SBI MLS POWER RANKINGS (WEEK 20)

3. (4) FC DALLAS (10-5-5)

LAST WEEK: Defeated D.C. United, 2-1, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Portland Timbers on Saturday

OUTLOOK – Winners of four straight, FC Dallas now sits atop the Western Conference standings. Boncing back from a late equalizing own goal, FC Dallas showed a bit of heart with Fabian Castillo’s 92nd minute winner. Taking down D.C. United is a hell of a feat, as FC Dallas continues to prove its worth in a crowded Western Conference picture.

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4. (3) D.C. UNITED (10-7-5)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 2-1, on FC Dallas on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Philadelphia Union on Sunday

OUTLOOK – When it comes to reputation, this past weekend’s loss to FC Dallas is a tough one, as D.C. United continues to get disrespected when it comes to the league’s hierarchy. Still, in the standings, D.C. is fairly comfortable atop the East. With Alvaro Saborio joining, look for D.C. to continue to assert themselves as the Eastern Conference’s top side as summer continues to hear up.

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5. (6) VANCOUVER WHITECAPS (10-8-3)

LAST WEEK: Tied Portland Timbers, 1-1, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday

OUTLOOK – Without Kendall Waston anchoring the backline, the Vancouver Whitecaps did well not to get opened up by the surging Portland Timbers. With 33 points through 21 games, the Whitecaps are still right in the thick of things and continue to exceed expectations with one of the league’s youngest, and most promising, teams.

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6. (7) NEW YORK RED BULLS (8-6-5)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Orlando City, 2-0, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK – Saturday’s win over Orlando City makes it two straight impressive results for the Red Bulls after shellacking the New England Revolution the week prior. Heading into U.S. Open Cup action midweek, the Red Bulls are clicking as the group’d midfielder unit of Dax McCarty and Sacha Kljestan remains hot.

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7. (5) SEATTLE SOUNDERS (10-9-2)

LAST WEEK:  Lost, 1-0, to Colorado Rapids on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Montreal Impact on Saturday

OUTLOOK – Without their star forwards, the Seattle Sounders just aren’t very good. The Sounders were once again on the wrong end of a 1-0 decision and are now riding back-to-back losses to the Colorado Rapids and Chicago Fire. With just one win in six, the Sounders need to shake things up, especially as teams like Sporting KC and the LA Galaxy continue to solidify their rosters.

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8. (8) TORONTO FC (8-7-3)

LAST WEEK: Tied Philadelphia Union, 2-1, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Columbus Crew on Saturday

OUTLOOK – Once again, Sebastian Giovinco proved to be unstoppable, although, this time, it came in a win. Also impressing once again was midfielder Marky Delgado, who has filled in admirably in the absence of Michael Bradley. With Bradley returning soon and Jozy Altidore rounding into form, TFC looks bound to go on a run.

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9. (9) PORTLAND TIMBERS (9-7-5)

LAST WEEK: Tied Vancouver Whitecaps, 1-1, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at FC Dallas on Saturday

OUTLOOK – Overall, a frustrating weekend for the Timbers, who never really got into a rhythm against the Whitecaps. Culminating in Will Johnson’s dismissal after the game, just an off night for a Timbers team that will need to be a bit more focused against FC Dallas this week.

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10. (13) COLUMBUS CREW (8-7-6)

LAST WEEK: Defeated Chicago Fire, 1-0, on Wednesday; Defeated Chicago Fire, 3-1, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Toronto FC on Saturday

OUTLOOK – Big week for the Crew, who did well in collecting all six points from the lowly Fire. It cannot be understated just how good the duo of Ethan Finlay and Kei Kamara have been this season, with the former’s MLS All-Star snub proving to be an absolute travesty. Regardless, if the duo keep performing, the Crew will continue to be a major threat in the East due to an attacking unit that can explode at any time.

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11. (11) SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (7-8-4)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 5-2, to LA Galaxy on Friday

THIS WEEK: at Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday

OUTLOOK – Simply overmatched by the Galaxy on Friday, the Quakes were doomed to suffer the team’s third defeat in a row. However, the addition of Quincy Amarikwa began to pay immediate dividends with Friday night’s brace. It’s easy to see where the Earthquakes fit in the West’s hierarchy, as Dom Kinnear’s side can compete with the West’s best on most nights, but will be in for a dogfight to qualify for the playoffs in a loaded conference.

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12. (10) NEW YORK CITY FC (5-9-6)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 1-0, to New England Revolution on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Orlando City on Sunday

OUTLOOK – Without Frank Lampard yet again, NYCFC struggled to get much of anything going against a New England Revolution team that has looked terrible in recent weeks. Still, it appears that Lampard and Andrea Pirlo will suit up this weekend, leading one to believe that there are better days ahead at Yankee Stadium.

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13. (16) NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (7-9-6)

LAST WEEK: Defeated New York City FC, 1-0, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at Chicago Fire on Saturday

OUTLOOK – Not exactly an awe-inspiring effort, but Saturday’s result was a much-needed win for the Revs. Having lost five out of six prior to Saturday, the Revs finally put together a decent performance, earning a win that will help keep them alive in the playoff race.

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14. (14) ORLANDO CITY (6-8-6)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 2-0, to New York Red Bulls on Saturday

THIS WEEK: at New York City FC on Saunday

OUTLOOK – Cyle Larin’s red card proved to be damning, as Orlando City couldn’t bounce back to muster much against the Red Bulls. Overall, this past weekend proved to be just the latest of questionable dismissal’s against Orlando City, and Adrian Heath was sure to make his opinions known in getting tossed himself. Winless in their last three with just one goal scored, Orlando City is in a bit of a funk and now sits all the way in sixth in the Eastern Conference.

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15. (12) HOUSTON DYNAMO (6-8-6)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 2-0, to Real Salt Lake on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. LA Galaxy on Saturday

OUTLOOK – The Dynamo consider to sink further and further down the table, now sitting tied for last in the Western Conference. With teams above them continuing to improve, its hard to imagine the Dynamo proving to be much of a playoff threat going forward this season, even with the incoming addition of Erick ‘Cubo’ Torres.

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16. (18) COLORADO RAPIDS (5-6-9)

LAST WEEK: Defeated the Seattle Sounders, 1-0, on Saturday

THIS WEEK: BYE

OUTLOOK – Don’t look now, but the Colorado Rapids have now won three straight heading into the All-Star week bye. Pablo Mastroeni finally has his side clicking, with Kevin Doyle continuing to prove to be a major spark for a Rapids team that is beginning to look much, much better.

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17. (20) REAL SALT LAKE (6-7-8)

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

THIS WEEK: vs. Sporting KC on Friday

OUTLOOK – Winless in four straight entering this past weekend, RSL picked up a well-deserved, and much-needed, win over the Houston Dynamo. Somewhat back in the hunt out West, a true statement can be made Friday against the surging Sporting KC.

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18. (15) MONTREAL IMPACT (6-7-3)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 2-1, to Sporting KC on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. Seattle Sounders on Saturday

OUTLOOK – Having won just once in the past five games, the Impact are struggling in the aftermath of a stretch that saw five wins in seven. The games in hand are slowly catching up, but the Impact remain right in striking distance of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

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19. (17) PHILADELPHIA UNION (6-11-4)

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

THIS WEEK: at D.C. United on Sunday

OUTLOOK – Tough loss for the Union, whose goal was merely a consolation in a game that saw Toronto FC dominate. The task only gets tougher from here, as a trip to RFK Stadium to take on D.C. United could easily yield another loss.

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20. (19) CHICAGO FIRE (5-11-3)

LAST WEEK: Lost, 1-0, to Columbus Crew on Wednesday; Lost, 3-1, to Columbus Crew on Saturday

THIS WEEK: vs. New England Revolution on Saturday

OUTLOOK – This past week couldn’t have gone much worse for the Fire, who were saddled with a pair of losses to the Crew. Winners of just one of their last eight, the Fire are dead last in MLS, three points behind NYCFC with a game in hand.

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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.