Photo by New York Cosmos

By AARON CRANFORD

With only two teams winning in Week Five, the NASL Spring Season table remained mostly in-tact.

With the results, there also weren’t too many changes to this week’s edition of the SBI NASL Power Rankings, as the top six remained unchanged. A few bad performances saw some sides drop even further down the ladder.

Minnesota United FC and the San Antonio Scorpions remain winless after five weeks of NASL action, while the New York Cosmos continue to steamroll through the 2015 campaign. However, the Tampa Bay Rowdies produced a draw on the road against the Carolina RailHawks, continuing to nip at the heels of the league leaders for the time being.

Here is a closer look at the SBI NASL Power Rankings following Week Five:

SBI NASL Power Rankings (Week Five)

1. (1) NEW YORK COSMOS (3-0-2)

LAST WEEK: Won, 1-0, vs. Ottawa Fury on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. FC Edmonton on Sunday

OUTLOOK: Undefeated after five. Sitting at the top of the Spring Season table. Have only allowed one goal in five games. There are many reasons why the Cosmos remain number one after topping Ottawa Fury FC, 1-0, so take your pick.

2. (2) TAMPA BAY ROWDIES (2-1-2)

LAST WEEK: Tied, 1-1, against Carolina RailHawks on Saturday

THIS WEEK: At Ottawa Fury FC on Saturday

OUTLOOK: The Rowdies walked out of WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. with a 1-1 draw and smiles. After the match, head coach Thomas Rongen said the the draw was a “just” result, but to stay on the Cosmos’ heels, the Tampa Bay side will have to fight through some adversity. Georgi Hristov will miss out next week due to a red card, and Maicon Santos will possibly spend time out after injuring his hamstring Saturday.

3. (3) ATLANTA SILVERBACKS (1-0-4)

LAST WEEK: Tied Fort Lauderdale Strikers, 0-0, last Saturday

THIS WEEK: At Minnesota United FC on Saturday

OUTLOOK: Once again, the Silverbacks prevented a prolific threat — the Strikers — from scoring in Week Five, but the Atlanta side also did not find the back of the net and had to settle for the scoreless draw for a consecutive week. Shaka Bangura, the team’s leading scorer, didn’t come on until late Saturday, but they’ll need his dynamism this week, as they meet a frustrated Minnesota United FC squad searching for their first win of 2015.

4. (4) INDY ELEVEN (1-0-3)

LAST WEEK: BYE

THIS WEEK: At Jacksonville Armada FC on Saturday

OUTLOOK: Indy Eleven had the week off to watch, but there were no huge suprises in Week Five, as the top NASL teams continued to roll while the bottom feeders continued to bottom feed.

5. (5) FORT LAUDERDALE STRIKERS (2-1-1)

LAST WEEK: Tied, 0-0, with Atlanta Silverbacks on Saturday.

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK: The Strikers had been one of the most dangerous attacking sides in NASL, but on Saturday they ran into a brick wall, also known as the Atlanta Silverbacks defense. A scoreless draw is not quite the result the Strikers were looking for, but they’ll have the week off to work on what’s missing and improve their attack even more.

6. (6) CAROLINA RAILHAWKS (1-1-3)

LAST WEEK: Tied, 1-1, to Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday

THIS WEEK: At San Antonio Scorpions on Saturday

OUTLOOK: For the third time this spring, the RailHawks weren’t able to give their home fans a win, but they did just enough to keep themselves in contention. Since their 3-1 win vs. Ottawa Fury FC on opening day, the Cary side has played two more home games and has only mustered one point. Things could get better, though, as they travel to Texas to meet a struggling San Antonio Scorpions side.

7. (8) FC EDMONTON (1-1-2)

LAST WEEK: Drew, 2-2, with Minnesota United FCon Sunday

THIS WEEK: At New York Cosmos on Sunday

OUTLOOK: Winger Lance Laing earned honors as SBI NASL Player of the Week for his performance in the 2-2 draw vs. Minnesota United. But again, the Eddies were unable to win at home, having to settle for a draw at Clarke Stadium for a second time this Spring Season. They have a prolific offense, but questions still swirl about the back line.

8. (7) MINNESOTA UNITED (0-1-3)

LAST WEEK: Tied, 2-2, to FC Edmonton on Sunday

THIS WEEK: vs. Atlanta Silverbacks on Saturday

OUTLOOK: Four games into the 2015 campaign, and the Loons are still winless. While goals are starting to roll in, the team just isn’t gelling like last year. It’s going to be hard to catch up to the top of the table before the Spring Season ends.

9. (11) JACKSONVILLE ARMADA (2-2-0)

LAST WEEK: Won, 2-1, vs. San Antonio Scorpions on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Indy Eleven on Saturday

OUTLOOK: With their 2-1 win against the defending champion San Antonio Scorpions, Armada FC earned SBI NASL Team of the Week honors and leapfrogged the struggling Texas side in this week’s edition of the power rankings. The only reason the Armada didn’t move higher up the ladder is because the Scorpions have been dreadful to date.

10. (9) SAN ANTONIO SCORPIONS (0-3-1)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 1-2, to Jacksonville Armada FC on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Carolina RailHawks on Saturday

OUTLOOK: Omar Cummings arguably had the best goal of the weekend, but just like Minnesota United, the Scorpions are winless and in even a worse position than the Loons. With three loses, the San Antonio side are not mathematically out of the Spring Season title, but with the Rowdies and Cosmos rolling, it’ll be hard for the Scorpions to finish at the top this time.

11. (10) OTTAWA FURY FC (1-3-1)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 0-1, to New York Cosmos last Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday

OUTLOOK: Losing to the New York Comos on the road is not uncommon and should almost be expected, but Fury FC head into Week Six with three losses. Ottawa hosts the Tampa Bay Rowdies next, who have been another tough team to beat this year. Things are not looking good for Ottawa at the moment.

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.