Toronto FC, Red Bulls and NYCFC secure playoff berths

Toronto FC, the New York Red Bulls and New York City FC have all officially clinched a berth in the 2016 MLS post-season after the Red Bulls defeated the Montreal Impact to mathematically secure a playoff spot for all three teams.

Daniel Royer scored his first goal in MLS to give the Red Bulls a narrow victory over the slumping Impact, his downward header beating an otherwise outstanding Evan Bush on the night.

Toronto FC and New York City FC needed to wait for further results from Red Bull Arena before celebrating their respective post-season berths. Toronto failed to defeat the Philadelphia Union in a 1-1 draw, while NYCFC dispatched the Chicago Fire 4-1 but needed an additional Red Bull win to clinch early.

The win gives the Red Bulls 48 points and Jesse Marsch's side is now tied with both Toronto and NYCFC on top of the Eastern Conference table. A superior goal differential puts the Red Bulls atop the pile for now, but Toronto FC maintains a game in-hand over the other two sides.

For Toronto, clinching a playoff spot was a matter of if, not when. While the league erroneously announced the Reds had qualified following a 3-3 draw with the Red Bulls last week, there existed one permutation that could have seen Greg Vanney's side eliminated, however slim the chances.

Since that slight possibility existed, the Reds looked to an upcoming match against the Philadelphia Union as its next immediate opportunity; while Justin Morrow scored late on to secure a 1-1 draw, one point would not do it at BMO Field.

Thus, all eyes turned to two other matches on Saturday as Toronto FC could also qualify if the Red Bulls defeated the Montreal Impact or if Orlando City and D.C. United played out to a draw.

D.C. United made quick work of Orlando, however, earning a 4-1 win at RFK Stadium, leaving the onus squarely on the Red Bulls for Saturday's possible outcomes.

Only one other team can clinch a playoff spot this weekend - the LA Galaxy take on the Seattle Sounders on Sunday and Bruce Arena's team enters the post-season if it can find victory at the StubHub Center.