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SBI MLS Power Rankings: Week 10

RSL (Getty)

Well it sure didn't take long for Real Salt Lake to dethrone the Seattle Sounders.

Just one week after the Sounders took over the top spot in the SBI MLS Power Rankings, Salt Lake slotted back into the No. 1 position on the strength of a 1-0 win in Seattle on Saturday. At 8-3-2, coach Jason Kreis' side is setting the pace in the race for the Supporters' Shield.

Elsewhere, the New York Red Bulls continued to thrive despite a rash of injury concerns, rising to No. 4 after notching wins over Eastern Conference foes Houston and Philadelphia, while the Chicago Fire, New England Revolution and Columbus Crew all made significant climbs up the ladder as well.

Here are this week's SBI MLS Power Rankings (as voted on by SBI staff):

SBI MLS POWER RANKINGS (WEEK 10)

1. (Last week — 3) REAL SALT LAKE (8-3-2, 26 points)

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Last week: Tied Chicago 0-0 on Wednesday; beat Seattle 1-0 on Saturday

This week: Idle

Outlook: Jamison Olave, Nat Borchers and Co. shut out a Seattle attack that had been having its way with opponents of late, and Salt Lake road Fabian Espindola's opportunistic strike to victory in the Emerald City. It's now time for a well-deserved week off.

2. (1) SEATTLE SOUNDERS (7-2-1, 22 points)

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Last week: Beat Dallas 2-0 on Wednesday; lost to Salt Lake 1-0 on Saturday

This week: At Vancouver, 5 p.m., Saturday, TSN

Outlook: After Fredy Montero continued his torrid run of form with a midweek brace in Dallas, the Seattle attack stalled against Salt Lake's formidable back line. On the plus side, Alvaro Fernandez did log 32 minutes as he works his way back to full fitness.

3. (2) SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (7-2-2, 23 points)

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Last week: Tied Chivas USA 1-1 on Sunday

This week: Vs. Columbus, 10:30 p.m., Saturday

Outlook: It was an off-game, for sure, from the Earthquakes, who still managed to grab a point against Chivas thanks to the late heroics of substitute Alan Gordon. It has to be encouraging for coach Frank Yallop to see someone step up when Chris Wondolowski is held off the score sheet.

4. (7) NEW YORK RED BULLS (7-3-1, 22 points)

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Last week: Beat Houston 1-0 on Wednesday; beat Philadelphia 3-2 on Sunday

This week: At Montreal, 7:30 p.m., Saturday

Outlook: After grinding out a 1-0 win over Houston, the Red Bulls traveled down Interstate 95 and dropped Philadelphia in a 3-2 shootout. Two games, two distinctly different wins. The common denominator? Kenny Cooper, who just keeps scoring goals — even without Thierry Henry in the lineup.

5. (4) SPORTING KANSAS CITY (7-3-0, 21 points)

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Last week: Lost to Chicago 2-1 on Saturday

This week: At Colorado, 9 p.m., Saturday

Outlook: At this point, it might be fair to call Kansas City a streaky side. After starting the season with seven straight wins, Kansas City has dropped three in a row. With Roger Espinoza suspended next weekend, Paulo Nagamura is in line to make his second start of the season. It's time to finally test that depth.

6. (5) VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (5-3-2, 17 points)

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Last week: Lost to New England 4-1 on Saturday

This week: Vs. Seattle, 5 p.m., Saturday, TSN

Outlook: Well that was ugly. After allowing seven goals in their first nine matches, the Whitecaps conceded four against a struggling New England attack. The Whitecaps will look to rebound at BC Place on Saturday in a Cascadia Cup clash with Seattle.

7. (6) D.C. UNITED (5-4-3, 18 points)

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Last week: Lost to Houston 1-0 on Saturday

This week: Vs. Colorado, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday; vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m., Saturday

Outlook: Already burdened with being the visiting team as Houston opened BBVA Compass Stadium, United saw circumstances go from bad to worse when defensive midfielder Perry Kitchen went down with a knee injury. The U.S. youth international is one player D.C. cannot afford to lose.

8. (10) CHICAGO FIRE (4-2-3, 15 points)

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Last week: Tied Salt Lake 0-0 on Wednesday; beat Kansas City 2-1 on Saturday

This week: At Portland, 7 p.m., Sunday, Galavision

Outlook: Facing two of the league's top teams in the season's early stages, Chicago asserted itself well, securing a solid scoreless draw with Salt Lake before coming from behind to down Kansas City 2-1. Chicago is looking sharp, and Chris Rolfe still has not even gotten on the field since being reacquired.

9. (8) HOUSTON DYNAMO (3-3-2, 11 points)

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Last week: Lost to New York 1-0 on Wednesday; beat D.C. United 1-0 on Saturday

This week: Vs. Portland, 8:30 p.m., Tuesday; at New England, 7:30 p.m., Saturday

Outlook: Dynamo original Brad Davis gave the tale of BBVA Compass Stadium's opening a storybook ending with his long-distance winner against D.C. With nine of its next 13 games at home, Houston will now be hoping for more of the same in front of its orange-clad supporters.

10. (9) COLORADO RAPIDS (5-5-0, 15 points)

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Last week: Idle

This week: At D.C. United, 7:30 p.m., Wednesday; vs. Kansas City, 9 p.m., Saturday

Outlook: After getting a week off, the Rapids return to action with two games in four days against a pair of the top teams in the Eastern Conference: D.C. United and Sporting Kansas City. As Conor Casey gets closer to 100 percent, Colorado becomes all the more dangerous.

11. (14) NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (4-6-0, 12 points)

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Last week: Beat Vancouver 4-1 on Saturday

This week: Vs. Houston, 7:30 p.m., Saturday

Outlook: Where did that offensive outburst come from? The scorers of 8 goals in nine games, the Revolution exploded for four against Vancouver's typically stingy defense. It was a particularly satisfying outcome for Lee Nguyen, who bagged two goals and an assist against the team that cut him in the preseason.

12. (T-11) MONTREAL IMPACT (3-5-3, 12 points)

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Last week: Tied Los Angeles 1-1 on Saturday

This week: Vs. New York, 7:30 p.m., Saturday

Outlook: The 60,860 in attendance in Montreal on Saturday got their money's worth, witnessing a spirited performance from the home side and a spectacular free kick strike from Galaxy star David Beckham. After starting slow with a road-heavy schedule, the Impact seem to have the pieces to compete in the East.

13. (13) LOS ANGELES GALAXY (3-5-2, 11 points)

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Last week: Tied Montreal 1-1 on Saturday

This week: At Chivas USA, 10:30 p.m., Saturday, ESPN2, TSN 2

Outlook: It's an unconventional week for the Galaxy, who went from Montreal to Washington, D.C., so they could meet with the president before traveling back home for a SuperClasico clash with Chivas USA. Winless in four, the Galaxy could sure use a win in that one.

14. (18) COLUMBUS CREW (3-4-2, 11 points)

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Last week: Beat Dallas 2-1 on Saturday

This week: At San Jose, 10:30 p.m., Saturday

Outlook: Columbus' anemic attack did just enough to secure the team's third win of the season Saturday, as unexpected goal-scorers Justin Meram and Sebastian Miranda stepped up to the plate. Replicating the result at San Jose, though, will be a tough challenge indeed.

15. (T-11) FC DALLAS (3-6-3, 12 points)

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Last week: Lost to Seattle 2-0 on Wednesday; lost to Columbus 2-1 on Saturday

This week: Vs. Philadelphia, 8:30 p.m., Saturday

Outlook: At 0-4-2 in its last six, Dallas is looking pretty grim at this point. With a league-leading 18 goals allowed, Schellas Hyndman's squad is just playing without discipline. And losing Zach Loyd this weekend to a red-card suspension isn't going to help matters.

16. (15) PHILADELPHIA UNION (2-6-1, 7 points)

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Last week: Lost to New York 3-2 on Sunday

This week: At Dallas, 8:30 p.m., Saturday

Outlook: There were several positives to take away from Sunday's 3-2 loss to New York, including Lionard Pajoy's slump-breaking brace and the magical first half from Freddy Adu before he was controversially sent off. But when all was said and done for the Union, it was just another disappointing loss at home.

17. (16) CHIVAS USA (3-6-1, 10 points)

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Last week: Tied San Jose 1-1 on Sunday

This week: Vs. Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., Saturday, ESPN2, TSN 2

Outlook: Chivas were minutes away from registering their fourth road win of the season before Alan Gordon found the late equalizer for San Jose. Now it's back to the unfriendly confines of the Home Depot Center, where Chivas are 0-5-0 this season, for a SuperClasico match against Los Angeles.

18. (17) PORTLAND TIMBERS (2-5-2, 8 points)

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Last week: Idle

This week: At Houston, 8:30 p.m., Tuesday; vs. Chicago, 7 p.m., Sunday, Galavision

Outlook: The week off gave influential winger Kalif Alhassan more time to recover from the knee sprain that has kept him out of the lineup in recent weeks and thus deprived Portland of perhaps its most exciting attacking force. His return could be crucial.

19. (19) TORONTO FC (0-8-0, 0 points)

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Last week: Idle

This week: At D.C. United, 7:30 p.m., Saturday

Outlook: Toronto was busy during its week off, shaking up its leadership by moving Jim Brennan to an assistant coaching role and giving Bob de Klerk a seat in the front office as technical manager. And why not? At this point, Toronto literally can't do any worse.

Comments

  1. Your right, the Sounders performance is not that impressive when you look at all the home games and the losses to top teams. More disturbing, Sigi is trying to install a high-ball threat in the box where neither Montero nor EJ excel. His stubbornness not to adjust tactics to his players strengths may cost Seattle the title. Both EJ and Montero voted no with their feet to Sigi’s tactics.

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  2. Pontius says he’s banged up, but fit to play, Kitchen’s the same. This a team that needs the three week layoff to start now.

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  3. Sounders fans with complaints: SSFC have played 7 of 10 at home. Their record thus far vs. the top 8 ranked teams (they have played 4) is 1 win (vs. 8th ranked Chicago), 2 losses (both at home) and 1 tie. Yes, some teams have played more games but your performance against the better clubs hasn’t garnered you all you think you deserve. Sit back and watch what happens, its a long season and they still need to prove themselves against the leagues best.

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  4. As much as I hate to admit it as a Houston fan, Brian Looft is right.

    RBNY might be grinding out results, but they’re still getting them.

    I wanted to spout the same drivel after last Wednesday’s game… NY created nothing but crap chances and were dominated, but the fact is, my boys in orange committed 1 more grievous error, and NY finished 1 more scoring opportunity.

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  5. RSL has played 3 more games than SSFC have only 2 more points. SJ and NYRB have 3 and 4 points less in 2 fewer games than RSL. If it is current results, only the NRB won 2 games last week. RSL kept clean sheets, but managed to score a single goal in 2 games, of course, it was in a win vs SSFC.
    Right now, I think NYRB and SJ are the teams on the most positive path, but SSFC, RSL and KC are still in there (KC has slipped from their early season form).

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  6. I love seeing KC drop three straight. I was so sick of hearing how there squad is the best in MLS an nobody can beat them. LOL

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  7. Great win for RSL, but SJ and SEA both have more than 1 game in hand so the point total can be misleading…

    The scud missile comment reminded me of a cartoon I saw in Jr.High. The scud missile launcher cartoon hada camel with a missile in his mouth and his junk on a block ready to be smashed by a mallet wielding Arab…

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  8. Do you mean perry kitchen is now injured? I don’t think Pontius has any new injury. Kitchen we are awaiting MRI results but it doesn’t look good.

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  9. RSL deserve the top spot. Once again Kreis gets Sigi’s team to launch high balls into the box which Seattle never wins. It ended up being 90 minutes of scud missiles from the Sounders. Sigi has a stubborn streak at times where he’s unable or unwilling to change a losing hand, see Santos CCL game also.

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  10. Get over yourself.They’ve won four in a row. No Henry. No Tainio. No Conde. KC Lost to Montreal 2-0. Should they be up so high? You guys just love to bash because your team is eating a big plate of dog crap this season.

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  11. I might have actually put DC lower. DC has two games this week, a huge list of defensive injuries, of whom only a depth-quality CB is scheduled to return (ffs, I think Morsink is going to have to start). Plus Pontius is now injured as well? DeRo and Santos have played a tremendous number of minutes with little rest, including in the heat in Houston a few days ago. If they’re not careful, DC could end up gifting Toronto their first win due to sheer exhaustion on Saturday.

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  12. If NE could get the rest of the team as interesting as their midfield? Joseph / Feilhaber/ Nguyen/ Rowe/ Simms. But the defense is meh and the forward production aside from Sene isn’t there.

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  13. RBNY in 4th!!!!! Really!!??? After struggling to control play and over come the lowly Union who started a make shift back line without Califf/Garfan AND with a man advantage for 45 minutes??? C’mon….LOLz

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  14. win ugly.. check your biases at the door please… 4 in a row, 3 shutouts… rookie goalkeeper stopping everything…we should be higher. Philly should be right next to toronto.

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  15. Let me get this straight.

    United loses in a basic no-win situation in opening Houston’s new stadium.

    Vancouver goes on the road and gets hammered by one of MLS’ poorer teams.

    Yet Vancouver leapfrogs United?

    don’t really get that one.

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  16. Can’t have too many complaints with this one. The only thing I see is that you could make a case for Chicago being ahead of both DCU and Vancouver. However they are probably all so close right now it doesn’t matter. Same with San Jose and Seattle.

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  17. After watching the Philly game, I can’t believe where NYRB are in the standings. I guess it’s good to be able to win ugly.

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  18. There should be a 2-way first place tie. SSFC and RSL – its so close. SJ also showing heart. These three teams are above the rest with NYRB close behind. Who would have thought that!?

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