Playoffs, baby!

Or not.

It turns out Toronto FC didn’t actually clinch a playoff berth following its thrilling, come-from-behind 3-3 draw with New York Red Bulls on Sunday night.

A Major League Soccer release last week stated that Toronto FC would clinch a post-season berth with a win or, potentially, a draw if at least two other results fell their way — which happened.

But Internet nerds ran the numbers late Sunday night and determined TFC hadn’t yet secured a postseason berth. The revelation led MLS to remove the playoff “X” next to TFC in its online standings and issue a statement.

“Both Toronto FC and the New York Red Bulls had a chance to clinch this weekend, but their 3-3 draw on Sunday will keep them waiting for one more week,” the league reported.

The good news, though, is it’s unthinkable that TFC won’t make the playoffs. In addition to losing all five of their remaining games, the Reds would need to see a plethora of other results go against them.

New England, D.C. United and Philadelphia all would need to win out (13 games total).

Montreal would need to win four of five.

New York City would need to win three of four.

And, finally, New York Red Bulls would need to lose three of their final four fixtures.

NEW CANADIAN LEAGUE

The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) remains bullish about forming a new Canadian league to foster talent for Canada’s men’s national team.

While details remain few and far between, it’s believed the CSA is targeting 2018 as its launch date.

In the meantime, TFC president Bill Manning and MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum will meet with CSA officials, including president Victor Montagliani, later this month to discuss the proposed league.

Toronto’s top brass told the Sun earlier this year they were largely in the dark as to how the so-called “Canadian Premier League” might impact Major League Soccer. But it appears they’re about to find out. “Opportunities for more Canadian players is something Toronto FC wants to support,” Manning told the Toronto Sun last week. “We just have to figure out how we can be involved.

“Is it the right model? Is it some kind of hybrid with the USL? We want to have those conversations and be supportive of it. If the CPL is going to go forward, we want to be involved.”

Additional CPL teams in Toronto and Hamilton have been rumoured. Proposed salary caps have been bandied. Yet, the CSA hasn’t provided much — if any — information.

“I don’t want to create confusion in the market place,” Manning said. “I told Victor we want to be involved and want to be at the table when this league or division comes about.”

Manning later added: “It’s not a competitor to MLS.”

The question, though, is what the CSA wants it to be.

Having MLS affiliation would undoubtedly give the CPL a minor-league feel.

“If we can provide for our young players coming up and (TFC) can put a team in that league, we’re interested,” Manning added.

TFC BECOMES THREE

Expect the Reds to unveil “TFC III” later this year.

Toronto’s newest reserve team is a rebranding of the club’s current senior academy team, which competes in League 1 Ontario.

The club intends to sign young players to “developmental contracts” — similar to the Ontario Hockey League — before they potentially graduate to TFC II, the club’s USL affiliate, or first team.

“Could we get away with TFC III — which will be an under-20 team — playing in the CPL?” Manning wondered, adding that he and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko have weighed options.

Assuming the CSA isn’t completely opposed to MLS involvement, the Reds would consider placing a reserve team — TFC II, perhaps — in the CPL and adding a USL affiliate in the United States.

Or, could the CPL somehow piggy back off the USL?

“I like the concept of Canadian teams playing Canadian teams,” Manning said. “Could there be a Canadian division within the USL?”

It’s clear TFC’s top brass want to be involved — something Manning said goes for the rest of Canada’s MLS franchises.

“They (Vancouver Whitecaps and Montreal Impact) just want to figure out the best way to develop players for the MLS teams,” Manning said.

“What we don’t want to do is have a situation where we’re competing for players with the CPL teams. I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

The question, though, is whether the CSA wants it to.

GOOD NEWS!

Paid attendance at TFC games is up roughly 8% (1,800 seats per game), Manning said.

But the more than 27,000 fans TFC is averaging per game still leaves a few thousands empty seats

“I think we’re two years away (from averaging sellouts),” Manning said. “It doesn’t happen over night. We had 5,000 season-ticket holders when I got (to RSL). We grew it to 15,000. It was winning. It was customer service. We increased our sales staff.”

But, mainly, winning.

“I joke about this all the time,” Manning continued. “If you open a pizza shop and you have crappy pizza, but you’re really nice guys and your waiters are great, you’re not going to do a lot of business.”

LAST WORD

The CSA announced Monday that “Canada staff coach” Michael Findlay will lead Canada’s men’s team for a pair of friendlies against Mauritania (Oct. 7) and Morocco (Oct. 11) in Marrakech.