NWSL National Women's Soccer League

North Carolina Courage on Brink of 2018 Playoff Spot

Published on July 13, 2018 under National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) News Release


CHICAGO - The North Carolina Courage are on the brink of becoming the first club to secure a spot in the 2018 NWSL Playoffs. The Courage are now within reach of a playoff spot if the club can continue their impressive form with a win on Saturday against Sky Blue FC at 7 p.m. ET and then see a few of results go their way to book their place in the playoffs this week.

In addition, North Carolina have an outside chance to wrap up home-field advantage in the semifinals as well but it will require a win against Sky Blue FC and that the Red Stars and Thorns FC do not win their respective games and a draw in the Pride vs. Royals FC game.

Meanwhile, the rest of the league is very much alive and will be battling to remain in contention for one of the top four spots in the 2018 Playoffs. Also, no team is on the brink of being eliminated this weekend. See below for the scenarios heading into the weekend.

2018 NWSL PLAYOFF PICTURE

# Team Pts. GD GR Max Pts. Magic No. Elimination No.

1 North Carolina Courage 42 23 7 63 5 --

2 Seattle Reign FC 29 6 8 53 18 --

3 Orlando Pride 25 0 7 46 22 --

4 Chicago Red Stars 25 3 7 46 22 --

5 Portland Thorns FC 23 4 8 47 -- 23

6 Utah Royals FC 21 -3 8 45 -- 21

7 Houston Dash 20 -5 8 44 -- 20

8 Washington Spirit 10 -13 7 31 -- 7

9 Sky Blue FC 3 -15 10 33 -- 9

Glossary - Pts: Points, GD: Goal Difference, GR: Games Remaining,Max Pts.: Maximum points possible

* = 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.

Week 16 weekend scenarios:

North Carolina Courage will clinch a spot in the 2018 NWSL Playoffs if...

... Courage win vs. Sky Blue FC AND Reign FC win or draw vs. Red Stars

OR

... Courage win vs. Sky Blue FC AND Royals FC draw vs. Orlando Pride

OR

...Courage win vs. Sky Blue FC AND Reds Stars win vs. Reign FC AND Royals FC win vs. Pride AND Dash win or draw vs. Thorns FC

OR

...Courage win vs. Sky Blue FC AND Reds Stars win vs. Reign FC AND Pride win vs. Royals FC AND Dash win or draw vs. Thorns FC

Home-field advantage scenarios:

North Carolina Courage will clinch home-field in the semifinals of the 2018 NWSL Playoffs if...

...Courage win vs. Sky Blue FC AND Reds Stars loss vs. Reign FC AND Royals FC draw vs. Pride AND Thorns FC loss vs. Dash

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.

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