirit will clinch a spot in the 2014 NWSL Playoffs if...
...the Spirit win vs. SBFC
OR
...the Spirit lose OR draw vs. SBFC AND the Red Stars lose OR draw vs. the Flash*
OR
Thorns FC lose OR draw vs. Reign FC
*= In the event of a Spirit loss and Red Stars draw, the Spirit (3-0-0) would clinch because they hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Red Stars.
The Washington Spirit will be eliminated from the 2014 NWSL Playoffs if...
...the Spirit lose vs. SBFC AND the Red Stars win vs. the Flash
AND
Thorns FC win vs. Reign FC
OR
...the Spirit draw vs. SBFC AND the Red Stars win vs. the Flash
AND
Thorns FC win vs. Reign FC**
**= The Spirit would be eliminated because Thorns FC (2-0-1) hold the tiebreaker against the Spirit.
The Chicago Red Stars will clinch a spot in the 2014 NWSL Playoffs if...
...the Red Stars win vs. the Flash
OR
...the Red Stars draw vs. the Flash AND Thorns FC lose OR draw vs. Reign FC
The Chicago Red Stars will be eliminated from the 2014 NWSL Playoffs if...
...the Red Stars lose vs. the Flash AND Thorns FC win vs. Reign FC
OR
...the Red Stars draw vs. the Flash AND Thorns FC win vs. Reign FC
AND
the Spirit lose vs. SBFC***
***= In the event of a Spirit loss and Red Stars draw, the Red Stars would be eliminated because the Spirit (3-0-0) hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Red Stars.
Portland Thorns FC will clinch a spot in the 2014 NWSL Playoffs if...
...Thorns FC win vs. Reign FC AND the Red Stars lose OR draw vs. the Flash
OR
the Spirit lose OR draw vs. SBFC****
****= In the event of a Spirit draw, Thorns FC would clinch because Thorns FC (2-0-1) hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Spirit.
Portland Thorns FC will be eliminated from the 2014 NWSL Playoffs if...
...Thorns FC lose vs. Reign FC
OR
...Thorns FC draw vs. Reign FC AND the Red Stars win OR draw vs. the Flash
Sky Blue FC will be eliminated from the 2014 NWSL Playoffs if...
...SBFC lose OR draw vs. the Spirit
OR
...the Red Stars win OR draw vs. the Flash
OR
...Thorns FC win vs. Reign FC
Magic Number or Elimination Number for all nine teams:
# Team Pts. GD GR Max Pts. Magic No. Elimination No.
1 Seattle Reign FC - z 54 31 1 57 Clinched --
2 FC Kansas City-z 41 7 0 41 Clinched --
3 Washington Spirit 35 -6 1 38 2 --
4 Chicago Red Stars 34 6 1 37 3 --
5 Portland Thorns 33 3 1 36 -- 3
6 Sky Blue FC 28 -9 2 34 -- 1
7 Western New York Flash 27 4 1 30 -- Eliminated
8 Houston Dash 18 -19 2 24 -- Eliminated
9 Boston Breakers 17 -17 1 20 -- Eliminated
Glossary - Pts: Points, GD: Goal Difference, GR: Games Remaining, Max: Maximum points possible
z- clinched playoff spot and home field in semifinals
**The Magic Number or Elimination Number for each team does not reflect scenarios that require tiebreakers. Tiebreaker scenarios are required when a team's Magic Number or Elimination Number is 1.
Formulas for Magic and Elimination numbers
Magic Number formula
The Magic Number for a team to clinch a playoff spot is determined by subtracting that team's current points total from the maximum number of points possible for the fifth-place team, then adding one.
For example:
Team Pl Pts Max
Washington Spirit 3rd 35 38
Portland Thorns FC 5th 33 36
Then the magic number for Washington Sprit to clinch a playoff spot is 36 - 35 + 1 = 2
Elimination Number Formula
The Elimination Number for a team to confirm their exclusion from the playoffs is determined by subtracting that team's maximum number of possible points from the current number of points of the fourth-place team, then adding one.
Team Pl Pts Max
Chicago Red Stars 4th 34 37
Sky Blue FC 6th 28 34
Then the elimination number for the Sky Blue FC is 34 - 34 + 1 = 1
Tiebreaker Procedures
TO BREAK A TIE IN THE STANDINGS
If two or more teams are tied on points at the end of the regular season, the tie will be broken through the following steps:
Two teams
1.Head-to-head record
2.Overall goal difference
3.Overall goals scored
4.Head-to-head road record
5.Goal difference in all road games
6.Goals scored in all road games
7.Head-to-head home record
8.Goal difference in all home games
9.Goals scored in all home games
10.Coin toss
Three teams
1.Points per game against other two teams
2.Overall goal difference
3. See tiebreaker procedure for two-team scenarios
NOTE: If two teams are still tied after the third team has advanced via the tiebreaker, the tie will be broken using the two-team tiebreaker rules.
National Women's Soccer League Stories from August 14, 2014
- 2014 NWSL Playoff Picture: Spirit, Red Stars, Thorns FC and SBFC Battle for the Final Two Playoff Sp - NWSL
- Sky Blue FC Will Host Houston Dash at Yurcak Field on August 20 - Sky Blue FC
- Sky Blue FC vs. Houston Dash Game Rescheduled for August 20 - NWSL
- Breakers Fall 2-0 in Final Meeting with Red Stars - Boston Breakers
- Reign FC's Solo, Rapinoe and Leroux Called up to USWNT for International Friendly - Seattle Reign FC
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