Playoff Verdicts: Two teams clinch in East, three spots still open in West

MLSsoccer staff

Things got a lot clearer in the Eastern Conference as the dust settled on Week 33's slate of matches, but the last three playoff spots in the West will have to wait to be claimed until Decision Day on Oct. 23.

Out East, two teams claimed postseason berths, with D.C. United and the Montreal Impact securing their places in the postseason, despite the latter conceding a late equalizer to Toronto FC.

Losses by both Philadelphia and New England mean the final playoff place in the East will be settled on Decision Day, but Philadelphia look to be odds-on favorites with a three-point lead and a hefty advantage in goal differential. (If the two teams were to finish tied on points, they would also have the same number of wins, the first tiebreaker in the standings.)

Elsewhere in the East, the New York Red Bulls were able to hold off a furious Columbus comeback to claim a 3-2 win and secure a bye to the Eastern Conference Semifinals as one of the conference's top two seeds. Though they haven't officially claimed first place in the conference and the CONCACAF Champions League berth that goes with it, but look odds on favorites to claim that spot with their three-point lead over NYCFC and advantage in tiebreakers.

Over in the West, the defending champion Portland Timbers ensured they'd be playing for a playoff spot on the final day with a 1-0 win over the Colorado Rapids. Dallas took advantage of Colorado's slip to re-take the Supporters' Shield and deny the Seattle Sounders a chance to claim a playoff berth. Real Salt Lake and Sporting KC played to a scoreless draw, meaning both their fates will be decided on the final weekend as well.

Here’s a rundown of all the clinching and elimination scenarios across the league on Sunday: