Soccer Weekend: Revs can wrap 7th place up Sunday - unless you want chaos to ensue

Following Wednesday night’s they-pulled-that-one-from-the-murky-depths-of-their-hindquarters point, the Revolution enter Sunday’s revenge game against New York City FC — yup, you guessed it — still in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Sitting on 42 points thanks to the draw, New England can clinch its first postseason berth since 2015 with a victory over the Pigeons (5 p.m.).

That’s the easy explanation.

But even with a loss or a draw, the Revs can still clinch that postseason spot should 8th-place Chicago (9-12-11, 38) fail to beat Toronto FC Sunday, and the other teams below them fail to achieve victory, as well.

In short, match or better those results.

Thanks to that four-point gap and with all teams at 32 matches played, New England enters the weekend favorites to advance. Of course, it won’t be easy given NYCFC needing to match or better Philadelphia’s result at Columbus to lock up first in the East. Any way one slices it, this weekend’s tilt on Route 1 — about an hour or so after the Pats play the Bills, so schedule your TV viewing accordingly — should be one for the ages.

Here’s what else you need to know about the Eastern Conference playoff race as it heads into the final two weeks of the season:

To read the weekend preview, subscribe and read on

Should the Revs take care of business against the Bronx Blues, it would end four years of futility. Then, Decision Day would only be the final jostling of position to see who hosts playoff games.

An NYCFC win or draw — regardless of what Philadelphia does — clinches the regular-season conference title, as well as a spot in next spring’s CONCACAF Champions League. NYC comes into Sunday’s match a full six points ahead of the Union, and if Philly beats Columbus and the Revs beat NYC, first place in the East would come down to next weekend’s matches. That is, of course, getting a tad too far ahead of ourselves.

Should the Revs not win in the home finale, there are plenty of scenarios.


As you see, it’s pretty tight below the line. A tie against NYCFC would put the Revs at 43 points, and regardless of what Orlando City does Sunday (at FC Cincinnati), the Lions would be eliminated. If the Revs tie and Chicago beats TFC, the Fire would be at 41 points, setting up a Decision Day showdown for seventh.

If the Revs tie, Chicago wins, and Montreal wins at home to Atlanta United, those three teams would be within three points of each other headed into Decision Day.

If the Revs tie, Chicago ties or loses, and Montreal ties or loses, then it’s over and the Revs are in.

If the Revs lose, though, well… welcome to chaos.

If the Revs lose, Chicago wins, Montreal loses, and Orlando City wins, we’re looking at Revs 42, Chicago 41, Orlando 39, Montreal eliminated.

If Revs lose, Chicago lose, Montreal loses, and Orlando City wins, Revs 42, Orlando City 39, Chicago 38 (eliminated), Montreal 37 (eliminated). It would be a close finish, given both teams would be tied on wins headed into the final weekend.

If the Revs lose, Chicago wins, Montreal wins, and Orlando City wins, it’s 42, 41, 40, 39 in that order headed into the final weekend.

Root for chaos? Nahhh, why would we ever do that? Regardless, if the teams below the Revs lose, their seasons are done.

In the Western Conference, five teams are still alive for playoff berths. We’re hoping for chaos over there.

Sunday’s action

Everyone in MLS plays on the next two Sundays:

Chicago vs. Toronto
Cincinnati vs. Orlando City
Columbus vs. Philadelphia
Montreal vs. Atlanta United
NY Red Bulls vs. DC United
Colorado vs. Dallas
Sporting Kansas City vs. Portland
LA Galaxy vs. Vancouver
Minnesota United vs. LAFC
Salt Lake vs. Houston
San Jose vs. Seattle

In the USL

Saturday sees Hartford Athletic head to Charlotte to take on the Independence (7 p.m.), while North Carolina host Ottawa (7 p.m.). Birmingham Legion are off until Monday, when they travel to the Blue Hell to play Swope Park Rangers.

In the Premier League

Following the midweek madness of the League Cup — seriously, how do Spurs lose to League Two’s Colchester United? — it’s back to the league in England.

Sheffield United will have a visit from Liverpool in Saturday’s early fixture, before six 10 a.m. tilts: Aston Villa hosts Burnley, Bournemouth hosts West Ham, Chelsea hosts Brighton Hove & Albion, Crystal Palace hosts Norwich City, Tottenham hosts Southampton, and Wolves host Watford. At 12:30 p.m., Everton hosts Manchester City.

On Sunday, Leicester City hosts Newcastle United at 11:30 a.m.

On Monday, Manchester United hosts Arsenal (3 p.m.)

Locally

A little surprised by Boston City FC’s Thursday morning announcement that managing director Craig Tornberg, the former general manager of the Revs, will leave the Medford/Revere-based NPSL club at the end of September. He had been with BCFC since the club opened in 2016, and was responsible for a good deal of the club’s sponsorship deals.

“Craig helped us take an idea and a vision and create a popular and successful product both on and off the field. We wish him good luck moving forward as he pursues other projects,” said BCFC owner Renato Valentim in a club statement.

Truly one of the good guys, he was very kind to me when I went up to Malden a year ago for BCFC’s US Open Cup qualifier.

See you Sunday from Blue Level.