The MLS Power Rankings had the Philadelphia Union at the top. Philadelphia lost for the first time this season in Toronto.
A new leader this week, a fresh face to liven up the order, right? LAFC came back from a goal down to win their sixth defeat of the year and regain their status as the top dogs.
After a wild weekend of football, Jeff and Dan look at the results, break down where all 28 teams stand and give you the latest edition of Power Rankings.
- MLS on ESPN+: Stream LIVE games, replays (U.S.)
- Soccer on ESPN+: FC Daily | Futbol Americas
- Don't have ESPN? Get instant access
The previous ranking was 2.
The next MLS match is April 24 at FC Cincinnati. The time is later.
The Worldie of the Week is Ismael Tajouri-Shradi, who scored a sumptuous strike to break a 1-all tie and lead to a 3-1 win over Sporting Kansas City. The fact that Jose Cifuentes scored as well speaks to the team's depth. After seven games, LAFC has the Supporters Shield on goal differential.
1 was the previous ranking.
The next MLS match is on April 23. The show is on the Disney channel.
The Union are still the team to beat in the East despite their loss to Toronto and a five-game winning streak. They had a 457-minute dry spell, but are still two points up on second-place Orlando with a game in hand. They will be fine.
The previous ranking was 4.
The next MLS match is on April 23. The show is on the Disney channel.
LA had to be content with a draw in Chicago on a night when neither team had a shot on goal. Seven points from four road games so far is a decent return, and the LA Galaxy look a lot better than they did a year ago.
The previous ranking was 5.
The next MLS match is on April 23. The time is later.
FCD walked away from their trip to the Red Bulls with a 1-1 draw, thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Maarten Paes. Paes is on loan until the summer. Is a longer stay in store?
The New York Red Bulls and FC Dallas were unable to find the net.
The previous ranking was 3.
The next MLS match is on April 23 at the LA Galaxy. The show is on the Disney channel.
Until Nashville can enjoy the creature comforts of GEODIS Park for the first time, there is only one more road game to go. Nashville went a respectable 3-2-2 after NSC's 2-2 draw with San Jose. Defending set pieces has been an odd weakness for a team that is normally stout in the back.
The previous ranking was 10.
The next MLS match is April 23 against the Whitecaps. The time is later.
Austin scored three goals in the final 11 minutes to overcome a two-goal deficit and beat D.C. United. Danny was one of the goal scorers. Could he be the missing piece for this team?
The previous ranking was 9.
The next MLS match is on April 24th. The show is on the cable network, ESPN.
After scoring four goals in the second game of the season, New York has not scored more than one goal in a game since. It still sits at third in the conference due to the season&s infancy and the defensive front. Coronel is second in MLS in goals prevented in the past month, if Lewis Morgan and the rest of the NYRB back line can get back on track. New York is tied for third in the East.
The previous ranking was 17
The next MLS match is April 24 against the New York Red Bulls. The show is on the cable network, ESPN.
Five different players have at least two assists, and that's more impressive than the seven different goal scorers. There is no MLS team with more this season. Over the past month, Orlando has been one of the league's best, with the exception of a 4-2 loss to LAFC on April 2. Three of the four results were away from Exploria Stadium. There are no fears of a post-Nie drought.
The goal was scored by the man in a great position.
The previous ranking was 20.
The next MLS match is April 24 against Toronto FC. The show is on the Disney channel.
The reigning MLS Cup champ have only played six league games so far. Real Salt Lake was one of six teams that NYCFC rang up after their loss to Seattle. They scored 10 goals against Montreal and Real Salt Lake. In the other four? One. The defense has been quiet, but they will be moving to New York for the next month. That should make them closer to the top of the list.
The previous ranking was 14.
The next MLS match is April 23 against the Chicago Fire. The show is on the cable network, ESPN.
After a win over Colorado that saw Emanuel Reynoso get closer to top form with two assists, the Loons will be breathing easier.
The previous ranking was 11.
The next MLS match is April 23 against Real Salt Lake. The show is on the Disney channel.
The Portland goalkeeper made three great saves to help the team get out of Houston with a stalemate. Playing a man up for more than 15 minutes wasn't enough for the Timbers to find a breakthrough.
The previous ranking was 8.
The next MLS match is April 23 at Portland. The show is on the Disney channel.
Despite the fact that there were more subtractions than additions to the roster in the off-season, Real Salt Lake has been able to get results early in the season. The walloping at the hands of NYCFC is closer to what was expected. The upcoming weeks will show if this was a one-off or if the magic has begun to fade.
Castellanos set the record for most goals scored in a game by the New York City Football Club.
The previous ranking was 13
The next MLS match is April 23 at Minnesota United FC. The show is on the cable network, ESPN.
Chicago has only lost one time this season, and we are more than a fifth through the season. The Fire allowed 54 goals in the league in the year 2021, and lead MLS with two allowed so far. They are last in the league in the category of putting balls in the back of the net.
The previous ranking was 16.
The next MLS match is April 23 at FC Dallas. The time is later.
Houston felt that it should have done better than a stalemate against Portland, but Aljaz Ivacic did a great job. Steve Clark had some good moments against his former team, but a shake of the head at the final whistle from manager Paulo Nagamura said it all.
The previous ranking was 7.
The next MLS match is April 23 at Sporting Kansas City. The show is on the Disney channel.
The Crew haven't scored this month. Their last league goal was a 95th minute goal by Darlington Nagbe against the Red Bulls. Since April 1, no MLS team has had more touches and only two have created more chances. Over their past three MLS matches, the Crew have dominated ball control with 65% of possession, but nothing to show for it. Nagbe leads MLS in pass percentage, Lucas Zelarayan leads in chances created, and the stonewall Eloy Room prevents the third most goals.
The previous ranking was 20.
The next MLS match is April 24 at New York City FC. The show is on the Disney channel.
Toronto looks pretty good after a rocky start to the Bob Bradley era. It has won four in a row and just dealt Philadelphia its first loss of the campaign. Toronto leads MLS in shot conversion percentage, turning more than 25% of its shots on target into goals. It leads the league when it is expanded over the entire season. Toronto gets a lot of rest with only MLS matches to focus on. The next four games are against NYCFC, Cincinnati, and Vancouver.
Toronto earned a point on the road against Real Salt Lake thanks to a late goal from Jayden Nelson.
The previous ranking was 6.
The next MLS match is April 23 against Charlotte FC. The time is later.
The Rapids can argue that they ran into a hot goalkeeper in their loss to Minnesota, but they haven't been defensively sound of late.
The previous ranking was 15.
The next MLS match is April 24 at Inter Miami. The show is on the cable network, ESPN.
Losing Brad Guzan to an injury is a big blow for Atlanta. FC Cincinnati is almost forgotten. The Five Stripes are fourth in MLS in chances created, but tied for 15th in goals scored and 20th in shot conversion percentage. After scoring eight goals in their first four games, they have only scored one since. It might be difficult to solve with three games in 10 days.
The previous ranking was 18.
The next MLS match is April 23 at Philadelphia Union. The show is on the Disney channel.
It is early, but the rumblings for Djordje Mihailovic are audible. His expected goal and assists tally is 3.1, he has four and three. Montreal opened the season with losses to Philadelphia and NYCFC, but has won three in a row. If those opponents combined for more than three wins, it would be further up the list. Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Charlotte are some of the places Montreal has to contend with. Even modest success vaults it into the conversation.
The previous ranking was 12.
The next MLS match is April 23 at San Jose Earthquakes. The show is on the Disney channel.
This was another week when Seattle claimed the bigger prize, a midweek draw against NYCFC, but stumbled when it came to league obligations, in this case a 0-1 defeat to Miami. The result of the game will irritate a proud group.
In the 42nd minute,Robbie Robinson scored to give Inter Miami the lead.
The previous ranking was 22.
The next MLS match is April 23 at D.C. United. The show is on the Disney channel.
The Revs ended a four-game losing streak with a win over Charlotte. New England is 11th in the East. It couldn't stop scoring in 2021, leading MLS with 65 goals, and it's coming at a premium so far in 2022, with ten through seven matches -- four combined in the last two weeks. There are signs of life.
The previous ranking was 25.
Atlanta United FC will play the next MLS match on April 24. The show is on the cable network, ESPN.
Miami has conceded more than any other city through mid-April. In March, it was outscored 10-2 and had its first lead of the century, but it came back to beat Seattle and win its second game in a row. Miami is tied for eighth in the league in chances created, but no one has found the net. There are positive signs that it could go either way for David Beckham's squad.
The previous ranking was 21.
The next MLS match is April 23 at Colorado Rapids. The show is on the Disney channel.
It has been a Dr. Hyde and Mr. Hyde situation in Charlotte. Charlotte is winless on the road in the preseason and has three wins in four home matches. The attack outside of Swiderski has been stagnant. It might get worse before it gets better with road matches against Colorado and Florida on the docket.
The previous ranking was 27.
The next MLS match is April 24 against LAFC. The time is later.
The 74 goals allowed by Cincinnati were tied for the second-most all-time in an MLS season. The year of 2019: Cincy has 75. It really couldn't get much worse, so thus far it has been promising, underscored by a tie with Atlanta over the weekend. I was worried that the season was over after the Orange and Blue were thrashed by Austin on opening day, but there are some positives. The East is wide open, but it has a tough stretch ahead.
Ruben Gabrielsen scored for DC United in the 90th minute.
The previous ranking was 23.
The next MLS match is April 23 against the New England Revolution. The show is on the Disney channel.
Oof. Austin has the most terrifying offensive firepower in the league, but it is heartbreaking to give up a 2-0 lead with three 80 minute goals. D.C. has lost four straight by one goal. The Black and Red have created the second-fewest chances in the league and are tied for the ninth-most shots on goal allowed. It could be a long season.
The previous ranking was 24.
The next MLS match is April 23 against the Columbus Crew. The show is on the Disney channel.
The season is looking more and more difficult for SKC, which is 12th in the West. It was hard to see Ilienchez give the kind of foundation for LAFC that he used to do for Kansas City. Peter Vermes needs to be at his best to get SKC out of this rut.
The previous ranking was 26.
The next MLS match is April 23 at Austin FC. The show is on the Disney channel.
The Whitecaps thought they had a late goal against Montreal, but it was not to be. It is the latest in a series of gut punches, with injuries taking a toll. The hope is that the arrival of Cubas will stop the slide.
The previous ranking was 28.
The next MLS match is on April 23. The show is on the Disney channel.
The Matias Almeyda era came to an end with a contest akin to a demolition derby between Almeyda and the front office. Alex Covelo is the manager of the U23 team. San Jose's winless streak was extended to seven games after a 2-2 draw against Nashville.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
