Well this past week’s MLS play was only mildly absurd by league standards. We didn’t have Miami beating Charlotte with only 10 men for a half and no Messi or Chicago scoring 3 goals after the 80th minute (and saving a PK in that stretch) to win the Brimstone Cup up in Frisco, but it wasn’t as jaw dropping as the results of the first two weeks.
Rankings (Last Week):
- Philadelphia Union (2): Win 3 straight, including two multi-goal wins away is a heck of a way to start the season. They get a national showcase match against Nashville on Sunday, which should be a strong opportunity to continue the strong start.
- Inter Miami (3): Beating Charlotte with 10 men without Messi is another incredible achievement. Just wonder when they will get through a MLS match without a red card.
- Vancouver Whitecaps (5): Usually winning your first 3 would put you in the Top 2, but that really speaks to how special what Philly and Miami are doing.
- Columbus Crew (1): Drawing Houston at home is going to drop you a few spots, especially when combined with getting knocked out of CCC. A little surprised our voters have them ahead of LAFC, but everyone at the compound is entitled to their own opinion.
- San Diego FC (12): Seattle hasn’t won in Utah in 15 years and San Diego just walks in and does it. It’s been an incredibly impressive start for the ugly chrome kits.
- Seattle Sounders (16): While winning in Mexico City is hard, beating LAFC by 3 goals will get our attention!
- Minnesota United (9): A win in San Jose hasn’t always been a big deal, but it seems like a good one early in this season
- FC Cincinnati (11): Teams like this one should easily beat Toronto at home. Winning at the Volcan is a bit more challenging, but they put up a respectable effort last night.
- LAFC (4): The loss in Seattle was bad, but getting past Columbus in CCC was mighty impressive. They still haven’t conceded at home this season, and now likely get a CCC quarterfinal with Inter Miami.
- New York Red Bulls (7): Getting a draw in Atlanta honestly shouldn’t take a team down the power rankings, but to each their own.
- NYCFC (15): Ugly wins are still wins.
- San Jose Earthquakes (6): Well at least their defense appears to be much better than last year!
- Charlotte FC (8): Normally losing to Inter Miami wouldn’t lead to a big slide in the rankings, but when you have a man advantage for a half and don’t put a single shot on goal, questions must be asked.
- Atlanta United (10): Just like their opponents, the Red Bulls, they are also dropped as the result of the draw.
- Colorado Rapids (21): Have the Rapids figured out how to defend or is Austin’s attack just the most pathetic thing around? Stay tuned for their MLS after Dark match in San Jose this weekend
- St Louis CITY (17): Beating the Galaxy 3-0 on the road and only jumping one spot is a damning statement on the Galaxy more than anything else.
- DC United (22): This team has had one of the weakest slates of opponents to open the season so far.
- Chicago Fire (24): If the Fire can maintain their late match energy from Frisco, this team could be the first serious Fire team since 2017 and maybe even the first one to win a playoff match in 15 years.
- Nashville SC (27): I think this jump is more of an indication of how bad everyone else, rather than being super impressed with beating Portland at home. However, if they can win in Philly, the rise would continue.
- Orlando City (13): This middle is tight across the league, so expect a lot of movement to keep happening.
- FC Dallas (15): Usually teams are having epic comebacks against the Chicago Fire rather than giving them away. There is no doubt that the Toros have the fire power to score a bunch, but their backline still needs some work.
- Portland Timbers (20): This team still has a long way to go to be competitive on the road.
- Houston Dynamo (30): Getting a result in Columbus even when the Crew are rotating is impressive for a team that has looked lifeless so far this season
- Austin FC (18): Once this team has a midfield that can make progressive passes, they should win be able to score in theory.
- Real Salt Lake (19): San Diego is a solid team, but RSL is likely in rebuilding mode for this season from what we have seen so far.
- New England Revolution (26): Pretty crazy that the only team in the league to not have scored isn’t last in these power rankings
- Toronto FC (28): Can we relegate TFC?
- LA Galaxy (23): Ricky Puig isn’t coming back anytime soon, but at least Paintsil should be back in the coming weeks as the defending champs need help.
- Sporting Kansas City (29): How does Peter Vermes still have a job?
- CF Montreal (25): There are moments of hope for this team, but it is simply not clicking to start the campaign.