SBI MLS POWER RANKINGS (WEEK 22)

1. (Last Week- 2) D.C. UNITED (12-7-5)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Real Salt Lake, 6-4, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Montreal Impact on Saturday

OUTLOOK – In what may have been the least D.C. United game ever played, Ben Olsen’s side won an absolute shootout, something far from the norm at RFK Stadium. With little to no defense played throughout the contest, D.C did well to show off the team’s attacking potential, a fact that is sometimes hidden behind the team’s disciplined backline. Don’t expect further scorelines quite like this week’s as D.C. looks to continue to set the pace in the Eastern Conference.

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2. (4) VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (12-8-3)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Seattle Sounders, 3-0, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Real Salt Lake on Saturday

OUTLOOK – A dominant victory over the rival Sounders sends the Whitecaps straight to the top of the Western Conference. Led by the unlikeliest of braces from Pa-Modou Kah, the Whitecaps were the better team on Saturday by a considerable margin, making a statement atop the conference while further burying the rival Sounders.

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3. (3)  SPORTING KANSAS CITY (9-4-7)

LAST WEEK: Tied Houston Dynamo, 1-1, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Toronto FC on Saturday

OUTLOOK – After winning five of six, Sporting KC are now winless in two after settling for a draw against the always-difficult Dynamo. Cheated by a controversial no-call, Sporting KC could have, and probably should have, won the game via a late penalty kick. However, it was not to be, as the point proves to be enough to keep the club in the hunt out West.

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4. (5) LOS ANGELES GALAXY (10-7-7)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Colorado Rapids, 3-1, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Seattle Sounders on Sunday

OUTLOOK – After getting dismantled by the Dynamo last time out, the Galaxy returned to form Saturday in a victory over the surging Rapids. Steven Gerrard continues to click as he adapts to the league, while fellow signing Sebastian Lletget is likely the most underrated pickup in the league to this point. With Giovani Dos Santos’ debut imminent, the Galaxy continue to look poised for the team’s patented late-summer run.

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5. (1) FC DALLAS (10-6-5)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 2-0, to Chicago Fire on Sunday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK – FC Dallas saw its five-match winning streak halted after delivering a real dud of a performance against the Chicago Fire. Despite seeing the opposition go down to 10 men, FC Dallas’ highly-regarded attack sputtered, failing to yield a goal against the league’s worst team. Still, not too much of a cause for concern, as the previous five weeks of evidence far outdo a lackluster one-off performance. Let it serve as a humbling, and move right on.

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6. (6) NEW YORK RED BULLS (9-6-5)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Philadelphia Union, 3-1, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Montreal Impact on Wednesday; vs. New York City FC on Sunday

OUTLOOK – Having signed just last week, Shaun Wright-Phillips made his mark in spectacular fashion, assisting his brother Bradley to lead the Red Bulls to a well-earned three points on the road. With the Wright-Phillips brothers clicking and the team nearing the signing of DP Gonzalo Veron, things are beginning to look up at Red Bull Arena ahead of two tough games this week, including a Hudson River Derby.

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7. (8) PORTLAND TIMBERS (9-8-6)

LAST WEEK: Tied San Jose Earthquakes, 0-0, on Sunday

THIS WEEK: vs. Chicago Fire on Saturday

OUTLOOK – After being dismantled by FC Dallas in the prior game, the Timbers played an absolute stinker Sunday against the Earthquakes. With far from an impressive performance, the Timbers will take a point one that puts them ahead of the rival Sounders in the conference’s fifth position.

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8. (7) TORONTO FC (8-8-4)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 3-1, to New England Revolution on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Orlando City on Wednesday; vs. Sporting KC on Saturday

OUTLOOK – Toronto FC remains one of the biggest question marks, as it continues to appear that the team will only go as far as Sebastian Giovinco can carry them. Jozy Altidore has been struggling both physically and mentally, the latter of which was on full display as the U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder picked up a boneheaded red card. Altidore will need to get his head back on straight when he returns from suspension if TFC are to be looked at as a legitimate threat going forward.

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12. (9) SEATTLE SOUNDERS (10-11-2)

LAST WEEK:  Lost, 3-0, to the Vancouver Whitecaps

THIS WEEK: at LA Galaxy on Sunday

OUTLOOK – The spiral continues to speed out of control, as the Sounders slipped all the way to sixth in the West. Losers of eight of 10, not even Clint Dempsey’s return could get the Sounders to produce anything resembling a decent performance. At this point, is it a lack of confidence, or are the Sounders simply overmatched in the stacked-as-ever Western Conference?

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13. (15) ORLANDO CITY (7-9-6)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Columbus Crew, 5-2, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Toronto FC on Wednesday; vs. Philadelphia Union on Saturday

OUTLOOK – Having scored five goals in the team’s past two games, Cyle Larin is as hot as any player in the league. With Larin leading the way, Orlando City cruised past the Crew while showing that the team has firepower to stand up with the best of them. Saturday’s win will not be one to celebrate for long, though, as Orlando City jumps right back into the fire with a vital double-game week.

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14. (10) COLUMBUS CREW (8-8-7)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 5-2, to Orlando City on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Colorado Rapids on Saturday

OUTLOOK – Gregg Berhalter was embarrassed by his team’s performance, and he sure had reason to be. Letting in five goals is far from excusable, no matter how potent the attack has proven to be in recent weeks. After conceding three straight to earn a draw last week, the Crew are having issues defending, something that will need to be remedied in the coming weeks.

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15. (17) MONTREAL IMPACT (8-7-3)

LAST WEEK: Defeated New York City FC, 3-2, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. New York Red Bulls on Wednesday; D.C. United on Saturday

OUTLOOK – Now riding three wins from four games, the Impact looked dynamic in Saturday’s defeat of NYCFC. With Didier Drogba set to feature sooner rather than later, the Impact must now negotiate a tough double-game week to continue to climb up the Eastern Conference standings.

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16. (11) NEW YORK CITY FC (6-10-6)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 3-2, to Montreal Impact on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at New York Red Bulls on Sunday

OUTLOOK – Once again, it was the defense that proved to by NYCFC’s undoing, as Dominic Oduro and Ignacio Piatti lit up the team’s centerback duo time and time again. NYCFC will continue to have defensive issues unless someone steps up as a definitive leader on the backline.

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17. (16) REAL SALT LAKE (7-8-8)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 6-4, to D.C. United on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday

OUTLOOK – In the week’s premier goal-fest, RSL came out on the losing end after surrendering six to the typically methodical D.C. United. Disappointed by the lack of defending, things don’t get any easier this week, as RSL heads north to take on the conference-leading Whitecaps.

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18. (18) COLORADO RAPIDS (5-7-9)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 3-1, to LA Galaxy on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Columbus Crew on Saturday

OUTLOOK – The Rapids’ three-game win-streak was halted Saturday, as Pablo Mastroeni’s side just couldn’t keep things going against the LA Galaxy. Still technically alive out West, the Rapids are unlikely to make a postseason run. Still, the team has proven to be a tough out throughout this season and could continue to make a push with a few more big wins.

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19. (20) CHICAGO FIRE (6-11-4)

LAST WEEK: Defeated FC Dallas, 2-0, on Sunday

THIS WEEK:At Portland Timbers on Friday

OUTLOOK – Very impressive from the Fire, who did well to overcome being a man down to snag three points against one of the league’s top teams. With four points from two games, the Fire on a mini run, one that will need to be continued Friday if the team is to have any hope of climbing back into the race following a dismal run of results.

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20. (19) PHILADELPHIA UNION (6-13-4)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 3-1, to New York Red Bulls on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Orlando City on Saturday

OUTLOOK – After collapsing against D.C. United last time out, the Union once again struggled in a loss to the rival Red Bulls. With Tranquillo Barnetta adjusting to the league following his debut, the Union do have talent, but the hole may be too big to climb out of when it comes to rejoining the playoff race.

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What do you think of this week’s rankings? Which team do you feel isn’t ranked highly enough? Which team do you think has too generous a place in the rankings?

Share your thoughts below.