The goal scorer for LAFC was going to get one over on his former club when the Whitecaps visited. LAFC fought back from an early deficit to maintain their spot at the top of the Power Rankings.
On the opposite coast, the Philadelphia Union traveled to the Bronx to beat New York City FC, which was the reigning MLS Cup champion.
After a wild weekend of football, Jeff and Dan look at the results and break down where all 28 teams stand.
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1 was the previous ranking.
The next MLS match is on April 2. The time is later.
Steve Cherundolo's biggest problem is finding minutes for Cristian Arango. LAFC has a bit of a home-heavy schedule, but the Black and Gold still make the most of it, overcoming an early goal to prevail over the Canadians.
The previous ranking was 7.
The next MLS match is April 2 against Charlotte FC. The time is later.
The Union played defense and scored two quick goals against NYCFC on Saturday, despite being out-possessed by 26%. The Union won at Yankee Stadium for the first time and their backstop has not allowed a goal since March 5. The team to beat in the East is Philly.
The previous ranking was 3.
The next MLS match is on April 2. The time is later.
The Crew had a point saved by a toe poke by Darlington Nagbe in the 95th minute. Lucas Zelarayan is a must-see TV show, but Columbus's perfect start feels hollow. After a win over West basement-dweller Vancouver, Columbus went on to lose to San Jose and New York before beating Toronto. Columbus needs honing come crunch time, but it is good for the early days of the season.
The previous ranking was 2.
The next MLS match is April 2 against Real Salt Lake. The time is later.
This was a gut punch for the Rapids, with a poor pass from Yarbrough costing Colorado two points and Houston tying the game at the end. The Rapids rebounded well from their opening-day thumping at the hands of LAFC, and are now riding a three-game winning streak.
The game was played on March 19 in Houston, Texas.
The previous ranking was 10.
The next MLS match is on March 26 at Kansas City. The time is later.
Let's face it. Real Salt Lake is not going to out-talent anyone in MLS when Damir is out. With a 2-1 win over Nashville that puts Real Salt Lake level on points with LAFC for the top spot in the Western Conference, Pablo Mastroeni continues to weave his collective-is-all magic.
The previous ranking was 5.
The next MLS match is on April 2 at Columbus Crew. The time is later.
It was never going to be easy for Nashville to start the season, and four points from four isn't the worst mark. NSC lost to RSL. Worse, the usually disciplined Dax McCarty succumbed to the red mist, getting sent off, and now he will miss the big early-season game at Columbus.
The previous ranking was 8.
The next MLS match is on April 2 at New England Revolution. The time is later.
New York lost to Minnesota and was tied with Columbus over the weekend. The good news? The Red Bulls have eight goals in four games, which is tied for the second-most in the East. Lewis Morgan has four goals and four assists, and he is one of the best players in the MLS. There may be something going on in Harrison.
The previous ranking was 11.
The next MLS match is on April 2. The time is later.
Poor decision-making in the final third of the game was the culprit as the Loons should have won by a much more comfortable margin. The win gave Minnesota third place in the West.
Luis Amarilla scored off a cross from Robin lod.
The previous ranking was 13
The next MLS match is on April 2 at Chicago Fire. The time is later.
The Dallas side is showing signs that it could be a force in the Western Conference after its 4-1 mauling of Portland. After his hat trick, Jesus Ferreira is entering the international break in great shape, while Alan Velasco looks to be the real deal as well.
The previous ranking was 4.
The next MLS match is April 2 against the New York Red Bulls. The time is later.
New England was always going to take a step back after that historic season. Charlotte FC got its first victory in franchise history after a loss to Real Salt Lake. Losing to an expansion team that had the third-worst shot-conversion percentage in MLS is an eye-opener.
The previous ranking was 9.
The next MLS match is on April 3. The time is later.
The enthusiasm that accompanied two wins has waned following a second defeat. The Galaxy dominated the proceedings but could not find a goal. Douglas Costa went down injured.
The previous ranking was 6.
The next MLS match is on March 27. The show is on the cable network, ESPN.
The first-half performance in a 4-1 defeat to Dallas was a disaster for the Portland Timbers, as they surrendered three goals. Sebastian Blanco gave the team a boost in 45 minutes of play, and it was the only bright spot.
The goal by Paul Arriola in the 77th minute gave FC Dallas a 2-0 lead.
The previous ranking was 12.
The next MLS match is April 2 at D.C. United. The time is later.
You don't want to have to come back against a side that has allowed the most goals in the MLS season, but that is what Atlanta did this weekend, drawing after being down 3-1 at halftime and reduced to 10 men. No Atlanta side has given up more than 44 goals in a season, but it is on pace to give up more than 70 in the next four years. The Five Stripes play Charlotte, FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami, and Montreal in April. They could be atop the East by May if things go well.
The previous ranking was 16.
The next MLS match is April 2 against FC Dallas. The time is later.
Don't look now but the Fire are perfect? They silenced D.C. United and Sporting Kansas City with 2-0 and 3-1 victories. The Chicago defense had not allowed a goal until the 56th minute against the Kansas City Wizards. It leads all of MLS in tackling percentage. The Fire squad is very hot.
The previous ranking was 15.
The next MLS match is on April 2 at San Jose Earthquakes. The time is later.
The Verde have cooled off a bit after a great start, but Josh Wolff's side is still looking a lot better than it did before. Diego Fagundez is tied for the league lead in assists with three.
The previous ranking was 17
The next MLS match is April 2 at Minnesota United. The time is later.
Normally two draws in a week would elicit a collective groan, but consider it a case of job done for the Sounders, who took care of the second leg in the CCL against Leon and then secured an identical result away to Austin. They will head into the international break with a chance to heal up.
Will Bruin and Diego Fagundez scored for Austin FC in a match against Seattle.
The previous ranking was 14.
The next MLS match is April 2 at Toronto FC. The time is later.
It was a good week for NYCFC, they made it to the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League semis and then fell to Philly four days later. They might have beaten up on Montreal a week ago, but those four goals are still an exhausted NYCFC. The MLS Golden Boot winner, Valentin Castellanos, is pointless. The trek will be worth it if NYCFC can become the first American club to win a continental trophy since 2000, but for now, their league form is suffering.
The previous ranking was 19
The next MLS match is at Portland on March 27. The show is on the cable network, ESPN.
Although it has improved from last year, losing to FC Cincinnati a week before upending the LA Galaxy is hard to reconcile. Four goals turned into seven points for the team. Is it sustainable? It is an enjoyable and frustrating watch, but probably not.
The previous ranking was 21.
Inter Miami will host the next MLS match on April 2. The time is later.
Yarbrough should be given a gift basket by the Houston side after Colorado's keeper handed them a late goal that allowed the home side to steal a draw. The attack is struggling in the early going, with just three goals in four games, but the back line looks improved.
The previous ranking was 22.
The next MLS match is April 2 against New York City FC. The time is later.
Bob Bradley got his first win in Toronto over the weekend, but so far it has been a tough time up north. TFC isn't creating chances (26, tied second-fewest in the league) or getting shots off (31, league low), when coupled with an MLS-high 25 shots on target allowed, it remains unclear how Toronto can consistently win games this year.
Jonathan Osorio got his foot on a cross to put Toronto FC up.
The previous ranking was 18.
Atlanta United will play the next MLS match on April 2. The time is later.
D.C. started the season with victories over Charlotte and Cincy, but fell to Chicago and Toronto in successive weeks. United are the worst team in MLS in terms of passing percentage and percentage in the attacking third. Fortunes could be worse in D.C., but they have been lucky. The upcoming games are Atlanta, Austin, New England and Columbus, and it is said that luck may soon run out.
The previous ranking was 20.
The next MLS match is on March 26. The time is later.
The loss to the improved Chicago Fire wasn't that big of a surprise with Kansas City's entire front line out injured. The back line and Tim Melia didn't do well. Melia has a history of bouncing back, but there are still concerns about what the rest of the season will bring.
The previous ranking was 24.
The next MLS match is April 2 at FC Cincinnati. The time is later.
The sting of dropping points to Atlanta, which was down two goals and was reduced to 10 men, is compounded by the fact that Montreal is still winless. The MLS leaders in goals allowed and fewest prevented are Montreal. Montreal still features Victor Wanyama and Djordje Mihailovic, so it is worth watching.
The previous ranking was 25.
March 26 at Charlotte is the next MLS match. The time is later.
It was hard to imagine that FC Cincinnati would be competing for a playoff spot a month after losing to Austin. In the past two weeks, it has defeated Inter Miami and Orlando City by a combined score of 5-2. Is the club finding its footing in the chaotic Eastern Conference? It might be dangerous because it is seventh in MLS in chances created. Brandon Vazquez is tied with Vela and Zelarayan for the league lead in goals.
Brandon Vazquez scored two goals and had an assist as FC Cincinnati defeated Inter Miami.
The previous ranking was 23.
The next MLS match is April 2 against Austin FC. The time is later.
There is little reason to be optimistic in San Jose. The defense looked better with Eric Remedi moving to the back, but the Quakes are tied for the worst in the league with 6.3 chances created per game. The Matias Almeyda era looks to be over.
The previous ranking was 27.
The next MLS match is on March 26. The time is later.
Charlotte FC beat the New England Revolution 3-1 this weekend for the first victory in franchise history. Don't let that fool you. Charlotte is the worst in shots allowed, shots on goal allowed, expected goals and assists, and it is also the worst in goals prevented. It has to play Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and a second match with New England before Colorado and Orlando. It would be a miracle if more than one victory was achieved in that slate.
The previous ranking was 26.
The next MLS match is on April 2. The time is later.
It looked like the Whitecaps had begun recapturing some of last year's magic when Blackmon scored on his return to LA, but then they fell apart in a 3-1 defeat. The Caps have struggled at both ends of the ice, with only Miami having a worse goal differential than their minus-7 mark.
The previous ranking was 28.
The next MLS match is on April 2. The time is later.
It is stunning that Miami, with as much of an arsenal as it has, can not score goals. Miami has lost 11 of 15 going back to Sept. 17, 2021, and only managed 14 goals. The league's fourth most expensive player, Gonzalo Higuain, has only scored three goals in his past 12 league matches. Miami has a minus-8 goal differential.
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