With the regular season winding down and teams battling to stay above the red line, gaining an edge over the competition can be the difference between making the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs or being left out.
That's where the MLS standings tiebreakers come into play.
When two teams are level on points, there are nine tie-breaking procedures (see below) that are used to determine which team finishes ahead of the other(s) in the standings.
If the first tiebreaker (total number of wins) doesn't do the trick, the others that follow are used in the sequence below until the tie is ultimately broken:
1. Total number of wins
2. Goal Differential (GD) -- difference between goals scored and goals allowed during the regular season
3. Goals For (GF) -- goals scored in all matches during the regular season
4. Fewest Disciplinary Points (see updated chart here)
5. Road Goals Differential -- difference between goals scored and goals allowed in all road matches
6. Road Goals Scored -- goals scored during the regular season in all road matches
7. Home Goals Differential -- difference between goals scored and goals allowed in all home matches
8. Home Goals Scored -- goals scored during the regular season in all home matches
9. Coin Toss (2 clubs tied) or Drawing of Lots (3 or more clubs tied)
