With one regular season game remaining, the Chicago Fire have secured a spot in the 2012 MLS playoffs, but their final position remains uncertain. Depending on the results next weekend, Chicago could finish anywhere from second to fifth.
The MLS Eastern Conference standings:
1. Sporting Kansas City (60 points)
2. D.C. United (57)
3. Chicago Fire (56)
4. New York Red Bulls (54)
5. Houston Dynamo (53)
(All other Eastern Conference teams have been mathematically eliminated from playoff consideration.)
The Fire face the United on Oct. 27, and a win there would secure the No. 2 seed, while a draw would guarantee a finish no lower than fourth. A loss, though, would open the door for a fifth-place finish -- a Fire defeat coupled by wins by the Red Bulls and Dynamo would relegate Chicago to the bottom seed.
Saturday's game against United begins at 3 p.m. CT, and the NBC Sports Network will be televising the match.
