- For the Armchair Analyst's look at the weekend, click HERE.
- For Greg Lalas' roundup of everything you need to know, click HERE.
- For the Team of the Week, click HERE.
Note: Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. The Power Rankings are voted on by the editorial staff at MLSsoccer.com, and all comments are written by Matthew Doyle. All times Eastern.
Let us know what you think in the comments below.
<strong>Rank</strong> |
<strong>Trending</strong> |
<strong>Club</strong> |
<strong>Comment</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 1</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/dallas_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>Even if they're not playing well, they're always so dangerous on set pieces that they can just bury you. It was even through an hour this weekend, then Houston gave 'em an inch. And then it was over.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-04-05-houston-dynamo-vs-fc-dallas/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. Houston, 4-1</a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Seattle (8:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 4</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/realsaltlake.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 55px; height: 71px;"> |
<p>Going on the road and getting a point is always a good result. Doing it at the MLS Cup champions' place, and getting a <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/04/06/real-salt-lake-hail-backup-goalkeeper-jeff-attinellas-performance-scoreless-" target="_blank">MotM performance from your backup 'keeper</a>? Tough, gutty early-season performance.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-04-05-sporting-kansas-city-vs-real-salt-lake/recap" target="_blank">Drew at Kansas City, 0-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Philadelphia (4 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>, Univ. Dep.)</li></ul> |
<strong>3</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 3</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/sportingkc_logo.PNG" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 84px;"> |
<p>The attack went bye-bye again, but the defense remains the league's best. Sporting took the lessons of Cruz Azul to heart and have tightened up considerably.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-04-05-sporting-kansas-city-vs-real-salt-lake/recap" target="_blank">Drew vs. Real Salt Lake, 0-0</a></li><li><strong>Next MLS Game: </strong>April 19 vs. Montreal</li></ul> |
<strong>4</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 2</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/columbus_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 74px;"> |
<p>Boom! Nobody saw that one coming. Columbus had looked like the closest thing to a sure bet this past weekend, and barely showed up. This is why MLS is impossible to predict.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-04-05-columbus-crew-vs-toronto-fc/recap" target="_blank">Lost to Toronto, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Sunday at San Jose (3 pm, UniMas)</li></ul> |
<strong>5</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 8</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/toronto_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/michael-bradley" target="_blank">Michael Bradley</a> deserves a ton of credit, but let's give a round of applause to central midfield partner <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/kyle-bekker" target="_blank">Kyle Bekker</a>. His passing eye has always been there, but this offseason he seems to have added "defensive committment" to his game.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-04-05-columbus-crew-vs-toronto-fc/recap" target="_blank">Won at Columbus, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Colorado (4 pm, TSN/RDS2, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>6</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 9</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/losangeles_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>Chivas came into last weekend looking like one of the league's most disciplined defensive teams, and LA just annihilated them. Are the Galaxy going to start building momentum after a sluggish March?</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-04-06-chivas-usa-vs-la-galaxy/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. Chivas USA, 3-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Vancouver (10:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>/TSN)</li></ul> |
<strong>7</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 7</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/seattle_150.png" style="width: 85px; height: 85px;"> |
<p>They were probably six minutes from entering crisis mode. Then <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/04/07/clint-dempseys-hat-trick-performance-seattle-sounders-earns-him-player-week-" target="_blank">Clint Dempsey rode to the rescue</a>, and Seattle got themselves a valuable road point. Still have to figure out that midfield, though.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-04-05-portland-timbers-vs-seattle-sounders-fc/recap" target="_blank">Drew at Portland, 4-4</a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Dallas (8:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>8</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 5</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/houston_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>Hung tough for an hour, but going down a man against FC Dallas is murder. It's surprising, though, how weak the Dynamo looked defending restarts.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-04-05-houston-dynamo-vs-fc-dallas/recap" target="_blank">Lost at Dallas, 4-1</a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at New England (5 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>9</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 12</p> |
<img alt="" height="80" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/colorado_150.png" width="80"> |
<p>It took a red card to <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/matias-laba" target="_blank">Matías Laba</a> and a sterling performance from <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/clint-irwin" target="_blank">Clint Irwin</a> to get the Rapids these three points. But they were points well earned, and will be crucial in the playoff race.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-04-05-vancouver-whitecaps-fc-vs-colorado-rapids/recap" target="_blank">Won at Vancouver, 2-1</a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Toronto (4 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>/TSN/RDS2)</li></ul><ul></ul> |
<strong>10</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 6</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/vancouver_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 110px;"> |
<p>The 'Caps really had no business squandering that one, and they totally lost their heads after going down a man. Need to find some discipline in possession to go with their attacking gusto.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-04-05-vancouver-whitecaps-fc-vs-colorado-rapids/recap" target="_blank">Lost to Colorado, 2-1</a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at LA (10:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>/TSN)</li></ul> |
<strong>11</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 10</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/philadelphia_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>Dropping points thanks to bad set-piece defending and late collapses week after week. The Union still look the part of a contender, but eventually good performances have to become wins.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-04-05-chicago-fire-vs-philadelphia-union/recap" target="_blank">Drew at Chicago, 2-2</a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Real Salt Lake (4 pm ET, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live/</a>Univ. Dep.)</li></ul> |
<strong>12</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 11</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/newyork_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>Another huge performance from <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/luis-robles" target="_blank">Luis Robles</a> saved the road point for the Red Bulls, who were lacking some big-name flair, but dug down and found a bit of fight. Still plenty to be worried about defensively, however.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-04-05-montreal-impact-vs-new-york-red-bulls/recap" target="_blank">Drew at Montreal, 2-2</a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at D.C. United (7 pm ET, NBCSN)</li></ul> |
<strong>13</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 15</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/portland_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 74px;"> |
<p>The Timbers have now given up 10 goals, so there's a ton of work to do on that end. But <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/04/05/three-things-how-portland-timbers-and-seattle-sounders-produced-instant-clas?module=from_footer" target="_blank">their attack was spectacular against Seattle</a>, and seems to have found some chemistry after a slow start.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-04-05-portland-timbers-vs-seattle-sounders-fc/recap" target="_blank">Drew vs. Seattle, 4-4</a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Chivas USA (10:30 pm ET, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>14</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 17</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/chicago_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>They were a <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/video/2014/04/05/pk-save-zac-macmath-clears-out-pk-mike-magee" target="_blank">muffed Mike Magee PK</a> away from getting their first win of the season. But they've yet to pitch a shutout, and have given up multiple goals in three of their five games.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-04-05-chicago-fire-vs-philadelphia-union/recap" target="_blank">Drew vs. Philadelphia, 2-2</a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Montreal (4 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>15</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 14</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/chivas_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>Came undone against the Galaxy, with head coach Wilmer Cabrera <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/04/07/chivas-usa-coach-wilmer-cabrera-poor-showing-vs-la-galaxy-team-stopped-fight" target="_blank">openly questioning his team's heart</a>. Ugly loss, and it won't get any easier this coming weekend.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-04-06-chivas-usa-vs-la-galaxy/recap" target="_blank">Lost vs. LA, 3-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Portland (10:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>16</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 13</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/newengland_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>The Revs can't seem to put shots on frame, which is a pretty big problem. They're <a href="https://twitter.com/Ben_Jata/status/453219822927904768" target="_blank">the worst in the league</a> when it comes to hitting the target, and were blanked for the fourth time in five games.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-04-05-dc-united-vs-new-england-revolution/recap" target="_blank">Lost at D.C. United, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Houston (5 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>17</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 16</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/san_jose_quakes_logo_detail2.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 60px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>The bye week was surely nice for the Quakes, as was watching <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/chris-wondolowski" target="_blank">Chris Wondolowski</a> score (again) for the USMNT. They need him to bring some of that back to Buck Shaw.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Bye</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Sunday vs. Columbus (3 pm, UniMas)</li></ul> |
<strong>18</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 19</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/dc_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: medium none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
That was D.C.'s first win since August, and while it wasn't exactly a clinic, three points is three points. <br><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-04-05-dc-united-vs-new-england-revolution/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. New England, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. New York (7 pm, NBCSN)</li></ul> |
<strong>19</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 18</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imapact-logo-3.png" style="width: 75px; height: 87px;"> |
<p>The Impact are going to score a bunch of goals, but this entire backline needs help. They are reacting so slowly to any hint of danger, and are getting punished.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2014-04-05-montreal-impact-vs-new-york-red-bulls/recap" target="_blank">Drew vs. New York, 2-2</a></li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Chicago (4 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
