2012 MLS Standings: Sporting KC still atop Eastern Conference

Despite only playing to a 1-1 draw on Sunday against the Columbus Crew, Sporting Kansas City remains in first place in the Eastern Conference, as Major League Soccer's regular season slowly comes to an end.

Sporting Kansas City have already clinched a playoff berth, one of just two teams in the Eastern Conference to do so. Sporting KC currently leads the Chicago Fire by three points in the standings, with just two games left to play in the regular season.

Sporting Kansas City head on the road to take on the New York Red Bulls on Oct. 20, and then wrap up the regular season on Oct. 24 at home, against the Philadelphia Union. The Red Bulls currently sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, and have yet to clinch a playoff berth. The Union, meanwhile, are in eighth place, and eliminated from playoff contention.

A full view of Major League Soccer's standings can be found over at the MLS' website.

2012 MLS Standings: Sporting KC clinches playoff spot, chasing Supporters' Shield

Not only did Sporting Kansas City clinch a playoff spot on Friday with their win over the Chicago Fire, but they also got a bit of help from FC Dallas in their race for the Supporters' Shield.

After the San Jose Earthquakes managed only a 3-3 draw against Dallas, they allowed Kansas City to catch up to within three points of them with the season winding down at the top of the table. San Jose is currently sitting on 61 points while the Sporks have 58. Both teams have three games left to play.

In the Eastern Conference race, Sporting has a comfortable lead at the top. Their 58 points are at least five more than any other team in the conference has, with both the New York Red Bulls and Chicago Fire sitting at 53. SKC is the only team in the East to have their playoff spot clinched already, with four of the five spots in the West set.

Sporting KC vs. Chicago recap: Sporting defeats Fire 2-0

Sporting KC defeated the Chicago Fire 2-0, and clinched a playoff spot in the process.

Sporting KC vs. Chicago Fire: Game preview, TV time and more

The two teams a top the Eastern Conference standings will face each other on Friday night in a game that will have playoff ramifications, regardless of the result.

Sporting KC's Bobby Convey ready to make impact known

Sporting Kansas City is in great position to 'do the double' as it were and win two trophies this season in MLS. Already winners of the Open Cup, it is racing toward the MLS Cup playoffs with plenty of confidence. They'll also be getting a pretty good player back in the lineup full time with the playoffs approaching, left winger Bobby Convey.

Convey has missed two huge chunks of the season with injuries to his hamstring and calf, playing most of his minutes at the start of the season after coming into SKC's side from the San Jose Earthquakes.

Sporting will take on the Chicago Fire in what could be a battle for the eventual Eastern Conference crown on Friday. Manager Peter Vermes has not made it clear whether or not Convey will be on the field against the Fire:

"I couldn't tell you right now," Vermes said. "I don't want to all of a sudden say, 'Hey, get into a game.' That doesn't make sense either. I'd like to see him get more opportunity here as we go forward. It'd be great to get him into some of the games late in the season and then into the playoffs, to have him available at least."

Either way, the fact that he's back training with the team represents a solid step forward for Convey as he tries to work his way back into the Starting XI for the Sporks as the playoffs loom.

Video: Highlights from last Sporting KC vs. Chicago Fire match

Sporting KC is set to host the Chicago Fire on Friday night in a matchup of the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. The Fire have defeated Sporting in each of their two previous meetings this season, winning 2-1 in Chicago during the month of May and more recently winning 1-0 at Sporting's LIVESTRONG park on June 29.

During the June matchup, Marco Pappa scored the only goal of the game in the 58th minute of play to send the points Chicago's way. Sporting outshot the Fire by a 27-10 margin the evening, and also managed eight corners to Chicago's one. Sean Johnson was very solid on goal for the Fire, and his five save performance managed to keep Sporting off of the scoresheet.

The lone goal of the night came when the Fire caught Sporting pressing forward, they took advantage of that with a quick counter in which Pappa and Chris Rolfe would combine for the Guatemalan international's fifth goal of the season. Full highlights from the June contest can be found below:

The third and final meeting for the two sides is scheduled to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. CT, and can be seen on the NBC Sports Network.

Sporting KC Vs. Chicago Fire: Match Preview

Sporting KC welcomes the Chicago Fire for a battle for No. 1 in the Eastern Conference on Friday.