San Jose Earthquakes strengthen position atop MLS Supporters’ Shield standings

A busy weekend of MLS saw each of the teams competing for the Supporters’ Shield in action, and after all the results were tabulated, the San Jose Earthquakes remained at the top of the standings.

The Quakes lead over second place Sporting Kansas City increased to 5 points courtesy of their 2-0 win on the road at Chivas USA. Meanwhile, the next seven teams in the standings were separated by the equivalent 5 points. With just 6 games remaining for each of the 5 teams that realistically has a chance to capture the Shield, the Earthquakes position at the top looks safe for the immediate future.

2012 MLS Supporters’ Shield Standings (updated September 17)

GP: Games Played; PPG: Points Per Game; HGR: Home Games Remaining; AGR: Away Games Remaining

By virtue of their road win at Chivas, San Jose increased their points-per-game average to 2.00. In the 16 year history of MLS, only three teams have finished the season with a PPG at or higher than that number, and all three teams won the Supporters’ Shield. With 3 home games and 3 road games left to play, if the Earthquakes are able to collect maximum points at Buck Shaw Stadium and draw their opponents on the road, then San Jose can retain that lofty PPG average. The franchise last accomplished that record in 2005.

For the other contenders, both New York and Chicago posted home wins against Columbus and Montreal respectively. Seattle survived a trip to Portland to earn a point, and Sporting KC could only manage a draw at home against Houston. If one presumes that teams are expected to win at home and draw on the road, then only San Jose improved their position based on the weekend’s results.

San Jose Earthquakes (17W-6L-5T, 56 points, 2.00 PPG)
Portland Timbers
At Seattle Sounders
FC Dallas
At Colorado Rapids
Los Angeles Galaxy
At Portland Timbers
(3 Home games, 3 away games)

Sporting Kansas City (15-7-6, 51 points, 1.82 PPG)
At New York Red Bulls
At Montreal Impact
Chicago Fire
At Columbus Crew
At New York Red Bulls
Philadelphia Union
(2 Home games, 4 away games)

Chicago Fire (15-8-5, 50 points, 1.79 PPG)
Columbus Crew
At Sporting Kansas City
Philadelphia Union
At New York Red Bulls
At New England Revolution
DC United
(3 Home games, 3 away games)

New York Red Bulls (14-7-7, 49 points, 1.75 PPG)
Sporting Kansas City
At New England Revolution
Toronto FC
Chicago Fire
Sporting Kansas City
At Philadelphia Union
(4 Home games, 2 away games)

Seattle Sounders (13-6-9, 48 points, 1.71 PPG)
San Jose Earthquakes
At Vancouver Whitecaps
Portland Timbers
Real Salt Lake
FC Dallas
At Los Angeles Galaxy
(4 Home games, 2 away games)