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Down the Stretch: Charlotte and Chicago will play key roles in Inter Miami’s last-gasp playoffs push

Inter Miami’s match at Chicago tonight is critical to the Herons’ postseason hopes. La Rosa Negra can’t be eliminated, but its final three matches are at Supporters’ Shield winner Cincinnati and home and away against Charlotte — which plays at Chicago’s Soldier Field on Saturday.

By Ken Garner

Chicago Fire midfielder Brian Gutierrez reacts after scoring in a match last month. The Fire could play a key role in Inter Miami’s playoff quest.
Chicago Fire midfielder Brian Gutierrez reacts after scoring in a match last month. The Fire could play a key role in Inter Miami’s playoff quest. / Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
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Will Soldier Field determine Inter Miami’s future?

Two teams of the seven battling for two Eastern Conference playoff spots have four matches remaining: Charlotte and Inter Miami. Herons fans probably realize the two finish the season with home and away matches against one another.

Fans may not realize that Inter Miami and Charlotte are the Chicago Fire’s opponents at Soldier Field tonight and Saturday, respectively.

Chicago is also one of the seven teams vying for the final two postseason berths, so their games against Miami and Charlotte have added impact as they try to make their own case.

Only five points separate eighth through 14th places, with four or fewer matches remaining -- eighth-place New York City FC has 38 points, one more than Chicago, D.C. United and Montreal and five more than Charlotte and 14th-place Miami. NYCFC and D.C. United each have just two matches remaining while, as mentioned earlier, Charlotte and Miami have four matches each. Chicago, Montreal and the New York Red Bulls have three each.

Now would be a good time to look at Major League Soccer's tie-breakers; they will almost certainly play a role deciding who goes to the playoffs and who they play if they get there. Here they are:

  • Most wins.
  • Higher goal differential.
  • Higher goals scored.
  • Fewer disciplinary points.
  • Higher away goal differential.
  • Higher away goals scored.
  • Higher home goal differential.
  • Higher home goals scored.

The pertinent standings heading into tonight's match:

Place, team

Points, Wins, Goal difference

Matches remaining

8. NYCFC

38, 8, -3

2

9. Montreal

37, 11, -18

3

10. D.C. United

37, 9, -3

2

11. Chicago

37, 9, -12

3

12. Red Bulls

34, 8, -8

3

13. Inter Miami

33, 9, -8

4

14. Charlotte

33, 7, -13

4

Tonight's key matches:

1. Miami at Chicago

2. Toronto at Charlotte

3. Houston at Montreal

4. D.C. United at Austin

5. Red Bulls at Cincinnati

I don't know about you, but I'll be cheering for the Herons (of course), Toronto, Houston, Austin and Cincinnati for what should be obvious reasons. Enjoy the match, La Familia, we'll do this all again in a few days. Up the Pink!

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