After a season-opening victory, Real Salt Lake maintained its spot atop the SBI MLS Power Rankings, although change could potentially be in the air after this weekend's matches.
RSL and the Los Angeles Galaxy, who held firm at No. 2, do battle in the marquee matchup of the weekend, even though some of the bigger names (Landon Donovan, Alvaro Saborio) won't be there because of international duty.
As for some of the biggest movers in this week's power rankings, Vancouver jumped six spots with its impressive season-opening victory, D.C. United crept closer to the top 5 and Philadelphia cracked the top 10, while Columbus and Seattle took a tumble after tripping up out of the gates.
Here are this week's SBI MLS Power Rankings:
SBI MLS POWER RANKINGS (WEEK 1)
1. (Last week – 1) REAL SALT LAKE (1-0-0)
Last week: Beat San Jose, 1-0, on Saturday.
This week: vs. Los Angeles Galaxy, Saturday, 9 p.m.
Outlook: Nick Rimando came up huge, and Kyle Beckerman's goal rescued three points in sloppy conditions in San Jose for a season-opening win. RSL turns its attention to Western Conference foe Los Angeles, though it will be without Alvaro Saborio, Will Johnson and Arturo Alvarez (international duty) for the crucial match.
2. (2) LOS ANGELES GALAXY (1-0-1)
Last week: Beat Seattle, 1-0, last Tuesday; Tied New England, 1-1, on Sunday.
This week: at Real Salt Lake, Saturday, 9 p.m.
Outlook: Despite injuries to three key players, the Galaxy earned four points from its first two matches. Juninho will have to keep his hot streak going as the Galaxy will be without Landon Donovan for an early-season test at Rio Tinto Stadium.
3. (3) NEW YORK RED BULLS (1-0-0)
Last week: Beat Seattle, 1-0, on Saturday.
This week: at Columbus, Saturday, 4 p.m.
Outlook: The Red Bulls will be severely short-handed for Saturday's match, with Juan Agudelo, Tim Ream, Rafael Marquez, Dane Richards and Bouna Coundoul among those on international duty. The team still has to like its chances to score road points after seeing how the Crew fared at D.C.
4. (6) COLORADO RAPIDS (1-0-0)
Last week: Beat Portland, 3-1, on Saturday.
This week: at Chivas USA, Saturday, 10:30 p.m.
Outlook: The club looked extremely sharp as it embarked on its title defense. Omar Cummings & Co. toyed with the Timbers' defense, but Cummings and Sanna Nyassi will be on international duty as the Rapids look to do the same against a supposedly improved Chivas back line that struggled against Kansas City in its opener.
5. (T-4) FC DALLAS (0-0-1)
Last week: Tied Chicago, 1-1, on Saturday.
This week: vs. San Jose, Saturday, 9 p.m.
Outlook: FCD fought hard for its point after Brek Shea's red card left the team short-handed, and he'll miss the match against the Earthquakes. Zach Loyd and Milton Rodriguez stood tall in the team's Week 1 draw.
6. (T-8) D.C. UNITED (1-0-0)
Last week: Beat Columbus, 3-1, on Saturday.
This week: at New England, Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
Outlook: What a difference a season makes. Between Josh Wolff's presence up top, Charlie Davies' two-goal outburst, Dax McCarty's work in central midfield and Perry Kitchen's ability in central defense, all of D.C.'s newcomers are on the right track. Kitchen will be on U-20 duty this weekend, though.
7. (11) PHILADELPHIA UNION (1-0-0)
Last week: Beat Houston, 1-0, on Saturday.
This week: vs. Vancouver, Saturday, 4 p.m.
Outlook: The Union's resolve to win on the road must have been a breath of fresh air for the team and the Sons of Ben, who welcome expansion Vancouver to PPL Park for the home opener. Faryd Mondragon's presence in goal was paramount to the victory, and he'll need to be at his best to stop DP striker Eric Hassli.
8. (10) SPORTING KANSAS CITY (1-0-0)
Last week: Beat Chivas USA, 3-2, on Saturday
This week: at Chicago, Saturday, 4 p.m., Telefutura.
Outlook: Omar Bravo looked every bit like the Designated Player the SKC brass hoped they were getting with his two-goal, Player of the Week-winning debut. Bravo's next test is a stingy Fire defense. SKC will be without Kei Kamara, Stephane Auvray and Shavar Thomas for the match.
9. (T-4) SEATTLE SOUNDERS (0-2-0)
Last week: Lost to Los Angeles, 1-0, last Tuesday; Lost at New York, 1-0, on Saturday.
This week: vs. Houston, Friday, 10 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel.
Outlook: The season couldn't have started out any worse, with Blaise Nkufo parting ways with the team hours before the season opener and the team failing to score in 180 minutes, albeit against two top teams. It's a bit early for the panic button, but Sigi Schmid's men need a home result to restore confidence.
10. (7) SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (0-1-0)
Last week: Lost to Real Salt Lake, 1-0, on Saturday.
This week: at FC Dallas, Saturday, 9 p.m.
Outlook: Chris Wondolowski and the rest of the Earthquakes had plenty of chances, but they couldn't find a way to beat Rimando. It won't get much easier going against a stout FCD defensive unit and goalkeeper Kevin Hartman on the road.
11. (15) NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (0-0-1)
Last week: Tied Los Angeles, 1-1, on Sunday.
This week: vs. D.C. United, Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
Outlook: The Revolution did well to earn a point in horrid conditions at the Home Depot Center, but the club will have to be at its best to stop the D.C. United momentum train. Shalrie Joseph's performance had to delight N.E. fans.
12. (18) VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (1-0-0)
Last week: Beat Toronto FC, 4-2, on Saturday
This week: at Philadelphia, Saturday, 4 p.m.
Outlook: Hassli's two-goal performance and the Whitecaps' offensive prowess were perhaps the biggest surprises to emerge from the season's opening week. Can they replicate that output on the road against an improved Philadelphia side?
13. (16) CHICAGO FIRE (0-0-1)
Last week: Tied FC Dallas, 1-1, on Saturday
This week: vs. Sporting Kansas City, 4 p.m., Telefutura.
Outlook: The early returns on Diego Chaves and the rebuilt defense are solid after the Fire hauled in a hard-fought point against FC Dallas. Rookies Jalil Anibaba and C.J. Sapong, who both had strong debuts, will go head-to-head in this matchup of midwestern clubs.
14. (T-8) HOUSTON DYNAMO (0-1-0)
Last week: Lost to Philadelphia, 1-0, on Saturday.
This week: at Seattle, Friday, 10 p.m., Fox Soccer Channel.
Outlook: Despite out-playing the Union for the majority of their match, the Dynamo couldn't find an equalizer, with Dominic Oduro's finishing problems rising to the surface again. In order to get into the W column, the Dynamo will look to take advantage of a fragile Seattle side, but winning at Qwest won't be easy.
15. (13) CHIVAS USA (0-1-0)
Last week: Lost to Sporting Kansas City, 3-2, on Saturday.
This week: vs. Colorado, Saturday, 10:30 p.m.
Outlook: The much ballyhooed defense failed to live up to its billing in yielding a goal right off the bat to Sapong and two more to Bravo, the former Chivas de Guadalajara standout. The Goats catch a break with Cummings on international duty, but Robin Fraser needs a better defensive effort from his squad.
16. (12) COLUMBUS CREW (0-1-0)
Last week: Lost at D.C., 3-1, on Saturday
This week: vs. New York, Saturday, 4 p.m.
Outlook: A dismal showing in D.C. is followed up by welcoming the Eastern Conference's true power to Crew Stadium. Fortunately for Columbus, the Red Bulls will be shorthanded. Robbie Rogers didn't get the start in the season opener, which is a head-scratcher considering the expectations for him this season.
17. (14) PORTLAND TIMBERS (0-1-0)
Last week: Lost at Colorado, 3-1, on Saturday.
This week: at Toronto FC, Saturday, 2 p.m.
Outlook: Portland had one of the more disappointing efforts on opening day, but facing the defending champions in Colorado was no easy task. We'll know more about this team's true attacking prowess after it has a chance to go up against Toronto's unit that yielded four goals to Vancouver.
18. (17) TORONTO FC (0-1-0)
Last week: Lost at Vancouver, 4-2, on Saturday
This week: vs. Portland, Saturday, 2 p.m.
Outlook: Doesn't get much worse than dropping a season opener while yielding four goals to a Canadian rival. It will get worse if the Reds can't fend off another expansion side at home in Week 2.
dude who cares 3 games in 10 days, Seattle always complaining of how many games you play get over it, they are professional soccer players thats there job…. Man U has EPL/FA/CL never once have i heard them say we are playin too many games.. New England needs to switch with Seattle, NE played LA and tied @LA
I’ve seen better rec-league teams. Okay, maybe not but I have seen rec-league teams that depend solely on one good player just like TFC depend on DeRo.
The FO was crying about money issues and justified the yard sale clearance by blaming the stacking performance bonuses (apparently it doesn’t pay to have a good team). That and Warzycha didn’t get along with GBS (he was too outspoken on tactical issues for Warzycha’s liking).
Like JoeW said, Warzycha was living in Sigi’s shadow. Now he’s been given the chance to remake the team in his image. Gotta say as a lifelong Crew fan, and given the improvements that some other teams have made in the very same off season, I’m not impressed…
White is awful, but the defense looks much improved from last season, El Presidente makes a big difference. El Flaco needs to step up his game and Friberg doesn’t look like the impact player they said he was going to be.
College teams are ahead of TFC.
I’m not dissing RSL, I’m a season ticket holder. I’m just saying, if MLS had it their way, it’d be SSFC, LA and RBNY. Although “RSL aint nothing f*ck with.”
At least we’re ahead of TFC. Go Crew.
No, they played 2 quality teams and only allowed 2 goals
No…RSL has elevated status now
And while we’re at it…The US logo is terrible and very outdated. Time for a rebrand to USA….And drop Nike, their designs have always been piss-poor for USA
If they think Ekpo is going to take the spot of GBS they are kidding themselves….DCU is overrated here based on one good performance. Also, SKC still gets no love. This team is going to be a force to be reckoned with
I’m pretty sure MLS wants LA, RBNY and SSFC at the top of the table instead of RSL pushing their way in, especially in CCL. Be considerate, not an idiot, MLS LOVES Seattle.
That is quite the tin foil hat you’ve got on there…lol.
MLS is not breaking for the Gold Cup.
Questioning the Sounders start hardly qualified as “hating”. (Can we just ban calling people “haters”? It’s just an attempt to avoid actually having discussions.) It’s not simply losing twice. It’s the shocking dumping of the guy who was slated to be key to their attack, the work-in-progress form of White, and the frankly shambolic organization of their defense against the Galaxy. They may rebound, but you don’t have to be a hater to start wondering.
I thought Sounders fans said you were already a top team? Guess the pressure has gotten to you all once again. > : )
Show me any other team that had to start the season playing two of the top three teams in MLS in the same week including traveling across the country. You Seattle haters are a joke as is moving teams up three or four slots because they beat an expansion team but that’s what MLS wants, NY and LA at the top and they will do anything to make it happen including screwing Seattle with a terrible schedule to start the season. Anyone else playing their first 3 games in 10 days? So shut the ell up.
SJ starts ranked 7th and goes down 3 spots after losing by 1 goal in terrible weather to the #1 ranked team? DC started off ranked eighth and now ranked 6th? Seems a bit off to me.
In all fairness, I think they are breaking for the Gold Cup and World Cup Qualifiers. But, there are only so many Saturdays they can sacrifice.
they had more shots on net than Houston, Houston was a threat once and Oduro skyed it.
They went prevent with 25 mins left, but game was back and forth the rest of the time.
I watched that game as a neutral and I have to agree with Tony, Nick Rimando had to make some amazing saves. Rimando was man of the match for sure but I was shocked the Quakes didn’t score, it could have been 2-1 or 3-1 San Jose. I give credit to RSL but mostly to Nick Rimando who saved their @sses
Lets not get carried away, it was the first game of the season. The Crew had pleeenty of chances to score against DC, they just were unlucky to get the ball in the back of the net. They gave up 1 fluke goal to Davies and a weak PK decision. It’s a long season, the Crew will still be MASSIVE…..
Seattle should be much lower, New England and Chicago should be higher. I’m sorry but the Sounders have looked very poor
While philosophically it’s true that it’s hard to sustain success in this league b/c good coaches and/or players end up leaving for more lucrative opportunities, with the Crew it’s much simpler. The Crew let Sigi Schmid go and put their trust in Warzycha. Wrzycha used Sigi’s team and scheme for the most part in 2009 (much like Rongen used Arena’s DCU team and talent when he took over). Warzycha has now remade the team to his liking. Carroll–who was a horse under Schmid–was let go. Schelotto–a candidate for MVP every year he was in MLS and a potential difference-maker in any game was allowed to go b/c he limited the coach’s tactical flexibility (just as Preki did in KC).
Nice theory. And if we were talking about last year’s early season Quakes, I’d agree. But as the MLS recap (to name one source) said:
“Unlike in last year’s 3-0 whipping, the Earthquakes could say this time that they had the run of play over the course of the 90 minutes. But RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando—put under absolute siege in the final 20 minutes—wouldn’t break.”
The Quakes lead in time of possession for huge stretches and drastically outshot RSL with shots on goal (8 to 2). RSL was almost entirely limited to long range shots.
RSL is the best team in the league – I have no problem saying that. But on Saturday night, they were lucky to escape with a win.
Does Columbus have a much lower payroll than other top teams (RSL, LA, RBNY)? Doesn’t Clark Hunt own the Crew and FC Dallas? FCD is still a good team. Why did the Crew let nine players go in the off-season?
Against an expansion team…
Come on Tony, outplayed RSL? You guys were lucky that is was a torrential downpour, with gale force winds blasting at our goal in the second half. The Quakes have very little skill in the midfield, every attack except one was low skill, long-ball, hoof it forward and hope for a defensive mistake because of the weather. Dry field, no wind, the Quakes wouldn’t stand a chance against RSL.
Not a fan of the Rapids, but NYRB @ 3 is an insult to Colorado given how both teams played in their respective matches. Rapids were much sharper and more clinical
Exactly they beat Toronto. Come back when its a real team…
They were gifted that game. “Controlled”? Toronto had one few shot (13 to 14) and had 62% of the possession. Toronto has no defence. If you think that Vancouver team is scoring four a game without errors by their opposition, you’re in for a tough season as a Whitecaps fan.
Although I am a Quakes fan (obviously, considering my handle) I have been hard on them over the last couple years. So when I say I think they are rated way too low, it isn’t my blue-tinted goggles. They outplayed RSL and were extremely unfortunate to not win by a couple of goals. (I mean, really, how often is Wondo going to miss like that?) Rating them below Seattle, the disappointment of the season so far, is wrong. I think the Quakes will crack the top five.
Crew did win the Supporter’s Shield in 2009, made the playoffs in 2010, and advanced to the knockout rounds of the CONCACAF Champs league in the 2009-10 & 2010-11 editions of the tournament. Outside of poor playoff performances in 2009 & 2010, 2008-2010 was a really strong stretch for the Crew. It’s hard to keep that going more than 3 years when other teams are spending a lot more money than Columbus.
while we’re at it: the MLS logo is so laughably amateur. It looks like a 6th grader drew it. POW! foot hits ball whoosh
In a league with enforced parity, the league table doesn’t tell the whole story.
Vancouver should be a little higher?
I know they beat a lowly team in Toronto, but they controlled that game. The match at Philadelphia should be a good one.
power rankings are stupid.
the only power ranking that matters is the league standings.
Who is the KNUCLEHEAD in the MLS who schedules a full slate of MLS games in conflict with international friendlies?
Seriously, The 1&2 MLS teams face off with one team having to let its best player join the USMNT that same weekend. WTF, MLS
We need to have a serious discussion about rescheduling policies of he MLS. Every other primary national league has some type of rescheduling policies so that teams are not deprived of key players for key game. EXCEPT the MLS. Surely the BILLIONS they get from TV rights might be an excuse if the TV time slots are etched in stone.
philly at 7??? you must of not seen the game. They got dominated 70/30. They dont have much going for them except LeToux. Goalie didnt even get tested.
Houston is in need of a DP striker.
my thoughts exactly, since when are shutout losses and a suddenly-dropped DP an indication of “power”?
How is Seattle 9??? They’re 0-2-0!!!
Seattle at 9 is way too high. 2 games, 2 losses, 0 goals. If they are going to contend for the cup, then they need to beat teams like LA and NY.
Almost every team has an asterisk about the players they will be without. Disappointing preview of week2 without the best players in my opinion. MLS has to do better with International dates.
What happened to the Crew? They were expected to have a long run at the top of the league after winning the MLS Cup in 2008 and now they look like an expansion team. Why did they give up so many of their starters?