As of October 10: Monterey Bay F.C. is down to one remaining path to get into the playoffs. RGV and Galaxy II got the necessary results that the Crisp and Kelp needed to stay alive. Now, Las Vegas must lose or draw against Galaxy II to clear the way for Monterey Bay F.C. to finish the season in 8th place in the West. From three, in addition to those three necessary outcomes, the Union needed just one more of three additional paths to fall their way in order to jump into the seventh and final playoff spot. With El Paso and Oakland both getting wins over the weekend, two of those options were eliminated, leaving one final path to the playoffs. Not only does Monterey Bay F.C. still need to earn victory over FC Tulsa and beat RGV by a minimum of two goals, but the Union also need New Mexico United to lose both of its final two matches.
Here is a breakdown of the path to the playoffs for the Crisp and Kelp:
Wins for Monterey Bay F.C. in its final two matches, including a 2+ goal difference on Oct15
– @ FC Tulsa (9th East), Wednesday, October 12 — 5:30 p.m. PT
– @ Rio Grande Valley FC (5th West) by 2 or more goals, Saturday, October 15 — 5:30 p.m. PT
Losses for New Mexico United in both of its final two matches
– vs Galaxy II (11th West), Wednesday, October 12 — 6 p.m. PT
– vs Colorado Springs (3rd West), Saturday, October 15 — 6 p.m. PT
A loss or draw for Las Vegas Lights FC in its final match
– @ Galaxy II (11th West), Saturday, October 15 — 7:30 p.m. PT
Original post on 10/4
With two matches left in the club’s inaugural campaign, Monterey Bay F.C. remains within striking distance of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Though the road to the 2022 USL Championship Playoffs is complicated as it currently stands, it is not impossible. The clearest path for the Union to get in begins with wins in each of their final two matches, the first of which kicks off on the road against FC Tulsa this Wednesday, with the final match of the season taking place in Texas against Rio Grande Valley FC (RGV) this Saturday, October 15. The path gets slightly convoluted beyond that.
Diving deeper into the last available path for the Union, the following outcomes are necessary in addition to beating FC Tulsa and RGV:
🔃 A loss or draw for Las Vegas Lights FC in one of its final two matches– vs Miami (7th East), Saturday, October 8 ❌ LV won, 3-2
– @ Galaxy II (11th West), Saturday, October 15 — 7:30 p.m. PT
✔️ A loss OR draw for Rio Grande Valley FC in one of its next two matches– @ Memphis (2nd East), Wednesday, October 5 ✔️ RGV drew, 2-2– vs Phoenix (12th West), Saturday, October 8 ❌ RGV won, 2-1
*Monterey Bay F.C. now needs to win by two or more on Oct15
✔️ A loss for LA Galaxy II in one of its final three matches (OR two draws) – vs Atlanta United 2 (13th East), Saturday, October 8 ✔️ LA lost, 1-3
– @ New Mexico (5th West), Wednesday, October 12 — 6 p.m. PT
– vs Las Vegas (9th West), Saturday, October 15 — 7:30 p.m. PT
While those outcomes are all necessary for the Union to claim eighth place in the Western Conference by season’s end, the jump into the seventh and final playoff spot requires any one of three additional scenarios:
🔃 A minimum of two losses AND a draw for New Mexico United in its final three matches– @ San Diego (2nd West), Sunday, October 9 ✔️ NM drew, 3-3
– vs Galaxy II (11th West), Wednesday, October 12 — 6 p.m. PT
– vs Colorado Springs (3rd West), Saturday, October 15 — 6 p.m. PT
OR
❌ A minimum of two draws for Oakland Roots SC in each of its remaining matches – @ Hartford (10th East), Saturday, October 8 ❌ OAK won, 3-1
– @ Pittsburgh (6th East), Saturday, October 15 — 4 p.m. PT
OR
❌ A minimum of a loss AND two draws for El Paso Locomotive FC in its final three matches
– vs Colorado Springs (3rd West), Wednesday, October 5 ✔️ ELP Lost, 1-4– vs Orange County (13th West), Saturday, October 8 ❌ ELP won, 2-1
– @ Tampa Bay (3rd East), Wednesday, October 12 — 4:30 p.m. PT
So, you’re telling me there’s a chance?
