SBI MLS POWER RANKINGS (WEEK 24)

1. (Last Week-3)  SPORTING KANSAS CITY (11-4-7)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Vancouver Whitecaps, 4-3,on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday; vs. Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday

OUTLOOK – Another statement win for Sporting KC, which came back from two down in the 81st minute to securing victory through a last-gasp Paulo Nagamura strike. Sporting KC now looks to be in poll position out West, sitting three points behind the conference-leading LA Galaxy with four games in hand.

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2. (4) LOS ANGELES GALAXY (12-7-7)

LAST WEEK: Defeated FC Dallas, 2-1, on Sunday

THIS WEEK: vs. New York City FC on Sunday

OUTLOOK – Not their best performance of their recent run, but a quality win over a high-level opponent. Giovani Dos Santos has fit in seamlessly, Steven Gerrard and Gyasi Zardes continue to play their roles spectacularly and, well, Robbie Keane is Robbie Keane. Still probably the favorites out West and could get even more dangerous as chemistry continues to tighten.

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3. (Last Week- 1) D.C. UNITED (13-8-5)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 3-1, to NYCFC on Thursday

THIS WEEK: vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday

OUTLOOK – A much-needed humbling for D.C. United, at least in the eyes of Ben Olsen. Lackluster in recent weeks defensively, D.C. was finally punished in Thursday’s loss. Expect a much more disciplined and re-energized D.C. United next time out.

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4. (2) VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (13-9-3)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 4-3, to Sporting KC on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. FC Dallas on Saturday

OUTLOOK – A real heartbreaker for the Whitecaps, losing after surrendering a two-goal lead in the final 10 minutes. Falling to second in the West, the Caps are still very much in the league’s upper echelon, but that status will surely be tested against yet another quality opponent in FC Dallas.

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5. (6) NEW YORK RED BULLS (11-6-6)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Toronto FC, 3-0, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK –In what was one of the team’s best performances of the season, the Red Bulls absolutely demolished a usually-potent Toronto FC team. Bradley Wright-Phillips stays hot, Anthony Wallace fills in admirably and Gonzalo Veron kickstarts his Red Bulls career with a substitute goal. An impressive performance from the Red Bulls, who are battling rivals D.C. United for the right to call themselves the East’s best team

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6. (7) PORTLAND TIMBERS (11-8-6)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Real Salt Lake, 1-0, on Friday

THIS WEEK: vs. Houston Dynamo on Friday

OUTLOOK – Yet another narrow victory for the Timbers, who have won their last two games by a combined 2-0 scoreline. Still, the six points move the Timbers closer and closer to postseason safety, as the team now has a bit of wiggle room between themselves and the conference’s bottom four.

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7. (5) FC DALLAS (10-7-5)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 2-1, to LA Galaxy on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday

OUTLOOK – A tough loss to swallow for FC Dallas, who went into halftime with the lead before being Robbie Keane’d in the second half. Now, the gauntlet continues with a matchup with the Whitecaps this coming weekend in a game that will help reveal exactly where FC Dallas stands at this point in the season.

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8. (14) SEATTLE SOUNDERS (11-12-2)

LAST WEEK:  Defeated Orlando City, 4-0, on Sunday

THIS WEEK: at Real Salt Lake on Saturday

OUTLOOK – Oh boy. After losing nine of eleven, the Sounders erased pretty much any doubt in their first game since the team’s mass overhaul. The return of Obafemi Martins will be a huge one, Roman Torres will help anchor the back and Nelson Valdez will prove to be yet another threat up top. Even without Clint Dempsey, the Sounders looked as impressive as ever on Saturday, a scary thought for the rest of the league.

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9. (10) NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (9-9-7)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Houston Dynamo, 2-0, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK – As inconsistent as they’ve been, the Revolution remain a contender as evidenced by Saturday’s defeat of the Dynamo. Featuring for 45 more minutes, Jermaine Jones continues to round into form and, after his performances last year, it’s hard to imagine the Revs not getting significantly better once Jones is fully fit.

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10. (8) TORONTO FC (9-10-4)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Orlando City, 4-1 on Wednesday; Lost, 3-1, to Sporting KC on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Orlando City on Saturday

OUTLOOK – Another disappointing performance from TFC, who have now lost two straight by a combined five goals. As expected, the defense hasn’t been quite up to snuff, but it’s the attack’s struggles in the past two games that have been a concern. In the midst of a playoff battle, TFC can’t keep affording multiple-goal batterings, and are now tasked with taking on a fellow contender in Orlando City.

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11. (11) SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (8-10-5)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Colorado Rapids, 1-0, on Friday

THIS WEEK: at Sporting KC on Wednesday; at D.C. United on Saturday

OUTLOOK – A much-needed win for the Quakes, who continue to fight on in what will be a difficult pursuit of a playoff spot. Now six points out with two games in hand, the Earthquakes must run the gauntlet this week, taking on what might be the Western Conference’s and the Eastern Conference’s best teams.

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12. (12) COLUMBUS CREW (9-8-7)

LAST WEEK: BYE

THIS WEEK: vs. New York City FC on Wednesday; vs. Sporting KC on Saturday

OUTLOOK – Riding a bye week, the Crew now face a double gameweek, and a tough one at that. Kei Kamara, Ethan Finlay and Federico Higuain will need to continue thrive against a inconsistent NYCFC defense and a hot-as-ever Sporting KC. Overall, a big week awaits the Crew, who could make a major leap with two good results.

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13. (13) MONTREAL IMPACT (8-9-4)

LAST WEEK: BYE

THIS WEEK: vs. Philadelphia Union on Saturday

OUTLOOK – Very much in the postseason picture, the Impact will have plenty of rest heading into Saturday’s match with the lowly Union. That match could be made all the more special by Didier Drogba’s potential debut, as the former Chelsea star looks likely to begin his MLS career as his team continues a playoff push with games in hand.

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14. (9) HOUSTON DYNAMO (8-9-7)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 2-0, to New England Revolution on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Portland Timbers on Friday.

OUTLOOK – Still in the playoff picture, the Dynamo’s postseason hopes took a major dent with Saturday’s loss to the Revs. Now four points out with a game in hand, the Dynamo are very much alive, but will need players like Erick ‘Cubo’ Torres to start making bigger contributions if the team is to go on a late season run.

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15. (16) NEW YORK CITY FC (7-11-6)

LAST WEEK: Defeated D.C. United, 3-1, on Thursday

THIS WEEK: at Columbus Crew on Wednesday; at LA Galaxy on Sunday

OUTLOOK – A statement victory for NYCFC, which took down the East’s best, D.C. United, in impressive fashion. Now with some lineup decisions regarding Kwadwo Poku, NYCFC face a rough double-game week, meeting the Crew and Galaxy in two games that could go a long way in determining if NYCFC can prove to be a playoff club.

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16. (15) ORLANDO CITY (7-11-7)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 4-0, to Seattle Sounders on Sunday

THIS WEEK: at Toronto FC on Saturday

OUTLOOK – Another lopsided loss for Orlando City, which is mired in a recent slump that has taken the Lions right out of a postseason spot. Now playing catch-up, a win over a fellow contender in Toronto FC Saturday could work wonders for an Orlando City team that is in need of a major confidence boost.

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17. (17) REAL SALT LAKE (7-9-8)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 1-0, to Portland Timbers

THIS WEEK: vs. Seattle Sounders on Saturday

OUTLOOK – Good news: RSL fixed some of the team’s defensive woes by allowing just one goal. Bad news: they still lost. Now six points out of a postseason position and sitting in second to last place out West, RSL are in danger of seeing this season turn into little more than a waste.

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

LAST WEEK: Lost, 1-0, to San Jose Earthquakes on Friday

THIS WEEK: at Chicago Fire on Saturday

OUTLOOK – Now with three straight losses, it appears that the Rapids are all but guaranteed to miss the postseason. After putting together a decent win-streak ahead of the last three outings, its unfortunate for the Rapids, but it will take a miracle for Pablo Mastroeni’s side to make any sort of playoff run.

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

LAST WEEK: Tied Chicago Fire, 3-3, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Montreal Impact on Saturday

OUTLOOK – Seeing Sebastian Le Toux score an extra time go-ahead goal, the Union looked destined for three points that could have kept playoff hopes alive. Unfortunately, in true Union fashion, a late finish proved to be their undoing once again, forcing the team to settle for a frustrating draw.

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20. (19) CHICAGO FIRE (6-12-5)

LAST WEEK: Tied Philadelphia Union, 3-3, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Colorado Rapids on Saturday

OUTLOOK – After falling in the U.S. Open Cup midweek, the Fire did a heck of a job to battle back and earn a draw from the brink of defeat. It’s hard to imagine Saturday’s result being much of a momentum boost, but it’s a good omen for the Fire to see Kennedy Igboananike bag a brace.

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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.