Following Wednesday night’s victory for the Houston Dynamo over Sporting Kansas City, the Earthquakes will have even more work to do to reach the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs. Sporting defender Erik Palmer-Brown, who recently agreed to a future contract with Manchester City, scored an own goal late in the match to ensure three points for the Dynamo.

The good news is that all teams are now level on games played and the Quakes are just one point below the playoff line. The Quakes are still very much alive, but will need to finish the season strong, and possibly get a little help along the way.

Let’s take a look at some scenarios that result in San Jose reaching the playoffs:

6 points – win at VAN and win vs. MIN

San Jose would finish with 48 points and 14 wins. That means two of the scenarios below would have to happen for the club to clinch a berth.

SKC – earn no more points from their final two games (vs. HOU and at RSL)

POR – earn no more than one point from their final two games (vs. DC and vs. VAN)

SEA – earn no more than one point from their final two games (vs. FCD and vs. COL)

HOU – earn no more than two points from their final two games (at SKC and vs. CHI)

FCD – earn no more than four points from their final two games (at SEA and vs. LA)

RSL – earn no more than four points from their final two games (at COL and vs. SKC)



4 points – win at VAN and draw vs. MIN or vice versa

San Jose would finish with 46 points and 13 wins. Two of the scenarios below would have to happen for the club to clinch a berth.

HOU – earn no more points from their final two games (at SKC and vs. CHI)

FCD – earn no more than three points from their final two games (at SEA and vs. LA)

RSL – earn no more than three points from their final two games (at COL and vs. SKC)



3 points – loss at VAN and win vs. MIN or vice versa

San Jose would finish with 45 points and 13 wins. Two of the scenarios below would have to happen for the club to clinch a berth.

FCD – earn no more than two points from their final two games (at SEA and vs. LA)

RSL – earn no more than one point from their final two games (at COL and vs. SKC)



2 points – draw at VAN and draw vs. MIN

San Jose would finish with 44 points and 12 wins. Two of the scenarios below would have to happen for the club to clinch a berth.

FCD – earn no more than one point from their final two games (at SEA and vs. LA)

RSL – earn no more than one point from their final two games (at COL and vs. SKC)



1 point – draw at VAN and loss vs. MIN or vice versa

San Jose would finish with 43 points and 12 wins. Two of the scenarios below would have to happen for the club to clinch a berth.

FCD – earn no points from their final two games (at SEA and vs. LA)

RSL – earn no points from their final two games (at COL and vs. SKC)



0 point – loss at VAN and loss vs. MIN

San Jose would finish with 42 points and 12 wins. No possible scenario to advance and the team is eliminated from contention.