Tiebreaker Update – June 9

Unlike other leagues, MLS does not use goal differential as its primary method of breaking ties if two teams have the same point totals after the regular season.  It uses, per mlssoccer.com:

1. The highest position shall be awarded to the team with the better win/loss record in current regular season games against all other teams equal in points. (head-to-head competition)
2. If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team with the greater goal difference against all other teams during the regular season. (goal differential)
3. If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team scoring the greatest number of total goals against all other teams during the regular season. (total goals)
4. If the teams are still equal in the standings, the procedures described in this section shall be applied only to games played on the road by each team against all other teams during the regular season. (road 1-3)
5. If the teams are still equal in the standings, the procedures described in this section shall be applied only to games played at home by each team against all other teams during the regular season. (home 1-3)
6. If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position shall be awarded to the team with the fewest team disciplinary points in the League Fair Play table during the regular season.

• If the teams are still equal in the standings, the highest position in the standings shall be determined by the toss of a coin.

• The first tiebreaker in a three-way tie is also head-to-head, but it is determined via points-per-game versus the other two teams. If two teams are tied in points-per-game head-to-head, the next tie breaker is goal difference.

NOTE: If two clubs remain tied after another club with the same number of points advances during any step, the tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format.

As of Week 12, these are the tiebreakers (in red) for those who have played each other twice:

Columbus – New York
Both teams tied twice, both have one goal scored, CLB with 1 away goal.

Columbus – Chivas USA
Both teams tied twice, both have four goals scored, CHV with 3 away goals.

Chivas USA – Vancouver
Both teams tied twice, both have one goal scored, VAN with 1 away goal.

Colorado – DC United
Colorado has one win, one tie.

Seattle – Chicago
Seattle has one win, one tie.

DC United – Los Angeles
Both teams tied twice, both have one goal scored, LAG with 1 away goal.

New York – Houston
Both teams tied twice, both have three goals scored, HOU with 1 away goal.

Los Angeles – New England
Los Angeles has one win, one tie.

Los Angeles – Philadelphia
Los Angeles has one win, one tie.

New England – Vancouver
New England has one win, one tie.

Read those tiebreaker rules.  For the teams that have tied both games, where is the tiebreaker?  One win each, both with the same goal differential and total goals, head-to-head on the road (tied),etc.  There is no away goal rule in there.  Do these teams end up tie breaking via part six (Fair Play table)?

Help me out here…maybe I’m interpreting these wrong.