Toronto FC capped the franchise’s most successful regular season on Sunday by setting the MLS record for most points.
Thanks to a 2-2 draw with Atlanta United FC in front of the largest crowd in league history, the Reds finished the 2017 campaign with 69 points, one more than the 1998 LA Galaxy.
Cheers to that.
While the significance of TFC’s accomplishment shouldn’t be downplayed, does this record-setting season actually set Greg Vanney’s team up for post-season success?
A look back at the five teams that had accumulated the most points in MLS history prior to the 2017 season yields some interesting results, most notably that just one of these clubs went on to hoist the MLS Cup.
Here’s a quick comparison of those five teams, plus the 2017 TFC squad, including each of their season results.
Team Points W-L-T GF GA GD Season result| 2017 Toronto FC | 69 | 20-5-9 | 74 | 37 | 37 | TBD |
| 1998 LA Galaxy | 68 | 24-8-0* | 85 | 44 | 41 | Eliminated in Conference Finals |
| 2011 LA Galaxy | 67 | 19-5-10 | 48 | 28 | 20 | Won MLS Cup |
| 2012 San Jose Earthquakes | 66 | 19-6-9 | 72 | 43 | 29 | Eliminated in Conference Semifinals |
| 2014 Seattle Sounders FC | 64 | 20-10-4 | 65 | 50 | 15 | Eliminated in Conference Finals |
| 2005 San Jose Earthquakes | 64 | 18-4-10 | 53 | 31 | 22 | Eliminated in Conference Semifinals |
*From 1996-99, matches tied through 90 minutes were decided via shootout.
Beyond that, teams that have finished first place in the MLS regular season over the last 10 years have won the title just twice. Looking back on the 21-year history of the league doesn’t paint a better picture for Supporters’ Shield winners.
TFC have a first-round bye and will play its first post-season match on either Oct. 30 or 31 in the conference semifinals.
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