LAFC is at the top of the MLS Power Rankings this week, with the Philadelphia Union and LA Galaxy close behind. There is a team looking to reestablish its authority on this league.
New York City FC has scored 14 goals and conceded four in three games since being knocked out of the CCL. Without a continental-cup run to contend with, the defending MLS Cup champion is reminding us how impressive it was.
With Week 9 in the books, the results, break down where all 28 teams stand, and the latest edition of Power Rankings are available.
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1 was the previous ranking.
May 7 is the next MLS match. The show is on the Disney channel.
If you are a glass-half-empty observer, you could point out the many chances LAFC got that they couldn't finish against Minnesota, waiting until the 82nd minute to finally score. LAFC were in control throughout, goals or not. LAFC looked like one of the best teams in MLS at the moment, with a 2-0 win on the weekend.
The previous ranking was 3.
The next MLS match is May 7 at LAFC. The show is on the Disney channel.
The Union had to be happy to leave with a point after a draw against Nashville, who were the best defensive team in MLS last year. The Union certainly appeared to be in control of the game for most of it and perhaps deserved more out of it, despite what may have been a second unrewarded penalty that should have gone against Philly.
The previous ranking was 2.
The next MLS match is May 8 at Austin FC. The time is later.
Would you believe that a team with attacking talents like Douglas Costa and Javier Hernandez would be scoring less than one goal per game? Even after a loss to Real Salt Lake, the LA GALAXY are still third in the Western Conference.
The previous ranking was 5.
The Portland Timbers will play the MLS match on May 7. The show is on the Disney channel.
It was a weird match in Chicago, with lightning delays, slippery conditions, and questionable calls, but the Red Bulls finally got the breakthrough in the 75th minute, before a late game winner. The Red Bulls were the better team and deserved to win.
The team took the lead in the last minute of the game.
The previous ranking was 8.
May 7 is the next MLS match. The show is on the Disney channel.
The San Jose Earthquakes have looked a little bit better since manager Matias Almeyda was fired two weeks ago, and NYCFC continued the high, despite the fact that the win over the basement-dweller wasn't much to get excited about. NYCFC have scored 14 goals in the past three games.
The previous ranking was 7.
The next MLS match is May 8 against Real Salt Lake. The show is on the Disney channel.
Nashville got another draw even after the club opened its shiny new soccer-specific stadium a stone's throw from downtown. It was fitting for a team that has tied nearly half its matches in MLS history to get the draw. Nashville has not shown it can consistently turn draws into wins.
The previous ranking was 6.
May 8 is the next MLS match. The time is later.
Going to Houston and getting a win over the Dynamo is one of the bigger achievements this season. The Verde has played just two teams in the playoffs this year, the first being the Minnesota United and the second the Houston Dynamo. Will Austin play a team outside of the playoffs next time? At Charlotte on June 30.
The previous ranking was 4.
The next MLS match is May 7. The show is on the Disney channel.
FCD was clearly the better team on the field after a slow start in Kansas City. Without Brandon Servania earning a second yellow card for a sloppy tackle, Dallas was poised to get an all important win on the road, even if it wasn't one of its better performances this season. A draw is still a good result.
The lead was given to Real Salt Lake by Marcelo Silva.
The previous ranking was 11.
The next MLS match is on May 8. The show is on the Disney channel.
After a long time, Real Salt Lake's barren streak came to an end with a one point victory over the LA Galaxy. Salt Lake was very close to seeing that goalless period extend to 407, as the xG from that event showed. The list of teams that the team has beaten in the past, including the Los Angeles, New England, and Seattle, show that the team can claim a place this high up the order.
The previous ranking was 10.
The next MLS match is May 7 at Montreal. The show is on the Disney channel.
After being thoroughly outplayed last weekend, the Lions found a bounce-back win, a 2-1 win over Charlotte, with Ruan playing his best game in purple. The question is whether this will be a blip or a sign of a shift for the Brazilian, but it was a good performance from the team.
The previous ranking was 9.
May 7 is the next MLS match. The show is on the Disney channel.
LAFC lost to the Loons 2-0 on Sunday, but you have to give them some credit. Minnesota looked like it was playing for a draw, but late in the game it fell flat and capitulate to the home side. It wasn't a confidence-building performance.
The previous ranking was 15.
May 7 is the next MLS match. The show is on the Disney channel.
The Quebecois were able to extend their points streak to six games by beating Atlanta United on a night when Djordje Mihailovic was slightly below his best. The Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia, as well as defending champion NYCFC, have gotten the better of Wilfried Nancy's team this season.
A beautiful pass was delivered by Montreal's Kamal Miller to Joaquin Torres.
The previous ranking was 13
The next MLS match is May 7 at D.C. United. The show is on the Disney channel.
Is Houston a contender or a pretender? The hope that this is a playoff-caliber team is still alive, despite the fact that the Dynamo were the better team in Saturday's loss to Austin.
The previous ranking was 12.
The next MLS match is May 7 at New York Red Bulls. The show is on the Disney channel.
The Rapids played the final half hour with 10 men and were able to score two goals in a 2-0 win over the Timbers. Portland has not scored a goal in over two hours.
The previous ranking was 14.
The next MLS match is May 7 at Atlanta United. The show is on the Disney channel.
The Fire didn't look up to the task after an awfully harsh penalty call gave Chicago the early lead against the Red Bulls. The Fire's loss was not as bad as it could have been because of some questionable calls from the referee.
The previous ranking was 18.
The next MLS match is May 7 at San Jose Earthquakes. The show is on the Disney channel.
It was fitting that the Rapids' win over Portland was their first victory since March 12 because the pair have scored five of Colorado's six goals in the six games since that win over Kansas City.
The Colorado side defeated the Portland side 2-0.
The previous ranking was 17
The next MLS match is May 7 at New England Revolution. The show is on the Disney channel.
The Crew ended their six-game winless skid on Saturday with a win over D.C. United. D.C. was more effective with the ball and out-chanced its hosts, yet Columbus came away with a big win despite narrowly winning the xG contest.
The previous ranking was 16.
The next MLS match is on May 8 at the Whitecaps. The show is on the Disney channel.
Losing at home to Cincinnati is deflating, but TFC will have a chance to redeem themselves when they visit Ohio on Wednesday. Jesus Jimenez leads the league in goals and has scored five times in the past five appearances. Lorenzo Insigne will join in July.
The previous ranking was 19
The next MLS match is against the Chicago Fire. The show is on the Disney channel.
In the four league games that Atlanta has played without its star forward, it has lost three and drawn one, scoring just two goals. Five Stripes fans don't want to hear that the 28-year-old Venezuela international still faces up to another month on the sidelines as he recovers from knee surgery.
The previous ranking was 22.
The next MLS match is against Columbus Crew. The show is on the Disney channel.
This was probably the most complete performance of the season by the Revs, with Carles Gil and Sebastian Lletget threatening regularly, and New England doubling up Miami in possession, pass attempts, chances, shots and shots on goal. Maybe all Bruce Arena's team needed was the comfort of knowing Matt Turner was back between the sticks.
The New England Revolution scored a goal by Damian Rivera.
The previous ranking was 21.
Inter Miami is the next MLS match. The time is later.
Charlotte's defense looked all too willing to let the attack blow past it on too many occasions in its 2-1 loss to Orlando on Saturday. It wasn't a convincing performance, but on the road in Florida was never going to be. Charlotte should forget about this and move on.
The previous ranking was 20.
The next MLS match is May 7 at Charlotte FC. The time is later.
Miami was riding a four-game winning streak that included victories against New England, Seattle and Atlanta. The run was ended by a 2-0 defeat to the Revolution.
The previous ranking was 23.
The next MLS match is May 7 at Dallas. The show is on the Disney channel.
After a 2-2 draw at Pumas last weekend, the Sounders got a break before the second leg of their CCL final. Much of its troubles in league play this season can be explained by Seattle's continental exploits. They will be hoping to get some silverware out of it.
The previous ranking was 25.
The next MLS match is May 7 at Minnesota United. The show is on the Disney channel.
Luciano Acosta has more key passes than any other MLS player. He has three goals in his past four league appearances, including the eventual winner in the Toronto victory.
Luciano Acosta made it 2-0 with a throw-in.
The previous ranking was 24.
The next MLS match is on May 7. The show is on the Disney channel.
D.C. did not deserve a defeat to Columbus. The capital club would have made this more of a contest if not for a couple of big saves from Eloy Room.
The previous ranking was 27.
The next MLS match is May 7 at New York City FC. The show is on the Disney channel.
Even playing at home by a man for the final half hour and after being gifted a very soft penalty early on, Kansas City still could only draw with FC Dallas. There is not a lot of reason to be happy about SKC these days, with the third-worst points-per-game average in MLS and an inability to step up in even favorable conditions.
The previous ranking was 28.
The next MLS match is against Toronto on May 8. The show is on the Disney channel.
Thanks to the turbulence in San Jose, Vancouver was able to move up a position.
The previous ranking was 26.
The next MLS match is May 7 against Colorado Rapids. The show is on the Disney channel.
The Quakes are desperately trying to get back on track after the ousting of coach Matias Almeyda, but they just looked a bit lost this weekend. It was never going to be easy to face NYCFC, who are the reigning MLS Cup champion, but the Quakes have a long way to go.
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