3 playoff spots remain as MLS teams scramble for postseason position

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3 playoff spots remain as MLS teams scramble for postseason position

2024-10-05 04:13 Last Updated At：04:20

As the MLS postseason looms, D.C. United is among a handful of teams on the bubble for a playoff spot with two games remaining in the regular season.

At the same time D.C. United is clamoring for a berth, striker Christian Benteke has nearly secured the Golden Boot for most goals this season.

Benteke, the Belgian striker who played for 10 years in the Premier League before joining D.C. United in 2022, has 22 goals this season, three more than LAFC's Denis Bouanga with 19 and four more than Inter Miami's Luis Suarez with 18.

Benteke, 33, has scored three goals in United's past two games. He had a brace in a 2-2 draw with Columbus last weekend, then added a goal in the team's 4-3 comeback win against Nashville on Wednesday night. He also has seven assists.

“I’m enjoying this moment, because I know that I work so hard, on and off the field. I’m not surprised at all," Benteke said. "And I would just keep going with what I’ve been doing, just working for the team, and if I have the chance to score, it would be great for myself. But I’m not going to put any type of pressure (on it).”

But just as important for Benteke is keeping the season alive. D.C. United is currently in 11th place in the standings, but tied on points with the Philadelphia Union and ninth-place Toronto for the final playoff spot. Montreal is three points ahead of that group in eighth.

After the regular season wraps up with Decision Day on Oct. 19, the eighth and ninth teams in each conference play in a single-elimination match to determine who will face the conference leaders in the best-of-three first round.

In all, 15 teams have secured their places in the playoffs. Only three spots remain — two in the Eastern Conference and one in the West. And of course most teams are still fighting for playoff position.

In the East, Inter Miami has already clinched the top spot and secured the Supporters Shield.

“We are a resilient team. We don’t give up. We’ve been through so many tough times through the season with injury, with red cards, with bad luck as well,” Benteke said. “So, yeah, we’re not going to give up, that’s for sure.”

Benteke, who had stints at Aston Villa, Liverpool and Crystal Palace, is a big reason United are still in the running.

“His leadership, his commitment to playing the style of play — he sets the line for us very often,” coach Troy Lesesne said. “He puts in a ton of work against the ball. It would be easy for a guy like that to take a play off here or there; he doesn’t."

In the Western Conference, currently led by the LA Galaxy, the Portland Timbers currently sit in ninth place for the final spot, a point back of Minnesota.

Portland was hurt by a 1-0 loss at home to Austin on Wednesday night. A win would have clinched the Timbers a postseason berth after missing the cut the past two seasons.

Austin's victory mean it remains in the hunt for a berth, too, six points back of Portland. Should Austin win both its final games, it's still possible.

“We know where we are in the season and we know what the odds look like, and everything,” said midfielder Daniel Pereira. “But we try to win every game and score as many goals as we can.”

Austin FC has one more road game, against the LA Galaxy on Saturday, before wrapping up the season at home against the Colorado Rapids.

The Timbers play FC Dallas at home on Sunday before wrapping up the season in Seattle against the rival Sounders. They'll need a win in one of those two games to clinch.

“I think we lost a really good chance to be in the playoffs already. Now we have another game on Sunday, which is going to be really important, and we choose to keep working,” Timbers captain Diego Chara said.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

New Zealand routs India, South Africa thumps West Indies at Women's T20 World Cup

2024-10-05 04:18 Last Updated At：04:20

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — New Zealand dismissed India for 102 to surprisingly win by 58 runs in the Women's T20 World Cup on Friday.

Also, South Africa pasted the West Indies by 10 wickets.

New Zealand posted a challenging 160-4 and then rolled India in 19 overs for its only second win in 14 T20s this year.

Captain Sophie Devine's unbeaten 57 off 36 balls with seven boundaries propelled New Zealand’s total in the last five overs.

A run-out dispute stopped play briefly when India thought it bagged Amelia Kerr, who was trying to sneak a second run in the 14th over. The umpires ruled the run out irrelevant because it was a dead ball. Kerr had walked to almost the rope boundary before the ruling by the fourth umpire.

India protested to no avail. But there was no damage. Kerr was caught in the covers off the next ball.

Devine's strong finish followed a strong foundation of 67 off 46 balls by openers Georgia Plimmer (34) and Suzie Bates (27).

Plimmer and Bates perished while looking for big hits, but India's hope of a comeback was stymied by Devine raising her fourth T20 half-century off 33 balls. New Zealand racked up 51 runs off the last five overs.

Rosemary Mair trapped India captain Harmanpreet Kaur inside the power play in a scene-stealing 4-19. Mair claimed the last two wickets off successive balls, and fast bowler Lea Tahuhu chipped in with 3-15 to help bundle out India with an over to spare.

Eden Carsen struck off her first delivery with a caught-and-bowled of Shafali Verma, and in her next over dismissed Smriti Mandhana on 12. India couldn’t recover after the dismissal of its senior pros inside the power play.

Captain Laura Wolvaardt (59 not out) and Tazmin Brits (57 not out) made light work of South Africa's chase, reaching 119 without loss with 13 balls to spare.

Left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba grabbed a career-best 4-29 as the West Indies was restricted to 118-6.

West Indies tried eight bowlers to try and prise out Wolvaardt and Brits, who struck 13 boundaries between them.

Spinner Karishma Ramharack came closest to the breakthrough but couldn’t hold on to a sharp return catch when Wolvaardt was on 33.

Earlier, West Indies captain Hayley Matthews feathered an easy catch behind on 10 while going for a drive against Marizanne Kapp in the third over.

Veteran Deandra Dottin lasted for 11 deliveries and scored 13 in her comeback game after two years out before she was caught by Wolvaardt at extra cover while trying to clear the circle against Kapp’s full-pitched delivery.

Mlaba squeezed the West Indies middle order and was on a hat trick after dismissing Shemaine Campbelle and Chinelle Henry to reduce them to 83-6 in 15 overs.

Stafanie Taylor (44 not out) and Zaida James (15) added 35 runs off the final 29 balls but their total never looked enough.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket