Power Rankings

MLS Power Rankings, Week 16: Sounders sink to season low after home loss

BIGGEST MOVERS: Dallas +3 spots | New England -4 spots


1


LAST WEEK: 1


HIGH: 1 | LOW: 20


Win at home, draw on the road, and stay in the No. 1 spot. The Rapids probably need to collect about 18 points from their final 18 games to make the playoffs, and who's going to bet against them? For the franchise's first Supporters' Shield they'll need about 30... and you should think twice before betting against that, as well.


Latest result: Drew at LA Galaxy, 0-0


Last five results: D-W-D-W-D


Next MLS match: July 4 vs. Portland


2


LAST WEEK: 5


HIGH: 1 | LOW: 7


Broke out of a three-game winless skid with a convincing win over visiting RSL, a victory punctuated by an unreal assist from Mauro Diaz. And even better news could soon be coming for FCD, as Fernando Clavijo hinted at a summer transfer window signing on Monday's ExtraTime Radio.


Latest result: Won vs. Real Salt Lake, 2-0


Last five results: W-D-D-L-W


Next MLS match: July 4 vs. Orlando City


3


LAST WEEK: 3


HIGH: 1 | LOW: 15


Fought back for a not-uncontroversial midweek win vs. RBNY, then weren't quite up to snuff at Dallas. Now they're looking at a stretch with four of their next five at home, and everybody healthy and available. If they're going to make a run at their Rocky Mountain rivals, now's a good time to start it.


Latest result: Won vs. NY Red Bulls, 2-1; Lost at Dallas, 2-0


Last five results: L-W-D-W-L


Next MLS match: Friday vs. D.C. United (UniMás)


4


LAST WEEK: 2


HIGH: 2 | LOW: 17


They'll be seething after coughing up late goals last week, turning a draw into a loss and a win into a draw. Those are the type of points they collected on the regular last season. Win Saturday's derby in the Bronx, however, and we're pretty sure the fanbase will forgive them for a frustrating week.


Latest result: Lost at Real Salt Lake, 2-1; Drew at Columbus, 1-1


Last five results: W-W-W-L-D


Next MLS match: Sunday at NYCFC (ESPN)


5


LAST WEEK: 4


HIGH: 2 | LOW: 19


Roland Alberg, welcome to MLS. The Dutch attacker bagged five goals this week as the Union offense cranked it up to 11. The problem is that the defense has been non-existent over the last 180 minutes, and they coughed up three home points vs. the 'Caps as a result.


Latest result: Won vs. Chicago, 4-3; Lost vs. Vancouver, 3-2


Last five results: D-W-L-W-L


Next MLS match: Saturday at Houston


6


LAST WEEK: 6


HIGH: 1 | LOW: 9


Things have not been great on the defensive side of the ball over the last month, and since Sebastian Giovinco isn't quite playing up to his impossibly high 2015 standards this season, it's costing TFC points. Getting Michael Bradley back and healthy should help, but there are questions about that after the injury he suffered against Colombia. 


Latest result: Lost at Orlando City, 3-2


Last five results: D-D-L-W-L


Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Seattle (TSN2)


7


LAST WEEK: 8


HIGH: 2 | LOW: 9


It's now a seven-game winless skid, but at least Gio Dos Santos broke the goalless drought that's plagued the Galaxy over the past month. Getting Robbie Keane and a presumably exhausted Gyasi Zardes back from international duty should help on that account as well.


Latest result: Drew vs. Colorado, 0-0; Drew at San Jose, 1-1


Last five results: L-D-L-D-D


Next MLS match: July 4 vs. Vancouver (TSN1/RDS2)


8


LAST WEEK: 9


HIGH: 1 | LOW: 12


That's a solid looking last five results, and a very good comeback on Sunday against a game Houston team. Portland's defense isn't yet what they were last year, but when Diego Valeri is in an attacking groove like this it almost doesn't matter.


Latest result: Won vs. Houston, 3-2


Last five results: W-D-W-D-W


Next MLS match: July 4 at Colorado


9


LAST WEEK: 10


HIGH: 6 | LOW: 13


No wins in five and only one win in eight, but they've survived the Wondo-less portion of the schedule. They need him to come back and just be himself, while they need the defense to get healthy, stay healthy and stay together.


Latest result: Drew vs. LA Galaxy, 1-1


Last five results: D-D-L-D-D


Next MLS match: Friday at Chicago (UniMás)


10


LAST WEEK: 7


HIGH: 1 | LOW: 10


They're scoring some beautiful goals, but they can't stop anything right now. Obviously getting Laurent Ciman back following the Euros will help a bunch, but this feels more like an organizational fix rather than a one-man solution. 


Latest result: Drew vs. Sporting KC, 2-2


Last five results: D-L-W-D-D


Next MLS match: Saturday vs. New England (TSN2/RDS)


11


LAST WEEK: 11


HIGH: 9 | LOW: 20


Two starts for Frank Lampard, two goals, two wins. NYCFC are on record-setting pace away from the Bronx, and if they're to make the playoffs they'll have to keep that up given their home form. Of course, if they get revenge against the Red Bulls on Saturday then one could make a reasonable argument that the home woes are a thing of the past.


Latest result: Won at Seattle, 2-0


Last five results: L-D-L-W-W


Next MLS match: Sunday vs. NY Red Bulls (ESPN)


12


LAST WEEK: 14


HIGH: 8 | LOW: 14


Another team that does work away from home, the 'Caps won their second road game in their last three away from BC Place thanks to a great attacking performance at the Union. Kekuta Manneh has been the catalyst, with four goals and two assists in Vancouver's last six outings.


Latest result: Won at Philadelphia, 3-2


Last five results: W-L-D-L-W


Next MLS match: July 4 at LA Galaxy (TSN1/RDS2)


13


LAST WEEK: 13


HIGH: 6 | LOW: 17


They played four of their last five at home, and came out of that stretch with nine points. Not bad. Four of the next five are on the road, and that will go a long way toward determining whether or not they're in the hunt for the playoffs come autumn.


Latest result: Won vs. Toronto, 3-2


Last five results: W-D-D-D-W


Next MLS match: July 4 at Dallas


14


LAST WEEK: 15


HIGH: 1 | LOW: 18


Sporting have finally pulled out of that springtime death-spiral, but they remain mistake-prone at the back and overly reliant upon Dom Dwyer up top. When he goes cold, there are no open-play goal-scoring threats, and it's taken a toll.


Latest result: Drew at Montreal, 2-2


Last five results: L-L-D-W-D


Next MLS match: Sunday vs. Columbus (FS1)


15


LAST WEEK: 17


HIGH: 14 | LOW: 20


The Power Rankings Politburo can not remember the last time we enjoyed watching a D.C. performance so much. The midfield was cohesive, the forward line was disciplined and inventive, and Sean Franklin produced one of the best overlaps you'll ever see from a fullback. Beautiful soccer, and a deserved win.


Latest result: Won vs. New England, 2-0


Last five results: L-W-L-D-W


Next MLS match: Friday at Real Salt Lake (UniMás)


16


LAST WEEK: 12


HIGH: 10 | LOW: 17


Winning three out of five is good in almost any context, but this weekend's loss was a painful reminder of how frail the Revs can be at dealing with crosses. They're also still waiting for Kei Kamara to find the range -- he hasn't gotten onto the score sheet since his dramatic move from Columbus, and that has to be eating at everybody.


Latest result: Lost at D.C. United, 2-0


Last five results: W-L-W-W-L


Next MLS match: Saturday at Montreal (TSN2/RDS)


17


LAST WEEK: 18


HIGH: 5 | LOW: 19


Rallied back for a point, and over the last two months that's become their calling card: Crew SC are tough to beat. What they lack is the explosive attack last year's team sported, and that's why they've entered summer below the red line.


Latest result: Drew vs. NY Red Bulls, 1-1


Last five results: D-W-L-D-D


Next MLS match: Sunday at Sporting KC (FS1)


18


LAST WEEK: 19


HIGH: 10 | LOW: 20


It's clear from Houston's first half at Portland that Plan A works, which is a good starting point. But they had no answers for the Timbers' in-game adjustments, and that has to be next up for interim head coach Wade Barrett.


Latest result: Lost at Portland, 3-2


Last five results: L-D-D-D-L


Next MLS match: Saturday vs. Philadelphia


19


LAST WEEK: 16


HIGH: 7 | LOW: 19


Former (Steve Zakuani) and current (Brad Evans) Sounders questioned the team's heart after this most recent loss, and anyone who watched had cause to question their creativity and attacking chops. They've now been shut out in four of their last six.


Latest result: Lost vs. NYCFC, 2-0


Last five results: L-L-W-L-L


Next MLS match: Saturday at Toronto (TSN2)


20


LAST WEEK: 20


HIGH: 18 | LOW: 20


After three months of mostly good defensive play, June's two games have been a nightmare for the Fire as they've conceded six times in 180 minutes. Bad luck with deflections, to be sure, but they're not moving with the same unity and purpose they'd showed earlier in the season, and have become prone to being stretched out.


Latest result: Lost at Philadelphia, 4-3


Last five results: L-W-D-L-L


Next MLS match: Friday vs. San Jose (UniMás)


Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. Rankings are voted on by MLSsoccer.com editorial staff and remarks were written by Senior Editor Matt Doyle (@MLSAnalyst).