Photo by Bob Frid/Vancouver Whitecaps FC-USA Today Sports

By RYAN TOLMICH

With four straight victories to their credit, it’s getting harder and harder to discount the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Whitecaps proved dominant in Saturday’s impressive 2-0 defeat of the LA Galaxy, cementing themselves as contenders in the early season. Octavio Rivero continues to score, David Ousted continues to save and, most importantly, the Whitecaps continue to rack up wins.

Returning to the win column were the Seattle Sounders, who benefited from the play of Obafemi Martins to register a 1-0 victory. The previously unbeaten FC Dallas weren’t so lucky, though, in a 2-0 loss to the Portland Timbers, ensuring a bit of a shakeup atop the rankings.

Here’s a closer look at the SBI MLS Power Rankings for Week 5, as voted on by the SBI editorial staff:

SBI MLS Power Rankings (Week 5)

1. (5) VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (4-1-0)

LAST WEEK: Defeated LA Galaxy, 2-0, last Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Columbus Crew on Wednesday, at San Jose Earthquakes Saturday

OUTLOOK– The Whitecaps are MLS’ hottest team with four straight victories, the latest of which cam in dominating fashion over the reigning MLS Cup champions. The schedule gets hot and heavy this week for the Whitecaps, though, as Carl Robinson’s side faces a tough ask with a pair of games in a four day span.

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2. (4) SEATTLE SOUNDERS (2-1-1)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Houston Dynamo, 1-0, last Saturday

THIS WEEK: At LA Galaxy on Sunday

OUTLOOK–  With the return of Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins, the Sounders did well to to break down a stingy Dynamo side to earn all three points and slightly make up for back-to-back lackluster showings.

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3. (1) FC DALLAS (3-1-1)

LAST WEEK: Lost to Portland Timbers, 3-1, last Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Colorado Rapids on Friday

OUTLOOK– FC Dallas went into the weekend unbeaten before falling to the Portland Timbers on Saturday night. Highlighted by Oscar Pareja’s now-famous tissue offering, the postgame theatrics masked what was FC Dallas’ first lackluster performance of the season.

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4. (3)  NEW YORK RED BULLS (2-0-1)

LAST WEEK: BYE

THIS WEEK: At D.C. United on Saturday.

OUTLOOK– The Red Bulls sat idle once again this week, riding high from back-to-back victories. The first of those victories came in dominating fashion against D.C. United, who get another crack at their rivals at RFK Stadium on Saturday.

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5. (4) LOS ANGELES GALAXY (1-2-2)

LAST WEEK: Lost to Vancouver Whitecaps, 2-0, last Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Seattle Sounders on Sunday

OUTLOOK– The reigning MLS Cup champions are now riding back-to-back losses following Saturday’s defeat at the hands of the Whitecaps. The attacking unit just isn’t clicking, which is a bit worrying heading into Sunday’s marquee matchup with the Sounders.

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6. (6) D.C. UNITED (3-1-0)

LAST WEEK:  Defeated Orlando City, 1-0, last Friday

THIS WEEK: vs. New York Red Bulls on Saturday

OUTLOOK– D.C. United has continued to rebound from the early loss to the Red Bulls and have now won back-to-back games. Riding the hot hand of Bull Hamid, D.C. United was impenetrable against Orlando City as the goalkeeper continues to demonstrate his importance to D.C.’s efforts.

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7. (9)  SPORTING KANSAS CITY (2-1-2)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Philadelphia Union, 3-2, last Sunday

THIS WEEK: vs. Real Salt Lake on Saturday

OUTLOOK– Whether you call it heart or luck, Sporting KC emerged from Sporting Park with all three points Sunday thanks to a pair of stoppage time finishes. The comeback victory highlights a string of improved performances, as Sporting KC seems to be hitting its stride.

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8. (10) NEW YORK CITY FC (1-1-1)

LAST WEEK: BYE

THIS WEEK: At Philadelphia Union on Saturday

OUTLOOK– The week off came at an opportune time for NYCFC,  giving David Villa an extra week of rest after missing out on team’s last outing. Needing a boost to the forward line, Villa’s return is of paramount importance heading into a matchup with the struggling Union.

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9. (11) NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (2-2-1)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Colorado Rapids, 2-0, last Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Columbus Crew on Saturday

OUTLOOK–  The Revolution attack was held scoreless through the club’s opening three contests, but the goals have finally come in recent weeks. Juan Agudelo and Lee Nguyen provided the firepower and it finally seems that the Revs are clicking.

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10. (7) COLUMBUS CREW (1-2-0)

LAST WEEK: BYE

THIS WEEK: At Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday, At New England Revolution on Saturday

OUTLOOK– The Crew haven’t had an ideal start to the season with two losses in the team’s opening three games. The bye week should be helpful, though, giving Gregg Berhalter two weeks preparation for a surging Whitecaps team before taking on Revolution side that is beginning to come into form.

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11. (13) REAL SALT LAKE (2-0-2)

LAST WEEK: Defeated San Jose Earthquakes, 1-0, last Sunday

THIS WEEK: At Sporting KC on Saturday

OUTLOOK– It may not have been the prettiest victory, but a pretty goal from Javier Morales was enough to propel RSL to another three points. Morales’ finish gives RSL back-to-back wins, erasing doubts stemming from inconsistent early-season draws.

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12. (8) TORONTO FC (1-3-0)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 3-2, to Chicago Fire last Saturday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK– Despite all of the offseason hoopla, Toronto FC is once again struggling with three losses in the opening four games. Adjustments do take time, though, and TFC have been hampered by international call-ups early.

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13. (15) PORTLAND TIMBERS (1-1-3)

LAST WEEK: Defeated FC Dallas, 3-1, last Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Orlando City on Sunday

OUTLOOK– The Timbers are finally in the win column, and it came in impressive fashion. The first team to defeat a hot FC Dallas team, the Timbers finally put together a full performance Saturday, relieving some of the pressure that came with early-season struggles.

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14. (12)  ORLANDO CITY (1-2-2)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 1-0, to D.C. United last Friday

THIS WEEK: at Portland Timbers on Saturday

OUTLOOK– Orlando City was once again undone by a late goal, a worrying concern for Adrian Heath. The attack did look stronger, however, and could have easily scored multiple times if not for Bill Hamid.

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15. (19) CHICAGO FIRE (2-3-0)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Toronto FC, 3-2, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK– It’s been night and day for the Chicago Fire, who now have back-to-back victories after impressively defeating TFC on Saturday. Shaun Maloney is looking like a Designated Player, while Harry Shipp continues to evolve as one of the league’s top creative weapons.

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16. (14) SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (2-3-0)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 1-0, to Real Salt Lake on Sunday

THIS WEEK: vs. Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday

OUTLOOK– Following two straight victories, the Earthquakes have fallen to two straight defeats. Both have come against playoff contenders, but it doesn’t get any easier with a Saturday matchup against the surging Whitecaps.

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17. (17) HOUSTON DYNAMO (1-2-2)

LAST WEEK:  Lost, 1-0, to Seattle Sounders last Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Montreal Impact on Sunday

OUTLOOK– There’s little shame in losing to the Sounders, but the Dynamo certainly had a chance to snag a point after the Sounders went down a man. Still not quite fluid, the Dynamo get a bit of an advantage this week in taking on an Impact side coming off CONCACAF Champions League play.

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18. (17) MONTREAL IMPACT (0-1-2)

LAST WEEK: BYE

THIS WEEK: At Houston Dynamo on Saturday

OUTLOOK– The Impact face a big week in CONCACAF Champions League play following a bye, but will face a quick turnaround in facing the Dynamo on Saturday. Yet to hit their form in the league, the Impact will need a strong CCL performance to lift spirits as MLS play gets into full swing.

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19. (18) COLORADO RAPIDS (0-1-3)

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

THIS WEEK: vs. New England Revolution on Saturday.

OUTLOOK– Following three 0-0 draws in as many games, the Rapids finally conceded in Saturday’s loss to the Revs. More worrying than the goals allowed are the goals scored, as the Rapids remain scoreless four games in.

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20. (16) PHILADELPHIA UNION (0-3-2)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 3-2, to Sporting KC last Sunday

THIS WEEK: vs. NYCFC on Saturday

OUTLOOK– Up a goal heading into second-half stoppage time, the Union’s loss to Sporting KC on Sunday is inexcusable. Rais M’Bolhi continues to struggle, setting the tone for a Union team that just hasn’t come close to clicking to this point.

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What do you think of this week’s power rankings? Do you think any team is ranked too high? Any too low?

Share your thoughts below.