Power Rankings

MLS Power Rankings, Week 2: Expansion teams make big moves after first wins

NYCFC PRanks-2015-2

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 remarks are written by Senior Editor Matt Doyle. All times Eastern.


Let us know what you think in the comment section 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/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 4</p>
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<p>If you stay perfect, even though you haven&#39;t played perfect, and you&#39;re the only ones to remain perfect &hellip; then you&#39;re No. 1. Dallas have some stuff to figure out, but they keep collecting three points on the journey, so there you have it.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong>Won vs. Sporting KC, 3-1</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Friday at Philadelphia&nbsp;(7 pm; UniMas, UnivisionDeportes.com)</li></ul>
<strong>2</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 2</p>
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<p>Saw last year&#39;s trend of conceding late goals haunt them on Sunday but got bailed out even later by Alan Gordon (that&#39;s why he&#39;s here!). The Galaxy are still the Galaxy, folks.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong>Drew at Portland, 2-2</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday vs. Houston (10:30 pm;&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>3</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: 1</p>
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<p>This is why Pick &#39;Em is such a crapshoot. There&#39;s no justification for Seattle losing to a 10-man Quakes team that was on a 16-game winless skid. Incredible.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong>Lost vs. San Jose, 3-2</li><li><strong>Next MLS Game:</strong>&nbsp;March 28 at Dallas&nbsp;(8:30 pm;&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>4</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: 5</p>
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<p>Gave better than they got before the red card and completely took a good Toronto team apart after it. Columbus look very much like Eastern Conference favorites.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong>Won vs. Toronto, 2-0</li><li><strong>Next MLS Game:</strong>&nbsp;March 28 vs. New York (7:30 pm;&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>5</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: 3</p>
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<p>The Power Rankings Politburo feels your pain, my Red friends. Only thing to do is take heart from a good first 45 minutes and move on to the next one.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong>Lost at Columbus, 2-0</li><li><strong>Next MLS Game:</strong>&nbsp;March 29 at Real Salt Lake (7 pm, FOX Sports, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports GO)</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:: 11</p>
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<p>Do we reward them for creating a billion chances or punish them for missing so many of them? Let&#39;s not fail to mention that the &#39;Caps gave up their share of looks as well. A road win is no joke, but Vancouver&#39;s got to tighten up that back line.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong>Won at Chicago, 1-0</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday at Orlando City (7:30 pm;&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>7</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>
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<p>The only team aside from Dallas to stay perfect. Nice job.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong>OFF</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Sunday at New York (5 pm; ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, WatchESPN)</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: 6</p>
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<p>Gave &#39;em credit for the road point in Week 1, but we are feeling a bit skittish about this new-look RSL after Week 2. They&#39;re not using the ball as well so far in 2015, and it&#39;s putting more stress on the back line.</p><ul><li><b>Last Week:&nbsp;</b>Drew vs. Philadelphia, 3-3</li><li><strong>Next MLS Game:</strong> March 29 vs. Toronto &nbsp;(7 pm, FOX Sports, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports GO)</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: 14</p>
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<p>At some point, they&#39;ll score a goal all by themselves. But who are we to sneer at good fortune, comrades? OCSC have conceded just once in two games and deserve their time in the sun.</p><ul><li><b>Last Week:&nbsp;</b>Won at Houston, 1-0</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday vs. Vancouver (7:30 pm;&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>10</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 10</p>
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<p>Rest, relaxation and, maybe, a midfield reorganization? Got to figure out how to stay connected to BWP this week.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>OFF</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Sunday vs. D.C. United (5 pm; FOX Sports 1, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports GO)</li></ul>
<strong>11</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: 16</p>
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<p>Looked like world-beaters against New England&#39;s tire fire of a back line. Is &quot;The House that Villa Built&quot; too precious to use as a headline?</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong>Won vs. New England, 2-0</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday at Colorado (4 pm;&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>12</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 12</p>
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<p>Porterball has given way to pragmatism, and Darlington Nagbe is putting the fear of God into defenders all over the league. Still nightmare-ish to give up that late equalizer at home, though.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Drew vs. LA Galaxy, 2-2</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday at Sporting KC&nbsp;(8:30 pm;&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</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: 18</p>
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<p>Shocking win not only for the result, but for how methodically they were able to pick Seattle apart even when down a man.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Won at Seattle, 3-2</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Sunday vs. Chicago (7 pm, FOX Sports/FOX Deportes/FOX Sports GO)</li></ul>
<strong>14</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: 7</p>
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<p>A pretty precipitous drop for a team that had everything go against them (blown offside, missed PK, no Besler) on the road at a good team. But here&#39;s the truth: through two weeks, Sporting have been open for business defensively. They have to find a way to clamp down.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong>Lost at Dallas, 3-1</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday vs. Portland (8:30 pm;&nbsp;<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/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 17</p>
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<p>For the second week in a row, they took one point when they should have had all three. Union fans are right to be angry, but in the meantime, Jim Curtin has to figure out how to get his central defense and central midfield more connected.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong>Drew at Real Salt Lake, 3-3</li><li><strong>This Week:&nbsp;</strong>Friday vs. FC Dallas (7 pm; Unimas, UnivisionDeportes.com)</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: 9</p>
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<p>It&#39;s two games, so there&#39;s no need to panic just yet. But it&#39;s clear the Revs are missing both Jermaine Jones and A.J. Soares, and only one of those guys is due to return at some point.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong>Lost at NYCFC, 2-0</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong> Saturday vs. Montreal (3 pm;&nbsp;<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: 13</p>
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<p>Hard to generate much going forward when you play a 4-6-0 for the majority of the game. At home. Against an expansion team. Okay, we&#39;ll stop.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong>Lost vs. Orlando City, 1-0</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong> Saturday at LA (10:30 pm; <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>18</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: 15</p>
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<p>Fuzzy math here.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong>OFF</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday at New England (3 pm;&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>
<strong>19</strong>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 19</p>
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<p>Look to be on the verge of <a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2015/03/16/report-colorado-rapids-striker-deshorn-brown-sought-norwegian-powerhouse-val" target="_blank">losing a guy who&#39;s scored double-digit goals in each of the last two years</a>. That&#39;s the business - now we get to see how they&#39;ll cope.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong>OFF</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Saturday vs. New York City (4 pm;&nbsp;<a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS LIVE</a>)</li></ul>
<b>20</b>
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 20</p>
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<p>Actually created a bunch of chances, but it always felt like they were going to lose that game. Maybe it should have been 4-2 instead of 1-0, but either way, it&#39;s more of the same for Fire fans.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:&nbsp;</strong>Lost vs. Vancouver, 1-0</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong>&nbsp;Sunday at San Jose&nbsp;(7 pm, FOX Sports, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports GO)</li></ul>