As always, this is not my fault. The Power Rankings are voted on by a collection of MLSsoccer.com editors, writers and personalities. That group does include me, but Iām only like one-tenth of the problem here. Although I may be 10/10ths this week. I tried a new thing in Excel when I calculated the votes. And my Excel skills arenāt great.
Anyway, onto the rankings.
LAFC cruised to a win over FC Dallas midweek, but a rotated lineup came up short at the Whitecaps. Itās a big blow for a team thatās now on just a two-points-per-game pace and whose only reinforcements on the way are Giorgio Chiellini and Gareth Bale. Oh, and they still have an open Designated Player spot.
Previous: 3-1 win vs. DAL; 1-0 loss at VAN | Next: 7/8 vs. LA
The New York Red Bulls are top of the Eastern Conference table! For now! Itās literally changing every game! But itās an earned perch either way.
Last week, New York took care of business with a 1-0 win over SKC on Sunday and a 2-1 win over Atlanta United on Thursday that came in the most Red Bulls way possible.
If I had to come up with the platonic ideal of a Red Bulls goal, it would look something like 16-year-old Serge Ngoma coming off the bench to force a brutal error from the backline via pressing to beat Atlanta United. Just impressive commitment to brand awareness there. And the continuation of an impressive run of form for one of the leagueās best teams.
Which means itās once again time to sayā¦
Previous: 2-1 win vs. ATL; 1-0 win at SKC | Next: 7/9 at CIN
I told yāall last week: Austin FC are the protagonists in 2022. If youāre counting them out of any game for any reason, youāre failing to remember that weāre in the middle of the movie montage that takes us from when the team rallies together to the point where it looks like itās going to fall apart for a second before they come back together for one last glory-filled moment. Theyāre not going to stop winning until itās time for their arc to have mild conflict.
So you really shouldnāt be surprised when they go down 2-0 on the road to Colorado and win 3-2 anyway. Thatās just how this works. Itās plot armor. Plot armor and Landon Donovan MLS MVP candidate Sebastian Driussi + a revitalized Maxi Urruti + standout performances from a delightful ensemble cast that each takes their turn having a compelling b-plot like when converted left back Jon Gallagher delivered two assists this weekend.
On a related note, Austin are just two points behind LAFC in the Supportersā Shield race and five points ahead of RSL for the second spot in the Western Conference as we inch past the midway point of the season. Weāre looking at a team thatās careening towards a home Audi MLS Cup Playoffs spot. And, if the writers want the storybook ending, maybe something more.
Previous: 1-0 win at CLT; 3-2 win at COL | Next: 7/9 at ATL
Do yāall ever feel like Brian Schmetzer gets bored? Like some days he just wakes up and decides his lineup by using a 20-sided die just to see if he can win with it? I know, I know, he wanted to rotate some players who needed rest and some extra time to recover from injury. But, cāmon, you know he got a little thrill out of trying to figure out how to get three points from the lineup he put out against Toronto on Sunday.
In typical fashion, he did just that. Dylan Teves scored in his first career start, Fredy Montero found the net in not his first career start and Seattle Sounders FC went on the road and picked up three points to bounce back from a less impressive performance from the A-team lineup against CF MontrƩal. Now that same lineup is rested and Seattle can continue climbing up the Western Conference table with a potentially refreshed group. Must be nice to have that kind of confidence in your system and culture that you can rotate so heavily and still get results.
On a very related note: Seattle are seventh in the West, just three points behind third-place RSL and inching closer to their inevitable home playoff spot by the week.
Previous: 2-1 loss vs. MTL; 2-0 win at TOR | Next: 7/9 vs. POR
Ok, weāre far from officially hitting the panic button but we are going to officially hit the button that lets folks know that things are kind of weird right now.
Since Ronny Deila left, New York City FC have lacked a certain sharpness. Especially at the back. It just so happens theyāre still far and above most teams in the league when it comes to talent, which means that things like this happen.
There arenāt many teams in the league that could pull off going down 3-0 and equalizing at 3-3 in the same half. But then they took the lead in the second half before surrendering it for a 4-4 draw at FC Cincinnati. Then they dropped points from a winning position at home against Atlanta. Thatās five games under Nick Cushing and zero wins. Thatās not the standard in the Bronx.
Thereās no way thatās all on Cushing, of course. And teams do just have moments throughout the MLS season where they dip. But an NYCFC team that once looked like a surefire bet to take the first seed in the East doesnāt look so sure anymore.
Previous: 4-4 draw at CIN; 2-2 draw vs. ATL | Next: 7/9 vs. NE
The Philadelphia Union jumped to the top of the East and then produced a scoreless week that included a 0-0 draw with Columbus, a Jose Martinez red card (plus a little extra) and a 1-0 loss at Chicago. The only response anyone should have when looking at their performance from the last week is judgmental aggressive frowning.
Previous: 1-0 loss at CHI; 0-0 draw at CLB | Next: 7/8 vs. DC
Monday at LA didnāt go as planned, but last Wednesday they picked up three points in Seattle with a heckuva comeback appearance from Mason Toye. Toyeās brace led CF Montreal past the Sounders and although heās still working his way back into the lineup full time, he could be a catalyst for MontrĆ©alās best moments without Djordje Mihailovic and a key figure in whatever run they make once Mihailovic returns. All considered, three points from a road trip to Seattle and LA, with a confidence-boosting moment for one of your most exciting young players on his way back from an injury, is a solid week.
Previous: 2-1 win at SEA; 4-0 loss at LA | Next: 7/9 vs. SKC
RSL Magic didnāt come in time this weekend. Real Salt Lake nearly turned around a three-goal deficit in Minnesota but came up just short. The good news is Jefferson Savarino and Anderson Julio both got on the board. Savarino has two goals and two assists in three starts and Julio has a goal and an assist in just 89 minutes. Those are decent ways to welcome yourself back to the team.
Previous: 3-2 loss at MIN | Next: 7/9 vs. COL
Well, well, well. The LA Galaxy started Dejan Joveljic and look what happened.
This was preceded by a midweek game in which they did not start Joveljic and lost 3-2 to Minnesota. And the scoreline was only that close because Joveljic scored off the bench. Iām no tactical genius, but seems like it might be a good idea to start Joveljic.
Seriously, they finally paired him with Chicharito in a 4-4-2 formation, relinquished possession a bit and thrived against one of the leagueās best teams this season. Itās the kind of adjustment to LAās best personnel that everyone had been begging for. It just made so much sense. And now maybe the Galaxy will start to build towards a second half thatās far more successful than last seasonās.
Previous: 3-2 loss vs. MIN; 4-0 win vs. MTL | Next: 7/8 at LAFC
Iād really like FC Dallas to pick a lane. Just go on a streak of any kind. After losing midweek to LAFC and drawing over the long weekend with Inter Miami, this teamās longest winning streak in MLS this year is two games and theyāve done it twice. Once in early March and once in early May. Their longest losing streak is two games and theyāve done it once, in back-to-back losses after that two-game winning streak in May. They havenāt drawn in back-to-back games this season. Their record is 7W-5L-6D.
It doesnāt feel like things are going particularly well lately but they are still in fifth place in the West. At the same time, theyāre just three points above the playoff line. Itās tough to decide how much to worry about that though. This is a good team. It just seems like they can and should be getting better results.
Previous: 3-1 loss at LAFC; 1-1 draw vs. MIA | Next: 7/9 vs. HOU
BRENNER. IS. BACK.
Orā¦uhā¦maybe just now arriving? āBrenner is backā just sounded better.
FC Cincinnatiās reported $13 million transfer has scored five goals in his last three games. Suddenly, their two-headed attacking monster is a hydra growing a third head. If the Brazilian striker really has crossed a threshold, adapted to life in MLS and is set to stay through the season, then there wonāt be many trios more dangerous in the league than Brenner, Luciano Acosta and Brandon Vazquez. Thatās a lot of ifs, but thereās a chance weāre watching the beginnings of Cincy take another leap forward in attack. Acosta and Vazquez were enough to torment defenses on their own.
However ⦠you may have noticed Iām talking a lot about Brenner scoring but not so much about Brenner leading Cincinnati to wins. Despite Brennerās stellar output this week, the Knifey Lionsā defense allowed six goals, including three goals in one half to NYCFC after going up 3-0. New DP defensive midfielder Obinna Nwobodo has helped solidify Cincyās defense some, but there are still deep issues at the back that are keeping this team from competing for a home playoff spot.
Previous: 4-4 draw vs. NYC; 2-2 draw at NE | Next: 7/9 vs. RBNY
Letās not get it twisted, Nashville SC are still solid and still sixth in the West. There are far worse fates. But their performance at home is driving me insane. I canāt imagine what itās doing to their own fans.
In addition to a disappointing exit midweek from the US Open Cup on (you guessed it) a lost penalty shootout, the Coyotes were up 2-0 on Portland in the second half at GEODIS Park before letting Portland earn a penalty and then an equalizer five minutes later. Nashville have just two wins at their new home in seven tries. Compare that to their road record, where theyāve won five times in 11 games. Thatās not how this is supposed to work, Nashville.
Previous: 2-2 draw vs. POR | Next: 7/9 at CLT
I feel like I talk about him every week now but Dylan Borrero is a dang star.
On Sunday, the 20-year-old scored his second goal in his first five starts for the New England Revolution. Heās looked electric every time heās been on the ball. Just an unreal find by New England.
Unfortunately, though, he came off early on Sunday after an injury. We donāt know the extent of it yet, but hopefully, for everyoneās sake, heās alright. New England have thrived going forward with Borrero providing an extra spark, and neutrals have been able to turn on Revs games with a good feeling they might see something special.
Oh, and they just signed DP striker Giacomo Vrioni from Juventus. He should help too.
Previous: 2-2 draw vs. CIN | Next: 7/9 at NYC
What got into the Loons???
After sputtering in attack for the entire season, Minnesota United FC hauled off this week and put up three goals in back-to-back games. They jumped to eighth in the West. They created an average of 1.82 xG across those two wins, more than half a goal better than their season average ā and simply seemed more energetic across the board.
I donāt know what it all means or if itās sustainable, but for a brief moment, the Loons have shown a rare flash of attacking potential. With former forward Adrien Hunou shipped out last week to Ligue 1ās Angers and a DP spot now open, it feels like Minnesota have a chance to get a signing right this window and truly start living up to expectations.
Previous: 3-2 win at LA; 3-2 win vs. RSL | Next: 7/8 at VAN
Ercan Kara scored once but couldnāt keep pace with his former Rapid Vienna teammate Taxi Fountas on Monday night as D.C. United overran Orlando City SC in their own building, winning 5-3. Orlando have now dropped to sixth place in the East and there isnāt much difference separating them from the teams chasing the playoff line. It may be that their underlying numbers are starting to catch up to them just a little bit.
It could be worse though. The Lions are just two wins away from a 2023 Concacaf Champions League spot after taking down Nashville in the US Open Cup quarterfinals.
Previous: 5-3 loss vs. DC | Next: 7/9 vs. MIA
If youāre keeping track (and you should be), Vancouver Whitecaps FC faced RSL, Seattle, Dallas, New England and LAFC over their last five league games. They took 10 points. Can we go ahead and say the Caps are back? I think we can go ahead and say the Caps are back. Especially when their new DP midfielder, brought in to play a destroyer role, can still deliver moments like this:
The underlying numbers donāt suggest theyāve turned into a juggernaut or anything, but thereās been a clear improvement by Vancouver. And for a team that seemed hexed at the beginning of the year, theyāve already produced one of the better turnarounds of the season.
Previous: 1-0 win vs. LAFC | Next: 7/8 vs. MIN
The Portland Timbers have taken eight points from their last four games. Thatās a two-point per-game pace. And after their 2-2 comeback draw on the road at Nashville, Iām convinced thatās the pace theyāll maintain for the rest of the season. Not because of the numbers or Jaroslaw Niezgoda or their roster in general. But because this is just what the Timbers do. And the quicker we all accept that, the better off weāll all be. Trust me, you donāt want to be the person whoās shocked when they earn a home playoff spot by the end of the season. You will be the only one. And we will laugh at you.
Previous: 2-1 win vs. HOU; 2-2 draw at NSH | Next: 7/9 at SEA
Charlotte FC are finally getting to trot out the attacking trio of Karol Swiderski, Kamil Jozwiak and Andre Shinyashiki on the field with some consistency. Their first start together didnāt lead to much against Austin, but those three created more than a goal worth of xG against Houston as Shinyashiki scored the winner in Charlotteās first-ever road win.
That trio isnāt going to suddenly turn Charlotteās attack into a supernova, but any improvement should be enough to keep Charlotte hovering around the Eastās playoff line the rest of the season. Because Charlotte are quietly turning in one of the best defensive seasons by an expansion team in recent history. Through 19 games, Charlotte are allowing 1.15 xG/96, the second-best mark among expansion teams since 2017. The only expansion team better was 2020 Nashville at 1.09 xGA/96.
They arenāt setting the world on fire, but that 2020 Nashville team didnāt need to either to finish seventh in the East and win a couple of playoff games.
Previous: 1-0 loss vs. ATX; 2-1 win at HOU | Next: 7/9 vs. NSH
The Columbus Crew celebrated the official arrival of new DP striker Cucho Hernandez by spending Sunday playing their second 0-0 game in three matches. Hopefully Hernandezās likely debut this weekend means theyāve officially gotten that out of their system.
That being said, Columbus have a little momentum heading into Cuchoās first appearance. The Crew have taken nine points out of their last 15. Theyāre sitting just three points below the Eastās playoff line with a game in hand. If Hernandez is the real deal, then theyāve set themselves in a decent position to make a second-half run.
Previous: 2-1 win at TOR; 0-0 draw vs. PHI | Next: 7/9 at CHI
Atlanta Unitedās entire season can be summed up by three goals from the past week.
There youāve got:
- A goal that shows off the individual talent of this team in attack when actually healthy.
- A goal allowed immediately after goal No. 1 that showcases their tendency to turn off defensively at inopportune times.
- A goal that showcases that tendency to turn off, a backup making a critical error in place of a player lost to a season-ending injury, and a general feeling around the team that they simply donāt have the muscle memory and mentality in place that lets them see out wins.
This is salvageable and, in theory, the Secondary Transfer Window could be an active and critical one where a few moves help change the DNA of the team for the better. Or they just wait it out and see if they can start putting results together with the current group. I know which way Iām leaning. But I also know how hard that way can be to execute.
Previous: 2-1 loss at RBNY; 2-2 draw at NYC | Next: 7/9 vs. ATX
Iām just going to keep saying it: Where would this team be without Leonardo Campana?
His eighth goal of the season gave Inter Miami CF a road point against FC Dallas and kept them just three points behind the Revs for seventh place in the East with a game in hand. Campana has eight goals and two assists on the season, which means heās directly contributed to 10 of Miamiās 18 total goals this season. Campana is almost single-handedly powering a team through a rebuilding year and giving them a reason to believe that their long-term recovery diagnosis might be accelerated.
Previous: 1-1 draw at DAL | Next: 7/9 at ORL
Hector Herrera is not stepping into a team on an upswing. Houston Dynamo FC have won just three times since April 10, and just once in their last five games. And that came against Chicago.
This week they lost to a Portland team that hasnāt been up to their normal standards and then followed that by allowing Charlotte FC to pick up their first road win in club history. Itās objectively not going well lately.
But Herreraās task isnāt monumental. Houstonās underlying numbers arenāt excellent, but theyāre far from the worst in the league. Herreraās added solidity in midfield should help them improve in both directions. And that should be enough to start earning a few more points.
Previous: 2-1 loss at POR; 2-1 loss vs. CLT | Next: 7/9 vs. DAL
The Colorado Rapids have won twice in their last eight games. Those two wins are over LAFC and Seattle. Thatās cool and all, but the larger sample size points to a team that canāt executive effectively or consistently when it comes to 2021-level performances.
The Rapids are now 12th in the West at the midway point of the season and are far closer to the Wooden Spoon than a playoff spot. Thereās a seven-point gap between them and seventh place in the West.
Previous: 3-2 loss vs. ATX | Next: 7/9 at RSL
Iāll let Doyle take it.
Oh, and Iāll also let him addā¦
So yeah, things are going pretty well for the San Jose Earthquakes. Their place in the standings (13th) still isnāt all that flattering and itās going to be hard to claw their way up a parity-filled Western Conference, but this is a solid team thatās still finding its way. Would you really be that surprised if things clicked and they made a second-half run that puts them in contention for a playoff spot deep into the season?
Previous: 2-1 win vs. CHI | Next: 7/9 at TOR
Folks, it is very much time to start paying attention to Taxi Fountas if you werenāt already. After this weekendās hat trick against Orlando, Fountas now has nine goals and three assists in 10 games (eight starts). Heās firmly in the Golden Boot presented by Audi race. His production level is absurd. And on par with the most explosive introductions in MLS history.
Now, thereās still a lot to sort out. To their credit, they appear to be attempting to do just that. Old DP Edison Flores is gone, TAM winger Martin Rodriguez is in and a whole handful of moves appear to be on the way. If they can get things steadied with Fountas at the helm, things could become very exciting for D.C. United very quickly.
(Especially if Fountas keeps outperforming his xG by literally doubleā¦)
((Look, I donāt have to be fun but I do have to say these things.))
Previous: 5-3 win at ORL | Next: 7/8 at PHI
Things look better! They do. Jonathan Osorio has played a big part in that and Toronto FC as a whole looks more comfortable in Bob Bradleyās system by the week. But there are still some critical issues.
Lorenzo Insigne is going to help the overall product, but losses to Columbus and a heavily-rotated Seattle side this week are a not-so-gentle reminder that heās not going to fix their defense.
There are plenty of more moves in the works, it seems, so weāre not in the rosterās final phase by any means.
Previous: 2-1 loss vs. CLB; 2-0 loss vs. SEA | Next: 7/9 vs. SJ
On Wednesday, Chicago Fire FC beat the first-place team in the East. On Sunday, they lost to the last-place team in the West.
Iā¦I donāt know what to think of Chicago.
Previous: 1-0 win vs. PHI; 2-1 loss at SJ | Next: 7/9 vs. CLB
They lost 1-0 to the Red Bulls. It happens. But Sporting Kansas City are one of two teams below 1.0 points per game (on league-worst 0.84).
Previous: 1-0 loss vs. RBNY | Next: 7/9 at MTL