Portland Timbers won the 2017 MLS Western Conference playoff race on 53 points, edging Seattle Sounders FC. It came down to the final days: Portland Timbers did not lead for good until October 22, 2017.
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Western standings, 2017
Team
W
L
T
PTS
L10
Streak
Portland Timbers (POR)
15
11
8
53
6-3-1
W2
Seattle Sounders FC (SEA)
14
9
11
53
4-2-4
W2
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (VAN)
15
12
7
52
5-3-2
L1
Houston Dynamo FC (HOU)
13
10
11
50
3-3-4
W1
Sporting Kansas City (SKC)
12
9
13
49
3-4-3
L1
San Jose Earthquakes (SJ)
13
14
7
46
4-4-2
W1
FC Dallas (DAL)
11
10
13
46
2-4-4
W1
Real Salt Lake (RSL)
13
15
6
45
6-3-1
W1
Minnesota United FC (MIN)
10
18
6
36
4-4-2
L2
Colorado Rapids (COL)
9
19
6
33
3-5-2
L1
LA Galaxy (LA)
8
18
8
32
2-5-3
L1
Final standings.
Turning points
The lead changed hands 18 times.
Portland Timbers trailed by as many as 7 points on July 22, 2017.
Portland Timbers took first place for good on October 22, 2017.
Sporting Kansas City led by 5 points as late as June 30, 2017.
The top two ended the day within three points of each other on 73 of the 81 days played.
Eight teams held first place.
Portland Timbers held first place for 52 straight days, the season's longest run.
Portland Timbers spent 65 of the season's 234 charted days in first place.