2012 MLS Standings: LA Galaxy Lose Playoff Seeding

The LA Galaxy were just two weeks ago level with Real Salt Lake and one point ahead of Seattle Sounders, barely hanging on to second place. After a draw and now a loss to RSL at home, the Galaxy are in fourth place looking up at both the Sounders and Salt Lake.

RSL went into this weekend two points ahead of the Galaxy after they destroyed Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center last week and the Galaxy only managed one point on the road. Real were able to stretch that gap to five point with their victory over LA.

Galaxy fans hoped that perhaps Portland Timbers could pull off the upset and keep Seattle below LA in the standings. It wasn't meant to be, as Seattle had a solid match and went two points ahead of the Galaxy.

The Whitecaps, underneath the Galaxy currently in fifth, cannot catch the Galaxy with only two matches left. In fact, the Whitecaps have to worry about FC Dallas only four points away. That means LA's biggest worry at this point is whether they'll be hosting Vancouver in a play in match to face San Jose, or if they'll automatically qualify for the MLS Cup quarterfinals.

Seattle will surrender their match in hand playing Salt Lake midweek after the international break. The Galaxy will need RSL to win that match, and then hope FC Dallas can come up big on the following Sunday. However, with LA heading up to San Jose that weekend, it goes without saying the team isn't in control of their own fate.

The poor result at home against Salt Lake makes the rest of October much more challenging. Still, San Jose has clinched first in the Western Conference. They've only the Supporter's Shield to play for, which might be all the motivation they need to go full throttle against LA.