MLS has some more new tiebreaker rules

Wins matter more than goals. At least, now they do, according to Major League Soccer’s new tiebreaker rules.

Credit the Seattle Times’ Joshua Mayers for digging this one up. It’s a minor change, one that’s unlikely to matter, but it’s the type of thing we like to know about before it’s actually needed.

MLS has changed its end of season tiebreaker rules – the criterion that would be applied should two teams finish the season with the same number of points.

Last year (late last year) Major League Soccer pushed goals scored to the top of the list, a subtle nudge encouraging teams to pick it up a little. Now they’re reversed course.

Goals are important, but let’s not get carried away, the switch implies. Teams are asked to win. That should be the first on the list.

Here are the two almost identical orders:

Almost identical … except for places one and two.

One more note on Mr. Mayers, the Times’ Sounders beat reporter:

Quick note: I was hired in 2010 as a 3-year resident, but I'm excited to say The Seattle Times will be keeping me on as a full-time reporter

—
Joshua Mayers (@joshuamayers) March 13, 2013

Apologies for the media glad-handing  but given many of the updates we get on Sounders FC come from his reporting, this is good news.

If you’re on Twitter, give him a shout of congratulations. We all need jobs, and Joshua just happens to be pretty good at his.