Five Ghanaians and their clubs clinch Audi 2015 MLS playoffs spots

Dominic Oduro

At least five Ghanaian internationals will feature for their clubs in the 2015 Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs.

At the climax of the MLS season, clubs are busily scrambling for playoffs spots while others are only waiting for the commencement of the post season after clinching their tickets.

A minimum of five full Ghanaian internationals have already booked a place in the playoffs with their respective clubs.

Other Americans with Ghanaian background are also in the mixed.

In the Eastern Conference, Lloyd Sam and New York Red Bulls clinched this season's first playoff spot on September 20. They have avoided the Knockout Round and secured an automatic berth in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Lloyd Sam

They have also clinched the top spot in the Eastern Conference as well as a spot in the 2016-2017 CONCACAF Champions League and still remain in contention for the Supporters' Shield.

Harrison Afful’s Columbus Crew SC locked up their playoffs spot on October 17 after a road win in Toronto and they still remain in contention for an automatic berth in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Also in the playoffs is Dominic Oduro and Montreal Impact who also clinched a playoff spot on October 17 after their 1-0 road win against New England. They also remain in contention for an automatic berth in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Kofi Opare and D.C. United clinched a playoff spot on October 2^nd and still remain in contention for an automatic berth in the Eastern Conference Semifinals as well.

Qualifying from the Western Conference is Gershon Koffie and his Vancouver 

Whitecaps who also clinched a playoff spot on October 8^th. They also remain in contention for an automatic berth in the Western Conference Semifinals.

Kofi Opare

LA Galaxy who clinched a playoff spot on October 4^th have in their mixed Gyasi Zardes who is an American with a bit of Ghanaian background. They also remain in contention for an automatic berth in the Western Conference Semifinals.

According to MLS, 12 teams - the top six from each conference - at the end of the regular season, qualify for the 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs.

In the Knockout Round, the third seed will play the sixth seed from their conference and the fourth seed will play the fifth seed from their conference in a single knockout match.

The winners from the Knockout Round matches will advance to their respective Conference Semifinals.

The lowest seeded teams that advance from the Knockout Round will play the first seed team in each of the respective Conference Semifinals while the highest seeded teams that advance will play the second seeded team in each of their respective Conference Semifinals.

The four Conference Semifinals will be decided by two-game aggregate series, with the lower seed hosting the first leg and the higher seed hosting the second leg.

 If the aggregate score is tied after 180 minutes of play, the away goals rule will apply so as to be consistent with CONCACAF and FIFA practice.

If the series remains tied, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary.

The away goals tiebreaker will not apply to overtime in the second leg of any two-legged playoff series.

The two Conference Championships will be decided by a two-game aggregate series, with the lower seed hosting the first leg and the higher seed hosting the second leg.

 If the aggregate score is tied after 180 minutes of play, the away goals rule will apply so as to be consistent with CONCACAF and FIFA practice.

Gershon Koffie

If the series remains tied, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary.

The away goals tiebreaker will not apply to overtime in the second leg of any two-legged playoff series.

The MLS Cup will be a single championship match hosted by the finalist with the most regular season points. If the two finalists have the same number of regular season points, the tiebreakers for playoff qualification will be applied to determine the host team.

If the score is tied after 90 minutes of play, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary.

Harrison Afful

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