Things have just gone from bad to worse for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
With their first loss to SuperClasico rival Chivas USA in five years, the Galaxy dropped to 3-6-2 and dead last in the Western Conference. And if they're going to climb back up the standings, they'll have to begin doing so without Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane, both of whom are on international duty.
After beginning the year ranked No. 1, Los Angeles has fallen to a tie for 16th in this week's SBI MLS Power Rankings. While the top 10 is largely unchanged, Chivas USA and the Portland Timbers were the biggest climbers of the week, riding victories to the No. 12 and 13 positions, respectively.
Here are this week's SBI MLS Power Rankings (as voted on by SBI staff):
SBI MLS POWER RANKINGS (WEEK 11)
1. (Last week — 1) REAL SALT LAKE (8-3-2, 26 points)
Last week: Idle
This week: Vs. Dallas, 9 p.m., Saturday
Outlook: Losing Nick Rimando and Kyle Beckerman to U.S. national team duty is a tough blow for Salt Lake. But in a stroke of luck, Jason Kreis' side has drawn a struggling Dallas side that will be without the services of the suspended Brek Shea.
2. (2) SEATTLE SOUNDERS (7-2-2, 23 points)
Last week: Tied Vancouver 2-2 on Saturday
This week: Vs. Columbus, 10 p.m., Wednesday; at Chivas USA, 10:30 p.m., Saturday
Outlook: A sensational late equalizer from the on-fire Fredy Montero kept Seattle from dropping two straight and instead gave the Sounders a respectable road draw at a tough Vancouver team. But the back line's performance Saturday was still a bit concerning.
3. (3) SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (7-2-3, 24 points)
Last week: Tied Columbus 1-1 on Saturday
This week: At Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., Wednesday; at Kansas City, 4:30 p.m., Sunday, NBC Sports
Outlook: It's probably safe to say Alan Gordon has earned himself a start or two in Chris Wondolowski's international absence, seeing as how the journeyman striker has bailed San Jose out with a last-gasp equalizer in each of the past two weeks.
4. (4) NEW YORK RED BULLS (8-3-1, 25 points)
Last week: Beat Montreal 2-1 on Saturday
This week: Vs. Chivas USA, 7 p.m., Wednesday
Outlook: The acquisition of Heath Pearce immediately shores up New York's iffy back line, and losing Juan Agudelo in the deal won't be much of a blow if Kenny Cooper keeps on scoring goals. On a five-game winning streak, these Red Bulls are finally living up to the hype.
5. (7) D.C. UNITED (7-4-3, 24 points)
Last week: Beat Colorado 2-0 on Wednesday; beat Toronto 3-1 on Saturday
This week: Vs. New England, 7:30 p.m., Saturday
Outlook: United didn't miss a beat with leading scorers Maicon Santos and Chris Pontius sidelined by injury, turning to Dwayne De Rosario and Hamdi Salihi for the goals in a pair of home wins. With five goals and a league-leading seven assists, De Rosario could be building a case for a second-straight MVP trophy.
T-6. (5) SPORTING KANSAS CITY (7-3-1, 22 points)
Last week: Tied Colorado 2-2 on Saturday
This week: Vs. San Jose, 4:30 p.m., Sunday, NBC Sports
Outlook: Just when it looked like things were on the upswing, with slumping striker Teal Bunbury bagging a pair of goals in the first 14 minutes, Kansas City conceded two second-half strikes and settled for a draw against Colorado. Peter Vermes' once-scorching side is now winless in four.
T-6. (6) VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (5-3-3, 18 points)
Last week: Tied Seattle 2-2 on Saturday
This week: At Portland, 10 p.m., Saturday, TSN
Outlook: Fredy Montero's late moment of brilliance broke the Whitecaps' hearts as Vancouver came so close to its first MLS win over Seattle. Going forward, the return of first-round pick Darren Mattocks from a freak cooking injury gives the Whitecaps yet another lethal option up top, although the rookie missed a handful of chances to put Seattle away early.
8. (9) HOUSTON DYNAMO (3-3-4, 13 points)
Last week: Tied Portland 0-0 on Tuesday; tied New England 2-2 on Saturday
This week: Vs. Los Angeles, 2:30 p.m., Saturday, NBC Sports
Outlook: After settling for a midweek draw against Portland, Houston was on the verge of defeat at New England before Luiz Camargo struck in the 87th minute. Looking ahead, the loss of centerback Geoff Cameron to the U.S. national team will be a tough blow.
9. (8) CHICAGO FIRE (4-3-3, 15 points)
Last week: Lost to Portland 2-1 on Sunday
This week: Vs. Dallas, 8:30 p.m., Wednesday; at Columbus, 7 p.m., Saturday
Outlook: Portland took advantage of some lackluster set-piece defending to down Chicago on Sunday as the Fire seemed to miss the calming presence of centerback Arne Friedrich. Chicago will have a good chance to get back its winning ways at home against a beleaguered Dallas side midweek.
10. (10) COLORADO RAPIDS (5-6-1, 16 points)
Last week: Lost to D.C. United 2-0 on Wednesday; tied Kansas City 2-2 on Saturday
This week: Vs. Montreal, 9 p.m., Saturday
Outlook: After goalkeeper Matt Pickens kept a 2-0 midweek loss to D.C. from being much worse, Colorado showed some heart Saturday against Kansas City, coming back from a two-goal deficit to earn the draw. Perhaps no team this season has been as up and down as the Rapids.
11. (11) NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (4-6-1, 13 points)
Last week: Tied Houston 2-2 on Saturday
This week: At D.C. United, 7:30 p.m., Saturday
Outlook: The Revolution settled for a draw at home against Houston, something a team that is 1-5-0 on the road can hardly afford to do. Striker Saer Sene continued to make a name for himself in MLS, though, adding two more goals.
12. (17) CHIVAS USA (4-6-1, 13 points)
Last week: Beat Los Angeles 1-0 on Saturday
This week: At New York, 7 p.m., Wednesday; vs. Seattle, 10:30 p.m., Saturday
Outlook: Combine the acquisitions of Juan Agudelo and Danny Califf with a long-awaited triumph over the rival Galaxy and there suddenly is reason to be excited about this Chivas team. Even with the win, though, Chivas are still just 1-5-0 at home, a mark that must improve.
13. (18) PORTLAND TIMBERS (3-5-3, 12 points)
Last week: Tied Houston 0-0 on Tuesday; beat Chicago 2-1 on Sunday
This week: Vs. Vancouver, 10 p.m., Saturday, TSN
Outlook: It wasn't pretty, but Portland rode goalkeeper Troy Perkins' heroics against Houston and set-piece proficiency against Chicago to a badly needed four-point week. Next up is a Cascadia Cup clash at Jeld-Wen Field against the Vancouver Whitecaps.
14. (12) MONTREAL IMPACT (3-6-3, 12 points)
Last week: Lost to New York 2-1 on Saturday
This week: At Colorado, 9 p.m., Saturday
Outlook: Montreal saw its four-game unbeaten run snapped when it couldn't get a result at home against the 10-man Red Bulls, allowing New York to grab the winner on the counterattack. For the first time in a while, the Impact looked like an expansion team.
15. (14) COLUMBUS CREW (3-4-3, 12 points)
Last week: Tied San Jose 1-1 on Saturday
This week: At Seattle, 10 p.m., Wednesday; vs. Chicago, 7 p.m., Saturday
Outlook: The Crew were moments away from grabbing a stunning road win before Alan Gordon intervened for San Jose. Still, the emergence of second-year player Justin Meram up top is an encouraging development for the goal-starved Crew.
T-16. (13) LOS ANGELES GALAXY (3-6-2, 11 points)
Last week: Lost to Chivas USA 1-0 on Saturday
This week: Vs. San Jose, 10:30 p.m., Wednesday; at Houston, 2:30 p.m., Saturday, NBC Sports
Outlook: The Galaxy didn't seem terribly inspired by their White House visit earlier in the week when they played Chivas, struggling to a 1-0 loss as centerback David Junior Lopes conceded the deciding penalty kick and saw red for a handball on the goal line. The return of Leonardo from a torn ACL can't come soon enough.
T-16. (15) FC DALLAS (3-6-4, 13 points)
Last week: Tied Philadelphia 1-1 on Saturday
This week: At Chicago, 8:30 p.m., Wednesday; at Salt Lake, 9 p.m., Saturday
Outlook: Winless in seven games, Dallas will have its hands full trying to ending that skid this week, with road matches against a formidable Chicago side and first-place Salt Lake. And missing the suspended Brek Shea for both of those games sure isn't helping matters.
18. (16) PHILADELPHIA UNION (2-6-2, 8 points)
Last week: Tied Dallas 1-1 on Saturday
This week: At Toronto, 4:30 p.m., Saturday
Outlook: With a trip to 0-9-0 Toronto around the corner, should the Union be excited about the golden opportunity for three points on the road or concerned that they might be the first team Toronto will get a result against? How Freddy Adu bounces back from his suspension will be key in that contest.
19. (19) TORONTO FC (0-9-0, 0 points)
Last week: Lost to D.C. United 3-1 on Saturday
This week: Vs. Philadelphia, 4:30 p.m., Saturday
Outlook: Aron Winter may insist that Toronto can still make a playoff run, but Danny Koevermans isn't exactly holding out faith, saying after Saturday's loss that his squad might be "the worst team in the world." Yet Toronto is still one game away from again qualifying for CONCACAF Champions League play.