We're still waiting for a "nice weather" goal explosion, sort of what happened last year once all the kinks got worked out by mid-April. Of course, we're now in June, and that may very well mean that goal explosions aren't likely to happen in 2013, that this year is what it is. Food for thought.
Note: Only MLS league games will be reflected in the rankings. The Power Rankings are voted on by the editorial staff at MLSsoccer.com, and all comments are written by Matthew Doyle. All game times are Eastern.
Let us know what you think in the comments below.
<strong>Rank</strong> |
<strong>Trending</strong> |
<strong>Club</strong> |
<strong>Comment</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 2</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/imapact-logo-3.png" style="width: 75px; height: 87px;"> |
<p>Boom! Montreal have gone from an afterthought in the offseason – admit it, nobody besides the hardcore fans really expected them to compete – to, quite clearly, one of the league's best. And this week, after avenging one of only two losses they've suffered, we're pretty sure they are <em>the </em>best team on offer week in, week out.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week:</strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-06-01-SKC-v-MTL/recap" target="_blank">Won at Sporting Kansas City, 2-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>D-L-W-W-W</li><li><strong>Next MLS Game: </strong>June 15 at Columbus</li></ul> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 1</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/dallas_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>Dallas are never going to win many admirers for how they play, but they probably care more about winning points instead. And it's proved to be damn effective, especially since they have a pair of big-name players – Blas Pérez and David Ferreira – who live up to their billing every time they put on the uniform.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-06-01-COL-v-DAL/recap" target="_blank">Drew at Colorado, 2-2</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>D-W-L-W-D</li><li><strong>Next MLS Game</strong><strong>: </strong>June 15 at Portland</li></ul> |
<strong>3</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 3</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/portland_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 74px;"> |
<p>Still itching to move them up to No.1. Portland's ability to win the ball exactly where they're determined to win it has made them quite possibly the most difficult side to scout in MLS.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong>Bye</li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>D-D-W-D-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Chicago (8:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>4</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 7</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/realsaltlake.png" style="width: 65px; height: 88px;"> |
<p>The three teams ahead of them in last week's rankings lost, and that first 35 minutes vs. San Jose sort of speaks for itself. RSL have found a way to replace everything they traded away in the offseason, getting younger, fitter and more dynamic in the process.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-26-NY-v-CLB/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. San Jose, 3-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-L-W-D-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. LA (9:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>5</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 4</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/newyork_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>The streak had to stop eventually, though we're pretty sure nobody had "Vancouver at home" pegged as the breaker. Mike Petke will be steamed about the poor marking on the set piece and a bit of back-post ball-watching. RBNY aren't good enough to get away with those errors indefinitely.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-06-01-NY-v-VAN/recap" target="_blank">Lost vs. Vancouver, 2-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-D-W-D-L</li><li><strong>Next MLS Game</strong><strong>:</strong> June 23 at Philadelphia</li></ul> |
<strong>6</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 5</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/sportingkc_logo.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 83px;"> |
<p>Is it a crisis for Sporting? Probably not, though they're inching closer and closer to that point. The Power Rankings Politburo pretty strongly favored them for the Supporters' Shield this year, but it's hard to see this team putting together that kind of regular-season run. </p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-06-01-SKC-v-MTL/recap" target="_blank">Lost to Montreal, 2-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five</strong>: L-W-D-D-L</li><li><strong>Next MLS Game</strong><strong>: </strong>June 22 at FC Dallas</li></ul> |
<strong>7</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 6</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/losangeles_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>Just look at that "Last Five." The Galaxy are in full-on Jekyll & Hyde mode, but we're not the least bit worried. Does anyone out there really think this team won't have all the pieces in place and everything on lockdown by the time October comes around?</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-06-02-NE-v-LA/recap" target="_blank">Lost at New England, 5-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-W-L-W-L</li><li><strong>This Week:</strong> Saturday at Real Salt Lake (9:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>8</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 8</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/colorado_150.png" style="width: 90px; height: 90px;"> |
<p>It's fantastic, no doubt, for Rapids fans to see their team get a point even when Clint Irwin doesn't play like a god. And honestly, getting a point – even at home – against FC Dallas is probably a good result at the moment.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-06-01-COL-v-DAL/recap" target="_blank">Drew vs. FC Dallas, 2-2</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-W-D-W-D</li><li><strong>Next MLS Game</strong><strong>:</strong> June 15 vs. San Jose</li></ul> |
<strong>9</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 9</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/houston_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>Another gutsy road draw for the Dynamo, who aren't exactly purring along the way we'd thought they would. But they've still got the pedigree of a winner, and they've managed to tighten up on set pieces in recent weeks. That's plenty to build upon.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-06-01-CLB-v-HOU/recap" target="_blank">Drew at Columbus, 1-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-L-L-D-D</li><li><strong>Next MLS Game</strong><strong>: </strong>June 19 at Montreal</li></ul><ul></ul> |
<strong>10</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 10</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/seattle_150.png" style="width: 85px; height: 85px;"> |
<p>Getting a 2-0 win at Chivas is the minimum threshhold for keeping your spot in the Power Rankings. We're honestly kind of disappointed in the Sounders for not dropping three or four on the Goats.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-06-01-CHV-v-SEA/recap" target="_blank">Won at Chivas USA, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-W-W-L-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Vancouver (10:30 pm, NBCSN)</li></ul> |
<strong>11</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 12</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/newengland_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>Juan Agudelo's ability to hold the ball up top and not give away possession has transformed the New England attack, providing lanes for the likes of Saer Sene, Diego Fagundez and Kelyn Rowe. The Revs just attack right up the gut and dare you to stop them.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-06-02-NE-v-LA/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. LA, 5-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five:</strong> L-D-W-W-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. D.C. United (7:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>12</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 14</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/vancouver_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 110px;"> |
<p>That's as fantastic a response to the midweek ACC heartbreak as Martin Rennie could have dreamed of. Perhaps even more important than the three points, though, was the form of Kenny Miller upon his return. We've crushed him in this space before, so let's give him his due: Even when he doesn't score, this team has been much better when he's available this season.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-06-01-NY-v-VAN/recap" target="_blank">Won at New York, 2-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>D-L-W-D-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday at Seattle (10:30 pm, NBCSN)</li></ul> |
<strong>13</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 11</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/columbus_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>They're really not too far out of the playoff race, and they're proving to be fairly tough to beat. But they also don't win a whole bunch of games, and with Eddie Gaven gone, we're worried a bit about their shape in possession. He had a way of filling gaps to make the players around him better.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-06-01-CLB-v-HOU/recap" target="_blank">Drew vs. Houston, 1-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-L-W-D-D</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Wednesday at Philadelphia (7:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>14</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 13</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/philadelphia_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>It took 45 minutes of 11 vs. 11, and then another 45 of 11 vs. 10 before the Union finally put a shot on target. And it was a fantastic shot from Jack McInerney, but Philly need to figure out how to actually control a game at some point. "Opportunistic" only takes you so far.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-06-01-TOR-v-PHI/recap" target="_blank">Drew at Toronto FC, 1-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-L-W-L-D</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Wednesday vs. Columbus (7:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>15</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 16</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/chicago_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>Mike Magee seems right at home, doesn't he? It's interesting to see the Fire run a pure 4-4-2 with him and Chris Rolfe up top – they have very complementary skill sets, but they also put a lot of pressure on the midfield to circulate the ball and hold possession.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-06-02-CHI-v-DC/recap" target="_blank">Won vs. D.C. United, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-L-L-D-W</li><li><strong>This Week: </strong>Saturday vs. Portland (8:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
<strong>16</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 15</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/sanjose_150.png" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>The bottom's dropped out for San Jose, and the hope now has to be that this team is ready for the "rebound" part of the season after a miserable first 15 games. They need so many guys to find last year's form, though – Chris Wondolowski is hardly the only one underperforming.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-05-26-NY-v-CLB/recap" target="_blank">Lost at Real Salt Lake, 3-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>W-L-D-L-L</li><li><strong>Next MLS Game: </strong>June 15 at Colorado</li></ul> |
<strong>17</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 30px; height: 32px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 18</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/toronto_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>A much tougher defensive performance than what we've come to expect, even if it was marred by yet another late goal conceded. The return of Danny Koevermans is a potentially huge news, as well.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-06-01-TOR-v-PHI/recap" target="_blank">Drew vs. Philadelphia, 1-1</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-L-L-L-D</li><li><strong>Next MLS Game</strong><strong>: </strong>June 15 at D.C. United</li></ul> |
<strong>18</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 30px; height: 30px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 17</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/chivas_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
Anybody who says they know what to expect of this team in the coming months is lying. We suspect, however, that 2-0 against will be one of the kinder scorelines they see.<br><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-06-01-CHV-v-SEA/recap" target="_blank">Lost to Seattle, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-L-L-L-L</li><li><strong>Next MLS Game</strong><strong>: </strong>June 19 at Vancouver</li></ul> |
<strong>19</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 30px; height: 14px;"><p class="rtecenter">Last: 19</p> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/dc_150.png" style="width: 75px; height: 75px;"> |
<p>There's just nothing good happening with this team right now.</p><ul><li><strong>Last Week: </strong><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2013-06-02-CHI-v-DC/recap" target="_blank">Lost at Chicago, 2-0</a></li><li><strong>Last Five: </strong>L-L-D-L-L</li><li><strong>This Week</strong><strong>:</strong> Saturday at New England (7:30 pm, <a href="http://live.mlssoccer.com/mlsmdl/" target="_blank">MLS Live</a>)</li></ul> |
